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The Omaha Guide
Published every Saturday at 2418-20 Grant St.,
Omaha, Neb.
Phone WEbster 1750
Entered as Second Class Matter March 15, 1927
at the Post Office at Omaha, Neb., under the Act
of Congress of March 3, 1879.
Terms of Subscription $2.00 per year.
Race prejudice must go. The Fatherhood of
God and the Brotherhood of Man must pre
vail. These are the only principles which will
stand the acid test of good dtixenship in time
of peace, war and death.
__ _-■ ■ _ ■ 1 " " ^
Omaha, Nebraska, Sattirday, MARCH 16, 1936
INDEPENDENCE—THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
“In my opinion,” writes Roger B. Hull in the
Life Association News, “the extension of socia
security contemplated by President Roosevelt wvll
not conflict with the vast and vital services of Ufe
insurance, bu; rather will emphasize their individual
and social values and will kindle m the heart of
every true Amerian a keened resolve to obtain them
for himself and for his family.
“Government never can go anywhere near hall
as far as American citizens will require in this
business of assuming the burdens caused by both
natural and man made calamities. I still have con
fidence to believe that the majority of our citizen*
do not wnt a socialistic solution of these problems.
They do no want an all embracing paternalism.
For every American who is satisfied to depend
«n governmental aid in meeting the exigencies of
old age and economic misfortune, a dozen determine
to solve such problems through their own thrift,
foresight and work. We are not a dependent peo
ple—and in spite of all the arguments of those who
wish to make us cogs in a great bureaucratic mach
ine, individualism is still the dominant American
characteristic. ,
Millions of Americans are now working toward
social security through life insurance and other me
diums. They are the ei.izons who make this coun
Iry—and who will maintain it.
things one remembers.
Bv R. M Hofer. —_
In Wisconsin, th)e legislature has spent i s
valuable time, and the taxpayers’ money to pass a
law making it “unlawful” to give away either hot
dogs or “fresh fish” as a free lunch with a ten
cent stein of beer. The tavern keeper may, however,
give away cheese, crackers, pretzels, popcorn and
“cured fish,” with a glass of suds. It is not stated
whether the cus onieT has to stand up or sit down
while eating his crackers or cheese.
The Oregon legislature refused to pass a law
legalizing the sale of cocktails with meals by legi
timate hotels and restaurants. You must buy a bot
tle in Oregon from a state liquor store or patronize
The Statue of Liberty still stands in New York
harbor, however. ,
Oregon has a governor, General Martin, retired
armv offieer with a long and honorable record, who
set his foot down and told the legislature that he
didn’t want any new tax laws or increases in old
No better psychological influence could be offer
ed the people of any state than to show that a state
can perform its essential functions and meet its es
sent ini obligations today without imposing further
tax burdens on an already over-taxed people^
More power to public officials like General
M * We are developing a political philosophy that
not only invites the people, but urges them to ge
their noses in the public trough on the theory that
someone owes them a living. . ,
It has become good politics to give the people a
nice, red. five cent stick of political candy for ten
cents i ntaxes. So long rts the people can be kep
ignorant of the fact that they are really paymg fo
the candv plus about 100 per cent additional for
political overhead to handle it, just so long will they
clap their hands and cry for more.
But a lot of good folks are getting a stomach
ache from too much political andy. ,
They are going to ask questions when they find
what their candy is costing.
COPPER ON THE MEND
The world copper situation seems on the mend.
Last year copper production totaled 1,240.000
tons—a substantial advance over 1933. World con
sumption totaled 1.230.000 tons, likewise a gain
over the preceding year.
Still more encouraging is the fact that world
copper stocks are declining. In 1933, they totaled
570.000,000 tons, and had dropped to 4 hundred mil
lion at the end of 1934.
Copper stability is coming slowly in the United
States, which has excessively large stocks on hand,
and which is consuming less copper, in relation to
total world consumption, than is considered normal.
However, the situation is clearing somewhat and
that, coupled with brightening world outlook,
speaks well for the future of the red metal.
THE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST.
The Saturday Evening Post had a fine editorial
commenting on the time worn argument of politici
ans that there is no more “free land” to be had
from the government; hence, vast sums of money
must be appropriated to provide ‘‘social services”
for the people.
