anaheim-gazette 1932-11-10

THE ANAHEIM GAZETTE HENRY KUCHEL, Editor and Publisher ESTABLISHED 1870 ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY SUBSCRIPTION PER YEAR ... $2.00 SIX MONTHS ... $1.00 Entered at the Anaheim, California Postoffice as second-class matter. ARMISTICE DAY On November 11th the people of the whole world will celebrate the fourteenth anniversary of the end of the greatest catastrophe in the history of the world. When the order to cease firing was given at 11 o'clock in the morning on the eleventh day of November, 1918, there was hardly a human being on the face of the earth who did not join in the universal rejoicing. For there was no single human being in the world at that time and none who has been born since, whose life and whose future was not affected by the war. We have called it the greatest catastrophe in the history of the world, and that is not an exaggeration. Who could have believed that the firing of a single shot in an obscure Serbian village eighteen years ago last August could have precipitated a tragedy that would involve the entire human race, and from the effects of which we have not yet recovered? For there is no possible question that the world-wide economic depression, the internal and international maladjustments and financial difficulties from which every nation in the world is suffering today, are all directly traceable to the Great War. More than 60,000,000 young men, the best of their respective nations, were taken from their homes and occupations and sent into the battlefields to kill each other. More than eight and one-half million of them were killed or died of wounds; another twenty-one million were wounded or incapacitated. At the end of the war the survivors returned, most of them, to almost hopelessly impoverished homelands, burdened with impossible debts which we have not yet recovered? For there is no possible question that the world-wide economic depression, the internal and international maladjustments and financial difficulties from which every nation in the world is suffering today, are all directly traceable to the Great War. More than 60,000,000 young men, the best of their respective nations, were taken from their homes and occupations and sent into the battlefields to kill each other. More than eight and one-half million of them were killed or died of wounds; another twenty-one million were wounded or incapacitated. At the end of the war the survivors returned, most of them, to almost hopelessly impoverished homelands, burdened with impossible debts and crushed by unbearable taxes. We cannot destroy millions of lives, billions upon billions of accumulated wealth, without paying for it. That we have made as much progress as has been made toward economic recovery in fourteen years is little less than miraculous. But let us not delude ourselves. We, the people of the United States, although our economic losses in the war, both in men and in money must continue for another generation and even longer to pay for the war with our labor and our gold. It seems to us that those are the things to remember on Armistice Day. It seems to us that the eleventh of November should be the occasion for a solemn resolve on the part of every American that we and our nation shall use our commanding position and influence in the world to help the peoples and governments of the whole world to find means for lasting peace and security. THE ALL-AMERICA COLONIST In these days of All-America this and All-America that it is delightful to see things intellectual and things artistic win recognition. Usually, All-America designation refers to some athletic attainment, but in the instance of the Anaheim union high school winning All-America honors with its 1932 Colonist, the honor goes to students who labored hard for a year to put their thoughts and artistic conceptions in their yearbook. Carrying a football on a gridiron field is a spectacular achievement. All of us can appreciate physical feats—that is why athletic games are so popular. Not so many of us, however, appreciate the superior mental effort that goes into putting out a creditable yearbook, into a good performance in debate, or into the conception and execution of masterful artwork. However, these activities seem to be in line with the purpose of education, and deserve much more credit than they receive. Training in teamwork for a football game, and development of a sportsmanlike attitude are the principle benefits in a football career. The same training in teamwork is needed in printing of a high school annual, because it is the performance of workers in every department that makes for the perfection of the whole. The Colonist was rated by the All-American critical service of the National Scholastic Press association at 970 out of a possible 1000. That means the local yearbook lacked but three per cent of a perfect score. Congratulations, Colonist staff and faculty advisors, for your splendid achievement. CONSIDER THESE ABUSES CONSIDER THESE ABUSES In the two-year calm that follows the political storm which climaxed early this week in the presidential election, voters should consider their political systems and eliminate abuses which have developed in recent years. Naturally, we do not want to return to conditions which prompted the people to adopt a primary system for selection of candidates. Political maneuvering in the last election best illustrates abuses which have grown up in the last generation. Under the primary system it has been possible for "bosses" to enter candidates in primaries for the specific purposes of weakening the strength of an opponent, thus allowing a man who, under normal conditions would not be the popular choice of his party, to climb aboard the party bandwagon. In the August primaries, Rev. Bob Shuler was a candidate on three parties—republican, democratic and prohibition. How can he logically be a member of three parties, all of them opposed to each other? Yet under our primary system that is possible. Shuler's name on the republican primary ballot, where he polled a considerable number of votes, very likely had the effect of naming the republican candidate. Shuler, running on nothing but a dry platform, should have remained a prohibitionist, where he properly belongs, and on which party he won