* I ^H I Omaha Vhefe the^fest is at its Best ■ " HEADING AWAY FROM WAR. President Coolidge said in his message to con jress lest December: ‘‘America has been one of the foremost nations in advocating tribunals for the settlement of inter national disputes of a justiciable character. Our representatives took a leading part In those con ferences which resulted in the establishment of the Hague Tribunal, and later in providing for a Per manent Court of International Justice. I believe it would be for the advantage of this country and helpful to the stability of other nations for us to ad here to the protocol establishing that court upon the conditions slated in the recommendation which is now before the senate, and further that our country shall not be bound by advisory opinions which may 1>$ rendered by the court upon questions which we have not voluntarily submitted to its Judgment. This court would provide a practical and convenient tribunal before which we could go volun tarily, but to which we could not be summoned, for a determination of justiciable questions when they fall to be resolved by diplomatic negotiations." * * * Therein is stated most dearly and concisely the case of the World Court as it applies to the United States. Senator Borah, chairman of the senate commit tee on foreign relations, is opposed to the World Court, as he was to the League of Nations. His pa triotism is unquestioned, but his judgment is at variance with that of others as eminent and as de voted to the interests of his country and humanity as he is. It is not a question of “My country, right or wrong,” but rather of “My country, may she ever be right.” Under the terms of the Hughes’ reserva tions any question may be withheld from the court, if in the opinion of the United States authorities it should be. Nor must we answer to the court with out our consent. This is the very essence of the process of estab . lishing right without the display of might. It is the tribunal of the weak in dealing with the string. It is the real refuge of the mighty when imposed upon by the feeble. v • • • The people of Omaha are intensely interested in this question. A mass meeting has been called for Friday night, at which the subject will be discussed. The action of that meeting will express the senti ment of the community. It is not a pacifist affair. Men and women who love justice and equity, as well as peace, and who will fight for a righteous cause, are moving to secure the establishment of right by the course that will avoid war. It would be a splen did thing to round out the career of Charles Evans Hughes, by the adoption of the World Court resolu tion before his. retirement on March 4. WHO TWISTED ‘THE LAW? Senator Cummins, one of the authors of the present transportation act, says the law was de formed after it had left the senate. In its present condition, it is unworkable, not only as to consoli dations but in other regards. This statement from the surviving author of the measure is interesting, hut not startling. Those who have watched its ap plication have generally expressed a belief that the law is inadequate as well as unworkable. It may not be worth while to pursue a search to locate responsibility for the changes made in the bill after it left the senate. All are not attributable to the work of congress, although many of the pro visions, such as the labor board and that for group ing the road3 into operative systems, came from legislators whose desire to help led them into theo i tzing and experimental trials. Failure might not have been foreseen, but it certainly has followed. •Alfred F. Thom brought the admission from Sen ator Cummins. Mr. Thom, general counsel for the Association of Railroad Executivesr was pleading for a modification of the law to make selective grouping the plan instead of compulsory. His idea is the sound one, on which all the future service of the great transportation systems rests. We have had many examples of the sort, the result of effort on the part of great leaders, and they worked well. Under McAdoo we had a try at the forced consolida tion of service, and it worked very poorly. The government might well try to assist the railroad managers in this matter, rather than to continue the policy of restriction, which does not help to'a. eolutio^ of the greater question. • , ' DEMOCRATS STAND UP. When Senator Robinson of Arkansas took It upon himself to rebuke Senator Norris of Nebraska for criticising the president of the United States, a rather pretty issue was joined. The first impression Is that the Arkansas senator followed the advice Hamlet gave hfs*mother. He assumed a virtue, whether or not he had one. Simply made a pretext in order to acquire a little additional credit for do ing