OmaHa"U)here the UJest is at its Best
AMERICA’S OWN LIFE.
Senator Johnson used up an hour and a half of
time in the senate to impassionately declaim against
the Paris pact under which the United States will
share in the reparations payments according to the
terms of the Dawes plan. The burden of his song was
that in the agreement our country may be entangled
with Europe. His plea was that America be permitted
to "live her own life."
With the plea we have sympathy. Yet it is dif
ficult to sympathize with the thought that in so do
ing America must live a life of isolation. Such an
existence is unthinkable. As a nation we can not
withdraw from the world, and remain selfishly in
different to all that goes on outside our boundaries.
Such a course is fraught with perils quite as ominous
hs any that would attend our entrance to the league
Df nations.
Senator Johnson belongs to one end of the group
that refuses to believe what President Coolidge said
that the league of nations is a closed issue. To this
group belong the irreconcilables who will not he
happy because the nation does not endorse the league
as well as those who oppose even an approach to the
league. Neither of these factions is especially helpful
at the moment. Instead of harping on the single
theme, they might contribute something of assistance
by aiding in carrying forward a constructive pro
gram.
America’s "own life," so far as it has been de
veloped, has been a helpful one to all humanity.
Americans are regarded abroad generally as being
fundamentally idealistic. If that means anything, it
means a readiness to assist others. Senator Johnson
or Senator Borah, Dr. David Jayne HfM, or any of
the rest of the anti-league advocates, would quickly
join with any of the pro-league group in carrying
forward an enterprise that would serve to avert the
calamity of war. In so doing they would be helping
America to live her own life.
That is what President Coolidgp ask=. That
through the world couYt a step be taken in the di
rection of outlawing war. At least to render the pos
sibility of war more remote. It is unworthy of Sena
tor Johnson to insinuate that the middlewest is being
s hed by a promise of money through the Paris
agreement. He should know', if any one does, the
temper of the middlewest, for he tried it thoroughly
a year ago. If he would reinstate himself in this sec
tion, he can do it better by helping to push war
farther into the background. Not by standing out for
the privilege that none denies America, that of "liv
ing her own life,” with total disregard to the lives
of others. Such selfishness leads directly to destruc
tion.
CITIZENSHIP IS WORTH SOMETHING.
Two Omaha women have just been restored to
the condition of American citizens. They had for
feited citizenship by wedding aliens. Out at Colum
bus an alien has been denied citizenship because of
his attitude during the war. In these instance' may
he noted something worthy of consideration.
Both the Omaha women were natives of Nebras
ka. When they were married it probably did not
occur to them they were giving up their birthright.
I'ndnr changed circumstances they ask the court to
restore to them that which bad pa«srjl, and whieh
they have learned to value. They will be the better
citizens for having learned the worth of the condi
tion that sit* so lightly on many who were born to it.
The foreign-born sojourner at Columbus made
his bed while this country was engaged in a great
war, and now he is compelled to lie in it. Thp law
then enacted forever excludes from citizenship aliens
who would not join the American army or that of
our allies in war. Then a* now, a country worth liv
ing in is worth fighting for.
Then as now American ritizenship was priceless.
Still it is in easy reach of any not born to it. Yet
the action of the courts in dealing with applirants for
the boon is putting a elearer light, on the whole mat
ter. Not every Rne who rnmes knocking will be re
ceived. And just as the law is effectively enforced,
so will the value of citizenship enhanee.
SAFETY FIRST.
President Coolidge is not given to excessive ter
giversation: neither ran it be said that be poses as an
arbiter of fashion. Rather is he noted for his eco
nomy of speech anti his tenacious holding to the
primitive virtues. His advice to the college hoys
who called upon him rlad in flapping trousers held
up only by belts, is worthy of more than cursory
thought. It naturally follows that President Cool
idge being a cautious man and noted therefor, be
should recommend suspenders. (
There isa feeling of safety and security about
suspenders that ran never be contributed hv a mere
belt, especially if the wearer Is built upon lines that,
exhibit no beauty, but rather follow the Gothic lines
of architecture. Belts nresnoc, v-: <i”d i"
davs of soft living and increasing adipose most men
have no more hips than a snake.
