anaheim-gazette 1933-02-23

WE SALUTE OLD IRON SIDES Until March 10, the U. S. S. Constitution, affectionately known by patriotic Americans as Old Ironsides, lies at the Twenty-second street dock, San Pedro. Victor in 42 major naval engagements—a record not matched by any vessel of any country—the famous old frigate, warms up to the trod of hundreds of thousands of school children who are lured to her decks by dramatic and patriotic lore of the famous vessel, and are better Americans because of it. Proud old warrior that she is, Old Ironsides in 1925 was about resigned to a fateful visit to Davey Jones' locker. More than a century of usefulness stood her in good stead. Her early record of achievements, in which she more than any other vessel or group of warships, made America sea conscious, focused the attention of patriotic citizens upon her. Her battles in the war of Tripoli struck popular imagination; her feat in overpowering the pride of the British frigate Guerriere, pride of the English navy, inspired our poets—no wonder the school children of America rose to the occasion in 1925, giving $600,000 in pennies for the restoration of this famous old craft. School books for a century told how the U. S. S. Constitution slid down the ways of the Boston navy yard on September 20, 1797. She cost Uncle Sam $302,719 then, a little over a third of the sum necessary for her complete overhauling in the last half dozen years. Paul Revere fashioned the bolts that held her timbers together. Betsy Ross fashioned and made the 15 stars and 15 stripes Old Ironsides flew. After the war of 1812, she was used in suppressing slave trade. In 1830 she went struck popular imagination; her feat in overpowering the pride of the British frigate Guerriere, pride of the English navy, inspired our poets—no wonder the school children of America rose to the occasion in 1925, giving $600,000 in pennies for the restoration of this famous old craft. School books for a century told how the U. S. S. Constitution slid down the ways of the Boston navy yard on September 20, 1797. She cost Uncle Sam $302,719 then, a little over a third of the sum necessary for her complete overhauling in the last half dozen years. Paul Revere fashioned the bolts that held her timbers together. Betsy Ross fashioned and made the 15 stars and 15 stripes Old Ironsides flew. After the war of 1812, she was used in suppressing slave trade. In 1830 she went out of commission, but later was used as a training ship. Oliver Wendell Homes, inspired by the lofty achievements of this famous warrior, wrote "Old Ironsides." Ninety-five years later, Poet Henry Van Dyke dedicated a poem "To the U. S. S. Frigate Constitution." No wonder public sentiment was aroused. No wonder school children throughout the land responded in unstinted measure for preservation of the gallant craft! Let us not miss this opportunity to board Old Ironsides, see for ourselves those high decks built for the purpose of fighting in rough weather, view the curved braces over the guns made from natural knees of timber, and look up at the masts which have held their heads high for more than 136 years. But most of all, we want to "feel the pulse" of this gallant warship. She fought her way into our history and affection, and has more than earned our staunch admiration. LAST PHASES OF DEPRESSION A number of students of economics recently have pointed out the fact that the closing phases of every depression we have had in the past have been accompanied by demands for inflation. Recovery from the depression, they add, has come, in each instance, after the government and the people had taken a firm stand for sound money and had defeated inflation. If growing demand for inflation marks the final stages of depression then we have undoubtedly arrived at that time in our present era of difficulty. Inflation is one of the much discussed topics of the hour and bids fair to be one of the big issues of the next administration. Already there are around a half hundred bills in Congress providing for some form of inflation. Some of these contemplate cutting down the gold content of the dollar, others the free and unlimited coinage of silver and still others inflation by speeding up the printing presses in the turning out of currency. If history is to repeat itself, therefore, we will pull out of this depression only after all schemes for monetary inflation have been defeated. Whether this can be brought about remains to be seen. Enthusiastic inflationists some time ago expressed the belief that some kind of inflation would be written into law by the "old" Congress. But there is little chance of this for the reason that President Hoover would veto any such measure. It is then up to the incoming administration. Just what it will do remains to be seen. Both parties in their platforms last year declared for sound money, and there is no reason as yet to believe that the incoming President is not in line with the majority of his party on the subject. But his cabinet appointments and his first message to the new Congress, which is to be called into special session, will be awaited with interest. GE The one heroic figure memory transcends all George Washington. The American soldier or steward. Indeed, we do our nation will have