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About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1924)
I Oradhd Vhefe the^kst is at its Best COOLIDGE CALMS A STORM. I , | Just when the big navy ami the little navy groups In 'congress had the decks all cleared for a glorious rumpus, the president steps in and stops the fuss The United States, he says, will maintain an ade quate sea force, well equipped and manned, and al ways ready for its proper service. But any lace for extension of armament will be'carried on by the participants with Uncle Sam on the sidelines as a spectator. Whether or not this involves the reported split betwen the president and secretary of the nav) is not of present importance. If Secretary Wilbur finds his views running counter to thostj of his su perior, his recourse is always at hand. When the naval appropriation bill passed the •house, it carried $8,000,000 more than was allotted for the current year, and still was $1,000,000 under the budget estimate. This seems to be in line with the president’s policy. Provision is made for certain new construction, but not enough to carry out in full the plans of the big navy men. Repairs and alterations on existing ships are provided for, and when the work is done, twelve vessels will be added to the first line. That is sufficient for the present, according to the president's ideas. Calvin Coolidge is not a pacifist, in the ordinary acceptance of the term. Nor is he moved by the pictures thrown on the screen by the jingoes. Steer ing a straight course, he is keeping clear of danger on either side. Under his care both the army and navy will he kept in good condition, ready for the duties required of them, but never a menace to the world nor a burden to the nation. Jingoes will not like this, but the people trust Coolidge, and congress is inclined to go along with his views on these matters. UNCLE SAM IN THE AIR. General William B. Mitchell, chief of the air service of the United States army, gave a committee of congress some fundamental facts in regard to military aviation. General Mitchell is not an alarm ist, nor a jingo. He is a sincere officer of the army, anxious to acquaint congress with the situation as it exists. His statement that in an emergency only about 450 fighting fliers could be assembled indi cates the lack of trained men available. We have no doubt that General Mitchell also ap prised the committee that if the emergency was at band and the 450 pilots assembled, more than half of them would have to stay below, because the army has mot enough fighting planes to send them all up at once. Also, he must have told them that the great army training fields. Brooks Field and Kelly Field, are so poorly equipped that students and in structors alike arc hampered for the want of com mon conveniences. Temporary buildings, hastily erected during the war, designed to last no longer than throe years, still are being used. Even of these there are not enough. Officers and men are housed .in quarters that remind the visitors of what mining camps looked like in boom days. At Brooks Field a class of 250 student fliers is getting along with equipment that might serve 100. If a fire were to get under headway at one end of either Brooks or Kelly, the entire field would he swept, and the army would he left practically without any flying ma chines, for most of them are there, stored or housed In buildings of pine board construction, which would burn like haystacks. The consideration of this phase of the queation by congress should come first. Even if the force of trained fliers la to be increased, some provision must be made for giving them training. Our air aervice deserves better treatment than it has had. « JONAH’S GOURD NOT IN IT. There may have been a time when Jonah’ gourd held the record for rapid growth. But along came the- automobile, and the growth of the automobile Industry marfe Jonah’s gourd vine look like a turtle's Tac« for a spend prize. -But the growth of the automobile industry Is rot the speed record now. Along came the radio, and all previous records were shattered to smithereens. Ten years sgo the radio was not. Five years ago it was an experiment. Today It is as common as an old shoe. In 1920 the total gross sales of radio products amounted to $2,000,000. In 1921 the sales more than doubled, reaching $5, 000,000. By that't.imc the radio industry was just beginning to speed up. In 1922 the sales amounted to $60,000,000, an increase of 1,100 per cent over 1921. That was going some. In 1923 the sales amounted to $120,000,000, and then radio was hit ting in high. The 1924 sales will approximate $375, 000,000. Five or six years