*
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<Jerfailed
_ r
v- - —---—
---—
We don't know about this new policy of "cracking 'em o»
the nose.” reference being made to the manner of treating men
charged with violation of the prohibitory laws. It seem*
have sanction, in certain quarters, but somehow or other It
appears contrary to our preconceived ideas of law enforcement
and recognition of fundamental rights. That bootleggers de
serve cracking on the nose is beside the question. Some of
them deserve worse than-.that—drinking their own wares, for
instance. We are going to seek further light on the question.
The Minneapolis Jonrnul says Nebraska is exhibiting the
Eightli Wonder of the world—a new eap.tol built without bond,
lag That sort of thing may lie a wonder elsewhere, but it le
a commonplace in Nebraska. We've bullded one of the great
est state universities without bonding, four tine normal school*
without bonding, a great medical school without bonding, and
have ten to twelve million dollars in a permanent school fund
without having to issue a bond to get money. We do big thtnge
in a peculiar wav In Nebraska.
Charles L. Hyde, a banker of Pierre. S. D., says longevity
is to he achieved by self-denial, temperance and cheerfulness.
The greatest of these is cheerfulness. Self-denial may be car
ried to extremes, and temperance is a relative term. The most
Intemperate men we have ever known never took a drink of
intoxicants, and we helped bury a man w-ho practiced self-denial
to such an extent that he starved to death with thousands of
dollars concealed about his premises. And, as a matter of fact,
longevity doesn’t amount to a whoop. How a man lives is of
vastly more importance than the length of time he lives.
Our good friend, Edward Flynn,, general manager of the
Burlington, has so far recovered from the effects of wrestling
with a broken steam pipe that he is able to attend to business
in Chicago. We take it from this that the ''72” is again in
commission. However, we are willing to use the "86" on our
contemplated southern trip, provided arrangements can be
made for its use, and for several other things that must he
taken care of before we can start. It isn't steam pipes that
we are afraid of.
Every now and then we are inclined to recall what are
know n as “the good old days,” and feel impelled to regret their s
passing. But not for long. We turn on a little more steam
and rejoice that we do not have to scrabble in the snow for a
few sticks oLwood. In the morning we rejoice at our ability
to dress close to a sizzling radiator Instead of donning gar
ments frozen stiff in a bedroom whose windows are thick with
frost. No longer are we compelled to quit reading at 9 p. m.
because there is no oil in the lamp and none in the can. To
be real truthful about It, we'd rather think and talk about the
good old days than to live them over again.
Even though we recognize the fact that our public officials
are overworked and underpaid, we still insist that they should
find wa^s and means of removing the Christmas tree from
the courthouse grounds. We will soon need the space for our
display of Fourth of July fireworks.
Members of the We Knew HTm When Club will kindly
shove along and make room on the bench for T. J. Pickett of
Wahoo. Pioneer newspaper publisher of Nebraska, locating
first at Nebraska City. Bought Ashland Gazette In 18S0 and
published It 15 years. Then went to Wahoo and founded the
Wasp. Published Wasp until he took a notion to retire and
turned it over to his son. Served in state senate, took leading
part In republican politic*, always worked to promote Ne
braska and his home town. When active in the business was
admittedly one of the strong editors of the state. Fully deserv
ing of the good time he is having as his sun moves toward ^he
western horizon.
WILL M. MAl'PIN.
Keep Omaha Smokeless
and Sootless With
ONANZA
Semi-Anthracite
Banish the "smoke and soot nuisance”
in Omaha by burning BONANZA Semi
Anthracite. It is absolutely smokeless
and sootless. It is low in ash. It is
long-lasting and economical.
Order a ton of BONANZA Semi-Anthra
cite today and learn the joy of clean,
hot, economical semi-anthracite.
$1352 Ton
Central Coal £ Coke Co
Jackson $01%
414 South 15th Street
Troubled With ~
Pimples Two Yean
Cuticura Healed
" skin began to Itch and tan
and hard, large, red pimple* brake
out on mjr Hit. aboulder* and
arm*. Tha ptmplaa fettered tad
ecaied over and my fee* looked ta
nbla. My clothing nibbed againe:
the pimple# on mv shoulder* and
cauaed them to bleed. The irritate*
caused me to scratch tha pimple*,
and the scratching caused terrible
eruption*. X lost my teat at aigki
on account of th# Irritation.
" Th« trouble laatad about tae
vear* before 1 started using Cuticura '
Soap and Ointment, ard after using
about five cakes of Soap and one
boa of Ointment I an healed." I
Stgnad' Mias Imogens Thomas I
K K S. Kokomo, Ind , Aug 2.1*14
Cuticura Soap to clean** and pa I
ritv, Ccttoir* Ointment to eootha
and beel and C incur* Talevm te
powdet and aweeien ar* ideal foe
daily toilet purpose*.
s**r»e rvveaw.i lue* Tainwu,
•va'reaie* SeirTi* mi* - *** 1
«**■■«*« law- vX, SJteta
