oc-plain-dealer 1923-08-25

EDITORIAL AND FEATURES An Independent Newspaper Issued Every Afternoon Except Sunday Paul V. Hester Editor and Publisher DAILY. GREETINGS TO OUR READERS Perfect consecration is the doorway out of the most inverteate unbelief. This is also the perfect cure for doubt.—Daniel Steele. Reforms Handicapped by Unwise Methods Why do they do it? Why do the zealous friends of reforms and of reformers embarrass the work of reformation by talking too much about it? A case in point: Chief of Police Vollmer, in Los Angeles. This noted expert in criminology was brought from Berkeley to "clean up Los Angeles." If given a free hand and wise support by the better elements in the community, he doubtless could make the reforms which Los Angeles feels that is needs. But the unwise thing is being done in proclaiming to the world what the new police chief is going to do; in making extravagant pledges and claims; and in handicapping the new chief by overpraising him. The first reaction from this will be disappointment. A great many friends of reform are sure to be disappointed. Because the reformative process necessarily will be somewhat slow. Buoyed up to extreme heights of expectancy by the great claims and the effusive pledges now being made, there will be expectation and ultimately demand that Chief Vollmer do that which only a miracle could accomplish—work over and improve conditions in Los Angeles in swift order. It can't be done. Chief Vollmer can't do it, and no other man can. There might be a semblance of betterment quickly, but the work of real reform must go deep down, and this is a gradual process. The forces of vice and crime do not proclaim to the world their intentions. They proceed quietly. And their very quietude be disappointed. Because the reformative process necessarily will be somewhat slow. Buoyed up to extreme heights of expectancy by the great claims and the effusive pledges now being made, there will be expectation and ultimately demand that Chief Vollmer do that which only a miracle could accomplish—work over and improve conditions in Los Angeles in swift order. It can't be done. Chief Vollmer can do it, and no other man can. There might be a semblance of betterment quickly, but the work of real reform must go deep down, and this is a gradual process. The forces of vice and crime do not proclaim to the world their intentions. They proceed quietly. And their very quietude and secrecy help them to accomplish their ends. Some of the same method should be used in combatting these evil forces. Let the reform proceed quietly and discreetly. Let the reformer keep the enemies of law, order and decency guessing, and his work will be more effective and his task will be done more quickly. Do not handicap the reformer and his reforms by talking too much about them. Let the works of reform speak for themselves. California is observing "Egg Day. Let it be "Ham Day" nest. Polar Flight Planned by R. Amundsen Captain Roald Amundsen chose discretion as the better part in connection with his projected flight across the North Pole. The airplane and equipment with which he had planned to make the aerial dash early this summer were not satisfactory and did not assure safety. Consequently, the renowned polar explorer postponed the flight. Captain Amundsen, according to reports, is planning to try the flight next year, starting from Spitzenberg instead of from the Alaskan side. He is taking note of the different types of machines, and will be in position to judge of the relative merits of the different models. Flight across the Pole is certain to be accomplished by somebody. Captain Amundsen doubtless will be the fortunate one to make this memorable achievement, which should be of great importance to science. This intrepid Scandinavian will rank among the greatest explorers of all time. He discovered the South Pole; he discovered the magnetic pole; and he was the first to voyage a ship through the Northwest Passage. Of course, the irresistible punster is sure to remark that observance of "Egg Day" is a hard-boiled notion. Co-Operation Is Given in Reclamation The Reclamation Bureau of the Federal Government is adopting more generous measures toward settlers on reclaimed lands. There has been lack of co-operation between the federal officials and settlers. This new policy should be conducive to betterment of conditions all around. For one thing the Reclamation Bureau is to encourage the subdividing of large holdings into small farms, where such proceeding would tend toward better farming. This is commendable. There should be encouragement of small farms and intensive methods of farming. The development of reclaimed lands is a matter of concern to the whole country. It means productive riches. This producing brings much added wealth into the community and distributes it generally. There has been lack of co-operation between the federal officials and settlers. This new policy should be conducive to betterment