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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (July 28, 1923)
Today Liberty's Tomb: loo Bad. The Everlasting League. We Need Peter the Great. ' By ARTHUR BRISBANE ^_J William W’atson, gentle English poet who wrote of “The Woman With the Serpent’s Tongue,’’ turns his attention now to our Eranco American lady, the bronze Statue of Liberty in the harbor of New York. To her he addresses these little verses, published In London Thursday: To America’s Statue of Liberty. Proud thing of fame, How strange at last thy doom; Liberty’s image— Left to adorn her tomb. It is very sad for this country to be called a tomb. But perhaps the poet doesn’t mean it. England and other countries hoped the United States would remain a wide open pocketbook, in which Europe might have full liberty. When we closed our pocketbook they felt that liberty was dead. So it was, as far as their American plans were concerned. Senator Underwoou, conspicu ous candidate for the democratic presidential nomination, says the United States should go into the league of nations in order to help the price of wheat. He also thinks J that Europe, later, may cut down on its cotton purchases. And go ing into the league of nations would make Europe buy more cot ton. Interesting suggestion, but why would Europe pay more for Amer ican wheat and American cotton if we went into the league of na tions? Should we lend them money with which to buy our wheat and cotton? If so, who would supply it? Does Senator Underwood think the United States could set tle Europe’s troubles, the envy, hatreds, jealousies, spirit of con quest that Europe itself cannot settle? Hiram Johnson asks how the United States can expect to set tle Europe’s troubles if we can’t make the mine owners and mine workers of West Virginia stop fighting each other, or settle our railroad problem, or farm problem, or make the Ku Klux Klan live in peace with Catholics and Jews. How wpuld Senator Underwood answer that question? What this country needs, among other things, is a man like Peter the Great, without Peter's Asiatic savagery. Such a man would try to build up America, in America, irtdepen dent of the rest of the world. We need a man whose mind would be never on golf, trout fish ing, or palavering, but everlasting ly on American construction. If Peter were here he would be experimenting with flying ma chines of all kinds, as he used to experiment with shipping when he brought his ship carpenters from Holland and England to the cold north. Peter himself would be in the flying machine factories, working there with his own hands. He would be at this minute eagerly reading the news about that French boomerang flying machine that, with no man on board, guid ed only by radio, went from one city to another, turned around and came back. It wouldn’t take Peter long to have 1,000 such ma chines practicing every day. This country wants a man big enough to concentrate on the big gest job in the world, which is the management of the United States, big enough to think about the job, not about his own personal and re markable importance. If such a man should appear you wouldn’t find him trying to settle the preblems of the United States by dragging the United States into the trouble of Europe or submitting United States mat ters to a European court. (Copyright 1823) j Harding Savs j Nothing ^rong i With Alaska President Fails to Find Any Great “Problem,” He Tells Big fcrowd at Seattle. (Continued From Fuse On».> now contains easily 90 (per cent of the white population and of the de veloped resources. It would bo the. greatest single impetus we could pos sibly give to the right kind of development. As to the remainder of the territory, I would leave the Alaskans of the future to decide.'' Reviews Rattle Fleet. Mr. Harding delivered his address in the stadium here at the conclu sion of one of the busiest days of his whole trip. He began his visit with a review of the United States battle fleet in the harbor, and then in rapid succession participated in an nutomo bile parade through the business sec tion, attended a boys’ picnic, and ad dressed the Seattle Press club. To night he, with Mrs. Harding and the members of the party, left by train to spend a week in California, be ginning a vist Sunday and Monday to Yosemite National park. The chief executive began his ad dress with praise for the scenic beau ties of Alaska. Although recognizing, he said, that "words seem inadequate to portray the grandeur, to measure the magnificence, to express the mightiness, or acclaim the glory of monumental mountains and their jeweled valleys." Praises SrenirW undent. "There can be none to dispute to Alaska preeminence as the empire of scenic wonders," he asserted. "Since the water Journey by the inside route is very little less w’onderful and im pressive than the vast domain of Alaska itself, it would seem that we need only to have our people under stand its fascination* and compensa tions on the one hand, and develop hotel facilities for entertainment on the other, to make Alaska a favored destination in summer travel. There is no sea trip in the world to equal it. There is no lure of mountain, stream, vHlley and plain to surpass it any where. There is ample development of the transportation service essential to travel, and there is comfortable ac commodation now, which demand will make luxurious whenever it is ex pressed.” Praise was bestowed on the people of Alaska by the president as "the finest, most hospitable people in all the world.’’ "There is no finer citizenship in all tlie T’nltedvStates, no more promising i ehildhtxxi anywhere," he added. "Indeed, in this citizenship and in this vigorous childhood, both devoted to Alaska as the land of their homes, lies the solution of the Alaskan prob lem. In them is the assurance of Alaska's ultimate and adequate de velopment. No magic wand made from federal treasury gold may be waved to effect tlie grand transforma tion. The processes of development land establishment of permanent and ample civilization lies in a citizenship with homes in Alaska, not in invest ors who ate seeking Alaskan wealth to enrich homes elsewhere.” Only Preliminary Report. “Let me say that I shall undertake no more lhan a preliminary report at this time,” he continued, "He who undertakes to forecast the future of Alaska and formulate a program for Its realization, on the strength of such a fleeting glimpse as has been permitted to us, will be a wiser, and a far bolder man than I. We have seen much, but It is only a little of the stupendous whole. . . . More than all, wo have enormously strengthened our faith in the future of Alaska as the home of a great state In the American commonwealth. A brave, hardy, enterprising, uncom plaining people are building for Alaska’s tomorrow precisely as our forefathers built for ours today in the older communities, and I am sure that they will, in their time, bring another great state Into the union. "There has been disposition In many quarters to assume that Alaska has been lately experiencing a serious backset. This seems to be based on a loss of rather less than 15 per cent in population from 1910 to 1920, and on some curtailment of the territory’s production of wealth. Judgments ad verse to Alaska will not be based on such adventitious conditions, save by the unintelligent or by those who would deliberately cry down the coun try’s availability as a land of homes. In the hope of getting It turned over EDWARD REYNOLDS CO. Formerly With Eldrege-Reynolcii Co. > 1613 Farnam Street Saturday-An Important Close-Out of Summer Apparel Gingham Dresses to Close—Smart new styles; sizes 14, 16, 18; worth double and more; priced at . -- -- t Voile Dresses to Close—Plain and figured; smart styles worth to $15; sizes 14, 16, 18 and un to 38. Pleated Skirts to Close—Fine wool canton crepes; tans, greys and whites; all sizes; choice only . Wash Dresses and Suits—Our finest Wash Dresses and Suits, beautiful fabrics; choice now. p Extra Special Close-Out Cleverest of Sport Frocks, three piece; beautiful colorings; actu ally sold up to $40; to close Saturday, choice. to wholesale exploitation on a wale, that would ruin it for all the future.] Must Take Finn Stand. “Against a program of ruinous ex ploitation we must stand firmly. Our adopted program must he a develop ment of Alaska for Alaskans. To plana for wise, Wf»rou tided develop ment into a permanent community of homes, families, schools and an il luminated social scheme, we must give all encouragement. Few similar ureas in the world present such natu ral invitation to make a state of widely varied industries and perma nent character. “True It lost 15 per cent in popula tion in the decadp wherein the great war demoralized the entire world. Hut one province of Canada lost 80 per cent and another 60 per cent, respect ively. Alaska is once more gaining in everything which testifies prosper ity; but from the agricultural prov inces of western Canada comes report of a still continuing exodus. Some of ourt foremost states lost nolably in population between 1910 and 1990. Exodus From South. "The other day I read that 77,500 colored and 29.900 white people had left Georgia farms. There are like reports from all over the south, and the farming sections of the west nre not far behind. Australia and South Africa are ottering direct money In ducements to immigration, and fall ing to get it. If we would take dowh our immigration bars, there would he a tidal wave of Immigration from all central, southern and southeastern Europe. Evidently Alaska Is not alone In feeling the effects of the war on its population. Anyhoy, we have come, In these later days, to appraiHe population by its quality rather than quantity, and Alaska will loom big