This republic was not founded and developed by
men wearing flapper trousers held in place by belts.
Tt was set upon the road to greatness by men who
wore lindsey-woolsev pants held in place by gal
luses, said pants heing tucked into cowhide hoots
or tied with buckskin thong* around the ankles above
a
rieerhide moccasins. Their belts were worn to hold
knives, not pants.
The belt-makers may rave, but the admonition of
President Coolidge spells a revival of the suspender
industry. And with its revival will come comfort
and a feeling of safety and security not now held
by millions of men who have felt it incumbent upon
them to sacrifice comfort in order to follow the dic
tates of Dame Fashion.
WHY NOT FINISH THE JOB ?
Representative Harry B. Hawes of Missouri made
an address to the house one day last month that
should command attention. He brought out promi
nently the fact that that a grand total of $1,255,
392.000 has been appropriated for “rivers and har
bors," of which less than one-third has been ex
pended on river improvement.
How this has been done is illustrated by the pro-,
gram between the mouth of the Ohio and St. Louis
on the Mississippi river. This called for an expenddi
ture of $21,000,000 over a ten-year period. Instead,
only $1,900,000 was spent, at which rate 132 years
will be required to finish the job. For the Missouri
river between Kansas City and St. Charles, at the
mouth, $20,000,000 was to be laid out. Since 1913
the expenditure has averaged $890,000 a year. At
this rate 50 years will be required to finish the job.
And the people along the river, who see it idly run
ning under the bridge, are beginning to ask, “How
long?”
Water-borne commerce is increasing, although
still far below what the railroads carry. For 1923,
according to the report of the chief of engineers of
»he United States army, the total domestic com
merce of Atlantic, Pacific and (lulf ports amounted
to 361,320,000 tons. On the lakes the total was
125,000,000 tons. That year the railroads carried
1.387.942.000 tons.
On 25,000 miles of navigable rivers practically
no freight or passengers were transported. With
twenty great river systems capable of being service
able for distances ranging from 100 to more than
2,300 miles, we get no benefit from them. All these
facts have been stated again and again. Congress
has often debated and seldom acted on the greatest
of all its problems.
The Mississippi valley region, with an area of
1.250.000 square miles, with 60,000,000 people, a
storehouse of boundless wealth, of possibilities
beyond conception, could be served by improving
the rivers. The coasts have been cared for. Why
not give the interior the benefit of the rivers that
only wait to be harnessed by commerce?
IDLE WATER FOR THE DRY LAND.
Phelps. Kearney and Adams counties, Nebraska,
annually add much to the wealth of the state. But
not so much as might,be, were a little alteration in
the situation achieved. This alteration includes the
building of a canal from a point on the Platte river
just over the edge of Dawson county, and thence
traversing the three other counties. Through it would
be carried water that now runs idly to the sea. It
would be used to provide subirrigation, to supple
ment the natural rainfall. Half a million acres of
land would he served, and a corresponding increase
in the annual yield would be assured.
No doubt exists as to the feasibility of the proj
ect. It has been completely surveyed by competent
engineers. Committees of congress have looked it
over. Klwood Mead, the acknowledged authority on
such matters, has given his approval. All that re
mains to be done is to get the needed legislation
from congress.
•lust now' the matter is getting some attention.
Senators and representatives from Nebraska are
working to interest others, to the end that the need- j
ed authority may be given. What chance there is for
success can not he gauged, for all things at Wash
ington are in a chaotic condition, so far as this sort
of thing is concerned. Senators find all the time they
need to talk about everything but legislation. In the
house a similar spirit prevails.
But the tricounty project has made a start, and is
gaining support as its merits are examined. Some
day the canal will be carrying the now idle water
to the land that is not dry, but which can do with
quite a bit more moisture.