something ho^intended doing all along. That if, to vote against the Norris bill and in favor of the Underwood plan for disposing of Muscle Shoals. Senator Norris differs widely and honestly from the views of the president, on many matters of do mestic policy. Mr. Coolidge has frankly declared his opposition to government ownership or opera tion of any project that can be efficiently managed by private owners. Senator Norris is as frankly committed to t.he opposite view. He believes in pub lic ownership and operation. For many years’ he hat advocated development of water power by the fed eral government, and his bill dealing with Muscle Shoals is merely a part of^i great superpower vision he entertains. One of the outstanding characteristics of Norris is his inability to compromise or co-operate. His views must prevail. He will not submit. Other senators hold different ideas. Consequently the senior senator from Nebraska finds iimself frequent ly very lonesome because ha k at odds with all the ethers. One thing seems to be Indicated by Senator Robinson’s statements. The democrats have at least started to be themselves. In the last session t they permitted the insurgents to map the way for them. If they will chart their own course and fol low it, they will have more influence than they have had following the insurgents. WILL YOU DO YOUR PART ? Sixty-two persons will be killed today in traffic accidents—assuming this to be an average day in American life. Thirty persons will be killed or in jured in railroad grade crossing accidents. A committee of survey for safety has reported to Secretary Hoover that traffic accidents now kill more than 22,000 Americans annually. At this rate it only takes three years to equal the toll of Ameri can lives taken by the World War. Add to this the thousands who are maimed or crippled, many per manently, as a result of avoidable traffic accidents, end the terror of the situation is plain. Are Americans so calloused to the havoc that is wreaked through careless haste that they will con tinue the headlong rush at the cost in human suffer ing and misery now exacted? Answer this question for yourself, and you will he ready to join the Omaha Safety council in its ef forts to reduce the misliaps- that are daily recorded. All are not due to automobile use. Many avoidable accidents occur elsewhere. What the Safety council is trying to do is to educate young and old to Be more careful in every way. To do this means are required, money to carry on the work. The council has fixed a budget of $1Q,000 for a year’s work in Omaha. Of this amount $6,800 remains to be provided from some source. A com mittee, headed by W. S. Stryker, has been named (o look after the special business of financing the work. All citizens are, interested in reducing this huge loss from accidents. Get in touch with the , committee. Be ready to receive its visitation. The work is for humanity. • A STURDY PIONEER GONE. It is not thescity of Columbus alone that suffers n distinct loss in the death of Karl Cramer. The state loses an exemplary citizen; loses a sturdy pio neer who wrought well in the beginning of the com monwealth, and never ceased during all the years of his busy and useful life. He was intensely in terested in all those things that tend to social and civic betterment. He devoted much of his time to public affairs. For many years he was at the head of the school board of his city, and no man con tributed more to the upbuilding of the schools. It is peculiarly fitting that the magnificent new high school building now being erected in Columbus should bear his name. It is seldom that the services of men are fittingly recognized during their life time, but Carl Kramer’s fellow citizens recognized his unswerving loyalty and devotion and christened the new building in his name when the cornerstone was laid. Mr. Kramer did not live to see the completion of the building named in his honor. It will be a fitting monument to his memory and a constant incentive to the young folk of the city he loved so well and served so faithftjlly. GOVERNOR FOR A DAY. Hiram Bingham of Connecticut was governor for a day. After making his inaugural address he re signed to become, a senator of the United States. There is one passage in hjs inaugural address that indicates that Connecticut lost a wis^ and far seeing governor when Hiram Bingham resigned. He said: "When a new law Is proposed let us ask: Does It further curtail Individual liberty? Is It required for the maintenance of public safety and order? Will it encourage self-reliance In the Individual citizen or will It le ad him to become more dependent on the government? "Will it build up his respect for law and lead hint to practice obedience to law, nr will