The Morning Bee M O R N I N G—E VENlN G—S UNDAY TUE BEE PUBLISHING CO.. Publisher. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tb« Attcciateri Press, of which The U«*e Is a member, is excluslvelj WtlLled to the use for republican on of all uews dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this paper, and also the local news published herein. All rights of republications of our special dispatches are also resened. BEE TELEPHONES Private Branch Exchancd. Ask for the Department AT lantic or Person Wanted. For Night Calls After 10 P. M.: Editorial Department. AT lantic 1021 or 1042. 1000 ' OFFICES Main Office—17th and Farnam Co. Bluffs 15 Scott St. So. Side, N. W. Cor. 24th and N New York—286 Fifth Avenue Washington - 422 Star Bldg. Chicago - - 1720 Steger Bldg. NATURE SPOILS THE MOON’S ACT. It was very unclubby in Dam,e Nature to inter- • pose a cloud screen something like three miles thick between the eclipse and the astronomers. We can have fogs any day in the week, almost, especially on the Pacific coast, where at least once every twenty four hours everything is blotted out by the gray veil the old Pacific spreads. Eclipses, however, are of rare occurrence, and such a favorable opportunity for observing one does not come twice in a life time. Astronomers knew this, and they were hot after results. No greater assemblage of genuine enthus ists ever sat down before a more magnificent collec tion of instruments. The barrage of devices was in tended to wrest from the sun secrets hitherto, and yet, for that matter, puzzling to the scientists. Not only would the observations disclose new wonders, but they would afford opportunity for a checking up on-previous conclusions. One of these is the Einstein theory that rays of light are bent by gravity, and that the sun itself is not where we see it but some distance, even in astroromy, off to one side. Observations taken during the eclipse of Septem ber 21, 1922, in the south seas, when the totality lasted six minutes, or twice as long as that of Mon day, brought varying results. One group Of scien tists holds that Einstein was splendidly vindicated, an other that he was utterly upset. It was up to Old Sol to referee this dispute, and probably he would, but here comes the fog bank and the clouds, and so the matter will have to go over under the head of unfinished business. Not until 1925 will the inhabitants of the United States get to see an eclipse of the sun again. We will have to worry along until then, not knowing whether the rays that come from the god of day fol low the shortest distance between two points, or if they go dodging around like an Omaha pedestrian keeping out of the way of automobiles. However, we can get plenty of proof from these pedestrians that the rays come straight enough in July. BATTLESHIPS TO THE DISCARD. General Pershing, speaking at the dedication of a memorial to the founder of the Pershing family in America, says the world nee(Js our help, and pointed out that the best and most practical plan at this mo ment is to give that help by maintaining our own high national character. This may seem just a little far-fetched, especially to those who are bent on rush ing in and taking the brunt of the world’s troubles on our home shoulders. Its more definite aspect is that America, by holding aloof from broils and dis putes where her presence will aggravate rather than pacify, remaining firm and steadfast in her promise to aid in all proper ways, docs more for the good of the world than would otherwise be either possible or practicable. How is the example of our country doing good for all the others at times? That question can not be answered readily, because it is not at all certain just what the effect of our influence is, other than the reasonable assumption that it is for good. One thing must impress all the world. The United States government is preparing to scrap eleven great bat tleships, from its first line of naval defense. These are not obsolete vessels, worn out in service or back numbers, but the newest and latest. Among them are the South Dakota, Indiana, Montana and South Carolina, each of 43,200 tons, veritable Leviathans, but devoted to destruction rather than to peace; the Constitution and the United States, each of 43,500 tons. None of these is fully completed, and each will be sold and broken up for scrap metal. After these are disposed of, the Iowa, Massa chusetts, Constellation and Ranger of the same class, will go under the hammer, and then will follow the New Hampshire, Louisiana, Georgia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Michigan, Kansas, Vermont, Nebraska and Delaware, all ranging from 12,000 to 16,000 tons, floating fortresses, a navy any nation would be proud of, but sacrificed on the altar of peace, an earnest to the world that Uncle Sam meant what he said when