of conditions all around. For one thing the Reclamation Bureau is to encourage the subdividing of large holdings into small farms, where such proceeding would tend toward better farming. This is commendable. There should be encouragement of small farms and intensive methods of farming. The development of reclaimed lands is a matter of concern to the whole country. It means productive riches. This producing much added wealth into the community and distributes it generally. Goods deeds speak more eloquently than mere words. Europe is paying dearly for its indulgence in militaristic folly. Militarism should be thundered out of existence by the righteous wrath of the peace-loving masses. The grade crossing menace will not be better until the people demand its betterment. And the only way really to better it is to abolish it altogether. Westinghouse Battery Service We're ready for you. Not simply ready to sell you a dependable Westinghouse Battery, but ready also to give you Battery Service. Westinghouse Attention will keep your Battery, regardless of its make, strong and active. Come in— McGee Battery Station 419 West Center Street — Anaheim, Calif. URES Sept Sunday Publisher THE ORANGE COUNTY Plain Dealer SATURDAY Subscription Entered at FEARS AND HATREDS GREAT BRITAIN RAGES IN FEAR OF THE GROWING FRENCH AIR FLEET WHILE FRANCE VIEWS WITH ALARM AND FEAR THE EVER INCREASING GERMAN POPULATION WHILE FRANCE VIEWS WITH ALARM AND FEAR THE EVER INCREASING GERMAN POPULATION PARAGRAPHS By ROBERT QUILLEN Nearly ever y successful man has debts. The failure's debts have him. If his name appears in print without the "Mr." it means that he is a nobody or a somebody. Another objection to Prohibition is that the bootlegger never has a little dish of cloves. If he sits and dreams and whittles, he is a loafer. If he onlits the whittling, he is a foreman. The difference between Bolshevism and Fascism is that a different crowd feels the pinch of tyranny. If you will work hard and save, you may in time become rich enough to say: "Bah! What is mere money!" About the only exercises a cake-eater gets is the coughing between cigarettes. Now that various church denominations are uniting, there should be no obstacle to a mere League of Nations. The two best ways to succeed in business are to begin at the bottom and to select the right father-in-law. ABE MARTIN Mr. Tilford Moots did not attend th' convention at Vincentnes as she couldn't find no one t' keep her fern. Our idea o' th' unequal distribution o' trouble In this life is t' have one daughter graduate an' one git married all in th' same June. DINNER STORIES A certain painter is confined in an asylum, says Art Record. To persons who visit him he says: "Look at this; it is my latest masterpiece." They look, and see nothing but an expanse of bare canvas. They ask: "What does that represent?" "That? Why, that represents the passage of the Israelites thru the Red Sea." "Beg pardon, but where is the sea?" "It has been driven back." "And where are the Israelites?" "They have crossed over." "And the Egyptians?" "Will be here directly. That's the sort of painting I like—simple and unpretentious." Little Johnnie, aged six, had been to church and had displayed more than usual interest in the sermon, in which the origin of Eve had been dwelt on at some length, recites Tit-Bits. On his return from service, there being guests at dinner, he had also displayed a good deal of interest in the eatables, especially the pie and cakes. Some time afterward, being missed, he was found sitting quietly in a corner with his hands pressed tightly over his ribs and an expression of awful anxiety on his face. About the only exercises a cake-eater gets is the coughing between cigarettes. Now that various church denominations are uniting, there should be no obstacle to a mere League of Nations. The two best ways to succeed in business are to begin at the bottom and to select the right father-in-law. All you need to run a summer resort is some kind of climate, an itching palm, and a supply of postcards. "Iowa girls demand military training." These stories are so exaggerated. All they ask is the right to bare arms. A prominent educator says school teachers make the best wives. Ah, well; they are accustomed to bossing inferiors. Sophistication is the quality that keeps you from hoping for much when the pinch hitter advances swinging four bats. The only two people accorded uniform respect is every part of the civilized world are a king and a cook. When children are permitted to develop their "personality" a stranger can't tell whether it's personality or impudence. This "enlightened self-interest" the statesmen talk about isn't new. Years and years ago the nation grabbed colonies. Correct this sentence: "Let's turn the ear here and go back." said the flapper; "I promised mamma to be in by 9 o'clock." "There is not enough grievance in America to make the Paclata successful." For that matter, there isn't enough castor oil. The "melting pot" theory doesn't always work. Serambling the egg doesn't help much if there is one bad one in the lot. SATURDAY, AUGUST TWENTY-FIFTH, 1923 Subscription Rate—In No. Orange co. Per Yr. $3; 6 Months, $1.75 Entered at the Postoffice at Anaheim, Calif., as 2nd class matter COMMENTS OF THE PRESS EDITORS ARE SAYING HUGE ARMY IN CIVIL SERVICE—Berkeley Gazette Those who have the say about the expenditure of tax moneys frequently speak of the wastefulness of armies and navies. They wish as does everyone else, that such national safeguards were unnecessary and that the funds needed for their maintenance might be diverted to serve other purposes. But as a rule they have very little to say about our standing army of tax collectors and spenders, which is more than five times the size of army and navy combined. In this connection the recent report of the taxation committee of the Michigan Bankers' Association is particularly interesting. The committee asserts that in the past fifteen years, more than 1,000,000 laws have been passed in the country to control the lives and business activities of our people and that one individual in twelve of our population is supported by the tax-paying public in one way or another. In the state of Michigan, 50 per cent of the wealth newly created every year goes to pay for government, state, local or national. The United States government pays salaries to 700,000 civilians and the several states have more than twice that number on their payrolls. Add their families and dependents and you will understand the surprising totals and the cost of our governmental housekeeping. Is it any wonder that tax-free securities are popular, and that so many supposedly upright citizens are to be suspected of forgetfulness in the matter of their tax returns? Is it any wonder that most business men hold up their hands in horror at the thought of government ownership or operation of utilities? ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT SO THIS IS PEACE! Lord Curzon takes his pen in hand And writes a note to France. He wants Poincare to understand The German cabinet walks out, And revolution's rife. The anarchists now gaily about And urge the coming strife. The Russian troops, a million ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT SO THIS IS PEACE! Lord Curson takes his pen in hand And writes a note to France. He wants Poincare to understand He's getting his last chance. The Turk upon his boundary fence Makes faces at the Greek. They're only waiting to commence The usual battle of the week. The German cabinet walks out, And revolution's rise. The anarchists now gaily shout And urge the coming strife. The Russian troops, a million picked, Are drilling night and day. They're getting ready to get licked In some long-hoped-for fray. With each and every foreign race Prospecting for a jam, We think that Europe is no place Just now for Uncle Sam. Secretary Mellon has recently been made a doctor of law. Well, heavens knows there are plenty of laws that need doctoring. One woman down at the seashore has the right idea. When she writes to her hard-working husband here in town she calls him "sweetheart." ANOTHER PRODIGY Dear Roy—To help fill the gap caused by some of your delinquent contributors, let me tell you that this "Birdie" girl, who operates the typewriter with only four fingers, has nothing on me. I can do it with two.—Hunten Peck. Los Angeles man has lost one wife eight times. But she has always come back. Probably he believes nine times will end it. Each of us owes $96 of the public debt, according to statistics. We have paid our share several times over this year in income tax. We are deeply dismayed by the latest news from London—news of an international importance. It happens to strike close home. The news is that the dinner jacket, or, as Americans call it, "Tuxedo," has passed entirely out of style, and all men of fashion now wear tall coats in the evening for every sort of function. Recently it was noted that during the supper hour at the Savoy not a dinner coat was to be seen. We take this as personal grievance. Only about a month ago we went and bought a new dinner jacket with a swell satin collar, and we paid $28.75 for the outfit, which, of course, is now just money thrown away. The old tail coat was legislated out of existence a year ago by the motha. We hardly know what to do about this, but we have a word of cheer from the gentleman down in the basement of our house who presses clothing. He claims he can fasten a couple of tails onto this dinner jacket, but, of course, the grafting point will always show. The life of a man of fashion is cluttered up with difficulties, because, of course, if dinner jackets are taboo in London, far be it from us— Over 4 Over 4 Million Gabriel Snubbers in use. There is no other Snubber. C. J. NENNO 145 South Los Angeles St. Phone 464 GABRIEL SNUBBERS THERE IS NO OTHER Keep You on the Goat Save Your Car It's a Snubber it's a "GABRIEL"