it tend to make him despise the law and seek means of evading it? ’ All of which is commended to the attention of those who would rush forward to enact a law every time they see something that fails to meet their ap proval. There will be fewer laws, and better, and therefore more respect for all laws, when those | enacted square with the test applied by Governor Bingham. A proposal to collect the electoral vote by mail was knocked out in congress. Why cut off the Quad rennial joy-ride of the state messengers? Premier Harriot's health will not permit him to hold office much longer, whlfh makes the approach of Callaiux to leadership much easier. Germany’s greatest bother just now comes from l aving too many political parties. A few consolida tions might simplify matters. The “lady from Sarpy” shows her cleverness by giving permission to the men to smoke. She may cash in on this later. Bank clearings again soared by more than a million a day over the previous week, which is also a hopeful sign. --- Homespun Verse —By Omaha's Own Poet— Robert Worthington Davie l J APPRECIATION. Whan 1* gets down close to zero. And the cold winds shriek and roar. And we elf around the fireplace When the homeward walk Is o'er— It la then that we are Joyful For a cozy place to stay. For a roof to keep the bleakneaa Of the out-of doors away. When we view the frozen windows, And (he Itarren, llfeleae ahern Reaching fur beyond our vision Where the grasses once were grt Si).— We can comprehend the blessings Of the summer season gone, Anil o'erlook the few objections That of yore we frowned upon. When the worst of something heller Than the heat of something bad Haunts us, we are always grateful For so much that we have had. And we all In looking backward Learn that we were often blind As we atumbled o’er the rldgee - In the good old days behind, We Can Find Plenty of Folks to Wear Em But Not Many That Can Fill Them as Well T HEXES A LOT MORE MILEAGE. LEFT IN/EM IF YOLT CABED TJO VTCARJTM^ JN_. O I I Hi 1*1 *»■ v.< !' ■ *» .t#*i« , —s <-: 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. V__' Government Ownership. Omaha.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: F. Philip Haflfner ap pears In print a good deal, but his platitudes are more or less shelf worn. He, sage-llke, attempts to criti else others who, it appears from ex isting facts, have the best of Hie ar gument. He says: ' Really, I am at a loss to understand why Brisbane now champions the cause of private own erahlp against public ownershlp.-flure~ ly there la a nigger In the feme some where. But if he ever comes out of hla material trims he will expose the nigger. That Is Brisbane!” Mr. Brisbane appears to be quite wide awake, and the reason why he hBS ditched his Ideas regarding public ownership snd socialism Is because they are not practical. Mussolini, as well as Brisbane, are not afflicted with dry rot. One may be old In years and still be young In understanding If Mr, Haffner wighee to be known as a "sage” he should try to keep up to drtte. ^he government ahould Issue bonds for sunning a public utility the same as It Issued bonds to carry on the war, and call them public utility bond* In stead of Liberty bonds. These bonds should be kept at per and the "'util ity” be made to pay the interest on them out of Its earnings. If It doesn't pay st least that amount. It la not a public utility at all. but, on the con trary, a public nuisance. Government utilities that do not pay their wny are paternalistic and nonselfsupporting If the government owns a railroad that fa losing money and I do not use ihe road, but have to pav my share of the deficit In the wav of taxes, I am not getting e square deal, as T would under private ownership But we must have the railroads. Very well, then make them pay for themselves by their earnings. Whenever we can see our way to putting govern ment ownership on a strictly business —which Is a money making business— we may talk about public ownership with something like sense Instead of nonsense. FRANK MARTIN. About Afreet Car Fares. Omaha.