-—— The Morning Bee MORNIN G—£ V E N I N G—S U N D A Y TIIK UEK PUBLISHING CO.. Publisher. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Associated Press, of which The Bee is a member, !• exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this paper, and also the local news published herein. All rights of republication of our special dispatches are also reserved. BEE TELEPHONES Private Branch Exchange. Ask for the Department |nntio or Person Wanted. For Night Calls After 10 P. M.: | naa Editorial Department. AT lantic 1021 or AT. 1042. OFFICES Main Office—17th and Farnam Council Bluffs—15 Scott St S. Side. N. W. Cor. 24th and N. New York—World Bldg. Detroit—Ford Bldg. Chicago—Tribune Bldg. Kansas City—Bryant Bldg. St. Louis—Syndi. Trust Bldg. jOS Angeles—Higgins Bldg. San Francisco—Hollrook Bldg. Atlanta—Atlanta Trust Bldg. WOMEN WAR ON IGNORANCE. A rfote of optimistic resolution rings through the slogan of the Nebraska women, adopted at their Beatrice conference. "No illiteracy in the United States in 1930,” a cry that will surely attract atten tion, is really a call to arms. In it is found an echo of a general movement which has support all over the land. Americans were awakened by the war to the fact that lack of letters was growing faster than meant for safety in the country. Not only was It the alien coming to our shores who had no knowl edge of how to read or write, nor the American negro growing up in ignorance in the south, but such a number of native born whites as amazed those who had thought the splendid public school system of the United States was doing its full work. The census of 1920 shows that in a total popula tion of 89,739,315 of 10 years of age and over, illiterates numbered 4,931,905. Of these 1,242,572 were native born whites, 1,769,740 were foreign bom whites and 1,842,161 were negroes. While this shows a notable and encouraging decrease from the totals reported 10 years earlier, it also gives an idea of the job that is ahead. Much work has been done, especially in the south among the negroes, to decrease illiteracy by getting the children into school, and even in some instances the adults. However, stricter attention will have to be paid to the observance of laws that exist, providing for compulsory education. Not so much new laws, but better enforcement of those on the book is required. Women will help mightily in this undertaking, by the exercise of their tremendous influence. The safety of our institutions rests on the intelligence of the citizens, and this in turn depends on the ability of the citizen to understand what is going on around him. To do this he must be able to read and write. HEALERS WHOSE ART IS NOBLE. Three thousand American specialists, gathered in convention at the Chicago meeting of the Ameri can College of Surgeons, paid a tribute to the good old family doctor. They but join themselves with millions who sing the praise of the patient, devoted men in whom science has not put out the light of human understanding nor dammed the flow of hu man sympathy. In his day the general practitioner, or family doctor, was the best loved and most useful man in his neighborhood. With pill and bolus, plaster and poultice, he soothed the ills and lightened the miseries of uncounted millions of his fellow mortals. He brought them safely into life; he tenderly watched over their infancy and childhood, sharing with mother and grandmother all the anxieties and worries that beset the care of little dnes; he fol lowed them through callow youth and sturdy grown up life, and not infrequently he sat beside them as that life slowly went out, a friend and sympathizer, on whose counsel they might rely and to whom they could confide the deepest of their secrets. Specialists are all right; they have their place in the world, and through their single-minded pur suit of particular knowledge have brought much of good to mankind. Yet they can not advise in all matters, and so must leave a great deal in the healing line to others. Many become dogmatic because of their uneven training, but the old family doctor becomes more catholic in his beliefs and practices each day he lives. He will listen patiently to any plea or tale, and is not always above trying an old woman’s remedy. The art pf healing has made great progress since the days of Hippocrates, but it has not entirely out grown the fundamentals of the most ancient of physicians. Exorcism and magic draughts are abandoned, and nature’s own methods are given more of a chance nowadays, but where it is vital to assist nature in her fight against the evils that beset mankind, confidence will rest on .the doctor whose kindly heart and gentle manner begets that feeling in the sufferer. All who can aid when help is needed are useful, and among them high place and honor must go to lhat man whose knowledge of human nature is as broad and as general as is his understanding of the medicines he prescribes. His ministry is a holy calling, as is that of any whose life is given to the amelioration of the ills that beset mankind, and most of which are endured because of lack of understanding of simple laws to follow which brings harmony and happiness. THRILLS THAT DIE OUT. “Well, you've got to give us credit for one thing. We never took