The Post pointed out that the ‘‘free land” story
is misleading—that a man had to have courage,
perseverance and grea initiative to cross the deserts,
mountains and forests for thousands of miles to
gain the ‘‘free land.” He generally paid a tre
mendous price in suffering, privation, endless labor
and often death in order to acquire the ‘‘free land.”
‘‘Social service” schemes at public expense, do
not develop the type of citizens who crossed the
plains and took up land to build a new empire in
the West.
Greater opportunities are here today, but the in
dividual is not encouraged to find them by pater
nalistic governmental policies which crush initiative
and private enterprise.
TWO KINDS OF COOPERATION.
The farmer has learned that there are two kinds
of cooperative effort.
One kind obtains cooperation through govern
mental fiat—through a process of regimentation,
whereby the farmer’s actions are dic.atel by a bu
reau in Washington___
— The other kind iB obtained through the work
of the fanner himself—when he and his fellows
join and support a farmer controlled cooperative
organization.
The first kind of cooperation may be necessary
in a temporary national emergency ,but if it is con
tinued indefinitely the American farmer will under
go drastic and unhappy change. Once a free man,
he will become a Berf. Once an independent entity,
thinking and working to advance his own independ
ence could avail him little.
The second kind of cooperation does not destroy
independene—it builds it. It makes for individuael
ism and development of character. Farmers who
band together in cooperative organizations to fight
their battles and thrash out the issues affecting
them, are hardly likely to become, under the thumb
of bureaucracy.
Which kind of cooperation does the average
American farmer want?
CITIES REDUCE ARSON FIRES
Reports issued by the fire departments of two
large cities prove that incendiary fires can be re
duced if the corret methods are employed.
From Kansas City, Mo., comes the statement
that in 1932 there were 61 arson fires there causing
losses of $712,309; in 1933 there were 67 such fires,
accounting for losses of $160,656, while in 1934 the
number of arson fires decreased to 36 and the re
sulting losses to $50/590—a remarkable reduction in
deed.
The report from Atlanta, Ga., show’s an equally
s.riking reduction. In 1933, incendiary fires ac
counted for losses of $72,314, while in 1934 the
number of such fires decreased to 30 and the losses
to $11,242.
By “correct methods" is meant the effective co
operation of all interested authorities. The Kan
sas City report mentioned the National Board of
Fire Underwriters among other organisations that
had helped make the record possible. This organi
ztaion has long assumed a position of leadership in
the fight on incendiarism. It has established arson
squads in most of the large cities, employ many
skilled investigators and assists police and fire de
partments as wrell as fire marshals in combating
arson. It has aided many cities to form their own
arson squads and is ready to cooperate at all times
with district attorneys and all proper authorities.
If the crime of arson is to be fought effectively
it is highly important for district attorneys to vigor
ously force prosecution of the crimnals involved.
An imporant part of the effort to reduce the
number of arson fires has been the enactment of
model arson law’s in the majority of states. These
laws have been of great assistance in bringing fire
criminals to justice, as previous laws sometimes ob
structed rather than aided in the prosecution of
arson cases.
The battle against this “crime of crimes" merits
the support and cooperation of all citizens. Every
one can help by reporting any suspicious incidents
in connection w’ith fires that come to their atten
tion, and by urging their district attorneys to put
forth aggressive efforts to obtain conviction.
SOCIALISM VS. RUGGBD INDIVIDUALISM
From a practical standpoint, Paul Smith, finan
cial editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, sums up
the political aspects of the drusade against the
public utility industry, in a masterly manner. His
comment was inspired by the demand for $750,000
of tax funds to investigate the American Telephone
and Teelgraph Company. In part, he said:
The writer does not care whether any particular
utility is ‘right or wrong.’ That some holding com
panies may be ‘bad’ and some ‘good,’ he does not
doubt. That some rate structures may be ‘fair’
and some ‘unfair,’ he readily admits. That some
utility managements may be ‘smart’ and some
dumb,’ some ‘honest’ and some ‘dishonest,’ he be
lieves not onlp possible but among the facts of life.
Those things are beside the point.