he promised to reduce his naval arma ment. Is such a show vain, or will it convince the world of the sincere purpose of the United States in its professions of peace and helpfulness? As long as the mightiest nation on earth can voluntaiily forego any advantage that would come from its strength, and be content to settle its disagreements with other nations by peaceful methods, depending on justice and right, rather than strength, the case for human ity is not hopeless. Uncle Sam is surely leading the way. WHAT ARE BRAKES FOR, ANYWAY? “My brakes were not working very well since Friday,” explained the driver whose car had nudged another. “Fifteen days,” responded the judge. Sounds harsh, but it ought to be a warning to the man who goes out to drive, knowing his brakes are not working. A young man is held to await trial for man slaughter, his victim having died in the hospital a few hours after the accident. “My brakes did not hold,” the culprit explains, yet he was starting out to do a day’s truck driving around the crowded streets of the city, without having made sure that hia brakes were doing their part. Warning does no good, it seems. Otherwise the "number of traffic accidents would be greatly les sened. Drivers depend on their brakes, but appar ently do not make sure when starting if the me chanical device can be trusted. Usuully the first in timation the driver has that something is wrong is when he tries to stop and the brake does not re spond. Fifteen days in jail may seem a heavy dose for a little negligence, but it does not look so big when the possibility of that negligence developing into the death of some person is considered. And that is al ways present. Most drivers realize, and all should, that safety rests on vigilance, and should know that every part of the mechanism of the enr is in good order before starting out to mingle with the grent crush of cars that crowd the thoroughfares at all times. Human life is too precious to be exposed to the carelessness of a driver who sets out, knowing that hia brakes are not working well. Some communities are still arguing the price of gas, but Omaha is doing very well, thank yov HOLT COUNTY IS SEEING THINGS. More than twenty-five years ago, long before the Wright brothers had snatched the secret of flight where Langley had missed it, Omaha got all excited over mysterious lights that appeared in the sky. Reputable citizens testified to having noted the phenomenon, and much speculation was indulged as to the meaning of the portent. The easiest was that some unknown inventor had mastered flight, and was giving his ship mysterious tests after night fall. Beatrice came to the front to back this up, one of tha enterprising residents of Gage county having discovered the ship at rest between its den in Kansas and its goal at Omaha. That passed in time as a new wonder came up to occupy public at tention. Holt county comes forward now with another, and seemingly different set of lights to mystify behold ers. The Omaha light looked like a huge lantern hung in the sky; the Holt county lights are ghostly manifestations, traveling in groups, and behaving after an uncanny fashion. Explanations so far evolved are but guesswork, and do not contain a sug gestion of the real solution. If it were Indians alone, one,-might think they had been worshiping too devoutly the god whose service requires the indulgence in peyote. No drug, not even hasheesh, is provocative of such weird dreams as follow a mild dose of peyote, and when too much is taken ghostly lights are the least of what one sees. But we do not suspect the whites of Holt county of following an Indian fashion, and some other cause must be sought. Whatever it is, the portent is not horrid, for the life of the region goes on otherwise, following its placid, orderly course. We suggest that Marshal Denny Cronin give his office to one of his subordi nates for a few days, while he goes back to O’Neil and sets things in good running order again. They never had those lights while Denny was sitting on the lid. ONE WON AND TWO LOST. Conciliation has won another outstanding triumph in the anthracite coal industry. Despite the tact that the miners stopped work more than a week ago, the adjustment was reached rather on a basis of understanding than of yielding to force. Against this outcome must be contrasted the spectacle of Greece, submitting practically to terms dictated by Italy, because the great tribunal to which the Greeks had appealed for justice found itself unable to do justice. Poincare, looking ahead to November, when the general election is to be held in Fiance, rejects an offer from Germany that contained all he can possi bly hope to get, through force or otherwise. Ger many must kneel to Poincare, or there will be no peace in the Ruhr. The effect of this must be plain to all men. Force can