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About The Omaha guide. (Omaha, Neb.) 1927-19?? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1934)
GUIDE OMAHA _ The eye of a Master will * , J ,. , INo Man was ever m°re h'Ind_- ___ Glorious who was not - March of Events City, ana Nat’l Lite Lahorous.” ' -•—»■— ■- - —— J - -■■'"l --= _ _____ f ___OMAHA, NEBRASKA, SATURDAY, JAN. 27TH, 1934 page 7 TH E OMAHA GUIDE Published Every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant Street by THE OMAHA GUIDE PUBL. CO., Incorporated All News Copy must be in our office not later than Monday at 5 p. m.,and all Advertising Copy, or Paid Articles, not later than Wednesday at Noon. Entered as Second class mail matter, March 15, 1927 at the Post office at Omaha, Nebraska, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. ... , , . SU SCRIPT ION RATES (Strictly in Advance) One Years $2.00 Six Months $1.2S> Three Months. . $1.00 TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION—The Omaha Guido is issued weekly and will be sent to any part of the Uni ted States for $2.00 per year in advance. Foreign subscriptions (including postage) $3.00 in advance. Trial six months’ subscriptions. $1.25. Trial Three Months’ subscription $1.00. Single copy, 5 cents. RENEWALS—In renewing, give the name just as it appears on the label unless it be incorrect, in wThich case please call our attention to the mistake; and al ways give the full address to which your paper has been sent. CHANGE OF ADDRESS—In ordering a change of address, always give both old and new addresses. If the paper does not reach you regularly, please notify us at once. ADVERTISING RATES—Given upon application. REMITTANCES—Send payment by postal or express mon<-y order, cash in registered letter, bank check or stamps. OUR ADDRESS—Send all communications to The Omaha Guide Publishing Company. Incorporated, 2418.20 Grant St., Omaha, Nebr. | EDITORIAL CLUBS OF WASTED ENERGY In a recent issue of a local Negro weekly were counted on one page alone some twenty-five different Social clubs” of as many different names, each of which is their own way reporting some sort of social function for the week. And as regular as clock work these “func tions” go on week after week with a different group tak ing up where the others leave off. In which case one would be safe in estimating that there are at least a hun dred of such ‘clubs’ in Omaha. Just imagine what amount of good this number of clubs could do if they were all banded together for a more worthy cause. Imagine the suffering they could relieve; or the amount of construc tive w'ork they could engage in with the hundreds of dol lars and wasted energy consumed every month in this one city alone. WHO PAYS FOR INFLATION In an exceptionally interesting address, James P. Warburg, Vice-Chairman of The Bank of the Manhattan Companv, raises his voice against monetary inflation, and answ ers the charge that opposition to such a policy is simply indicative of selfishness on the part of “big busi ness.” “Is it to the self-interest of Wall Street to oppose the present policy?” Mr. Warburg asks. “In a general way, yes. It is to Wall Street’s self-interest-to oppose any policy that contains the seeds of danger . . . But if you take Wall Street—that is, bankers, as a class—it is quite tfvident from the study of inflation in other countries that they are perhaps the class which suffers least from inflation. Bankers are dealers in money. Thqy are, there fore, more alive to whfat is happening to money and they are therefore more likely to protect themselves, and have ijtetter* means of protecting themselves than any other tangle group. In the German inflation, when the entire middle class w^as wiped out, all savings destroyed, and life insurance policies nullified, there wTas not a single im portant bank that failed. Why, then, should Wall Street bankers have any particular self-interest in opposing a policy wdiich contains at least the danger of uncontrolled inflation, when that danger affects them less than the. wage-earner, less than the farmer, and less than practical ly evehy man, woman and child in the country?” It is not accidental that a number of groups winch1 are representative of the average citizen—such as thej American Federation of Labor and the American Legion —have gone on record against inflation. It is of the ut most importance to the safety of the nation that both sides of the money issue be clearly thrashed out before the public eye. DEATH ON THE HIGHWAY Early in 1933, there were fewer automobile accid ents than during same period in 1932. During the last half of 1933, however, the trend changed. In the year, 30,500 persons were killed — a 3*4 cent advance over 1932. ' The automobile accident toll follows the amount of gasoline used in the country with almost loving exacti tude. During the first half of 1933, for example, when gas consumption was 3 per cent below the same period in 1932, there were fewer accidents. During the last half gas use was 2.5 per cent above—and the accident record soared accordingly. The dangerous driver seems to have learned little from the ghastly experience of the past. He still exaggerates the safety factors of better cars and roads. He still cuts in and out of traffic, still passes on I blind curves and hills, still takes a chance to save a second. I he Daves behind him a shambles of deaths and m 1 juries and needlessly ruined property. I Everything that mechanical and road engineers I can do to make motoring safer, is being ..done — an ex ■ tremely small percentage of accidents can be blamed on H car failure or poor roads. The accident problem is purely Haw individual one—resting with each auto owner, and ■with the authorities who make and enforce traffic ordin iBances. * * In 1933 four states, whose names deserve being Weeorded on an “Honor Roll”, achieved declines in their t The Strong Arm of the Government I auto death rate—Illinois, Michigan, Virginia and Wiscon sin. Other states should strive to follow them. “All this agitation of the power question keeps folks’ minds off the all important tax question!”