in any quality test. "But. we are told, gold production in Alaska has fallen off discouraglng ly. Let us see about that. In 1915 Alaska turned out $16,000,000 of gold, and In 1921, $8,000,000. That is a loss of one-half. But the United States, as a whole, fell off in gold takings by almost the same percet.tage: From $101,000,000 In 1915 to $50,000,000 in 1921. World Needs Gold. “The world never needed new gold supplies more than now, to rehab ilitate ruined financial systems. Yet from 1908 to 1920, Australia lost over two thirds of its gold production, and since the war began in Europe, the world, as a whole, has lost Just about one-fourth. We all know perfectly well that this has been the result of world-wide economic condition*. Gold i* worth just about one half as much, In buyl- ; power, a* before the war. The V.aider is not that Alaska'* gold production has fallen off. but that it has fallen relatively so little. There is every reason to believe that its gold crop will be restored. Just as soon as the world resumes a normal eco nomic balance. "Precisely the same story is told by the figures on copper. The shrink In copper prices was a discouraging fact. It is true; but Alaska's copper did not lose in price so much as Min nesota's wheat, or Iowa's corn. Look at it as you will. Alaska is simply going through the wash along with the remainder of the world. It will come out with the rest, and then, able to realize on Its natural riches, will he second to no community In property. No Panacea for Alaska. "It may be said now, as well as later, that there Is no panacea for Alaska: largely because Alaska needs none, but also because Alaskan trou bles flow from the same general causes which piakn troubles else where. The world has burned up so much of Its capital that there is not enough to go around. When the stocks of liquid capital arc restored, Alaska will come In for a better share than ever before has fallen to Its lot. simply because our country. If It clings to stable ways, will be the greatest capital nation. It Imposes no strain on credulity to believe, that when lhat time comes Alaska will go fur ward at such a rate that the ground recently lost, will soon be more than legained, ' The greatest Alaskan Industry stands In an entirely different rcla tion than either gold or copper. I refer to the fisheries which, in pres ent wealth-producing potency, far ex ceed the mines. In fact, the fisheries product is now in value more than double that of nil metals and ma terials. It is too great for the good of the territory, for If it shall con tinue without more general and ef fective regulation than is now im posed, it will presently exhaust the lish and leave no basis for the indus trj Prelect ion Hard Problem. “It is vastly more easy to declare for protection and conservation of such a resource, than to formulate a practicable and equitable program. Fish hatcheries have been established to restock streams, but the results are still conjectural and controversial. Argument is advanced for the aboli tion of one method of fishing in one spot, the condemnation of another type in another, and so on until there is a confusion of local controversies which no specific and exclusive pro hibition will solve. "But there is encouragement in the almost unanimous agreement in Alaska that regulation must and shall he enforced, and we must apply a practical wisdom to the varied situ ations as tlie salvage of the Industry demands. By the establishment of reserves along sections of the coast we have already accomplished much. More restriction is necessary and ur gent. The conservation must be ef fected. If congress cannot agree upon a program of helpful legislation, the reservations and their regulations will be further extended by executive order. Had Wrong Impression. "I must confess I Journeyed to Alaska with the Impression that our forest conservation was too drastic and that Alaskan protests would bo heard on every side. Frankly, I had a wrong impression. Alaska favors no miserly hoarding, hut her people, Alaskan people, find little to grieve about in the restrictive policies of lho federal government. There is not unanimity of opinion, but the vast majority is of one mind. The Alaskan people do not wish their natural wealth sacrificed in a vain attempt to defeat the laws of eco nomics which are everlasting and un changing. I fear the chief opponents of the forestry policy have never seen Alaska, and their concern for speedy AlaskAn development is not inspired by Alaskan Interests. "I have alluded to the threatened destruction of the fisheries, due to ad mitted lack of regulation and protec tion. We have begun on the safe plan with the forests, even though we may have erred in excessive re strictions. With the lesson of forest destruction painfully learned, with the nation-wide call for reforestation throughout the states, which will re quire