ago none at all; today a tube-receiving set in every eighth home. Six years ago nothing at all; today $3 invested in tube-receiv ing sets for each man, woman and child in the United States. It does not seem possible, hut, there ere the facts and the figures. A quarter of a eentury ago an automobile on the street instantly attrneted n ernwd of curiosity seek ers. Today there is an automobile for each two families in this eountry. A dozen years ago some fol(j believed that, the automobile industry had reached its peak, it hadn't gotten away to n good start. A year or two ago the radio was a fail. T->day it is as firmly established ns the automobile, the combined harvester, canned goods and ready-to wear garments. It has broken all records of develop ment and is today the fastest growing industry in the world. To say it “grows like Jonah’s gourd" no longer conveys .the idea of speed. It only serves to remind one of the slow flow of molasses in January. The radio’s the thing. WORLD NOT YET IN A GROOVE. Adjournment of the narcotic conference to a date in January, when the American proposal will' be considered, suggests that an effort to reach a sat isfactory adjustment is seriously being made. Cer tain of the great powers are not quite ready to accept the original plan from this country. We have urged that the production of opium and other narcotic' drugs be restricted to the needs for medic inal use. England, Japan, Persia and China have chiefly objected to adopting regulations so strict. For this measure there has been substituted a plan to set up a government monopoly in those coun tries where opium smoking is chiefly indulged. A modification proposed by the Americans at the con ference is that this monopoly reduce by 10 per cent each year the amount of drug produced. In this way by the end of ten years the traffic will be wiped out. It is on the latter proposal discussion will turn when th* conference resumes its sittings on January 10, next. The vote taken on the original proposal for prohibiting the traffic probably indi cates that the amendment is foredoomed to rejec tion. Nations that object to prohibition of narcotic drug traffic are those whose citizens are most ad dicted to the use of the drugs. It is a social and religious question, rather than one of politics. The political aspect is incidental and not fundamental. Efforts to suppress the drug traffic in the United States may suggest something of the immensity of the problem in lands where such self discipline as we know is entirely wanting, and whetre self-induigenee is a rule and not an exception. Human nature in its elemental manifestations continues to provide the most obstinate material re formers have to deal with. Nowhere is it less ob durate or responsive than in those lands where drugs are habitually used by the masses. Out of the con ference may come some good, and Americans should not be disappointed if the desired restrictions are not immediately applied. HIS PRAYER WAS ANSWERED. "Here with my battle before me; God of the fhjhtlng elan, Grant that the woman who bore me Suffered to suckle a man.” This closing stanza of one of John G. Neihardt’s poems was a favorite of Samuel Gompers. He had one other prayer. "If God will preserve me from poverty, I will see to it that I escape wealth,” he said to his life-long friend, George W. Perkins, pres ident of the Cigar Makers International union. There is a creed that may well be adopted by men. Gompers did not disdain wealth. He knew the value, the power, of money as well as anybody. All he asked, though,- was sufficient to keep him from want. His mission was service—to do the work of a man. How well he served may be noted in the presence of powerful unions of workingmen and women. These were built up from struggling bands of helpless and despairing, sometimes desperate, workers. Industry has been changed, text books on political economy altered, social life ameliorated, not by revolution lut through evolufion, of which process Sampel Gompers was but an instrument. "Grant that the woman who bore me suffered to suckle a man!” The sorrowing throngs that have gathered along the route to pay tribute to the dead man passing to his long home give the best proof as to whether his prayer was answered. History will deal with him, and whatever the verdict, it must rest on the fact that Samuel Gompers strove to serve mankind. If this is a fair standard for judging, his mother indeed gave suckle to a man. YULET1DE AND THE FADING FOREST. Argument arises about this time each year as to the cutting of young evergreens to he used as Christmas trees. Whether the practice is justified or r.ot, it is true that each of the pine