pre universal respect and e Yet Washington in vilification such as few A British traveler and men refused to drink of his birthday. When end of his second terrifying newspapers then in ex public rejoicing, "for fortunes of our country fellow citizens and is evil upon the United by a man the American Very few men in something in human nature is superior to others long to realize that in who was probably there the revolt against Brion on an independent basis have been seriously sh The wisdom of Whethe young Republic of more and more clearly this time we are impregnate to avoid entangling alliances of course, as an admonor world; it was rather friendly relations with opposition to others. our political leaders and ton's warning against Three hundred and killed in motor car accidents more than the total number in the Great War. Statistics there were This is a reduction from deaths from this cause there were a great many there were the year b been defeated. Whether this can be brought about remains to be seen. Enthusiastic inflationists some time ago expressed the belief that some kind of inflation would be written into law by the "old" Congress. But there is little chance of this for the reason that President Hoover would veto any such measure. It is then up to the incoming administration. Just what it will do remains to be seen. Both parties in their platforms last year declared for sound money, and there is no reason as yet to believe that the incoming President is not in line with the majority of his party on the subject. But his cabinet appointments and his first message to the new Congress, which is to be called into special session, will be awaited with interest. As to the necessity for defeating inflationary movements if we are to get out of the depression, there can be little doubt. Controlled inflation, if inflation can be controlled, would be of little avail. We already have enough money in the country for commercial purposes. Controlled inflation would not help. It has not helped in Great Britain where it was predicted that abandoning of the gold standard would raise prices and help industry. And uncontrolled inflation means ruin—ruin first to the creditors and then to those in debt. The example of Germany along this line ought to be eloquent and convincing proof of this fact. Mr. Francis H. Sisson, president of the American Bankers association, recently well summed up the situation when in part he said: "Inflation is not the pathway to business recovery in the United States. The nation has an ample volume of currency and resources for sound credit expansion to finance the restoration of business to normal proportions and activities. The great need of the hour is to set our existing currency and credit powers in motion—to give them velocity and dynamic force which are in fact just as effective in stopping deflation and stimulating business activity as inflation is thought by its exponents to be, without its known baneful effects and deceptive evils. "And what is needed to give our currency and credit resources velocity is business confidence—confidence among industrial and business leaders for their undertakings, courage to ask the banks for sound loans to finance them and prudent courage among bankers to grant them—courage, also, among our people to resume normal spending and replenishments, and among our investors to resume normal investing. "I believe that the government at Washington has largely within its grasp the possibilities of making business confidence a plain, everyday, practical working reality. A program working reality. A program of real economy in government expenditures and a sound plan of taxation revision to produce adequate revenues to balance the budget and yet relieve productive economic activity from its repressive weight would be a mighty power for restoring confidence." ANAHEIM GAZETTE Monkey Business By Albert T. Reid POLITICAL HEELER EXHORTANT PRICES FOR REAL ESTATE GRAFT POLITICAL ITEMS KEY OFFICE NEXT OFFICE NEW ISLE OF GRAFT BOSS P FIXER PATRONAGE SYSTEM TAXPAYERS MONEY JUICY POLITICAL CONTRACT GEORGE WASHINGTON GEORGE WASHINGTON The one heroic figure in our national hall of fame, whose memory transcends all partisanship and sectionalism, is that of George Washington. It will be many years before any other great American soldier or statesman becomes such a figure of national honor. Indeed, we doubt whether, even after the lapse of ages, our nation will have produced another character commanding such universal respect and esteem. Yet Washington in his lifetime was the target for abuse and exploitation such as few Presidents since his day have had to bear. A British traveler and author, writing in 1795, told how many men refused to drink to the President's health at the celebration of his birthday. When Washington retired to private life at the end of his second term as President, one of the foremost of the newspapers then in existence declared that this was a time for public rejoicing, "for the man who is the source of all the misfortunes of our country is this day reduced to a level with his fellow citizens and is no longer possessed of a power to multiply evil upon the United States . . . if ever a nation was deceived by a man the American nation has been deceived