generations and vast painstak ing, it has been sought to provide for (he utilization of the Alaskan forests and at the same time provide their perpetuation through reproduction." Detail* l . S. I’lan*. The president detailed the govern ment plan for encouraging produc tion of pulp wood and added: “A cord of wood produce* about three fourths of n ton of paper: that fs. the manufacturer pays about 83 cents for wood and water power rights to make a ton of paper worth about *70. Can it bo charged that three-fourths of 1 per cent for these two raw materials i* so heavy a tax as to paralyze the industry? I reply that it is not and that no such charge is seriously made by intelligent and sincere people. “But there is another proviso which the critics protest. We reserve the right, in each fifth year, to revise the cordage price. It may b# raised, but not beyond the price which has FRY'S CLEARANCE SALE STILL GOING ON-AND CROWDED ALL DAY NOW OUR FINEST SUMMER FOOTWEAR AT DRASTIC REDUCTIONS LADIES GROUP NO. 1 LADIES’ FINE, COOL NILE CLOTHS OXFORDS, STRAPSOR SPORT STYLES A Fin* Assortment—Values Up to $6.00 ““ $A90 Sites Broken GROUP ^ NO. 2 Valuaa Up to $8.00 —in— SATINS SUEDES PATENTS KID5KINS BLACK HROWN GRAY AND SPORT STYLES GROUP NO. 3 Value, to d*C 4C $8.50 cut GROUP NO. 4 Value, to d»C AC $10 cut to —LADIES— Table* fre»hened up with wonderful bargain*. Fit jrourtelf at tha*a price*— MEN Every Pair of Oafords Reduced. Brown or Black Kid or Calf. Value* up to C AC $8.00 cut to_ Value* up to >f C $10.00 cut to_ Valitrs up to $7.00 cut l( . PALM BEACH AND WHITE CLOTH OXFORDS Reduced to $.'{.45 «nd $,'{.85 BOYS' OXFORDS Up to $5 00 valuat red u catl to .. CHILDREN S AND MISSES* Every pair of summer oxfords reduced to cost or less BETTER COME IN SATURDAY FRY *HOE CO. COR. lSTh . DOUGLAS STS. been i>ulcl for other timber of like quality uiid In like circumstances during tlie preceding year. We adjust to the prevailing market. Ikies that seem unreasonable? If the same man ufacturer had taken his contract on the Canadian crown lands, he would be subject to an advance of his price at any time, and without such a lim itation; or, if he had bought outright the necessary timber lands to operate a mill for a long period, be would have had to carry a comparatively large initial Investment. 1 venture, with some knowledge of conditions in various paper-making countries, to state that no better contract, indeed none so good, can be secured in any of them. Contracts Satisfactory . "But there is also a protest that the red tape of .departmental regula tion and interference makes it im possible to enlist enterprise which the government in any wise super vises. At this point the answer is easy. This very type of Contract is made by the government with the timbering interests in the national forests in both Alaska and the states, and tho manufacturers have been working under it for more than a decade with entire satisfaction. "In substance, the same considera tions explain tho slower development of the timber industry'. But the time is at hand for forest product develop ment in Alaska. Frankly, I Ao not look for rapid development in Alaska. It could only be had at the cost of sacrificing a few immediately avail-j able resources, and then abandoning the rest. That we do not desire, and will not knowingly permit. We have been told many times that Alaska contains some of the greatest coal deposits known, and I found myself asking why coal is not mined, sold and used. Coal Is being mined, sold and used. It is being mined, satisfactorily and profitably, under the terms of the oomplained agninst coal land leasing system. Per haps the contracts do need slight modification. If Alaska possesses all the coal which the extremists believe, all the agents of greed ever heard of would be insufficient to grab control. The truth Is, we do not know the ac tual extent of available deposits, be cause nature has tossed the coal strata in all directions, and large op erations remain unproven. The navy experiment, where we ventured upon building a modern town before we proved the accessibility of the coal, w'as a notable fiasco, with a deserted new town as a monument to folly. More Capital Needed. "Alaska might well be supplying coal for Its own Industrial and domestic needs, but participation In a big way in the world fuel supply must await big capital in develop ment and aids in reduced transporta tion costs which present day condi tions are slow to promise. The gov ernment has its own railroad in Alaska and we have our own ships which may be assigned to operate in • onnectlon with the railroad, but I can seo no more reason for defying the Immutable laws of economics In providing transportation ut excessive government cost than there is to sac. riflce Alaskan resources to the same unfruitful end. Time and the normal urging of economic conditions w ill bring Alaskan coal into