any Fords. Our speed was 70 miles an hour.” The speaker is an old and tested freebooter, aged 15, boasting to the police of his exploits in taking automobiles for the purpose of joyriding. He, with three others around his age, wns looking for a “thrill.” A recently published cartoon has for its title a line suggesting the despair of a boy whose father declined to adopt labor saving devices, saying that as long as he had a growing boy at home he would stick to old-fashioned ways. Boys who have tasks at home seldom get arrested because of their quest for thrills. The first boy, who had stolon rides in other people’s autos, has brought shame and sorrow into a home whose light he was. Father and mother took pride in him, and mingled love with their pride, so that he had as much as they could give him. This wns not enough. Home life lacked the kick, the punch, that he thought necessary. His adventurous spirit led him on, and now he is in jail. Seventy miles an hour was his speed. Kntirely too fast for a 15-year-o!d boy to travel. Faster, too, than he ever will go agnin. Other boys should think of this, when they are tempted to go search ing for thrills. The biggest kick in life cornea from doing right, and the false excitement of doing wrong always brings the headache that follows getting caught, . WHO OPENED THE MUD VALVE? Careful perusal of the statements made by the engineers and superintendent of the plant with reference to the breakdown at the Minne Lusa pumping station last August leaves the mind cold. None of them touch the spot, which only one dis closes. Accepting each statement at its face value, and agreeing that at the time referred to, the low pressure pumps were being driven beyond a safe speed, the great fact is left that a danger which developed and was known to all in authority around the pumping plant is left unexplained. The public had been requested to go easy on use of water; restrictions had been laid on lawn sprinkling; apology had been made for the unusual turbidity of the water, and generally signs were given that the plant was under a strain. This can be understood, and shows that the men in charge were aware of the thin ice on which they were skating. It was not a leaky pump that opened that mud valve. However old and decrepit the machinery may have been, it went bravely on, pumping all the water the city was using, and at least 2,600,000 gallons a day that did not get into the downtown mains, for it flowed directly back into the river. Wornout machinery can not be blamed for this. Somebody opened that mud valve. Whoever did it was not experimenting. It was a deliberate act, intended to accomplish just what followed. Superintendent Hunt is quoted as saying that it “roared like a young Niagara.” Through it ran back into the river water that might have saved (he need of opening another valve that allowed the “soft, creamy mud” to get into the big«mains and so pollute the city’s supply. Such a deed is a crime that deserves punishment. Whatever puts the health and comfort, the lives of ail the people, into jeopardy is evil no matter In what form it appears. Pollution of the water supply of the entire city has the aspect of attempted mur der on a huge scale, and the perpetrators of such a deed should be hunted out and properly dealt with. A grand jury should be called to make such investigation as is needed, to fasten the guilt on the right man or men. So far as the inquiry by the directors of the Municipal Utilities district goes, it is bringing out statements that are astonishing, because of the disclosures they make. None of these, however, has shown any sign of the trail that leads to the parties who are responsible for the open mud valve. Do not leave this in the great collection of un solved mysteries. REMOVING A PRESIDENTIAL BURDEN. The Scottish Rite Masons in Washington who refused to add to the president’s burdens by sub jecting him to a long handshaking ordeal, not only earned the president’s gratitude but set an example that should be followed by others, individually and collectively. In the old days when travel wras difficult and visitors to Washington comparatively few, it was all very fine for the president to hold receptions and shake the hands of all who passed along. The lines were not long, and it looked, and was, very democratic. The president then could spare the time for the receptions, and the ordeal of handshak ing did not tax his physical ability. But it is differ ent now. Our presidents are severely taxed, men tally and physically, by the arduous duties of their office, and while it may gratify the pride of visitors to Washington to be able to return home and say they have shaken hands with the president, it reelly serves no other purpose and it does demand too much from the chief executive. The old fashioned custom of presidential recep tions should not be abandoned, but some of the features connected therewith might well be abolished, and chief among them is that of requiring the presi dent to stand in one spot for hours at a time and shake hands with the hundreds who pass by, a ma jority of them merely actuated by idle curiosity or seeking to gratify their pride. It is a terrific physi cal ordeal. Just how much so is well indicated by President