by Washington." Very few men in high place escape such calumny. There is something in human nature which resents the idea that one man is superior to others. But it did not take the American people long to realize that in George Washington they had had a leader who was probably the only man who could have successfully led the revolt against British domination and establish our nation on an independent basis so sound that the foundations laid by him have been seriously shaken. The wisdom of Washington's warnings and admonitions to the young Republic of which he was the first President become more and more clearly apparent as time goes on. Particularly at this time we are impressed with his warning to the young nation to avoid entangling alliances with Europe. That was not intended. Of course, as an admonition to detach America from the rest of the world; it was rather an admonition that we should maintain friendly relations with all nations and not be allied with some in opposition to others. We think this an opportune time to remind our political leaders and the people of America again of Washington's warning against foreign entanglements. DEATH ON WHEELS Three hundred and twenty-five thousand Americans have been killed in motor car accidents in the past fifteen years. That is more than the total number of American soldiers who were killed in the Great War. Last year, according to carefully compiled statistics there were twenty-nine thousand motor vehicle deaths. This is a reduction from the thirty-three thousand five hundred deaths from this cause in 1931, but it must be remembered that there were a great many fewer cars on the roads last year than there were the year before. Every death of this kind is a sense- DEATH ON WHEELS Three hundred and twenty-five thousand Americans have been killed in motor car accidents in the past fifteen years. That is more than the total number of American soldiers who were killed in the Great War. Last year, according to carefully compiled statistics there were twenty-nine thousand motor vehicle deaths. This is a reduction from the thirty-three thousand five hundred deaths from this cause in 1931, but it must be remembered that there were a great many fewer cars on the roads last year than there were the year before. Every death of this kind is a senseless, waste of life for no good purpose. It is not enough to say that fatal accidents are the fault of careless drivers; the situation calls for some way of insuring against carelessness in driving. The best insurance of this is requiring everyone who drives a car to be licensed, after a rigid examination into his or her ability to drive carefully, and then to enforce strictly the laws forbidding any unlicensed driver to sit behind a steering wheel and punishing the licensed driver for any accident which causes injury to persons or property. In the half dozen states in which such laws and regulations exist the proportion of automobile accidents is lower than anywhere else. Automobile drivers are not always at fault. While 44 percent of the persons killed by automobiles last year were pedestrians who were struck by cars, nearly half of those were killed by their own carelessness, either in crossing streets against signals, crossing diagonally between street intersections, or stepping out into traffic from behind parked cars. No sane person would think of letting a boy or girl handle firearms without making sure that they thoroughly understood the danger inherent in their use and knew perfectly well how to handle them. But people who shudder at the idea of giving children fire arms to play with let them run automobiles without any evidence that they have the necessary skill and presence of mind and intelligence to handle them safely. Ten times as many people are killed every year by automobile accidents as are killed by the accidental discharge of fire arms. We have not yet learned how to control the motor car. Remember the old-fashioned statesman who predicted back in 1920 that gasoline would be selling for a dollar a gallon inside of ten years? Of course it may, before long, if they keep on boosting the tax. Huey Long says he has a bona fide remedy for the depression and that if we try it and it does not work a cure in six months he is willing to resign from the senate. Which makes it almost worthy trying, in any event. BATHS . . . In the White House I remember when I was a boy in Washington that there was a great debate in Congress over the question of putting a second bathroom into the White House. Mr. Cleveland was President and his opponents in Congress declared that he was a devotee of luxurious extravagance in wanting more than one bathroom for the entire White House. I don't know how many bathrooms there are in the White House now, but my guess is at least a dozen. But when it was proposed in Congress the other day to give President Roosevelt enough money to put a swimming pool in the White House basement, and Representative Schaefer of Washington objected on the ground of extravagance, I was reminded of the furore over Mr. Cleveland's bathroom. "There are lots of people in the United States that don't have swimming pools," said Mr. Schaefer. That was a pretty cheap appeal to unintelligent voters." He might have