Judge Sears never required any bodyguard while
in Omaha. It does sound queer to learn that he is
being watched in Washington. Aside from the fact
that he plays pinochle and has a fancy eye for a
good trottin’ hoss, the judge is beyond reproach.
The Nebraska senate says it does not know E. T.
Westervelt. That serves him right for spending his
time running a newspaper. He should get out into
society oftener and become acquainted.
Lots of eyes are being strained for the first robin.
We suggest that nobody lake 'em off until the first
Baltimore oriole heaves in sight and starts weaving
his nest.
An Omaha woman left her husband three years
ago to “take a rest,’’ and has not yet returned. Some
thing must have made her very tired.
Another peace pact has been signed at Herrin.
As it is silent on the question of disarmament, it
may not mean much.
Another sign of spring is noted in the adjourn
ment from the bark room to the sidewalk of the
local statesmen.
“London may call India by phone,” says a head
line. Rut think of what India has been calling Hen
don lately.
Five thousand gallons of alcohol sounds big. but
it looks small when compared with the national
thirst.
Tt might help if the head of the army air service
came down before he is forced to make a landing.
Bootleg booze and gasoline make a mighty risky
combination, yet men insist on mixing them.
First jam to be put up this spring will be the lee
jam.
/
Homespun Verse
By Omihu'i Own Port
Kolirrl If orlhinglnn Dnrir
Ky
PRACTICE BRINGS FORTH OUR BEST.
I’im ill p lii iii*« forth th* h« ^t' lii nmat of hr beyond tba
allifhtnat dotlht
VVp mo t h* aura of foiling till wi» t» \ and H/t.I* nut.—
And *v*n an, moat *vrrv taaK w* all inn do In part.
If w* btllev* It run hr doit* d«*rp down within our heart.
'I’ll* flrat attempt* mov not Miiryrla# ua greatly, If at all*
Thr arrond rtYoi I will rrv**i»| aotn* piogrra*. nod th* Wall
Will ylrld to ua If wr will aliiv ond try and t»\ and try
\* though we bav* md tlnir to foil, and faring follor*
dir.
I’.orh toon who ho 11 hv ejiinrdlv mid iipvii i|Uifa thrfr.iy
\N ill Boin at |*n*t a part «>f what hr aweka anin* dla
taut daw
For *orh endeavor u*nrrr bring* thr boh I of every on*.
And atrl\lng lent falling, though there a little* really
dona
aa
/----->1
Perhaps We d Better Adopt Another Form for the Income Tax Blanks
l
I
|
BI T ONK LOOK AT AN IKl'OMK TAX BLANK WILL MAKK HIM SO TIKMl IIL » \ NT 1.0 TO A
BKNKKIT t’ONCKRT I OK A MONTH.
/---*\
Letters From Our Readers
All letters must be signed, but mm» will be withheld upon request.
Communications of 200 words and less, will be given preference.
Of Course. 9
Omaha To the Kditor of Tim
Omaha Bee: Bee. 1 am glad that I
married when no Or. Pinto could take
away my good pal because our babies
were behind in arriving at the law
prvficribed time, in three and four ami
x year- Intervals. 'Phis law would force
the ditched wive* hack into the bread
win tiers’ ranks* and take many places
which rightly belong to a man; or
will tire state pension them after they
have been wife, cook, washer and
char woman, seamstress, bellhop, nurse
and what not for a man dining two
> eir rs ?
The women legislators should
promptly hie a counter bill, compelling
Ih Pinto to do hi* share for the
world at large and his home town
end state especially, by hanging t big
• ard in hi* place of business'
' Babies admitted fit© for the
trip into the world!"
That might help some.
Bee. I am glad I did not have to
« hange husband* r ain or shine fur
that good i»al of mine.
HOKSK SKN8E MA
Soldier %sks Square Heal.