Coolidge’s letter of thanks to the Masons for their thoughtfulness in not compelling him to submit to it. Nebraska beef is feeding folks on board United States vessels, yet there is no novelty in that, for Nebraska still furnishes materials for thf world’s breakfast, which, according to Strindberg, is pre pared in Omaha. Twenty-eight thousand billion cells constitute the electric battery that keeps the human frame in motion. Just remember this the next time a tele graph operator tries to impress you with a view of the battery room. The Louisville Courier-Journal says both old par ties suffer from lack of leadership. Maybe it would be better to say each has too many leaders going in different directions. As far ns it has gone the inquiry into the mud dy water affair shows that somebody failed to look after something that should have been attended to at the time. French duels are forbidden by law, but that doesn’t make them any more laughable when one does come off. We may not have the brown October ale, but we do have a full chance to revel in the golden October sunshine. Homespun Verse —By Omaha’s Own I’oet— Robert Worthin^lon Davit BLISSFUL BLESSEDNESS. It’s fine when the children are playing and shouting their Jubilance gay. • And when they are tenderly saying their prayers at the close of the day. You feel the content that Is dearest of all that Ib Joyous and bright— You kIss them and leave them to slumber and dream with the passing of night. Yfars pass, and you watch them grow older with wondrous enjoyment and pride. They b arn from your virtuous teachings by nil that Is good to abide. • With fervor of mothers and fathers you sen them go die tantly then To meet with true courage and mnater the problems of women and men. At length when the children have prospered and you are decrepit and gray. You view them again In your visions, you kiss them again, nod they play Their games with the erstwhile elation. Your goal Is attained, and you weur The smiles of the proudest of parents for all of the blessings you share. “From State and -Nation” Editorials from other newspapers. Will the Law Ever (let This Fellow? From tlie Sidney Telegraph. Doesn't It beat h-- how some peo pie can put on "dog" with other peo ple's money? Yes, we have them in Sidney, just the same as they have them In every other city In the coun try. It Is the crime of the age. Many things are responsible for them. Among which are the craving for luxury and pleasure, jealousy, snob bery, damfoolery a lax system of credits and our bankruptcy law. An honest debt is not a crime But when a man contracts a debt which he knows he cannot or does not in tend to pay, it is a crime. It Is not a crime to sport a fine automobile, or to dress In the heigth of fashion or to take pleasure trips here and there as the fancy dictates, or to give mag nificent parties, or to neglect your business to play golf. But it Is a crime for a man to let hls grocer hold the sack for a year’s supply of gro ceries and the landlord for the rent, and the coal man for the winder's supply of coal, and so on down the line when he has money to blow in for his personal luxuries. Such a man is a crook, pure and simple. And yet, they get by. How they do It Is more than we know' How a man can braz enly enjoy luxuries when he knows and almost everyone else In town knotjs that he can't pay his grocery or coal bill, is more than we can un derstand But the shame of the thing does not seem to penetrate hls ch.1 loused hide and he goes on enjoying himself as long as hls creditors will stand for It, and then, when they get too warm on hls trail, he resorts to the bankruptcy court and comes out with s smile of content as though he had honestly paid all hls debts And then he Immediately finds an angel in disguise wjth money for him and he blossoms out with a new car and all of tfie other luxuries and he takes hls place In the business or so cial world with never a thought of shame. You know the kind of a jas per we mean—every community has them. It Is not a disgrace to go through bankruptcy. Many and many an bon est man has failed In business and the bankruptcy court has been a bless ing to him And on the other hand, it has been abused by many ar.d many a crook. When Senator Curtis Hode the Tonies. From the Kansas City Times. It has Just "come out" In Washing ton that Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas was once a race horse Jockey. Senator Curtis himself made the ad mission after witnessing the Interna tional race last Saturday between Zev and Ptpyrus. Out In Kansas the story Is an old one. Senator Curtis, as a boy, rode o» the race tracks of Kansas. Mis souri and Indian Territory, and, If truth must all come out. he was known as a "corking good Jockey.” Among the well known race horse owners of the early days In Kansas was Ci 1 “Dan" WagstafT of Satina. After retiring from the turf Colonel WagstafT was for years a justice of the peace and police judge In Sallna, holding one or the other of these positions almost until the time of his death, which occurred only a few years ago. Hut Colonel WagstafT was something more than a race horse owner. He was a politician of the old school and was a power In fifth district political affairs. He was a contemporary on the race