“The fact remains that a definite, destructive,
campaign has been launched against the public utili
ty industry. Some of the campaign is open and
above board, some subtle and insidious, like certain
phases of certain PWA grants to communities and
states. The attack has been mapped out, pushed,
promoted, energized and pressed in New Deal head
quarters. Washington, D. C. There Is no use dodg
ing the issue.
“If 10,000,000 utility investors and all utility
managements want to wave the white flag and sur
render their economic position, that is their busi
ness.
“But even if peace at any price is their desire,
they are not going to get if from the politicians to
day. This public utility thing is stock in trade to
a large share of present day politicians. Peace
would liquidate their stocks in trade.
“As soon as one sector quiets down, they will
attack another. Their scouting force will find,
somehow, enough Indians in the brush to ‘justify’
each new attack in the public eye. It is war and,
like other forms of warfare, will bring stupidly
uneconomic costs.
There wil 1 be the cost of unnecessary construc
tion: public ompetition with private enterprise;
gradual socialization; growing taxes to fill the gaps
of inefficient political operation and, wmrst of all.
perhaps, the cost of depreciation in the value of
seurities - held by hundreds of thousands of small
investors.
“And the scene will not change while millions of
voters sweetly accept political indictment of the
public utilities.”
Mr. Smith speaks frankly ,but the situation
justifies it. The present campaign is unfair, unnec
essary and un-American. The seeds of destruction
of private enterprise that are being sown, will
sprout in other places to the infinite damage of
other industries, unless the political utility baiters
are stopped by an informed public revolt against
demagoguepr that is promoting socialism instead
of rugged individualism.
ECONOMIC
HIGHLIGHTS
Happenings That Affect the Din
ner pails, Dividend Checks and !
Tax Bills of Every Individual
The best way to appraise any
nation’s success in recovering
from depression is to view it in
the light of the experience of oth- j
er nations which face the same!
problems and are battling the>
same depression. During the last
few years, the American press has
carried scattered and disrelated
comment on foreign pains and
losses, but, at least so far as the
lay reader is concerned, nothing
has been issued that gave any
where near a clear prospective of
actual conditions.
Now, in an article in oFreign
Affairs, Willard L. Thorp, Chair
man, Advisory Council of the
NRA, and Professor of Economics
at Amherst, has adequately per
formed that difficult task. As'
part of a general article on World
Recovery, Mr. Thorp has assembl
ed statistics from all the major
powers covering the four most im
portant barometers of economic
conditions: Industrial produc
tion,, unemployment, wholesale
prices, and value of foreign trade.
Socially speaking, the unem
ployment record is the most im
portant. In this field, Mr. Thorp’s
figures cover the representative
period from August, 1932, to
August, 1934. They show that
Germany had the best luck in put
ting men back to work—its unem
ployment declined by 54 per cent.
Australia’s declined by 39 per
cent, the United Kingdom’s by 25
per cen1, Japan’s by 21 per cent,
Canada’s by 16 per cent, the
United Kinkdom’s by 25 per cent,
Japan’s by 21 per cent, Canada’s
by 16 per cent, and Italy’s by 8
per cent. Three countries—France,
Czechoslovakia and Poland—show
a rise in unemployment. - The
I United States was at the middle
of the list, being under Canada
and above Italy, wi.h an unem
ployment decline of 12 per cent.
When it comes to per centage
in wholesale prices, the United
States leads the rest of the world.
From 1932 to a late month, prices
in this country advanced 20 per
cent—twice as much as in the
seond country, Japan. England
showed a 5 per eent rise, Germany
4 per cent. A large group of
countries, including P o la n d,
France and Italy, showed declin
es. It is an interesting fact that
in many countries, government
has attempted to keep prices down
—while the American administra
tion has gone to extreme lengths
to force them up, believing that
high prices axe essential to busi
ness recovery. However, they
proved to be a mixed blessing—
—you can put prices up, but can't
make people buy. With present
trend of Administration policy, t
is doubtful if further advances
will be registered. There is a bet
ter chance that the general index
will go down.