added that there are a lot of people, also, who are not President of the United States. AMENDMENTS . . . Important one Perhaps the next amendment to the Federal Constitution will be the repeal of Prohibition, but there is another amendment that has been pending for ten years, which may get in ahead of repeal. BRUCE BARTON writes of "THE MASTER EXECUTIVE" Supplying a week-to-week inspiration for the heavy-burdened who will find every human trial paralleled in the experiences of "The Man Nobody Knows." THE CENTER OF INTEREST The samaritan woman at Jacob's "Come," she cried, "and see a man well stopped short, her interest chal-who told me all things that ever I did." lenged in spite of herself; she set down. They followed her out to the well—the pitcher and looked at the stranger. these prejudiced, reluctant men and It was a burning hot day; the well was women who, an hour before, would have far from the city; she was heated and thought it incredible that they should tired. What did Jesus mean by such a ever hold conversation with one of their remark? She started to speak, checked traditional enemies. It is said that herself and burst out impulsively, her great leaders are born, not made. The curiosity overleaping her caution: saying is true to this degree, that no "What are you talking about? Do man can persuade people to do what he you mean to say you are greater than wants them to do, unless he genuinely our father Jacob who gave us this well? likes people, and believes that what Have you some magic that will save us he wants them to do is to their own this long walk in the sun?" advantage. Dramatic, isn't it—a single sentence The secret of Jesus' success was an achieving triumph, arising interest affection to rfolks which so shone in his and creating desire. With sure instinct eyes and rang in his tones, that even Jesus followed up his initial advantage, the commonest man in a crowd felt He began to talk to her in terms of her instinctively that here was a friend. own life, her ambitions, her hopes... The afternoon shadows lengthened knowing so well that each of us is while he talked. It came time for the interested first of all and most of all in evening meal; again he prepared to go himself. When the disciples came up They would not hear of it. He must be a few minutes later they found an un-their guest, meet their neighbors, teil believable sight—a Samaritan listening them more, persuade them further! with rapt attention to the teaching of "They besought him to abide with a Jew. He prepared to go but she would not allow it. Running back to the city she summoned her brothers and relatives. Next Week: Getting Attention Copyright, Bobbs-Merrill Co. OBSERVATIONS (HIC) S'HAY (HIC) LESH HAV 'NOTHER ONE,' WHO0PEE! (HIC) Over in the amusement sector a press agent is quoted as saying that a certain actor told him that when he had a couple snifters under his belt he could make better love "scenes" before the camera. ACCUSED UNK OF BEING A TIGHT WAD There awhile ago when both parties were claiming credit for the return of prosperity from around the corner, a man and a woman got into an argument about the bonus. After a spell the man was hanging on the ropes, as a OBSERVATIONS (HIC) S'HAY (HIC) LESH HAV 'NOTHER ONE,' WHOOPEE! (HIC) Over in the amusement sector a press agent is quoted as saying that a certain actor told him that when he had a couple snifters under his belt he could make better love "scenes" before the camera. GIVING THEM THE DOUBLE 0 There awhile back they ordered the line on the border to keep open until midnight. That they believed would give sightseers plenty of time to get there and return all together and would do away with the rush at the gate on the way out. But it didn't work. The rush kept on rushing. The guards were worked to a frazzle. It was Jake for San Diego and points north, because customers had a chance to stop and get their bearings—without a compass. Now they set the clock back to 9 p.m. The customers must have their bill folds neatly tucked away by that time or stay all night. It is said the night life down there is an eye-opener, but yet again the new time limit gives you plenty of time to see the elephant and get back home before the milkman gets around, if you have enough gas in the old bus. PERHAPS SOON THEYLL BE GETTING 'EM IN THE 5 AND 10 A wife hurried from out the east to Reno for a divorce. But when she learned it took 45 days out there for a separation she took flight for Mexico where they break the shackles in a week. THE OTHER PIONEERS CAME IN '57 During the Diamond Jubilee quite a few folks roundabout posed as pioneers. For instance, one man was asked how long he had lived here. He replied: "Why, I've lived here night onto 40 years. Yep. I'm an original!" SCRAPING THE BOTTOM "Say, pard, can you ship me two cents," said a seedy looking gent the other day to a guy on the curbstone. "I've got 8 cents and I need two cents more to balance the budget to get a cup of java." EASY PICK-UPS Up in another city it was reported in the paper a salesman left five thousand dollars worth of jewelry in a bag in his car parked at the curb, while he went into a store to do some business. When he came back the jewelry was gone. A lady stepped into a store up there to do some shopping