The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 167, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 18, 1921 Page: 7 of 40
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And American Law. II.
' ; : By Nelson Phillips ";i :
ChltUuttlct tuprama Court f Txat. .'
if
IMMMttNIIHMMtiMMMNtMMfHNMHNNMMMI
Thla la tht tecond inatallmtnt of Chief
1-Mtim. VbSQM1ftlt tht concluding
! vstaXlrnmt will ba published Sunday
Ttember 23. V:'''v 'v'' V .
Tha lif of I nation Hat in tbf Integ-
rity of tha idtn which it repretenta.
It falls into the slumber that knowa no
waking enet iti character it (on. Tha
ICSaeeee f national Ideal infallibly pro-
claim itself in tht characteristics of the
people. Tbt typtl .of nitlon't man-
hood beat sxprete a nation's prlndpiaa.
To the whoietomtneaa of American ideaa
and their .' nnconadotiB influenoe la the
buudina; af chtrteter we owe the aim-
plidty tha . tturdinesa and Independence
of American life. The oak ia an oak only
becaaaa it wai the aeed of an oak that
waa plus tad. The oak cpreada lt root a
deep 'and wide tad growa and towera in
atately trength only while . the free
windy play among ita branehei and tha
unhindered tuninlne ' settle! upon ita
load. Bo it ii with character. A Croat
R character a. treat Deoole. can be pro.-
r doeed and will thrive only in the open
air of freedom and when rooted in vir-
tue ia courage and manliness. Here
lies the strength of American life. Here
lien tha security of the traita of Ameri-
ca character. -
TO n reserve that life and character -we
oat preserve theae element which
' alone produced it To keep this land
xunuanieniauy tmencan we wuov uiu-
-tain the American belief In the honor
aad dignity of plain honest work; the
.American acorn for the man who would
have or would seek a (pedal privilege
at the hands of the government or who
would in any way prostitute iti powers
'which exist for all the people to the self -
deb. advantage of hia so-called das ; the
'Lamrlcan contempt for that base spirit
which envies another mtn'i success or
targets another man's property or which
would aeek to rob him of it either by
. Xorce or by public confiscation throngrh
textornoaatt and unjust taxation; tha
tAnserican respect for law and govern-
twent by law not men; and above an
4aa American lore of justice equal and
: exact to all men the rich and the poor
'tie nigh and the low each and all alike.
What finer duty" can we render the
nation than to be a people such
xaade that simpler cider time in its life
.despite ita hard condition its want of
' every convenience and its lack of every
xrJedern advantage an epoch of un-
rivaled action in all that expressed the
duties of true men and of unsurpassed
i tbeagbt in all that comprehended the
rfghts of free men? They were a peo-
who never hesitated to challenge
power in any quarter whenever it be-
&m arbitrary or oppressive; who
taunted aa unworthy the favor f a atat-
xita sa a means of advantage in pri-
vaia imrsuit; too self-reliant t lean in
aarrfU dependence upon the bounty of
the government and too free to acknowl-
dg that they were the mere wards
ef tha state; a people who were the sup-
part erf the government rather than the
subjects of either its succor or its pow-
er. 9hey stood in need of but few laws
anal Qierefore were entitled to demand
ana fb hare a simple and an economical
goatrnment They were wise enough to
knew that the test of a just government
ia (ba equality of all men before the law
ana (hat therefore in its very nature.
thia government could not be a paternal
institution. They were a people who
milker sought nor recognized any class
distinctions because unwilling that any
data In this land shotild profit at the
expente or suffer at the hands of any
otner class and because they knew that
So dans government can be a free gov-
arameat. Their common trait was plain
Bring. They were frugal industrious
tolerant earnest and sincere "invincible
alike to evil fortune and good fortune"
aot Unused nor unsuited to the whole-
';aoaw pleasures of the world but to
vwhaan its vanities did not appeal and
whom ita follies could not corrupt. They
were the hardy pioneers who fashioned
.the Thirteen Colonies and later carried
American civilization to the western edge
of the continent who experienced the
'grim contest with the wilderness the
hard condition of the pioneer home and
the perils of life on the frontier. They
were the builders of the nation the gnar-
flans of what Webster called its "fire-
aide rights" and they gave the nation its
typical character.
But in many quarters we are losing
the simplicity of American life and with
it its atrength and robustness. The
ldeaa the notions which the fathers net
pp by which they lived and which they
wrought into the structure of the repub-
lic are by many regarded aa provincial
and hence wholly unsuited to this day.