hold what it seizes only so long a3 it is dominant. Soon or late, justice will assert sway, and the edifice raised up by force will crumble. Italy may hold Corfu, extending its domain so as to command the whole of the Adriatic; France may retain the Ruhr, with its rich resources of fuel and other valuable deposits and advantages. Yet both will have to an swer for this in the future. Dictators are not nice things to have around at any time, but the world miglft profit if some great international Pinchot could call the contenders to gether and keep them in conference until a settle ment is reached. Nations are but miners’ union and employers’ associations on a larger scale, and could settle disputes by agreement rather than by might. The League of Nations can not do this, it seems; where will we turn for the relief the world needs? OLD OCEAN’S TERRORS FUTILE. Small wonder that the mind of the early sailor was disturbed by thoughts of the monsters that dwell in the deep and-reach out to grab the unwary mariner to drag him to his doom. Whirlpool and cross current, tidal wave and fog all worked to gether to confuse the men who went down to sea in ships, and the thought is not that exploration was so long delayed, but that ever men were found with courage enough to venture into the unknown. Americans are just furnished an impressive illus tration of what it means to combat the mighty forces of the ocean Seven splendid ships of war are lying on a point of rocks, not in the wilderness, but off the shore of one of our most enlightened states. These ships were manned by the most expert of sailors, men whose skill and ability as navigators had been tested in the severest of practical work. During the dark years of the war these men were accustomed to go out in the fog and the storm, through the blackness of night, with no lights or other method of guidance, and not only to retain formation, but to pick up convoys and guide them safely into port. The wonder of that will never be exaggerated. It was not lack ot skill in seamanship that brought about the terrible wreck at Point Honda. Unu:nal currents, begotten of the dreadful calamity that overtook Japan, 8,000 miles away, seized these vessels and pulled them far off the course they were thought to be following. No science can meet this on the ocean veiled in fog. Man loses such a con test against nature. Twenty-two gallant sailors are gone, seven ships are wrecked with all their costly equipment, and the nation is shocked by the incident. Men will not be daunted by this, nny more than they were by the first shipwreck. Always there will be going and coming over the waters, just as on the land, and the knowledge that disaster is possible but adds a little savor to the adventure. Man’s houI is above the ocean's sway. Gretna is the latest Nebraska town to go in for paving. They are all doinpr it now. _« ______________ Homespun Verse —By Omaha’s Own Poet— Rttbcrl Worthington Davie WHEN A BABY LEARNS TO WALK. You can please the little children wllh sweet* nm1 other things. And admire their ways of thanking yon whene'er they smile or talk— But lovelier and dearer Is the happiness Hint cling* To a cherub on the morning when ho first begins lo walk. • Out he holds his hands uncertain ns he toddle* o'er the floor. And his pride In every gesture, every liny step Is shown. While he wenrs a smile that parent* lmve lo envy und adore. For he feels as big ns duddy when he lairs n slip alone. You can satisfy a cherub with bright colored gifts and such. You ran buy him toys snd dollies that close Ihelr eyes and talk— But the prettier things you get him don't please him half as much As the thrill he feels nod shows you when he first begins to walk • v e \ “The People’s Voice” editorial# from roadtn at TM Moral*# Boo. Reader* of The Morning Boo aro Invited to um thli column freely for oxproeolon oa matter! ot public loterest. Lax on Motor Tags. Omaha.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: The auto dimmer iaw is not the only one not enforced. Ta. n, Irr* Httii, < ‘n1 NET AVERAGE CIRCULATION for August, 1923, of THE OMAHA BEE Daily .72,114 Sunday .75,138 Do** not Include return*, left ! over*, **mp|*s or paper* spoiled ir punting and Include* nr- special ■a)**. B. BREWER, Gen. Mgr. V. A. BRIDGE, Cir. Mgr. Subscribed and sworn to befnro si* tbls 4th day of September, 19251. W. H. QUIVEY, j (Ssal) Notaiy Public, h Fifty years ago Inventive fenlua ran about the name gamut aa It doen now adays. and produced aome thinga aa Interesting snd as uaelesa as any that are turned out by Industrious men to day. One of these was a desk In tended for the personal use of General Grant, then serving hla first term as president. Read the following descrip tion, printed In The Evening Bee of Thursday. January 24, 1871. and try to imagine a bualnesa man of today sit