track and In politics, of the late "Uncle Cv” Le land, who also was a breeder of race horses at bis Doniphan county farm. Colonel WagstafT never tired of tell ing of the days when "Charley” Curtis rode his string of horses in the racing days of Kansas When the young m m began to ride the political horses. In later years, he found men like Col, “Dan” WagstafT ready to het their money on his races, and they "backed” him in a most effective way in his political ambitions. And, for that matter, the way Sen ator Curtis, as "whip” of the repub lican majority In the United States senate, rides the grave and dignified senators In the parliamentary races in that body today might suggest to them that he has not forgotten some of the old Jockey tactics. A Chirp From Hernstorff. From the Louisville Courier Journal. Count von Hernstorff, former Ger man ambassador to thu United Stntes, Is an ardent advocate of the League of Nations and of his country's en trance therein. He thinks the league is growing in Influence and regards the Corfu development as a triumph for It. Jn that affair he says the league's 'object has been attained. Daily Pray or Save Thy people, and bleee Tlllne In heritance—p*. |i,f Our Gracious and kind Heavenly Father! We lift our hearts to Thee at dawn, though we painfully recog nize and feel our nnworthtnees of Thy uncounted mercies which are new every morning and fresh every eve ning. We throw ourselves upon Thy clemency. Put Thy protecting hand, with Its tender touch, upon our droop Ing heads, and though we venture not to look up, may wo hear Thy reassur ing and forgiving voice. Here we are grouped together at the foot of Thy cross, becnuse we know Thou hast room for us all In Thy great yearning heart. We long for Thy tender caress and Thy smile of forgiveness. Put about us Thy everlasting mighty arms, and carry us safely through this day. As we take up life's business afresh and hasten nut Into the wild hurry of the world, be Thou ever near us. He Thou our traveling companion. We need Thy presence every p issing mo numt. For the gift of Thy Son, our adorable Christ, we thank Thee, O God. He brought eternal calm to our surging hearts, and made our sin tat tered lives to rejoice. Give us a new vision of Him ns we toll this day. May we see ths rift In the clotils os we look up to behold Him. Soften our hearts, direct our thoughts, steady our step, and shelter us by Thy rare until our traveling dnys are done, we humbly ask til Jesus' name Amen. REV. K W MUELLER, CI®vp!»nc1. *"* NET AVERAGE CIRCULATION for September, 1923, of THE OMAHA BEE Daily.72,518 Sunday.75,912 Doe* not Include return*, I'-ft overs, sample* or papers spoiled ifc printing and Includes nr special tales. B. BREWER, Gen. Mgr. V. A. BRIDGE, Cir. Mgr. Subscribed and sworn to before ms this 8th day of October, 1923. W H. QUIVEY, (Seal) Notary Public What have you seen? Are you ever attracted by the voice of the world of nature which surrounds you? The Omaha Bee welcomes letters from readers on observa tions of nature. An Intelligent Dog. The fast mall was speeding west ward, 60 miles per' hour. About a half a mile ahead ft man on horse back, assisted by a flog, was driving a herd of a dozen cows along the road that parallels the railroad track. When the cows heard the train coming they broke into a run and scattered in several different directions, several running in the track ahead of the fast approaching train. The man tried to drive them off, but his horse be came frightened and bolted with him. Then the dog, seeing the danger these few cows were in, ran on ahead and drove them off one at a time, Rnd as the last cow left the track, Just as the locomotive passed, the dog Jumped off. barely missing losing Its own life. It all happened Inside of 30 sec onds. E. P. ROGERS. What more is wanted? The Italians got out of Corfu, and If It had not been for the league they might still be there. I think the conflict re sulted In a victory of public opinion over the policy of might. Italy yield ed to the public opinion of the world I hick upon the league as a public hail for dealing with world ques tions. especially those of Europe.” And Bernstorff has poignant reason to regret that there was no such pub lie hall In 1914 . Sink-king the Public. From the Louisville Courlsr-Journsl. Rudyard Kipling belongs to that class of Individuals who, to gain ad ditional advertising, shock the public It Is immaterial to him whether his sub acid remarks, his departure from conventional usage, make people mad. so long as he attracts attention. To say the unusual thing he feels It in cumbent to jolt his hearers. It was so with his "American 'Notes." It was equally so with "The Vampire" and "The Female of the Species." It was strikingly set forth In his de scription of the water that Gungha Din carried to the wounded soldiers. As rector of St. Andrew's univer sity. Scotland, It Is only natural to find the old Kipling in his inaugural address Speaking on the subject. "The Glorious Privilege of Indepen dence," he declared that the first use man made of speech when he evolved from a monkey was to tell a lie So much for the Initial shock. Now for the Kipling broadside: "That w is a frigid and calculating He, .Most fortunately we have no rec ord of the