and leaves her purse containing $750.00 in currency lying on ACCUSED UNK OF BEING A TIGHT WAD There awhile ago when both parties were claiming credit for the return of prosperity from around the corner, a man and a woman got into an argument about the bonus. After a spell the man was hanging on the ropes, as a woman is bound to have the last word, but anyhow he had a chance to come up for air, and told the lady the money was not now available; and she in open mouthed amazement, finally admitted that she believed Uncle Sam had all that money hid away in his war chest and wouldn't give it to the boys now just for meanness. OH, BOY! WHAT A MAN! Now a young sprig of gentility, who got in a fuss with his wife because an actress played with him, which started a divorce suit, a stolen love suit and everythin', has received so much fan mail that the letters clutter up the postman's cart. The play boy is a good-looking chap and he has the girls in the amusement sector eating out of his hand. Some of the gals even chase him when he goes out in his car and jump on the running board and want to kiss him. He's going on the stage to learn if he is a new find or a flop. OCH, OH! A man up in educational circles, who says the 18th amendment is a failure, suggests state control of liquor, and he says it should not be sold for private profit. Not so bad. In speaking of the return of the saloon the man says the saloon has not "gone" anywhere; it simply has married the speakeasy and taken its wife's name. Just like a judgment debtor giving his appendix to his wife mebbe because women go to the speakeasies that causes them to be so loony. THERE IS GOOD IN EVERYTHING The farmers of the midwest who are refusing to sell their produce until they get a reasonable price for their commodities might go a long way to solve their economic troubles, if they conduct their activities in an orderly fashion and do not violate any laws. Should they band themselves together and cooperate along sensible lines, and put their perishable products in cold storage, they can accomplish their purpose. The big and influential middleman has been doing that very thing for years. Those birds dictate the prices both ways. They tell the farmer what they will pay and also tell the consumer what he shall pay through adroit EASY PICK-UPS Up in another city it was reported in the paper a salesman left five thousand dollars worth of jewelry in a bag in his car parked at the curb, while he went into a store to do some business. When he came back the jewelry was gone. A lady stepped into a store up there to do some shopping and leaves her purse containing $750.00 in currency lying on the seat of the car parked at the curb. When she came out that money was gone. Of course, that's too bad—but what can you do if a guy insists on jumping into the lake! This is the amendment permitting the Federal Government to bar from interstate commerce the products of the labor of children under eighteen. Congress passed a law years ago to that effect, and the Supreme Court held it unconstitutional. An amendment to the Constitution to overcome this was submitted in 1922. Only nine State Legislatures have ratified it. Thirteen have not even brought it to a vote, and twenty-six have rejected it. A great many people believe that this child labor amendment is more vital to the future welfare of the United States than the repeal/of Prohibition. SILVER again Nearly two years ago I began commenting in this column on the price of silver and its effect upon commodity prices and world trade. Since then a good many intelligent people on both sides of the Atlantic have waked up to the fact that the demonetization of silver in Europe and the resulting devaluation of the money of the Orient is one of the important causes of low commodity prices and a serious obstacle to international commerce. I think it can be proved that the re-establishment of the pre-war price of silver would be the longest possible step toward revival of business. That does not mean "sixteen to one," but it does mean that the discussions of the silver question in Congress ought to be taken seriously. THEY MUST FIND A WAY OUT If the farmers of the middle west and northwest would cooperate and pool their issues, put their products in cold storage and work in harmony they would solve a problem that has been a thorn in their flesh for years. They should give battle to the middleman and the guy who buys on consignment. Put that bird where he belongs! If they work out a sensible plan it would not make much difference to them who is elected president. HORNING IN FOR SOME OF THE CREAM Dairymen in the midwest have been destroying the milk in order to boost up the price. They say they will continue to do that until the cows come home. BORROWING FROM PETER TO PAY PAUL Some people jump at conclusions while others jump at street intersections. But that five day week plan doesn't amount to much because the man who loses that one work day needs that money to keep going, and the man who gets it doesn't go far, and foreign oil comes in free. SPREADING THE SALVE Before the snow files in November glittering generalities will be unloosened to beat the band, and after the voter catches his breath he should take them with a grain of salt.