Aforetime it was enough to be an Amer-
ican atisen. But now it is said we are
become "citizens of the world" and
'moat cast away as obsolete not only the
fundamentals of American life but the
jandamentals of American law. It is
a day of "new thought" in politics in
law in the humanities and in religion.
Things that are old. however tested by
experience are outgrown; and things
that are established whatever their
proven service are wrong. Wealth is
tha common aspiration rather than use-
fulness and renown; and luiury is to be
mora prised than refinement. We have
-well-nigh reached the state of which
Cato warned his countrymen "when
they paid more for cooks than for hor-
ses. The industrial life of the land is
earning to be largely appropriated by
Jrage eorporationsU The small dealer is
finding his lot harder and harder. The
pportnnity of the individual is being
constantly narrowed. His rights are te-
ing more and more restricted. He is dia-
awpearing as the unit and base of things.
His liberties it ia proclaimed must yield
to- "the welfare of society." If Patrick
Henrv were now to acipear and utter his
Satmeatal declaration "Give me liberty
r give me death" be would be blandly
teW by some social reformer that there
bad been substituted for it the doctrine
ef -"l ant my brother's keeper" with the
aeS-tmpased authority to regulate him
and apatrol him In his private affairs as
the Keeper sees fit. A common citizen-
thtp ia apparently a thing of the past.
Olaasaa. each concerned for its own inter-
est and pressing for ita own advantage
and anaintainmg larger lobbies st the na-
tional and tate capitals for the promo-
tion af class legislation are the familiar
order of the day. The protection of the
rights af minorities ia waning as a distinc-
tive feature of the . American system.
Their anneals are silenced by an tfnheed-
ing majority rule. Tha nationalization of
all Bida"try is DC coming an insistent de-
mand. The justice of the written law with
ita humanity security and certainty it is
constantly urged mast give war to the
vagTMi andefiaed maudlutism called "so-
cial justice." Democracy is heralded not
aa equality before tha law but as equal-
ity ef ownership of other people'! erop-
erty. regardless of tha Industry which
r rodiieaa it and tha right of all mem to
tie rewards of their labera. And to be
aa infidel ia religiom and socialist in
Tviliiica ia deemed by many aa evidence
ef broader mentality a higher erder af
i -Mlrgeoce and a diatinctivs nxficatioa
ef rrogreeetve theagwt.
1 ha mar senene featsrt af tbaaa
.' nMe ia their arradual - kmama of
"Tiean law. Under tht ipeeJees araieo
t i social atlfare tney art indertsus-
i r the fundamental doctrines ef Asa art
t I'eooatitntions. This devilopmeat ia
neswed ia the varfmaa aejieaiea for the
i noation ef gevermnent aid and fa'
. cartaaa cuiteo- coiuia n govern!
tal bounty denlod to other chute a. This
baa gone to far ia one instance aa the
establishment of a fiscal agency of tht
national government for tht special bene-
fit of a certain class of tht population.
It it further aeon in legislative dictation
of tht number of boon t man may werk
and the amount of wiget bt shall receive
for hit work; in. varied regulationa of tht
uses to which bo may put hit property
uses In tbemeeiwet lawful and injurious
to nobody and heretofore for that reason
held exempt from governmental inter-
ference! In enernic laws 'seeking to re-
duce marriage to I matter of physical
qualification; and in laws for the estab-
lishment of censorships Of different
kinds.. The leg iala tare of one Stat has
enacted a law making an tmployer en
gaged in ordinary occupations but which
it has classed aa hasardont liable for any
injury incurred by an employe in 'the
coarse' of hit employment in any ajagtonnt
a jury may choose to assess although the
employer Is wholly blameless for the in-
jury and may have taken every possible
precaution to avert ii Such a law
changes the fundamental theory of mor-
als at well at law. It is the very essence
of right itself of all law both civil and
criminal that no man shall bt punished
unless guilty of a wrong and that one
who is free from fault shall he free from
liability. In what may be regarded aa
the most far-reaching decision in ita en-
tire history the supreme court of the
United States has recently declared that
this law infringed no constitutional guar-
anty hot only over the protest of the
chief justice and three associate jus-
tices.! With all deference to that great
court the decision will not stand the test
of the basic principles of constitutional
law. It is opjvosed to natural justice.