—To the Editor of The Omaha Bee: T note In the "Street Car Topic#'* December 1 last, the com party claim*: Of their more than Vt.000,000 Income from fare# alone hAlf goea to their employes. If this be true, there Is Incompetency In the administration of tha road. Of course, the aforesaid Income does not include the receipt for car advertisement# and bridge toll*, and which are no small Item and ahould he divulged when the question of Increased fare presents Itself to the city commissioners Feb ruary 24 next. In one of the munici pal court rooma. But, whv not the council chamber be eelected In place *- * " N. of a sardine box, that the clvio clubs and associations be heard? For the information of Mayor Dahl man and his associate commissioners, the street railway corporation not excepted, New York, the largest city in the world, will elect a mayor this fall. Already the light is on against Mayor Hylan by the public utility corporations to defeat him, because they anticipate bis renomination. Of course, the corporations do not like Hylan because they have never been able to handle him. When the street car companies all over the country, our local tramway not ex cepted. fought for and got Increased faie. from S rents to 7 cents, Hylan maintained -the S cent fare in Gotham Hylan i« old fashioned enough to know that the people should not be robbed for the benefit of the few. Sure , ly Mayor I’ahlman need to get as! wise. For the correct definition of s good fellow li outside of, not In the dictionary. IXence. if our mayor and associates handle the street car problem correct ly, there will be no doubtt as to a re ductlon to S cents, provided, of course, the company makes a full and exhaus tive etatement of receipts snd expen ditures, the bridge tolls end adver tisements not excepted. While the people are In favor of a square deal, because the company Is as necessary to them as they are to the company, they don't propose to pay the Interest on the bonded in debtedness of HO,000,000 and the prln clpal In the bargain. F. XMULIP HAFFNER. The Church Yesterday and Today itmaba -To the Editor of The Onto h» Fee: Whet revolutionary chances have been wrought In the churches during the last 30 years, and how many of our older people tielleve the' In anv sense these changes have been for the better? Thirty rears ago the churches were the outstanding, dominant institutions of the land. Their influence dominat ed the homes, end largely the schools and the state They were not only the religious but the aorlal renters for believers and unbelievers. Even the few social functions of the better class of the young people were leav ened with the religious spirit. The churches were democratic generally, the rich and the poor fellowshipping in and out of them. The music in the churches was simple but heart reaching, deep humility and piety were recognised in leadership. Thf preachers believed In the absolute infallibility of the Bible and confined their preaching to it. Then Insiduously changes began to creep into the churches Many of the great theological seminaries be gan to doubt the infallibility of vital portions of the Bible, to instill their doubts into the students, who In turn instilled their unbelief into their com municants. The choirs In the churches began to sing to the ears rather than to the hearts of the peo ple. while a form of dignity and polish tended to make humility appear weak and flabby. And to suppress the audible hajpy emotions of the hum hie. The preachers began to lecture on all sorts of * semi secular themes with the intellectual in their preach ing vleing with the spiritual for su premacy. To hold their people they began to adopt all sorts gemj. secular forms of amugement In the V churches, in competition with profee sional entertainers without, to make of the churches more and more social clubs, feasting places, and sport pro motions. To add further to the em barrassment of the churches In every nook in the land entertainments sprang up which were formerly con fined wholly to portions of the large cities. But it has been the so called mod ernist preachers who have wounded the churches. It is only they who can repent and heal It* wound* GEORGE B. CHILD When in Omaha Hotel Conant 250 Room*—250 Bith-t-Rites *2 to *5 f A be Martin | "A pu*t office no sooner tits back on its fee* after th' t'hristmus rush till alonjr cornea a flood o' blamed strawberry letter* from Floridy," complained Pu»tma*ter l, em Smiley t'day Who recall* when folk* uaed t‘ quit drinkin' N'ew Year'* instead of Christma. ? iCopyruht. 1121. J BUILDING LOAN ASSOCIATION 322 South 18th 6% Dividends Payable Quarterly Assets. . . $15,000,000 Reserve.... $460,000 Be Thrifty and Start a Saving* Account Today Thirty-aiz rear* of auccaaa In Omaha and Nebraaka SLIP away from January to Florida, Cuba,Texas ^ or the Gulf Coast, where June temperatures Invite you to outdoor play beneath the palms. Attractive Winter Fares Go one route and return another, stopping off where you wish along the way. Comfortable, modem, reliable&URLINGTON trains make convenient connections at Chi cago, St. Louis and Kansas City with best through trains via all routes South. BURLINGTON TRAVEL BUREAU - 16th and Parnam Omaha. Nebraska phonaa: Atlantic SSTI and MU n. *. (aiders. J. W. Manta, dtp I'aaa. A»ant Uanaral »«a«t Iri a Purlmglrm trmrl nptrt auilf von M plmmmt wrtwltr tr+* j luNNYSIIJElJP lake comfort.nor forget , Qhat Sunrise ne