The tables on foreign trade
show that Japan and the Unied
States have had the best experi
ence. based on a comparison of the
third quarter of 1934 with the
third quarter of 1932. Our ex
ports rose 51 per cent, and our
imports 4*5 per cent, while Eng
land’s rose 18 per cent and 4 per
cent, respectively. Poland, Ger
many and France showed declines
in both phases of foreign trade,
while Austria, Australia and
Canada showed moderate rises.
Japan’s exports went up 51 per
cent and her imports jumped 122
per cent—a trend which, if con
tinued, will result in a serious in
fernal situation inasmuch as she
is sending much more money out
of the country than she is getting
in.
The most representative index
of all is industrial production. To
make this comparison, Mr. Thorp
selected the lowest three months
each country had since January,
1932, and related them to a late
three-months period. In this com
parison, the United States stands
exactly in the middle of the list,
with a gain from the low point of
30 per cent. Canada is first, with
57 per cent, followed in order by
Germany, Sweden, Japan and
Czechoslovakia and then the Unit
ed States. Under us, is the United
Kingdom, Poland, Austria, France
and Belgium.
There are the figures—and even
the most cursory analysis shows
that improvement in this country
has been little above the average.
W e have done more by law to
promote recovery than any other
comparable nation, but are little
farther achieving it.
Later business figures than Mr.
Thorp was able to give, indicate
continued advances throughout
the world, with a few exceptions.
At home, business commentators
are optimistic—many of them!
seem to believe that we are duej
for a slow but steady improve-!
ment that will not be adruptly
checked, as have the rises of the
past.
Americans who wish to under
stand the Italy-iAbyssinian imbro
glio—which is of inemational im
por ance inasmuch as it is compli
cating the already chaotic Euro
pean situation—woukl do well to
think of it in the light of the Ja
pan-China issue.
Like China, Abyssinia is an in
dependent power—and like China,
it is a hundred years behind the
times. Italy, like Japan, is an up
;o-date nation which needs new
territory. China possesses a
wealth of mineral resources,
which Japan wTants-and Abyi
ssinia possesses a wealth of gold
which Italy wants.
If Italy and Abyssinia fight, it
seems inevitable that the latter
will lose. Victorious Italy would
then establish an Abyssinian pro
tectorate—and reap the rich re
wards.
SUB COMMITTEE TO REPORT
ANTI-LYNCH BILL
FAVORABLY
To Okey the Measure Without
Delay; Renewed Pressure
on Individual Senators.
N. A. A. C. P. Hits Defeatism Talk
Washington, March. 15th—The
Costigan-Wagner anti-lvnching
bill, with only one minor change,
will be reported favorably out of
the sub-committee of the Senate
judiciary committee Monday
March 11, it was learned here to
day. The full judiciary committee
is expected to follow the recom
mendation of its sub-committee
and report the bill favorably to
the Senate within a few days.
The speed with which the bill
has been handled in these first
stages is due in a large measure
to Sena Frederick Van Nuys of
Indiana, chairman of the sub
committee. Senator Van Nuys
has been tireless in attending to
details, in conducting the hearing
and in looking after the general
welfare of the measure.
More Intensive Effort Needed.
Now is the time for even greater
efforts by citizens who want this
bill passed, said a statement from
the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
More and more pressure must be
put on the individual senators.
Resolutions, petitions, letters and
telegrams should be sent to senat
ors telling them the bill is coming
out of committee for action and
urging them once again to work
to bring it up for a vote and to
vote for it.
One senator from a middle west
ern state told the N. A. A. C. P.
today there was increasing senti
ment for this bill in the senate,
because of the success of the fed
eral government’s action against
kidnaping. In addition to sending
letters ,organizations and indivi
duals are urged to make personal
contact with the senators from
their states, or senators whom
they know, whenever any repre
senative of the organization is in
Washington. Some of the nation
al organizations have representat
ives stationed in Washington and
others have members who go to
the capital frequently. Personal
conferences with senators will
help tremendously.
No Defeatism, Says N. A. A. C. P.
Enemies of this bill are alarmed
over the huge public sentiment
aroused in its favor, the N. A. A.
C. P. said today, and are using
every means to block considera
tion of it in the Senate.