Fort Omaha. Neb. To the Kditor
of 'Hie Omaha Bee A* a constant
reader of The Omaha Bee. I would
like to say a few words regarding the
killing of two soldiers Saturday night
t»\ a grocer at Thirty third and Brand
a \ enue.
I am a soldier, living st Fort Omaha
with mv family, and this happened a!
most at my hack door. T do not be
llcve In holdups, but 1 do believe these
two lio\ m got more than w as coming
to them.
T have beer* in this very store where
this shooting occurred, and by the
position the storekeeper claims he bad
on the stairway, I think he could
have covered those two hoys and call
ed i he police instead of shooting them
in the head with a shotgun.
If tire public is going to adopt tbl*
manner of punishing bandits, why not
treat the civilian bandits the same!
wax?
In your Sunday morning paper 1
noticed that In on# paragraph thi*i
Mr. Havev said the two hoys acted
IB e gentlemen when thex first en
tered the store, and in another para
graph 1 noticed that Mr. Bulllckj
slated that he did not like their looks ,
I Indo you account for that'*
I have seen men do braver thing*
than that and then did not get called
heroes. I would call It roxxardice and
*->
Abe Martin
_
Thrr's an upon season for th’
Walrus, hut th' feller with a droop
in' mustarlie is as safe dolin' th’
oyster months as he Is dinin' th*
mating . o' roastin' oar seasons.
Zero wen hi r alius brings out a lot
o' ole style
^ (i "iiyrlght, Itll ) f
premeditated mitrder, to lay In wait
on any stairway, as ha did, and take
two human lives
On1v sexen yea is ago the soldier
was the idol of his country, and noth*
ing was too good for him, even the
l*»st of aoclety opened their doors to
them; but. now they are all looked
upon as criminals.
The army may have its percentage
of undesirable* the same o your clubs
and societies, but please remember
that all soldiers were civilians before'
entering tire service, so please gh •
us a square deal.
FRANK HIT.1.1 VAX.
Sergeant. Motor Transport.
Two Sides in Contrast.
Albion. Neb.—To the Kdltor of The
Omaha Ree: Will I. T. Duxzenniatter
allow me to take a shot “at the clay
pigeons. ' lie Is asking S to take
a look at the other side: reminds me
of a time w Iren the people of Boone
county got a chance to hw»k sf the
other side and It made a wonderful
impression oil the people of the
count v.
It w*« at the time of our summer
f’hautauqua. a good many years ago.
Mayor Fahlman of Omaha was to tie
fend the anf! prohibitlonlsts against
Mrs Richards, a national W. ('. T. F
worker. 'Phis seemed to be the most
interesting topic of the term, and was
widely adv ei t ised. Soon there were
whispers thHt the wets would he
there in full force and. beginning on
t be east side and keeping close rank,
would steadily fill the tent until there,
wns no room for the "few drys
Whether this was really the plan or
not, ! am not sure, but the drys
thought It teas, so came early and
began to fill the west side Soon they
overflowed and filled the center spare
When Mr. Itahlman stepped upon the
platform the group of wets rheeied
him When Mrs Richards whs Intro
timed of course the dr>* gate her' the
glad hand. The victory was Mr*
Kir ha rd*.
When It wa* over a dry democrat
fob, \ee. there Is such a thing*. e\
claimed angrily "1 don't tare, it
wasn’t fair. Muhlman was l*eater» be
fore he ever spoke a word. One look
;*t the bunch rooting for him would
daunt Millv Rr>an himself
There are two sides to a question
and that day the people of Boone
• oijnty had an optical demonstration
of the wet and drv sides more coil-j
vlnclng than an> words. 'I’he words'
of forth speaker** have long been for
gotten. hut the picture of the two
parties In the big tent remains and!
.** often if no misled with a smile as
the peoph* discuss the growth <*f pro
hibition ending in the lXrh amend
ment. MBS. H. W.
How to \lal%e It Work.