—J. F. McLaughlin, President Puget Sound Light and Power Co. FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE WEEK Late in March there will be an event of importance to every citizen. For the space of a week an aggressively, planned campaign will be carried on to acquaint him with how to protect his family against potential poverty, how to financially safeguard his old age, how to educate his children, how to provide for himself a safe and certain monthly income for life, how to build an estate or rebuild a depleted one, and so on. The event will be Financial Independence Week. Its motto will be that the cornerstone of man’s financial structure is life insurance—and that life insurance, so far as the great mass of persons is concerned, is the most sound means to attain economic independence. Speakers will elaborate these themes. They will be heard over the radio. There will be articles and local ad vertisements in newspapers. Periodicals will have special features. Public officials, industrialists and others, in addition to life insurance workers, will cooperate to bring the message of the week before the greatest possible num ber of people. Results will be of great and lasting benefit. We will come closer to the ideal of a nation free from poverty, free from want and economic disaster, free from all the tragic consequences of improvidence and waste and poor investments. SOLVING MILK PROBLEMS THROUGH COOPERATION President Sexauer of the Dairymen’s League Co operative Association of New York, has just made some interesting remarks, directed to the New York State Milk Control Board, concerning the dairy industry’s troubles in that state and elsewhere. Mr. Sexauer warned that any move by the state to reduce the return farmers are getting for milk, would have unfortunate results, suggested two possible plans for solving the problems of overproduction and demoral ized markets. The first would be to draw up a marketing agreement covering the entire milk shed, guaranteeing equity among producers as to the price received and equity among distributors to create competition in effi ciency, rather than merely competition in buying milk cheaply. The second, and more permanent solution, is that farmers in the region affected form an organization, or organizations large enough to actually sell the milk for producers and hold surpluses off the market. Mr. Sex auer said that in the local situation, the Dairymen’s Lea gue would be glad to work with such an organization to form a sales corporation which would distribute fluid sales between the various cooperatives in proportion to their production, making possible a stable market. These suggestions deserve attention — and they should be watched by farmers in other parts of the coun try. They point the way to solving problems with which all producers are faced, and which must be eliminated if agriculture is to go forward. FIRE LOSSES ON FARMS Confronted by a steadily growing annual farm fire loss, American agriculturists, who comprise 24 per cent of the country’s population, should remind them selves that the very word “farm” means “firm” or “se cure,” and should set about making their property exact ly that—as regards fire dangers. From Wisconsin comes the answer to the question, 1 “Why are fire losses increasing oh farms? A survey re vealed that losses in rural areas of the state increased from $3,500,000 in 1929 to $4,900,000 in 1932. These sec tions lacked proper fire protection. Fire prevention activities were almost unknown. On the other hand, ip towns and cities maintaining good fire department faci lities and engaging in fire prevention work, losses were reduced from $6,200,000 to $4,900,000 during the same period. In Maine, fire losses to farm property, including livestock, growing crops and hay and grain in stacks in the field, have increased 50 per cent in last five years. There are a few simple steps in the interest of pre vention that farmers can take without difficulty. They can dispose of all paper and rubbish — a spick and span building seldom burns. They can clean and repair chim neys and stoves. They can exercise common sense in the use of matches, smoking materials, kerosene and gaso line. They can prevent spontaneous ignition of oily rags hasy and grain. They can have their buildings and fences rodded as protection against lightning. They can keep simple equipment on hand which is adequate to quench or subdue most fires in their ea additional information on th can obtain it from the Nati writers, 85 John Street, Nev Farmers who are stri to prosperity suffer a dire i their property. They shoi ; attention to the reduction o tion of protective methods. MITCHELL’S WEEKLY BOOK COMMENT (Answering a Georgia Reader) A reader in Atlanta, Georgia, who I asks that his name not be given pub licity writes me at length concern i ing some previous comments of mine i that have appeared in this particular | column. I shall quote parts of his I letter. “* * *1 am a constant l-eader of ■ your columns in the Atlanta Daily World (the same columns appear nationally in other publications as well) and since I am an aspiring, if not inspiring, writer I am writing for just a bit of personal service and information, which I hope you’ll find the time to grant me. First of all, I wish to know if ordinary typing paper is sufficient to have a story typed on? Secondly, should the lines be double-spaced or single-spaced? And lastly could the same story be sold to two or more magazines ? “ * * *1 notice that you sometimes in your columnns, produce letters or excerpts of letter received from young writers asking advice but, sir, I do not crave publicity.