ting In front of such a desk to do his work. • '‘PRESIDENTIAL. PRESENT. "A Magnificent Desk Forwarded to Washington as a Gift to General Grant.” “yesterday afternoon there arrived in this city by the Union Pacific a magnificient piece of handiwork in the shape of a desk which was being taken on to Washington as a gift to General Grant from the builder. Fred erick E. Schultze of Bozoman, 100 miles from Helena, in Montana Terri tory. It was shipped in four sections, or boxes, and a description of it, ob tained from one who knew all about it, is well worth producing for the perusal of our readers. It was mod eled after a rock at Wind River, and is four stories in height. In the first story there is a book stand on each aide, and in the center there is a place for a seat. The second story is a secretary, and is composed of three revolving cylinders, which, upon merely touching a spring, can be turn ed around, bringing into view six drawers, a mirror, Inkstand, pigeon holes, etc. A library for fine books composes the third story, while the fourth is an arch which can be re volved so as to show either side. The desk, when placed into position, is 11 feet high. Nine hundred feet of cedar and 200 feet of pine were used in its construction, and It consists of 4,109 different pieces, and not a nail or screw can he found In it, none having been used. The weight Is 2,300 pounds. The ornamental work is of the most ingenious design, being inlaid, and of the finest polish. "Two years were consumed by'Mr. Schultze, assisted by his son, Fritz, in building this remarkable piece of fur nlture. It was all done by hand, there being no machinery In Bozeman, which Is a place of only about 300 in habitants. "Prof. Hayden, who when he was west saw the desk, say* that it is one of the finest pieces of workman ship in the world and he is lending some assistance to Mr. Schultze in bringing it to Washington. An inflti entlal man named Beck has already gone on to Washington to make prep rations for the reception of the desk upon its arrival there. "Mr. Behultze Is an old friend and acquaintance of the Krutll brothers of this city.” were compelled to show up every day. perhaps given a few hours of work, perhaps a full day. hut many tinv* returned home with tbeir lunch boxes without any opportunity to get in working time, and that day after day The only benefit. If the worker did not walk to work, went to the street railway. It took action by the gov ernment itself to relieve this situation, but since the recent strike of packing house workers a reversion to former conditions Is taking place, according to reports by workmen. The Inspiration for this letter came through a talk made by a South Omaha preacher to his congregation In which he dwelt on the so-called ah normal wages demanded by some classes of workers. He said the labor problem would never be solved hy in creased wages. Every thinking labor ing man agrees with him on that be lated assertion. Many workers real ize that the wage question as at ; rea sent handled Is simply a game of run ning around in a circle, with t'ne worker gradually losing just a little more ground In the race to keep up with the cost of living. Every time he gets a 10 per cent raise, for in stance. the cost of living Is boos. Ml 15 or 20 per cent. When It Is re called that the whole scale of Uvn g In the United States has increased TO to SO per cent since before the war. some of the so-called exorbitant wages present a different light. Usually when those much talked of exorbitant wages are Inveatigattd thoroughly and honestly It will o* found that they are not so exorbitant as our friends the enemy would h.-ve the public believe. Unquestionably some labor organizations at times use their power unrighteous!v and selfish ly, many times in connivance with equally unrighteous and selfish em ployers, but they are the exception, not the rule. Until some panacea Is discoveied nnd applied it se-ms that the only thing that can he d< n» In the attempt at solving our tndu. trial problems is to keep on runnln.t around in a chela — the continued rr.ee of wages trying to catch up with the cost of living. 