his nomination. We seriously doubt if Tubbs would have been nominated on the republican primary ballot had not Shuler's name also appeared. Besides at times thwarting the real will of the party system, the primary ballot permits the candidate with the most money and the greatest "gift of gab" to win the nomination and even the election, with no spontaneous response of the people to back him. It becomes a matter of selecting the least of two or more evils, rather than selecting the best of several candidates. We have any number of instances under the primary system to prove this point. Thus, honest citizens become lax in their interest in government, feeling that integrity, intelligence and ability are not the primary requisites for a successful politican, because the leather-lunged ballyhoo artist so often wins. This psychological factor tends to break down our party system, because it weans ANAHEIM GAZETTE Peace, Peace, Peace! By Albert T. Reid votes away from party principles to personal showmanship. Previously, the party platform was the actual working basis votes away from party principles to personal showmanship. Previously, the party platform was the actual working basis of the party's conception of government. The people based their preference upon the issues contained in the platform and elucidated by the candidates: Now the platform may say one thing and the candidate another. What actually happens, in case of election, may be neither what the party platform asked, or what the candidate campaigned for, but still a third solution advanced by a bloc which holds the balance of power. Or, likely, there will not be anything done, because doing things, no matter how beneficial to the majority of people, steps on the toes of some loud-mouthed minority. Some of our wisest leaders regret the passing of the old caucus system. They feel that with certain restrictions, a return of the previous method of nominating candidates would result in more party unity, more stress on the party platform, better candidates and more wholesome interest in things political. Let us give serious thought to the defects of our present political systems. THE DEPRESSION OF 1837 How the country worried through the depression of 1837 and financed the waging of the Mexican war, which added so much rich territory to the United States, is described in an illuminating article in a recent issue of National Republic magazine, under the caption, "Early American Financing," by Robert L. Archer. Mr. Archer says in part: "The years from 1825 to 1836 saw a constant decrease in the public debt. The Secretary of the Treasury in his report to Congress dated December 8, 1835, estimated the total outstanding public debt at $328,582, and this small amount remained outstanding only because payment had not been demanded by the holders of the debt; funds having been provided to entirely liquidate the public debt. "The intervening years had passed with the single term of John Quincy Adams as President, and the turbulent eight years of Andrew Jackson. "Jackson had vetoed the bill for the renewal of the charter of the second United States Bank, and that institution was closed in 1836. "Reaction from the 'Era of Good Feeling' and the prosperous years that followed had now set in, and 1837 found the country again in the throes of a severe depression, and this at a time when the country had no public debt, and a Treasury surplus of more than $42,000,000. Again most of the banks suspended specie payments, and it was difficult for merchants to obtain enough specie to pay the duties on imports which under the law could be paid in no other way. The huge surplus in the Treasury was not available for use because Congress had by an extraordinarily fast air travel and transportation of merchandise by air have become a well-established part of the daily life of many businesses and business men. Few people realize how much dependence is placed upon the airplane for commercial purposes. More than a million pounds of freight will have been transported by air in the United States alone this year, authorities figure. Most of this is emergency transportation, to be sure, but none the less important. A friend of mine who publishes a newspaper on Long Island found that a workman had left a wrench in the press gears, when he started up the machinery. New gears were needed at once. My friend got out one issue of his paper on a press in a neighboring town, but meantime telephoned to the press builders a thousand miles away. They sent replacement parts and a repair man by plane, and the damage was mended in less than 24 hours after the accident. Air passenger traffic all over the world has more than doubled in the past year. Why talk about "depression" when people are willing to spend more money than ever before for flying? GOLD - new adventure Gold is worth more today than it has been in forty years. That is, an ounce of gold, worth $20 in U.S. money, will buy more food, clothing and every other kind of commodity than ever before in the memory of most of us. It is natural, therefore, that there should be more people prospecting for gold now than at any time since the great Klondike rush of 1897, while the old gold deposits are being worked more intensively than ever. Canadian gold mines produced 34 million dollars of gold in the first nine months of this year. In South Africa a great extension of the famous gold-ore mining system is still being developed. "Jackson had vetoed the bill for the renewal of the charter of the second United States Bank, and that institution was closed in 1836. "Reaction from the 'Era of Good Feeling' and the prosperous years that followed had now set in, and 1837 found the country again in the throes of a severe depression, and this at a time when the country had no public debt, and a Treasury surplus of more than $42,000,000. Again most of the banks suspended specie payments, and it was difficult for merchants to obtain enough specie to pay the duties on imports which under the law could be paid in no other way. The huge surplus in the Treasury was not available for use because Congress had by an extraordinary resolution directed that the surplus over $5,000,000 be deposited with the different states, and more than $28,000,000 had been so deposited. As usual in times of