or cedar saplings represents a potential sawing. Also, it is just as true that few of these ever would come to the saw log stage of development. Therefore, if tho sapling is to serve any good purpose at all, it might as well he used as a decoration for the delight of little chil dren. If the cutting of evergreens for Christmas use is properly rarried out, the loss to our forests will be slight. Charles Lothrop Park puts the proposi tion fairly when he says that conservation really is proper use of a resource. In this case, the young tree that may never grow up is actually put to use. Unless the cutting leads to the denudation of tracts where new forest growth is springing up, or is de structive in other ways, good will probably come from it. Nature thins out forest, growth in her own way, and will not take it ill of man if he give some assistance. "The wnman tempted me and I fell” is the ex cuse offered by men who arc always looking for something to stumble over. James B. Duke has given forty millions to edu cation and social uplift. That is a fine Duke's Mix ture of philanthropic effort. Samuel Gompers, foreign-bom, set a good ex ample of Americanism Hnd patriotism to many native born sons. Suggestion for sub-zero weather: Contribute something to The Omaha Bee Free Shoe Fund. f 1 —... .. » Homespun Verse —By Omaha's Own Poal— Robert IVorthinfiton Davie k_/ THE "POOR” MAN. Tho poor man pnu*od * momont or# To work hi* otop* must lend; Ifo itammfrM fonrfully, "I* th#r* A film* you do not nood7” Sh* an*worod, “No!”—HI* wif# wn* sho Who onoo hud studlod !»w, Ami practiced It at homp bocau** Bcrauip, Ha! II*! Ha! Ha! Tho poor man wont hi* woary wny# • To oatn tho brans and boof To Jmirnoy horn** at rIo*o of day, An«l find (Ha! Ha!' rollof of monoy bunion*, a* It wor#. Sim h boro* bo had not nno } ’»*< ahho ho kiivp tho rn*h to hor A* *oon n* day wn« don*. I la' I la! Ha' Tla! Tho moral goo* With nollhor drum nor 11 fo That overy mail tho woman know* Jlyfore aho in li 1 ^ wife* “There’s Life in the Old Girl Yet” L _ — — — f 1 |_— *■ \ wvMnbvmftinnTmr'rAiui, j YOU MIGHT NOT THINK IT VVIIICN SIIK S GOING TOWAKIIS TOWN __ ■ ■ -- ■ i ¥ --:-^-7-1 Letters From Our Readers All letters must be signed, but name will be withheld upon request. Communi cations of 200 words and less, will be given preference. 50-50 On Plnlo. Sheltofl, Neb.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: Would you value the comment of a small town wife and mother on the opinions of the es teemed Dr. Pinto of your city. I most heartily agree with Dr. Pinto In regard ti# medical examina tion prior to marriage. It would cer tainly Insure n better birth right for our children and a better and stronger race of men for our future nation. I think It would eventually eradicate all venereal diseases, which would be blotting out our greatest social evil. But I do not approve of Dr. Pinto's Ideas on automatic separation of child less couples. He must be basing h's ideas on present clay opinion, that the m^lern woman objects to the rearing of chil dren. Since there is so much Illegal prevention of. child birth by un scrupulous doctors, the popular belief seems to he that any woman who re mains childless Is patronizing such a doctor. Little any of us know the tragedy that may underlie such m marriage. , I think his medical examination prior to marriage would virtually de stroy most childless marriages of that sort, since people unable to rear chil dren are usually unfit for marriage. Again, you take two people who have lived together two years child less. their affections are undoubtedly more closely tied to one another than If there were children. Such a thine as personal right must he considered, of course, and even in Instances of any kind we need quality Instead of quantity In our children and auto matic separation of two devoted peo ple would be a sin against the laws of God and man. I believe If more marriages were made to stay and di vorce were not so easy to get we would all ta> richer and happier. A DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER. Hods .Are Not Discouraged. Omaha.