1. f. COPKNHARVK. “From State and Nation” —Editorials from Other Newspapers— Economic Law In the "Sporting” World. From th« New York Times. The postponement of the boxing match between Mr. Leiner, alias Leonard. the world's lightweight champion, and Mr. Carrora, alias Dun dee, the world’s featherweight cham pion, ought to put a stop to some of the cries for government regulation heard lately among followers of the boxing industry. We have had many shakings of the head over the exces sive number of world'* championship battles set before the public this year. Friends of the people have complained that boxing fans were being forced to mortgage the old homestead or fall behind In the rent in order to buy ringside seats at all these attractions. These (amenta were loudest among those who for one reason or another wanted to set other attractions before the customers; but whatever the in spiration, the remedy was always the same. The government muet do something about It to save the con sumer from his Irresistible tendency to consume. In the Leonard-Dundee case some thing has been done about it. The fight has been postponed, and may never be held. The matchmaker who called It off seemed to feel that rev; erence for antediluvian tradition re quired him to give a reason appealing to the public’s sense of sportsman ship. He said that Mr. Dundee had fought an obscure Mr. W'agner In Philadelphia and thereby shown him self to be In poor condition. Mr. Dun dee, a Scotch-Italian—and the recent and well remembered Baron Sonnino taught the world that the Scotch Italians are a canny race—proclaimed that he was in perfect condition. But Mr. Leonard, as shrewd a business man as ever canceled an order, let out the true reason. Mr. Dundee had made a bad showing in his combat with Mr. Wagner, which disillusioned prospective customers for his next fight. It was not so much that Mr. Dundee was In poor condition as that the advance sale was in poor condi tion. It was not a question of an un satisfactory fight, but of an unsatis factory gate. In other words, our old and reliable friend the law of supply and demand Is working In the fight business Just as It works everywhere else. The supply of Leonard-Dundee fights, al ways abundant, has at last exceeded the demand. The natural result Is a buyers’ strike. There Is no need of governmental relief to the oppressed consumer of ringside tickets; when he is sufficiently oppressed he will take care of himself by staying at home. The Incident also has a bearing on the attempt to stop the Dempsey Firpo fight by Injunction. Mr. Harry Wills, an Afro-American, has long wanted to fight Mr. Dempsey. Mr. Jack Kearns, secretary of state and of the treasury' In Mr. Dempsey's cab inet. Is not so eager to let his artist fight Mr. Wills. So the courts are asked to keep Mr. Dempsey from fight ing Mr Flrpo and to make him fight Mr. Wills. numwr or people nave nemanneo a Dempsey-Wills fight ns a matter of justice, but very few are asking for It as a matter of business. Whether or not Mr. Flrpo Is a Imilt-up fighter, a great many people t^Ke him seriously and will pay cash to see him do his stuff this week. Mr. Kearns, who was rot above digging up the burled sock of the Montana peasant in his search for gold, wouldn't pass up a tight with Mr. Wills if it promised any great sum of money. Whatever the courts may decide about the technirn’lties of the boxing commission's rulings, it would be better to keep government out of business and lei economic laws take their course. Nobody fights for fun any more: fight managers are and have to he close students of the public taste. A buyers* strike can bring any of them to reason. An Early Minnesota School. From the St Paul Dispatch. "The opening of the school year in September.” remarks the Minnesota Historical News, “recalls one of the earliest experiments In education within the boundar.es of the present state of Minnesota—the *I.ake Har riet Mission School for the Sioux'.” Jebediah Stevens, the missionary, in 1816 established a day school and hoarding school for "Indian children of pure and mixed blood” on the shores of Igike Harriet In 1S36. It was taught by a niece of Stevc-ns. and had disciplinary regulations of a rigidity which St. 1’aul children, about to resume where they left off last June, should contemplate with thankfulness. The students rose at 5 a ni and re tired at 8:30 p. m. The day was strictly portioned out. The rules pre scribed "Eight and a half hours for sleep, six hours for study or school hours, four hours for labor, three hour* for meals and family worship, two and a half hours for recreation.” The children were taught spelling, reading, arithmetic, geography, speak ing and other useful things, and. ap parently. were most apt students. Tons dering everything, it is permis sthle to speculate whether elementary education has progressed so much, in point of results, since Miss Stevens' experiment In 1836, as we moderns like to believe. Loc usls as Food. From the gait Lake Tribuna. The pioneers of I'tah were plagued by locusts and saved by sea gulls, ac cording to the chronicles of the early days In the Oreat Salt Lake valley. The crops of the farmers tn other portions of this country used to be frequently destroyed by gnisshoppers ! and locusts The Indians made use of the pests for food, and we recall the fact that Prof C V. Riley, the famous entomologist of Missouri, w ho was afterward called into service at Washington, dried grasshoppers dur ing the plague of 1 sT4 and ground them Into powder and made soup and