depression the revenues of the government rapidly decreased, and it became increasingly difficult to meet even the ordinary expenses of the government. "Resort was therefore had to the issuance of Treasury Notes bearing six percent interest to the amount of $10,000,000, as authorized by a bill approved by the President, October 12, 1837. "This issue was followed by others during the years from 1837 to 1843, so that in all during that period, Treasury Notes were issued to an amount slightly over $42,000,000. Most of these notes were repaid prior to 1846. "The years from 1836 to 1843 were years of recurring deficits, and the continued issuing of short term Treasury Notes did not give the government time to either recoup its revenues or reduce its disbursements. "The governmental deficits continued and on March 3, 1843, a loan of indefinite amount bearing five per cent interest was authorized, to run for ten years. Under this act $7,004,000 was sold at premiums from one per cent to three and three quarters per cent. This loan was finally redeemed in 1853. "In the years prior to the depression of 1837 the colonization schemes of Moses Austin and his son Stephen F. Austin and others had been bearing fruit, and there had been a considerable infiltration of American pioneers and adventurous spirits to the Mexican province of Texas. Out of the ensuing chaotic political conditions the Republic of Texas emerged in 1836 with Samuel Houston as its President. In December, 1838, he was succeeded by Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar, who was in turn succeeded by Houston in 1841. The question of the annexation of purchase of Texas became a question largely of party politics. Annexation or purchase was violently opposed by outstanding political leaders, and was encouraged by the political leaders of the slave-holding states. Annexation came in 1845, and was with Mexico followed, being declared May 13, 1846, during the term of James Knox Polk as president." PASSING JUDGMENT The other sort of women were also attracted and impressed with Jesus—women of less fortunate experience and reputation—whose illusions regarding men were gone, whose eyes saw piercingly, and whose lips were well-versed in phrases of contempt. As he taught in the Temple, one of them was hurried into his presence by a vulgar crowd of self-righteous Scribes and Pharisees. She had been taken in the act of infidelity, and according to the Mosaic law she could be stoned to death. Shrinking, embarrassed, yet with a look in which defiance and scorn were mingled too, she stood in his presence, and listened while their unclean lips played with the story of her shame. What thoughts must have raced through her mind—they who knew men and despised them all, and now was brought to judgment before a man! They were all alike, in her philosophy; what would this one do and say? To her amazement, and the discomfiture of her critics, he said nothing. He "stooped down, with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not." They craned their necks to see what he wrote and continued to taunt him with their question: "Moses says stone her; what do you say?" "Come now, if you are a prophet, here's a matter for you to decide." "We found her in the house of So and So. She is guilty; what's your answer?" All this time he had not once looked at the woman's face, and he did not look at her now. Slowly he "lifted himself up," and facing the evil-minded pack, said quietly: "He that is without sin among you let him first cast a stone at her." And again, says the narrative, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. A painful silence fell upon the crowd; he continued writing. He wrote—and one by one the thick-lipped champions of morality drew their garments around them and slipped away, until the court was empty except for him and her. Then, and only then, his glance was lifted. "Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee!" he inquired, as if in surprise. Amazed at the sudden turn of affairs she could hardly find her voice. "No man, Lord," she muttered. "Neither do I condemn thee," he answered simply. "Go, and sin no more." From the moment when the noisy vulgar throng had broken in upon him, he was complete master of the situation. Those were men not easily abashed, but they slunk out of his presence without waiting for his presence to speak to him. The Family Doctor by John Joseph Gaines, M.D. UNDEREATING I think I have written enough words about overeating to fill a book—a large one. The great American sin is overeating. Maybe it is the depression, but a late incident leads me to write this letter about not eating enough. Last evening an old-time lady acquaintance ate supper with us, and "a good time was had by all." The lady friend of our family has two grown daughters, and is her own housekeeper. She is visiting here for "nerves." She is a bundle of live wires—has lost weight, until her limbs are like casting-rods. She has "dieted," yes indeed! She has not left her digestive tract enough nerves to do their work. After a very hearty supper, she stood up before me. "Now just look, doctor," she half-complained, "See how I am swelled." She bulged herself out in front to exaggerate the condition. "Does it hurt you in any way?" I inquired. "No—but just look at it," she persisted; "a person oughtn't tub out that way after eating should they?" "Well, you have eaten a good, wholesome meal," I said; "and if it causes you no inconvenience—forget it." This good woman had actually stinted herself in nourishment because she was afraid of "tubbing out." Actually denying herself the necessary nutrition. Then her nerves were going "haywire" about keeping those darlings in school. There was no disease preying on her, not at all,—she was creating her own troubles. A season of common sense practice is all she needs. How many of my good mothers of daughters are like her—starving themselves into neurotics? THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON When Congress meets in December one of the most important reports which it will receive for consideration will be that of the committee of the House of Representatives which has been spending a great deal of time in the past few months investigating the extent of the government's activities in competitive business. For years