“One of the first tricks is to
sound the note of defeatism in ad
vance,’’ the statement said. “The
propaganda has been issued that
the bill ‘has no chance.’ Even
colored people, who ought to be
fighting with their last breath
against lynching, have taken up
this vicious falsehood. The organi
zations who are backing this bill
admit no defeatism philosophy.
We’re fighting and we invite ev
ery one else to fight. Now is no
time to grow tired and pessimist
ic.
The mere tact that the legis
lature of the state of Georgia has
taken the trouble to adopt a reso
Iu|ion opposing this bill shows
the lynchers are alarmed. If this
bill did not have a chance ,the
Georgia legislature would never
stop to notice it. Mississippi
w'ould never call out 700 troops,
mount machine guns, and trans
port a prisoner in an all steel
train.
“We urge especially that voters
bring pressure on their ward com
mitteeman, their district leaders,
their city alderman and council
men, individually and collectively,
their county chairmen and their
state chairmen to write letters to
senators on this bill.
“Finally, we need funds. We
cannot flood the country with
literature because we haven’t the
money. We can’t keep a man on
the job in Washington constantly
because we have no funds. This
fight cannot be won on wishing;
it takes cash.”
Checks should be sent to Mary
White Ovington, treasurer, N. A.
A. C. P., 6 Fifth Ave., New York.
TALKING IT OVER
By Mildred Bronson.
—
“LIFE AND YOU.”
Live for something. Have a pur
pose
Drifting like a helpless vessel
That can not to life be true.
Half the wrecks that strew life’s
ocean
If some star had been their
guide
Might have long been riding safe
ly
Rut they drifted with the tide.
Dear friends, I presume, I am
right in using the above phrase,
‘Dear Friends.’ At least, I hope
so. I am asking everyone of my
readers to read the above poem
through slowly. It is true? Yes,
ii. is, and how very true.
Living for something. Every
one no matter who, race, creed or
it, has some purpose in view,
whatever you may care to term
If you will watch a small child,
two or three years old, when they
play. They have some purpose
in view. If they are playing with
their blocks, they have a purpose.
It may be to build something. It
may be to look at a pitcure on it.
Rut there is some purpose behind
their child-like play.
Take grown people, for in
stance, in their social life. It may
be just a game of cards, whist,
bridge, etc. When you sit down
at the table, you have a purpose
in view. If they are offering a
prize, your pxirpose, your ambi
tion is to win that prize.
When a child si arts to school
it has a purpose.
So, my friends, you see it is
confronting you, no matter what
you do. But we will look at a
different side of it now, the busi
ness side, your career, my career.
Take our little poem, the first
two lines.
Lave lor something. Have a
purpose
And that purpose keep in
view.”
What a different place the
world might be if everyone was
living for something. If every
one had a purpose and was con
stantly struggling to conquer the
same. If always before their eyes,
and in their minds, was the ever
lasting thought of what position
they were doing to hold in life.
If everyone had his mind set on
something high, this world would
be so different. People would
have no time to lie, gossip, criti
cize others. The reason my
friends, that our people, may I
say, the maiori y of my people
have so much time to lie, such
dreadful lies as they can tell, gos
sip, something they know practi
cally nothing about, just) what
someone else has told them. May
I recall the Mills Brothers record
ing, “ Iheard. It wasn’t told me,
I only heard.” That’s what the
majority of my people talk about.
Just something they heard, and
each time you hear it, it has a
little more added to it. If my
friends, they had some purpose
in life, would theey have time for
al! of this so-called gossiping and
lying? No doubt emphasis on
the word, ‘No.’ Why’? Because
their minds and their time would
be on their purpose. They would
be constantly thinking and striv
ing for tome way or something
to lift their position in life.
Take the next two lines of ray
poem. Friends.
“Drifting like a Helpless ves
sel.
That cannot to life be true.”
If, my Friends, you, in life, have
no purpose, no ambition no guid
ing star, but go from day to day,
j drifting through nothing, just
I drifting with the crowd, you are
| no good to yourself nor to any
* one else on earth, and if you will
i pardon the expression, often
would be better off dead.
We will go on to the last four
lines of my poem.
“Half the wrecks that strew
Life’s ocean
If some star had been their guide
Might have long been riding safe
ly
But they drifted with the tide.”