IMPORTANT CHANGE IN SCHEDULES ROCK ISLAND LINES Effective Sunday, September 9 No. 302, Des Moines passenger, will leave Omaha at •540 a. m. daily, instead of 7:00 a. ro., arriving at Pes Moines at 11:35 a. m., and connecting with No. 10, leaving Pes Moines 11 :15 a. m. for principal stations east to Chicago. For further information apply: Consoli dated Ticket Offica, 1416 Dodga atrart: Union Station or J. S. McNally, D. P. A.. S10 W. O. W Bldg . Omaka. bread of the flour so obtained. Not being reduced to the point of starva tion. the western people refused to go upon a grasshopper diet. The bureau of agriculture of the Philippine Islands, recently ravaged by locusts, lias issued a bulletin con taining recipes for cooking locusts which will Interest the curious. These recipes follow: Preparation—Pour alive into boiling water. Spread out on shallow trays to dry'. Trim off wings. legs and tip of body Remove hood, which can easily be done by separating the head first. Rinse in water. Small locusts need not have legs removed, as they are tender Locusts can be preserved by drying them In the sun for several days. Langostas on Tomatoes—Boil lo custs In vinegar, crushed garlic and salt for about five minutes. Take the semi-cooked locusts from the Are, leaving the pan—carajay. Put on this pan sufficient lard, sliced onion, salt and plenty of sliced tomatoes, crush ing ingredients together as they be come tender. Then add the semi cooked sancochado—locusts-t-and let boll slowly for about 10 minutes. Langostas on Pina—Prepare as above, only after the ingredients are crushed a w-hole pineapple cut to small squares should be added, lastly the semi-cooked locusts. Adobe de Langostas—Boll locusts for about 10 minutes In sufficient vinegar, salt and crushed garlic, and when the vinegar dries off fry in lard. Settling Europe Ourselves. From th* New ork Sun. With an abruptness which is start ling Mr. Fred W. L’pham, treasurer of the republican national committee, seeks to inject Into the Hughes reparation plan an energy In which it has up to the present been lacking. The appointment of a commission of experts appears to be a sound method of procedure; but the disinclination of the French either to allow such a commission to be appointed or to abide by its findings has bo far given to the Hughes suggestion an aca demic flavor, and has reduced the republican reparations policy to scarec-Iy more than a detached atti tude. Mr. Upham would solve the difficulty’ by one stroke If Europe wjon't appoint Its own committee, the United Htates should appoint one for it: and if France will not accept the findings of a committee of American business men. we should press her to do so by calling the French loans That the United States could lay down its own reparation terms, and then Insist upon them through the medium of Vhe loans, has been ten tatively in the minds of many: and while the experiment of haling a con tinent into bankruptcy court would be distinctly a novel one, it has nev ertheless seemed that as creditors we have some rights. It is this spirit to which Mr. Upham has for the first time given expression. A cursory acquaintance with international psy chology would scarcely lead to the be lief that Mr. Upham's plan would prove practicable; hut for the fact that this Is the kind of thing which it is now possible for an Important repub lican politician to tell an American audienc, in the full light of day should provide M Poincare with food! for thought. A ytar ago it would not have been possible Abe Martin “Well, we only live so long any how,” said Joe Moots, cannydate fer sheriff, when told that th’ office wuz a man killin’ job. We’re be ginnin’t’ wonder what we'll have t’ be thankful fer Thanksgivin’. Copyright, 1*21. Moving Day. The semi annual price hike fdr mov lng and transferring in Chicago is now In effect, due to the great de mand upon movers' services at flat dwellers' migration time. Which re calls the experience of one Kansas City migratory bird that It has been cheaper to move right on October 1, the busiest moving day. than on any other clay in the migration period, for the reason that men who work by the hour move along faster on that day than they do on other days when there are fewer jobs to be moved.— Kansas City Star. Cal “Courage.” Kustis Lake Region says "Coc.lidge and courage sound a good deal alike.” Well, the former will have need for quite a lot of the latter when It comes to meeting the demands pf the small fry" politicians.—Florida T'.mes L'nion. RIDE IN THE «. NEW V-63 Cadillac Building TODAY A revelation in smooth ness—a new style. "Expect Great Things” Typewriter -~Vj (ANY MAKE I J) Loweat Rale* in City Free Delivery 4 [ All Makes Typewriter Go,1 INCORPORATED 205 S. 18th St. AT iantic 2414 Money to Loan on i Omaha Real Estate ^Conservative Savings6loan association /&'/<&■ Af