*” Since this writer asks some ques tions that in the answering of same might interest other young writers I shall use this space in satisfying my Atlanta reader, whose name I have purposely omitted due to his own request or rather suggestion that he does not crave publicity. I would not recommend that the ordinary “second” sheets used in of fices for typing be used for writing any kind of manuscript that has to be submitted to editor?, regardless of whether it it a story, a news article, or other form of feature. Of course, if the writer has estalished himself and the publications use whatever he writes then the ordinary “copy” paper is quite good enough for in that case the publication is using ma terial that will be read because of the writer’s prestige in the field and not particularly because of what is written on the paper—or manuscript Usually the manuscripts of new writers hqve to be passed around a sort of editorial board and for this extra usage a good quality of bond paper, white, is preferable, with double spacing and wide margins at either side and at the top and bot tom, with the writer’s- name, page number, and title of story, at the top of each page- When the manu script is finally completed, especial ly if it is a first presentation to the publication, it should be mailed flat, with the sheets held together with large paper clips and NOT stapled or held together in clips that makes the separation of the sheets an in convenience to t-he manuscript read ers- • As for selling a story to two or more magazines that is distinctly unethical. If you desire to reserve certain rights this privilege should first be obtained in writing, or you can specify your rights on each sheet of your manuscript. A new writer, however has pot much of an oppor tunity to dictate the rights desired to reserve, unless his literary work is unexceptional. If an editor returns your manuscript, however, then it is perfectly ethical to submit it to another editor, if you think that the other editor will accept it without any improvement or change in its construction. I know of no publication that will give young writers more instructive and useful information and advice than the Writer’s Digest, publised in Cincinnati, Ohio. As one correspond ent wrote to me this magazine seems to encourage only white writers I must admit the fact that it is only in the white field that our writers can cash in on their literary efforts with any particular success- There are very few of the publications in the colored field who promise lucra tive returns for manuscripts and even fewer who will pay them after mak ing the promises. Editorial of The Week SOUTHERN WOMEN SPEAK (From the World-Telegram, January Id, 1934) In Atlanta recently the Conference of Southern White Women for the Prevention of Lynching passed reso lutions calling on President Roose velt to work with Governors and Con gressmen to eradicate this evil. It was this conference that four years ago served notice on men that they held no commission to protect the honor and virtue of Southern women by means of mob murders. With a membership of some 1,000, 000 white women in eleven Southern rly stagrs. And, if they want e subject of fire safety, they onal Board of Fire Uniler r York City. ving to work their way back calamity when fire destroys ild, accordingly, give special f fire hazards and the adop States, the conference can be said to speak for Southern women rather generally. The conference did not specifically indorse the pending Wagner-Costigan bill, providing for federal interven tion to halt lynchings. But there is argument for such a measure in the conference’s statement that:— “Past experience has demonstrated that State and local authorities and the public opinion behind them have failed to bring to justice members of lynching mobs, although their iden tities have been known ” The federal anti-lynching bill does not deprive localities of an oppor tunity to preserve constitutional rights to their citizens. It merely arms the federal gover-nment with the right to step in and punish lyn ' chers and cowardly officials when | localities have failed. The attitude of President Roose ; velt toward this problem was indicat 1 ed in his message to Congress on January 3. In his list of crimes that “call on the strong arm of the gov ernment for their immediate sup- ; | pression” and on the country “for an aroused public opinion,” the Presid- i ent catalogued lynching along with ■ organized banditry, cold-blooded shooting and kidnaping False local pride should not be al lowed to kill the Wagner-Costigan bill. Economic Highlight Happenings That Affect the Din ner Pails, Dividend Checks and Tax Bills of Every Individual. National and International Problems Insepar able from Local Welfare It is an unfortunate thing that President Roosevelt’s budget mes sage to the Seventy-Third Congress will, like all such documents, receive only the most cursory reading- Few budget messages have been as un usual or as important—few have, through statistics, so well illustrated and Administration’s aims and pur poses. The budget situation has three dis tinct phases: First, the government is to borrow $10,000,000,000 between now and end of the fiscal year—a rate exceedingly monthly borrowings made when we were in the thick of j the war; second, at end of the fiscal year we will have the largest peace- j time deficit in our history—$7,000,- ] 000,000; third, boginning with the' next fiscal year ’in July, the finan-1 cial policy will be entirely reversed— no special expenditures of any mom-1 ent, and Treasury receipts above those actually