Mindeii Neb To the hall tor of The
Omaha Bee Th** editorial in Th «
Omaha Bee of January J7 explains
lust tire way prohibition is working I
all over the country. However, it j
only explains whar everyone with
common sense already knows and
knew when the law was made that it I
would turn out just that way. Howl
can anyone expect the dry law should)
l»e oheved, as every **ne w ith * onimon i
sense knows the law was made agamxt
the will a great majority of the peo- j
pie.
In the editorial you say: *‘ft«* solu
tion oomeii hack tn i he home Parental
authority, effectively exer« iscd. alone
• an stern the tide Very tine. But
how an we expect parents to tea* h
their children to obev a law that they
don't olrev or believe in themselves".*
Kvervone except the extreme driest
violate the dry law ami admit the
law is a Joke, and still our lawmakers,
ee<» oil fooling away linn* and money
in tiling to enforce a la" that the'
know «an’t he enforced The reined i
is not in trying to enforce The law
lie<<iiiwe it haw preived a failure, hut
our government should paw* some
wane liquor laws allowing everyone a
certain amount of liquor. Then every
• »ne except the worst crooks would he
willing to help enforce the laws and
hf Ip i *• i ii*' U.i.tleg£er* and ti"* tint i
•hen will this Ihh>»legging stop.
_HKK KKAI»KH.
*u«-h I« Ufe.
■*r wondei why my employe.* are eo
diaeaUefifd I pay them what they |^|
are worth.
Very f«-w men would ron elder that
lent ' — l.ouievllle Courier Jour
nal.
\\ hen (ite«ip Sound*.
"You ran t l*e!ie' e half you hear.**
Half replied M e« Cayenne .»
more than enough.”—Washington
f*tar.
When in Omaha
Hotel Conant
250 Room4—250 Raihs—Rile? %i to $3
NET AVERAGE
PAID CIRCULATION
For JANUARY, 1925
THE OMAHA BEE
Daily .74,002
Sunday .77,234
Does not Include returns. left
• vers, samples o» papers spoiled in
printing and includes no special
sales or free circulation of any Wind
V. A. BRIDGE. Cir. M,r.
Subscribed and nwnm to before me
this 2d day of lehruar* IMS
W . II QU1VEY.
(Seal) Notary Public
*£. - -~- -
household
aoods
pitone
I I
JAckson \
4163
«
rSUNN r SIDE UP
Hake Comfort .nor forget
Qhat Sunrise ne\/erfailed
[
--------\
r
In h Kliort 1 ifin* v* are ruin* to write n t«-al "torv at.ont
Freiuont. Not .lolin F, Fremont, the I’alhfintler. the llirl\in*
little itV named in hie honor, .lint now we ate going to indulge
in reminiscence.*. Thirty >eata ago we III Hi Fremont with a
compat at h eh new wife anil set about chaalng the elionre Hem
for the Fiemunt Herald. Hi. .Ionium I-. Devnea was eilito, amt
publisher, lie practiced ntedlcine between times when he wa*n i
vonylmf nbnilt how to mee! the new spa per payroll la-tween
tiM. conf.deutially, those weie atrenuuo* financial times
I'r. Devries Is still praclicing his profession in 111-1110111,
younger than he was 30 years ago. lie hash t been in the news
paper business for _f* years. We violate no confidence when w e
*|\ that he is a fat hitter physician and surgeon than hi was
a newspaper mall, and he wasn t such a floor newspapei loin,
either.
But the Fremont of today l-u't the Fremont of almost Id
veais ag.e not I r some .. or ti <"»'* |uo,de and a miriibe, of
' leal industries. Nor Is the Fremont spirit the same now. -As a
t |,M ,,f fact, there wasn’t rurh#n thine a - the Fremont spint
' then. It was just an overgrown vlllHge. Different now It I* the
Fremont spirit that has made I lodge county *tami not in the
matter of highways. No fanner in Dodge count r live* more
than three mile* from a Mate <>r county hi-h wtv maintained
in tile best poss.ble manner. The Fremont Chamber of Com
merce lias* built up the spirit that made that condition possible.