The hope it indulged that the court will
overturn it
More than anywhere else this process
is seen hi the radical extension of the
police power. All the powers of govern-
ment are subject to tht constitution. The
police power ia not tbovt it But in some
instances it is practically being pot above
it Courts hare wisely and properly re-
fused in sdvanee to circumscribe the lim-
its of the power. Many modern condi-
tions justly call -for its exercise. If
however a legislature's declaration that
a given subject demands the exertion of
the police power operates to foreclose
the question regardless of the reason-
ableness of the law in John Marshall's
language "to what purpose are limita
tions committed to writing U tbose limits
may at any time be passed by those in-
tended to be restrained?" The plea for
these extreme regulationa is always the
public necessity. They are necessary it
is said for the efficient exercise of the
powers of go veraraent Those who make
this plea forget that under the American
system efficiency is not the test of gov-
ernmental power. The test is whether
its exercise transcends constitutional
limitations imposed expressly for the
protection of individual rights. The
preservation of those rights is aa much
the concern of the constitution as effi-
ciency in the government Their preserv-
ation is indeed the very justification of
government. To that great end have the
powers of gove rnment been granted and
rnvernment falsifies its nnrnose if it
1 .l.. nAf nw.w thn Tt MlAAma itm
UUCD HIT flUVC- Uu. . . IIUV- i. ..n
purpose only when it does protect them.
The snpreme court years sgo answered
the plea of necessity in this memorable
passage which should remain the answer
for all time: "If this were true it could
be well said that a country preserved
with the sacrifice of the cardinal ' princi-
ples of liberty is not worth the cost of
preserving."
One of the justices of the supreme
court has in recent years declared that
the police power may be exercised in aid
of whatever is held by "strong and pre-
ponderant opinion to be greatly avnd im-
mediately necessary to the public wel-
fare."! Under this rule the test of con-
stitutional power is merely a question of
popular majority ft governmental pow-
ers are subject to no restraint but a
popular vote why have our constitutions
been written? According to this rule if
in the mere judgment of the legislature
public opinion preponderates in favor of
everybody's going to bed at 4 o'clock in
the. afternoon as essential to the public
welfare; or for the surrender of till pri-
rste property to the Stste; or for the
abolishment of all public pleasures it is
competent for the legislature to enact
laws which so declare.
Kncouraged by such sweeping defini-
tions the police power is assuming all
the amplitude of unrestrained authority
which the Stuart kings claimed for their
prerogative. The plea put forward in
every citreme case for its exercise is the
same by which the ingenuity of Bacon
vainly attempted to justify the arbitrary
' measures of James I. The heavy in
crease of taxation by which the country
is burdened is in a large measure due to
this extension of governmental power.
With the setrvities of the government
spread far and wide there results always
the creation of new offices which in turn
pile up the government expense. The
number of expensive commissions now in
office in sdditibn to the usual executive
officers for the administration of laws
enacted under the police power and
which are daily increasing would appall
the country if it took note of them.
Tht police power's omnivorous swal-
lowing up of individual rights bids fair to
continue until the people awaken as
some day they will "like A strong man
from his sleep and in resistance strike
again' that
" single note
From that deep chord which Hampden
smote."
There is a story somewhere which
tells of the visit of t school Inspector to
a village school in England. A class was
asked to write what they knew about
Iord Nelson. One of the small boys
closed his essay with this statement:
"And his last wordr were ISvery man
expects England to do his duty.' "
The current paternalism is fast substi-
tuting this conception for those robust
notions of the independence the atal-
wartness and the initiative of the Ameri-
can cititen those things which have
made him the sarong splendid figure that
he is and which we have counted among
the chief glories of tht nation. If the
State continuea to usurp and absorb hit
activities limit his opportunities cir-
cumscribe his rights all tht while adding
to hit burdens by increased taxation
whereby it may enlarge its operatfons it
can only be expected thatthe tragic con-
fiscation will result in hit abandonment
of all individual dutiet and hia ready
transfer of them to the State.
AU of these tendencies are a menace
and a challenga of the basic things in
American life and the fundamental doc-
trines of American law. They are the
precursors of trouble. They partake of
if they do not actually express the ruth-
kataeat of arbitrary rait thing to
which this rec of peoptt has newer sob-
uittad They are the tors runners of bit-
ter contest If wt art wist and. truly
concerned for the safety of Amerieaa in-
stitutions we wfU arrest them before It
if too Ita
Let the soundness of then proposals
bt briefly put to the tttt of reaaoa and
authority. - i
Arisen Km players' Liability Cases
250 U. 8. 40O.
i Noble State) Bank vs. Haskell 219
nam. . 1
i. . t a r . l !