How true, my Friends, so very
true. No purpose, no ambi.ion,
no guiding star. Without these
three, one cannot expect to get
any place in life.
My Friends, may I say this.
That as long as you have a pur
pose in life, have an ambition to
be something, there is not much
danger in your getting into
trobule because you will not have
time for foolishness of any kind.
And in case, some of ray dear
Friends and Readers have been
drifting with the crowd, may I
leave this poen with you, with the
hope that these two poems and my
subject may strike someone and
will cause them to see their mis
takes and turn before it is too
late.
Though your lamp of Life is burn
ing
With a clear and sturdy light
And it never seems to flicker
But is always shinging bright..
Though it sheds its light unbroken
For a thousand happy days
Father Time is ever turning down
The wick that feeds the blaze.
So, it clearly is your duty, if you
have a thing to do,
To put your shoulder to the
■wheel, and try to push it
through.
If you’re upon a wayward track,
you better turn abou*
You’ve lost the chance to do it,
when the light goes ou*.
Speak kindly to the woman who
is waiting for your praise
The same as you used to do in
those happy courting days.
She likes appreciation .just the
same as me and you
And it’s only right and proper
that you give her what she’s
due.
Don’t wait un'.il your lamp is
burning dim and low
Afore you tell her what you
aught told her long ago.
Now is the time to cheer up and
put her blues to rout
You’ve lost the chance to do
it when the light goes out.
Stop nutting matters off and set
ting dates ahead.
For tomorrow’s sun will find a
hundred million of us dead.
Don’t think because you're feel
ing well you won’t be sick no
more.
Sometimes the reddest pepper
has a wormhole to the core.
Don’t let a killing habit grow up
on you soft and still
Beause you think that you con
throw it from you at your
will.
Now is the time to quit it when
you’re feeling strong and stout
You’ve lost the chance to do it
when the light goes out.
Now, I’d rather die with nothing
than to have the people say
That I had got my money in a
robbing, grasping way.
No words above my resting place
from any tongue or pen
Would have a deeper meaning
than she helped her fellow
men.
If you’ve got some money and you
want to help the poor
Don’t keep a starving off ’till
you have a little more.
If you’re upon a miser’s track •
you’d better turn about
You’ve lost the chance to do it
when the light goes out.
So, my Friends, we will bring
to a close this most interesting
, topic on ‘You and Life, hoping
that it may help someone along
the road of life.
Have a purpose, my Friends, al
ways, keep it before your for-ever
more, and you will, nine times
out of ten rise to wealth and
glory.
EDITORIALS OF THE WEEK
Abolish the Reality.
At a prominent New York gal
lery a scheduled exhibition of pic
tures and sculpture by contempo
rary artists, announced as “An
Art Commentary on Lynching,”
has been canceled because of pro
tests from unrevealed sou res.
Though the show was conceived
by the National Association for
the Advancement of Colored Peo
ple, it was sponsored by a long
list of prominent writers and edu
cators, including such as Charles
A. Beard, Harry Elmer Barnes,
Witter Bynner, Dorothy Canfield
Fisher and Fannie Hurst.
The aim was to present distin
guished art with a social message,
rather than mere propaganda. A
famous print by the late George
Bellows was typical of the type
of work included. It would not
have been a pleasant show. There
were pictures of men burned and
hanged by mobs, of a mother hold
ing a child aloft for a better view
of a similar shameful sight, and
the like.
But in Walter White’s “Rope
and Faggot” there are photo
graphs of actual lynching no less
revolting than these; and, bring
ing us even closer to reality,
others have appeared not so long
ago in daily newspapers. As long
as the crime of lynching itself
continues, it seems a little bit
foolish for anybody to be protest
ing gaainst an art by a compara
tively small number of people.
The New York show may yet
be held where protests to stop it
will be una%railing. If graphic re
minders that we have permitted
the evil to persist are so uncom
fortable we may be moved to do
something about it—such as pass
the federal anti-lynching measure
now before congress.
—From the Miami, Fla. Dailv
News, Feb. 19th 1935.
In the Spring a young man’s
fancy lightly turns to thoughts
of love.—Tennyson.