there have been protests, mostly from small and disorganized groups, against the growing tendency of the Federal bureaucats to engage in business competition with private enterprise. It was not until the Chamber of Commerce of the United States took the matter up that much attention was paid to it. Now, under the spur of that powerful organization, the committee is studying the government's participa- of the Reclamation Service are engaged in the sale of electrical power. Furniture and Banking Besides the manufacture in government plants of paint and varnish, gasoline engines, furniture, harness and saddlery for the army, uniforms, airplane compasses and shoes, there are a number of dairy farms owned and operated by the government; for experimental purposes. The government now operates not only the largest printing establishment in America, if not in the world, but has five lithographing plants in Washington for the production of maps, patent papers and other documents requiring the reproduction of drawings in small editions. The committee is investigating the complaint of bankers against the activities of the Federal Farm Board, which makes loans to farm organizations at rates lower than any private bank or private organization could afford. Exporters have complained of the activities of the Farm Board in the purchase of grain and cotton for stabilization purposes, and in its competition with grain merchants, privately before, that there was prospecting for any time since the mid-1897, while the being worked more gold operation, mountains of the sea, just north of South Africa is being mined level, from deposits reached by airplane. Down by plane, and for modern mining down into this country, nature, with possible adventurous. Leeuwenhoek long ago men convex crystal or the power of The Chinese were thousand yearsannes Lippershey the first telescope, circle lenses into the it was some years van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam, made microscope with hole to the naked born just 300,24,1632, and lived He gave modernable eyes. It was years, however, becience began to advance of Leeuwerenhoek. It remained forrenchman to find microbes" describewere the germs of humanity. Modine began with Leeuwerenhoek who research with its been spending a great deal of time in the past few months investigating the extent of the government's activities in competitive business. For years there have been protests, mostly from small and disorganized groups, against the growing tendency of the Federal bureaus to engage in business competition with private enterprise. It was not until the Chamber of Commerce of the United States took the matter up that much attention was paid to it. Now, under the spur of that powerful organization, the committee is studying the government's participation in the business of banking, shipbuilding, manufacturing, power production, printing and lithographing, retail selling and the operation of laundries, restaurants and scores of other enterprises. In shipbuilding, the government Navy yards represent an investment of about three hundred million dollars, and there are only one or two privately-owned shipbuilding plants equipped to compete with them. They can construct any type of vessels, from the smallest tug to the largest battleship. As a Shipbuilder While the Navy appropriation bills usually provide that contracts shall be given to private concerns when they cannot be made in one of the navy yards without material increase in cost, it is pointed out that of the fifteen heavy cruisers built or building at present, eight went to the navy yards and only seven to privately-owned yards. The Navy has just built nine new submarines, but only one of them was built by private contract. The Government operates a gun factory in Washington, makes its own torpedoes in a factory in Newport, makes ship propellers, engines and other parts in other plants, in different parts of the country. The government is very decidedly in the power business. It owns the big hydro-electric plant at Muscle Shoale on the Tennessee River, from which it is selling power at wholesale for about $560,000 a year. The government owns the great Boulder Dam project, now under construction. It is not intended that the government shall operate this, but rather lease the water to private contractors, but some twenty-odd water-power plants under the control The committee is investigating the complaint of bankers against the activities of the Federal Farm Board, which makes loans to farm organizations at rates lower than any private bank or private organization could afford. Exporters have complained of the activities of the Farm Board in the purchase of grain and cotton for stabilization purposes, and in its competition with grain merchants, privately owned cotton gins and warehouses, livestock and wool. The committee has complained that the government cuts and sells timber grown on public lands in competition with the privately owned and operated lumber industry. This complaint became so serious that a year or two ago President Hoover intervened and the government timber activities have been greatly reduced. At every army post, on every navy vessel, and in every navy yard there is maintained a general store, known variously as a post exchange, a canteen or a service store. And at the same places there are laundries, shoe repairshops, tailor and barber shops. Food or Transportation A great many complaints have been laid before the committee involving restaurants and cafeterias. Nearly every department building in Washington has its own restaurant or cafeteria. There are also restaurants in the principal navy yards and army posts, and in the Senate and House wings of the Capitol, as well as in the office buildings of Congress. These restaurants do not confine their trade to public officials. Those are only a few of the business activities of Uncle Sam which are under investigation. What will be done about them is another question. It is certain that this investigating committee's report will precipitate a lively debate in Congress and in the newspapers, and it may serve to bring to an early focus the long existing hostility between those who would take the government out of business entirely and those who would put it deeper into business than ever.