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.
Abilene Reporter. '
' Tha world ia growing better. Governor
Ncffaj announcement that chalne as pun-
ishment foff prisoners nave been abol-
ished lri tht Texas penitentiary system it
fresh oroof if they art really and truly
abolished and - tha rule it not surrepti-
tiously broken aa la sometime the case.
It is a slam on civilisation that prisoners
are sometimes beaten into a atatt of In-
sensibility and hung up by the thumbs
for hours on and. Tht State should
have abolished such reprehensible prac-
tices' long ago. A criminal is a criminal
but he-Is also partly if not wholly human.
Hia guardians should bt at least humane.
TROOPS TO PROTECT SETTLERS.
El Paso Herald. -
The war department it acting wisely in
tending troops back into the Arlvaca
district A Southern Anions - stationing
them at Ruby where Mr. and Mrs. Frank
J. Pearson were killed by bandits last
week. Pearson was storekeeper and
postmaster A year and a half ago the
Fraser brothers one 'of whom was post-
master at Uuby were killed by bandits
also.
. . This action of the war department is
not a locking of the barn door after the
horae it ttoleii. Presence of troops at
Baby and knowledge that military patrols
will be going through the country at in-
tervals will tend to make the district
more sale for ita residents.
There is a chance that sooner or later
tha troops may come in contact with ban-
dits in a way to result in a satisfactory
bandit casualty list
. VTT
PROGRESS BY PUBLICITY
Galveston Tribune
The members of the newly formed
advertising club of Galveston are to be
the guests of their Houston brothers in
adcraft at a get-together meeting in
Houston.
The effective re suits to be derived by
closer co-operation between the business
Interests of the sister cities of Galveston
and Houston are many and varied. The
advertising dubs have taken the stand
that tnis is their row to noe. ana are los-
ing no time in preparation for their pro-
tram bv Dublicitv.
The Galveston dub was organised
through interest manifested on the part
of a nnmber of live young Houston bus-
iness men and their additional sugges
tion of an inter-city gathering is not
only a fraternad conrtesy but the inau-
guration of a movement from which the
entire coast country will benefit
COTTON AND THE TARIFF.
Denton Record-Chronicle.
- The cotton speculators in our own
East and overseas are getting a sudden
awakening to the fact that the cotton
belt has known for months that the
1921 cotton crop was going to establish
a record for shortness of yield per sere
and of total production. One Washing-
ton dispatch accredits the sharp advance
in cotton quotations recently to the
loosening of credit; but the major fact
is that the 1921 cotton crop is far short
of the world's needs and but for the huge
carry-over of last year's record-breaking
crop it is venturesome to estimate what
spot cotton would be worth today. The
advance in cotton while wool is still low
is further proof of the futility of a pro-
tective tariff on commodities of which we
have an exportable surplus and whose
prices are fixed in the world markets.
Cotton is still free of duty while wool is
under a strong protective tariff.
LOWER LIVE STOCK RATES.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The 20 per cent reduction in live stock
freight rates on the long hauls or wher-
ever the rate is more than CO cents a
hundred should have a far-reaching ef-
fect upon the situation in the cattle busi-
ness. It should help considerably to
make rehabilitation of the live stock in-
dustry possible. The rate as it stood was
ruinous and a great handicap lis re-
duction will make freight rates less of
an obstacle to improvement
Judge Cowan expresses the hope that
a reduction of the rates below SO cent
a hundred will be made in the near
future.
Coming at the time that it does when
things sre beginning to look up in other
lines this should serve further to bright-
en the outlook for the general business
of this section.
tt
"ESTO PERPETUA."
(From the Waco Times-Herald.)
The esteemed Houston Post tells us
that there is no such thing as going back
to original simplicity in our governmental
concerns.
"What governmental" asks the es-
teemed Post "evolved through decades
or centuries or human experience gath-
ering bureaucratic moss as it rolls down
the corridors of time ever goes back to
original simplicity ?'' And to that the es-
teemed Post replies: "Not one."