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: During A. Mitchell Palmer's reign of terror, the t'nited States did II» l>c*t to crush radical ism. but failed I'nder the dictator ship of Mussolini. Italy la making the same attempt and without success Now comes France with an Identical mandate agalnat Inevitable move ments In the mtnda of men. France will fall, aa the T’nited States failed, and as Italy la falling. Look at hlatorv. As long as pagans pre.lomln.ited, Christians were perse cuted, but Christianity lived on. Where Catholics were In power Protestants were persecuted, hut Pro. testantlam thrived. When Protestants could do so, they persecuted Catho lics, hut the Vatican and all It stood f--\ Abe M dr tin • sA i - . J Hr. Mnpp* wui finally apprehend ed (hi* mornln’ nn' hastily Mimtnon ed t' th’ home o' Ike I,ark, on Mr*. I.ark ferjjot nn’ left her uran'paw on lh' porch over nijrht. Joe Mean* i* *o poor nn' trllln’ that ther'a an other now haby at hi* homo. lCop)rrl*ht. ia2* > l for remained a power In the world. In nujr own "land of liberty" aboil tionists were denounced and mobbed and killed, but a few years later a president of the l.'nlted States emanci pated the slaves, and a monument now stands at Harper s Ferry to John Brown, who died in a vain attempt to stir up a slave rebellion. Kven liberal conservatives, who eschew the methods of violent Intol eranoe, will not obtain peace and quietude. Progress will not perndt peace. To fall back on history again, ihe Kmperor Constantine, disturl>ed by the disputes of contending Chris tian groups, expressed himself thus: "These sre silly actions worthy of in experienced children and not of priests or reasonable men. Restore to me, I pray you, my quiet days and my nights without anxiety so that I may for the future know the charm of the pure Joy of life." What good pur pose those earls disputes served, even many of the faithful have failed to discover, but It happens that Constan tine was disappointed. No more at tention was paid to him than If he had been the humblest slave in a world of slaves instead of the head of a mighty empire. Read history and reflect that his tory repeats itself. If radicalism, as expressed by the communist move ment Rr by any other movement. Is going to succeed, it will he because of Inherent, constructive elements thst force it forwaard: pcrescutlon or soft persuasion will be weak before It. To the extent that radicalism is fundamentally destructive. It cannot succeed permanently, and no move ment. though powerful, can change this fact. If only governments and ruling classes would give us a rest! I’p to the present time they' have been the most stupid things in creation BPMl'NU R BRCMRACOH. .Iu«t Another Chip. Tchltcherin. foreign minister of soviet Russia, has sent a peppery note to government* at large that the Arctic islands north of Siberia helong to Russia, must be recognised as Rus sian and Buffer no more from trespass than anv other bit of Russian terrl tory There may be soma question about the claims since all that was cxarlst is not Russian under th* bol shevlsts Yet It Is unlikely that any government will he foolish enough to raise an argument over the point. The soviet regime Is forever placing a chip on Its shoulder and daring out When in Omaha Hotel Conant 2.50 Rooms—250 Rath*— Rates S2 to $5 FIREPLACE "URNISHIHGS I 1 rvTh Make Excellent Xmas Gifts Sunderland Bros. Co. Id Floor, Sunderland O'dg , 1Sth and Harnay. siders to knock It off. This Is con sidered Rood internal politics. It keeps the mass of Russians feeling that they have to stick together and main tain a belligerent front toward the world less that same world come in and gohble them up.—Toledo Blade. LEAVES FROM TFJE POOKj OF NEBRASKA.’ Before the Bridge was Built YEARS after the rails had been pushed from the Missouri ro the Pacific, there was no railroad bridge over the river at Portsmouth. In sum rier this w ater gap was crossed by fern . In w in^er a temporary bridge was built on piles driven through holes cut in the ice. During the cold weather the ice held the bridge firmly in place, l>ut w ith the coming of spring, the bridge went out w ith the ice. ' It is said that at one time tracks were laid directly on the ice for the aassage of engines urgently needed west of the Missouri. The early record of Nebraska is one of difficulties overcome. The un chronicled history of many a plain homesteader is a record of unflinching courage in the face of bitter disappointment. In spue of Indians and de- ^ stroying insea pests, crop failures and blighted hopes, he refused ro sur- j render and lies in an unmarked grave or under a crude headstone — a • e* founder of Nebraska's greatness. / ‘ 1 The same qualities explain Nebraska's achievements and progress. Where it one of a Nebraska produced 65.000 pounds of creamers butter 32 years ago, today A strut tf adnrttst- she produces 65,000,000 pounds, and Omaha is the greatest burter-making mutts in uhkh btstortt Clfy jn the w orld. Nebraska's milch cows now number half a million. KXwj In"'!M Within a year or two her dairy herd will be doubled. She can profitably ^ he featured, if ye* keep millions — and she will. urtu^th Stand- Industrially. Nebraska gains steadily. One of her