its ultimate own. "There is petroleum In the terri tory. A email production is already nffoYdlng a profitable return, refined in Alaska for Alaskan consumption. There are developments now In proc ess by some of the larger commercial oil Interests, and there aro dreams of measureless oil resources In the most northerly seetlons which are expressed in terms which sound more fabulous than real. barge Investments Demanded. "Here is a discovery' ami develop ment demanding excessively large in vestment, and a venture on the part of capital which the ordinarily Justi fiable restrictions utterly forbid. It i« no project of hundreds of thou sands of capital; it is the quest of the tens of millions, bong distance to ports, the making of available ports if the deposits are proven, de mand that grants of leases be ade quate to fair return for the big ad venture. No native, no individual enterprise is to be hoped for. To uncover the suspected riches there will need be the lure of adequate re turn. We shall have to do whatever is necessary to encourage leasing and development or hold the vast treas ure uncovered and futile. "I have left agriculture to the last, in this consideration of Alaska's leading resources and possibilities. That is because of the conviction that an examination of the others was necessary to understand the agri cultural problem. Our policy toward agriculture must depend largely on the attitude we shall adopt toward these other resources. If we are to turn Alaska over to the exploiters, to have one after another of its re sources wrenched out of it by the ruthless means of mass efficiency, we will never create or need a real agriculture there. "If. for example, we shall go on decimating the fisheries year by year till they have been ruined: and If. then, because a raise in the price of pa'per shall have made it profitable, we shall turn over the forests for a like exploitation anrl a like destruc tion; if, in short, wo ure to loot Alaska as the possibility of profit arises now in one direction, now In another, then We shall never have a state or states in Alaska: we shall never have a community of stabilized society and home people. Depends on Policy. "If that is to be the Alaskan policy, we need not concern ourselves about agriculture. The adventures and casual laborers, the masters of ex ploitation and agents of privilege, will be satisfied to live on canned vegetables and cold storage meat during the brief periods of their trm , porary stays. The slow processes and modest returns of agriculture will not appeal to them, are to make a great, powerful, "Hut if on tlie other hand, we wealthy and permanent community of Alaska; if we ate to place its star In our fjag, to shine for a land of hope and homes and oppdrtunlty for the average man, then we must com mit ourselves to a program of mod eration, of control, of rounded and uniform development. We must en courage the present tendency to Hake homes; to bring wives arid raise families; to regard life in lovely, wonderful Alaska as and end, not a means; we must, If this Is our aim, give especial attention to encourag ing a type of agriculture suited to climate and circumstance*. “We will learn many lessons by studying the methods of older coun tries with like conditions. The fed eral government has done something, but ail too little, along this line. We may well be geperous in encourage ment to tlie technical, scientific and demonstration work of the agricul tural agencies, W'e will need to help the Alaskan farmers to help them selves. The Alaskan farmers are makjng fine progress, but in this direction I would urge government interest and aid on a scale which is more liberal. Highwa>* receded. “In anoftier direction there is justi fication for a most liberal disposi tion, that of road and trail building. Much of the Alaska which will, in another generation, he rich and pro ductive, is yet unexplored, to say nothing of ls>!ng mapped and equip ped with highways. There should be an organization capable of the rea d;-st re*|>on** to demands f- r roads and trails. No discovery of riches should lie kept from rational develop ment for want of access to it. Roads constitute a prime need in every new country, and our long national ex perience in pushing our highways ahead of the enrolling wave of Kettle ' merit ought to convlnc use that th' broadest liberality towards roads in Alaska will lie certain to bring mar.. fold returns. "Aside from all this, there is the. necessity to provide feeders for th» railroad which the government has built and Is now in operation. More than 1*58.000,000 has lieen spent on this 500 miles of railroad. It was not built in the exiiectation of im mediate or even early profit; rather, it stands in much the same relation to Alaska that the Union Pacific d.d to our widely separated ocean fronts, east and west, when it was con structed far In advance of economic