needed for routine operation of the government, will be | used to reduce the deficit. Mr. Roosevelt thus believes that by the middle of this year extraor- i dinary measures will no longer be re quired to speed recovery. He is as awake as anyone to their terrific cost, and he has implicit taith that time will prove them to be worth a great deal more than the people have had to pay for them- Part of their cost has been alleviated by his insis tence on drastic ecenomy so far as ordinary federal expenditures are I concerned. The President has advised members of the House, where all ap propriations must be inaugurated, that further expenditures would be extremely undesirable. The Treasury is looking forward to 1934-35 with hopes for increased revenues. Estimates forecast a rise in income tax returns which will bring them to $1,265,000,000, as com pared with $864,000,000 this year. The processing tax on farm products is expected to jump 30 per cent cus toms receipts 17 per cent. Internal revenue taxes, because of liquor, should swell substantially. The Presi dent has said that he contemplates no new taxes and that some of the less important ones may be reduced or eliminated. Two of our most important indus tries have more than a usual inter est in the current Congress. The in dustries are the railroads and the public utilities. The utilities are in the most diffi [ cult position- They face increasing I government competition through federally subsidized, tax-free plants, more municipal plants, stricter re gulation, demands for lower rates in spite of government policies that have forced substantial rises in operating costs, and efforts to change their financial set-up. Not so very long ago the total of public utility bonds in default reach ed the highest figure in history. Some of the companies represented went broke because of poor manage ment. as in the case of any other business — the majority were crip pled by inelastic regulation and leg islation, and regular and special tax ation- The fact that some outstand ing electric systems have been suc cessful in weathering the business depression, doesn’t answer the ques tion as to what is going to happen to a privately financed, heavily taxed plant when Federal, state and muni cipal governments go into business , next door with tax-free plants whose deficits, if any, are paid for by the public treasury. Leading utility executives advocat ing resistance to what they consider unfair demands and legislation, are finding allies in other fields, notably life insurance, which is a heavy utility investor. No other industry is asked to lower the cost of its pro duct to the consumer at a time when all government effort is being given to raising prices and wages. The railroads are likewise striving for a fair deal for themselves - and in this they seem to have the support of both the President and able, hard bitten. Federal Co-ordinat-or of Transportation Eastman. Heart and soul of the railroad request is equal ity of federal regulation with motor and water carriers. They say t his is not possible unless all carriers are regulated in the same way' by the same agency’—preferably the I. C- C An important phase of this will be an effort to have Section 6 of the Interstate Commerce Act, which re quires 30 days’ notice of a railroad's intention to change a rate, modified Buses and trucks and water lines are free to change rates at will, without notification. Also, it will be asked that the Commission’s authority to prescribe minimum rail rates be ab rogated Watch the present Congress, not only for what it does in running the government, but in preparing for the political future. In 1934 every mem ber of the House must face the elect orate once more. Main Republican trouble is lack of party discipline; as soon as a candidate is elected on the Republican platform, he is apt to de sert his party. Contrasted with this, the Democrats are wonders in main taining a unified front. A COCKTAIL TRAGEDY By R. A. Adams (For The Literary Service Bureau) A pathetic story is that of the murder of a little child by its own father. looking down on the lifeless form of her child the mother solilo quized, “He didn’t do it; he couldn’t do such a thing; he is too kind and he loved Jimmie too much.’' She con cluded. No he didn’t do it it was rum: that awful stuff he drank.” Another sad story is that of a man of sixty years, killed by a motor car driven by a young woman, who did not stop to render assistance to her victim. The girl and others had at tended a party. According to her testimony and that of her mother who also attended the party, they had taken a number of “weak cock tails.” It was insisted that the drinks w'ere too weak to have effect on the young woman and were in no wise responsible for the accident. But the fact—the admitted fact—is that she had been drinking, and there is little doubt that the drinks had to do with the unfortunate occurrence. Perhaps it should not be called murder because there was no motive, no "malice aforethought,” and no premeditation; but it was a killing, a tragedy; and the world wiil ever at tribute it to the cocktails- These are just two of the thousands of in stances of untimely deaths resulting from drink. And now, with the re turn of liquor, these tragedies will multiply. THE VOICE OF WISDOM By R. A. Adams (For The Literary Service Bureau) To all whom she may chance to meet, Cries Wisdom, in the crowded street, Hear ye! I am the greatest thing; Take me, and unto you I'll bring Treasures both beautiful and rare, j With which no others can compare. i Now, you woh would be counted wise Hearken to Wisdom, as she cries, ! For such as unto her give heed, ; And will obey, in word and deed, May proudly boast, for they possess The secret of true happiness. Subscribe For The Guide