meeting of the world’s first liar with the world's second liar, but from what we know of their de scendants today they were probably of opposite sex and married at once and began a numerous progeny." The rag and the bone and the hank of hair had to be brought Into It. or it wouldn't have been Kipling. Neither would it have been Kipling if the re mark hid been other than acrimoni ous. It was Intended to shock, and no doubt It accomplished Its purpose. No one knows how Pithecanthropus Erectus or the Neanderthaler man first utilized the power of speech It is merely guessed at by a study of the growing vocabulary among infants, and its first use was no doubt for the purpose of acquiring food. Lying connotes a reasoning power that neither the infant nor the brutish savage has acquired. It comes at a later ago and in a later period of de velopment of the race. Man. how ever. naturally fell Into the habit, till David said in his haste ail men are liars, to be branded himself as a liar by the syllogism of the logician. It Is not necessary to apply the syllogism to Kipling. lie only meant to shock his hearers, and since they were university students, with their min is still filled with Illusions, hts audience was Woefully lacking in ertnK that all "just pow ers of government are derived from the consent of the governed." L. K. ALDER. _ i For Traffic Safely. Omaha —To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: The undersigned Is very much In favor of a motorist licensing law being passed at once or as soon as possible. You might Include that In order to drive an automobile there should be certain limitations 011 secur ing a license. First, one should not be less than IS years of age. along with the othei necessary qualifications. A violation should mean confiscation of the auto mobile of no( less than 90 days and n greater period aceordlng to the of tense committed. R. H. SULLIVAN. j Old Friendship Recalled. Orchard Ranch. Wood. 8. D. J —To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: I was very much pleased to read In The Onishn Bee the con gratulatlon expressed by Mr. Robert 8. Obcrfeldrr of Sidney, Neb., on your article. "Up and Down and Round About Omaha," with which I heartily agree, and to learn that ni> good old friend of yore. "Boh" Ober folder," Is still In ll. : an«I of the llv ing and "lets the folks know he Is In town," as he did nearly £0 years ago on the frontier. C. P. JORDAN. Examinations for Drivers. ' Omaha—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: Every driver should be required to pass an examination be fore bring issued a license to drive. Any one arrested for driving a car when not the holder of a license should he given a Jail sentence. In case a driver Is convicted of reck less driving or speeding, he should forfeit his license for 30 days: sec ond offense he should forfeit It six months, and third offense should for feit his license permanently PETE WENDELL. The Spice oj Life - -— —— Coca—Have you read "To a Field Mouse?” Cola—No, how do you get 'em to listen?—Purple Cow. Paul—I'd go through anything for you. Pauline—Let's start on your bank tng account.—Melbourne Punch. Some so called open minds should be closed for repairs—Arkansas Thomas Cat (Hot Springs). "We want a man for our Informa tion bureau," said the manager. He must be a wide-awake fellow and ac customed to complaints." "That's me." replied the applicant. ■‘I'm the father of twins '—Cornell Widow. "Yes, my 'usband s laid op, a victim of football." "But I didn't knew 'e even played the game." "’B doesn't. 'Ee sprained 'is larynx at the match bast Saturday!" —The Passing Show (London)._ Abe Martin O’ course ther’s no yaks in this country, but jest th’ same we’ll bet King Ben, wanted at Benton Har bor, 'll be glad when th’ huntin’ sea son's over. Ther's no fool like an ole fool, an’ if he happens t’ be rich he’s himself his only parallel. (Copyright, 1921-! Milking a Patient Cow. * Something having been added to the wages and profits of these who have gained much througn war inflation, something tnay be taken from those who have gained nothing by It. But this is not a method which appeals to common sense of equity. Or if it C ould l)o .Something. It isn't as If the league of Nations had nothing to do—Toledo Blade. r x Cranberries are economical They are easy to prepare and there is no waste. Cranberry Sauce served with beef gives zest to the whole meal. Now is the time to buy for preserving. A recipe folder, containing many w»ys to use and preserve cranberries, will be sent free oo request* ■ AMERICAN CRANBERRY EXCHANGE, 90 W. Bro.dw.r. N.w York. Typewriter (ANY MAKE) • M Lowest Rates in City j Free Delivery d All Makes Typewriter Co. INCORPORATED 205 S. 18th St. AT Untie 2414 Pioneer Cords {Long Endurance Cord Tires) ^eal Quality at Prices Less Than Others Made in Omaha and Sold at Factory Prices WHY PAY MORE? Manufactured by Overland Trail Rubber Co. Omaha, Nebraska Distributed by PIONEER TIRE SALES CO. 2048 Farnam St., Omaha FOR RENT Double store, ground floor Peters National bank, with large basement, vault and storage space. Inquire Treas urer, Bee Publishing Co., Km. 204, Peters NatT bank. I ■ ■ ' 1 ~~ CLEAN-EFFICIENT FOR EVERY PURPOSE Updike Lumber & Coal Co. FOUR YARDS TO SERVE YOU