justifications. It is a pledge, a tea timony of faith, a declaration of firm confidence in the future of ail Alaska. It is but a beginning, as the present road system is but a beginning; and I am willing to tie charged with a purpose of something like prod.gai ity in my wish to serve Alaska gen erously and more, in this matter of road building.” , Tribute To Builders. Mr. Harding paid a high tribute to the men who built the Alaska railroad "for the skill, wisdom and patience with which, through all dis couragements and multiplied ob stacles, they persevered to the finish. "They have given us a splendid rail road and as they have built It miracu lously, it is our determination to re tain it and to operate it wisely, with a view to the broadest public inter est and the Sincerest concern for the territory’s future," he added. "L'nlefs: I am greatly mistaken, this gor geously scenic route of 500 miles, through a riotous excess of nature's beauties and wonders, is destined to attract travelers from all over the world as soon ».s report of its attra^ tlons Is commonly circulated. "In that connection, I think our policy, in cooperation with the hos pltame people of Alaska, should be to invite and encourage travelers to *this new domain. We can afford to make provision ahead of their com ing: for I pledge you they are cor (Turn to I’Mjr# Thr##. i oiumn On#.) August Fur Sale Begins Monday, July 30 See Our Window Displays ^lioiiipson.Mcn&Ca Savings of 20% to 331/3% Month End Sales k i I Osnnpn ,€>d6en & Co. Final clearance <^f many summer stocks bring greater reductions than usual in the Month-End Sale for July. Note these good bargains for Saturday: MONTH End Sales Thompson-Belden Special Silk Hose $1.39 This reduced price on all shoe shades (black and white are not included) of our famous Thompson-Bel den hose is the feature for the first day of the Month End Sale. It will be genuine economy to outfit yourself completely and even tuck away an extra pair or two for an unexpected gift occa sion. Main Floor All Women's Bathing Suits V2 Price Saturday Second Floor Free A Vogue Autumn Fashion Book free with each $1.00 Vogue pattern sold Satur day. Second Floor Jersey Silk Lingerie Reduced Most attractive sets of vests and step-ins or French draw ers in flesh and orchid. Hem stitched. ribbon and lace trimmed in novel designs. Reduced to $3.95, $4.95, $5.95 and $6.95. Second Floor House Dresses $1.49 and $1.95 Continuing our sale of ging ham home frocks which has brought them flocking to the House Dress Section in their enthusiasm over these re markable values. Still a good selection of colors and sizes. Second Floor Boys’ Wash Suits Reduced to $1.49 Oliver Twist and middie styles in our special “Peter Pan” suits re duced for Saturday only. Mostly short-sleeved models in all white, dark blue, tan and combinations, sizes 2 to 6 years. Second Floor / Any Cotton Frocks I * $5.95 \ Just about 50 of them left— ■ pretty voiles, organdies, lin ens and ginghams. Not one of them but has been twice this price and many of them far more. For the six weeks of summer ahead, this low price easily merits the selec tion of one more cool frock for vacation, business or club wear. Sizes 16 to 20 only. Third Floor Month-End Sales of Pumps and Oxfords Reduced to $6.95 Smart styles for street or dress, in cluding black and brown kid ox fords with welt soles and military heels. Strap slippers in brown kid. patent leather, brown and black suede; also patent pumps with sand quarters. Reduced to $7.95 Cutout sandals in the newest color ings—red. tan, green and gray trimmed with patent. Mam Flo r Any Parasol in Stock Beautiful embroidered ami ruffled parasols with unusual handles. Many originally twice this price and more. Main Floor Linens 20% Off During the Month-End Sales our finest handmade linens will be offered at this sub stantial reduction. Handmade Filet Lace Piece?. Madeira Luncheon Sets. Italian Hand-Woven Linen Pieces. Embroidered Pillow Cases. Madeira Napkins. All 20% Off Main Floor Month-End Sale of Silks May Queen crepe, a striking white silk skirting w i t h black striped design, re duced to the exceptionally low price of $1.49 a yard. Figured silk crepes, a good selection of printed Persian patterns for blouses and small conventional designs for dresses, now only $1.39 a yard. Pongee. 12-mommie. Jap anese pongee, a great bar gain at 95c a yard. Main Floor Wash Goods Reduced For the woman with a needle and the imagination to pic ture these lovely fabrics made into engaging frocks or blouses, here are some wonderful possibilities: Printed Dress Voiles, 37c. Cotton Suitings, 29c. Imported English Voiles, $1.49. Odds and Ends of Fine Novelties, 59c a Yard A table of imported ratines, embroidered tissues and lace voiles, at but a small frac tion of their original prices. . Socond Floor Purchase* Charged During This Sale Will Appear on Sept. 1 Statements