great smeltug plants atrd Chi Company tf produces more pig lead than any other smelter in the world. Her sugar tCehrasha and the nrn- refineries produce 150,000,000 pounds of sugar annually f ror, Nebraska fleleseriesutUkmatlrd raised beets. gt you at lion at tbt last admrtuemtnt bos During her rapid growth Nebraska needed many things. Kerosene for mppeartd. light and cooking, gasoline for automobiles, trucks and traaors. were as no.cssary as feed for live-stock . IL A pioneer in the field, developing a supply service that has kept step with Nebraska's requirements, the Standard Oil Company ot Nebraska is the servant of all the people — in town and country. Chartered under Nebraska's laws, directed and operated by Nebraska residents, and doing business in practically no other state, this company is a home institution that shares Nebraska's ups and downs and sinks to its job. STANDARD OIL COMPAM OF NEBRASKA AU.* <>/.r OMAHA Brju.b Cftat: LINCOLN HASTINGS NORTH PLATTE ^ ’ A. H. RICHARDSON GFO. M SMITH H. ^ PIER PONT C N. HI MPHREY I . Prtndtnl Ym-Fwtdml Sti.-Tnat. An* G»*. ■'d{r. | -»■■■—'» ■' ■■ luNNY SIDE UP 11 Hake Comfort.nor forget ** t]hat Sunrise ^e\/erfailed V V - - -- ■■ s f AVe strive always to be fair-minded, and make earnest ef fort to be of even tem|>er. Prejudice Is foreign to our soul, and temperamentally we are loath to res-nt Indifference and neglect. But now and then we do lose our temper and allow the flame of prejudice to flare up, while we indulge in vitriolic language. To stand shivering on a corner, waiting for a tram car that Is sorely belated, our face puckering up in the freezing wind and our feet becoming like unto blocks of marble—and then have the first ding blasted car that comes along sail quickly by with out hesitating—well, you know how It is yourself. Bight then and there you make up your mind that the tramway company can go hang; that you'll fight anything it asks for; that it Is a grasping soulless corporation indifferent to the public, and vou'll be everlastingly gol swiszled if It will lie accorded any thing if you can help it. And there isn’t anything the tram way company can do or say that will make you forget tbosa freezing moments, either. Kvery now and then the newspaper writer's foot slips and ! he makes a wrong quotation or a statement that does not square with the facts. Then he gets called down numerously, artistically and emphatically. Kdltor Byckman of the i-remont Tribune Is now recovering from tlie effects of letting his foot slip. The other day, referring to the election of a couple of women to the office of governor, he Incidentally remarked that “the next objective for the female of the species is to get a woman's face on a postage stamp." Then came the deluge. Sarcastic women wrote In and asked Kdltor Byckrnan If he had ever seen a -Trent stamp, others sent him Trent stamps, all canceled, of course, and Others adv.sed him to go to kindergarten again. Still others, not so still, either, called over the telephone and chided him for his Ignorance. AVe've learned our lesson. Now and then, In the course of our work, we feel impelled to quote a little scripture. Although we lay claim to a bit more than a j-assing acquaintance with the Bible, we never undertake to quote it without getting the old book down anf carefully copying the verHe or verses we want. There is only one verse therein that we would under take to quole from memory, and that one has only two words. N Not long since we tried to quote a stanza from memory. It was an old limerick, too. And we got It wrong, whereupon 'be avalanche fell. AS’e may be wrong, and we usually are, but to our mind tlie solution of our university problem is easy. I-et there be established a University of Athletic- where there will be no studies and only football, baseball, basket bull, sprinting, ham mer-throwing, shot-putting and kindred sports taught. Then let the old university be dedicated to old-fashioned education calculated to give the students a better foundation upon which to build their after life. Nebraska IJmerlck. A thirsty young man in Superior Consumed lots of liquor inferior. , • And the Illicit stuff 1 Cut up didos so rough It mighty near wTecked his interior. J Yes. we have the eggs and sugar and nutmeg, and ample fa ,lilies for bringing the water to the proper temperature. Al-o spoons and mixing bowl, and experience in the mixing. Only one ingredient is lacking wherewith to make Christmas eve reminiscent of other Christmas eves of the past. • Much a« we are opposed to the enactment of additional leg islation, we are in favor of Passing a Law making it a penal offense to write it ‘'Xmas." WILL, M. MAUPIN. t ■-^ '