It Is impossible to describe the difference in hotel condi
tions. Awav back there the New Vurk hotel was the principal
hostelry. It looked pretty good to ■<- 'hen. hit * e wouldn t
giam e in its direction now. No, jdr-e-e Not with the i athfindet
a couple of blocks away. 'I here s n real hote And I b add
Quinn s big dry goods stole wasn't so ver> big then, either We
, t Wolz as a baker running his own tykery.
Jt was a good one. too. I tit (Jeorge «iuit that business years ago
to devote his time to boosting for good loads and serving as
secretary of the chamber of imnniM -. j
Nor was I>an Stephens a big ban! er in those day**. He was
a school teacher, just breaking into the ptihl shiny game Sim e
then he has been a congressman, and now he s big lranker- and
owns a lot of fine farm land that 30 years ago was considered
swamp. When Dan bought 400 or ’*oo acres of that swamp land
on the Platte bottom* a let of people fe!’ sorry for him. Thev
thought some real estate shark had sw llowed another sucker.
Quite a hearty laugh some of ’hem had. Dau had the ultimate
giggle, however . He foolishly bought the land and more foolish- j
|\ proceeded to tile it Then he foolishly sowed h t< wheat The
first crop almost paid for the land and the tiling. That * why |
Iran's laughter has lasted tire longest. j
Yes, the old brewery still stands There wasn't any smoke
pouring from if- chinme * when we went by the other dav Rut
If the brewery i« deserted there are real indu.Mi es To t-i e ; •
j»lai e Fremont hasn't any big menuf.n f ik-ing plar r. but small
and flourishing industries are numerous And today one may
get almost anvwhete within the city limits without getting off
the paving. There was mighty little of it the old dav* when we
► tied the light of our countenance upon the m uni* ipa h’ y■. |
Many • hanges in the good old town in ?.«» -.ears, but some j
things do not i-hange Judge Winter>twr, f rlnstance. He's j
^ Ml either Ji.sti.-e **f th^pe.tc#* r.i county Hidge all ’he-e \ ** «■
lie ■ i* a Hist < e when he remarked ’ invself and little * ’1 if
f„i.l. "I now pronounce von man and w if# And there * Pefe
Mittfrling. and Charley Nlcoderuus and a 1< * inure <»f the Young j
fellows- young then, and still young :•<» suliit. A d. praise be.
H D. Richards, one of the pnuiee bulkier* of Fremont and
1 *#*]ge county, still is active in business arid growing old grace
fully.
A m.ghtv substantial, prosperous old city i« Fremont. Noth
ing *|ieolnruliir about if jus; t fine old «elf-i * specti"g 7 ml- j
ripilits that prides Itself on 1- Icon— ps • r. ches and Its
«< hot-ls Rnr of all those thing** t. c- 1 t l.rer Rut it s a -
w .i' « a plea- i re t •• drop In *‘M F; *-t • f . •* ■ r • - -
the time of day. There is something homey a Unit the old
town.
Wtl.UNf. WAITIN’.
V---k
Lj Over 33 Millions [ I
I of Dollars I
Resources aggregating $11,243,726.70
were reported to the Comptroller of
the Currency by THE OMAHA
XATIO.XAI. BA.XK December 31.
1924
;
S I hese resourc. onstitute the fund avail
able to meet the requirements of cus
tomers of this banif. mj
forty-one per cent of this bank's deposits M ^
were held in actual cash m the vaults
of the bank or on deposit, subject to
its call. he Federal Resen-e Bank i
^ j
and other banks.
7 he bank s resources form a vast reservoir
which insures the payment of each and I
every account.
The ObahaNational Bank
^amamaitfthSt.
RADIANT COAL
Smokeless Semi-Anthracite
LUMP $13.50 MINE RUN $11.50 SLACK $8.50
Phan* WK Inul 0300
UPDIKE ^lbecroa.
5** Sampler of Thi. C«*l *t IUHnA Grocery D»p|.