History attests the correctness of the
reasoning of our esteemed ltavou City
contemporary. One example will suffice
that of ancient Home. The history of
Homt as a republic covers a period of
479 years from the termination of king-
ly rule 509 Ji. C to the termination of
republican rule by the establishment of
the empire under Augustus. L'7 Ii. C.
Frederick W. Robertson tells us that
"with the mass of the nation reverence
for law passed into homage to the sym-
bol of the law loyalty to the govern-
ment" and the government went ou in-
creasing its powers for power never re-
laxes or relents and so by degrees the
republic was merged into the empire.
"After a mighty career of a thousand
years" says liobertson "Home bad run
out her course" snd why? Because the
government undertook to do for the peo-
ple what the people should have been left
to do for themselves. The history of
Rome is the history of all the aucient
empires; "in violation of liberty" says
George Sidney Camp "they lonled it
over neighboring cities and whole na-
tions and they broke in pieces from the
extent of their dominion."
But are we powerless to stem the ris-
ing tide of bureaucracy an.l its con-
comitant evils esteemed Houston Post?
With all the facts before us; with the
certainty of being engulfed si was an-
cient Rome if we pursue identical meth-
ods haven't we the people of America
the wit and the wisdom to call a halt to
retrace our steps and to once again walk
In that simplicity which befits a demo-
cratic people? In our humble judgment
esteemed Hmiaton Post we ran go back
back to Jeffersonian simplicity. Those
of us who love and venerate our institu-
tion! should cry out and spare not until
a permanent change in our methods ia
effected. Republican though he be. Pres-
ident Harding made a good Jeffersonian
address at Plymouth. Progressive dem-
ocrat though he be. Marshall Hicks of
San Antonio says that he wants a man
for tht tenate "who will break hit lance
against this iniquity" this of govern
ment meddling where it has no business
to meddle. It seems to ns esteemed
Houston Post that there Is a rising tide
of patriotism the love of freedom that
la bound to arweep bureaucracy from Its
throat and restore unto us the joyt of
Jeffersonian sunpli "fv. thus giving the
assurance aa exr.ev-rd by Jefferson
Davis that there Is written on the arch
of tbt Amerieaa anion "Est Perpttna."
This thing of the local bank hiring to
pay for the use of ita own credit would
be really funny if it were not to hurtful
to all linet af bosinest.
i They Voted for a CKange j
(atteMttttesMMteeettl
' Jo H.' Eagle In Ntw Tork World -
At tht last foneral election tht people
wanted a change and they got it ' '
From universal prosperity . under tht
democratt they haft oomt to universal
hard timet under tht republicans '
: From universal employment at high
wages under tht ' democrats they hart
come to sea 6000000 men idle and the
balance working at reduced wages under
the republicans i ' v
The peopl wanted change and they
got it . -y
They were promised that the array
should at once be returned from the
Rhine; but tht army it still on tht
Rhine.
One large group voted for the repub-
licans on the assurance that Italy should
regain Fiume; but Italy Is a till without
Fiume. '
One group of many millions voted for
the republicans on the assurance of a
peace and treaty favorable to Germany;
but after the republican congress passed
a "fake" resolution of peace the admin-
istration must now either submit for rati-
fication he Versailles treaty of peace or
Germany will escape liability "obligftion
and indemnity; and thus the republicans
must either betray the Uerman sympath-
isers or the best Interests of the United
States. '
The business men were promised re
lief from heavy taxes But all that has
been done is a revision by the house of
representatives by which tha very rich
men and corporation! art to be relieved
of their burdens at the expense of the
ordinary business men and the masses
of the people.
The people wanted a change and they
got it.
I'ndcr the republican administration
products of the field and the range have
gone far below the cost of production.
These are the things by which one-half
our people live. And these things have
happened while the world is hungry and
naked. The net result is the ruin of
producers everywhere. But the masses
of the people in country and city alike
pay even yet practically the same prices
for the finished products of meats food
clothing and all other of their daily
necessities. Thus the rich and the mid-
dlemen reap their harvests of gain un-
disturbed by the republican administra
tion at the expense ol the suxienng pro
ducers everywhere.
The people wanted a change and they
got it
About the only time the republican
president has awakened long and alert
enough to take keen interest in the peo-
ple's concerns on Capitol II711 was when
he went in person and killed the bills for
the relief of the soldiers who bad saved
the world from slavery and ruin and
next when he directed his partisans in
congress to favor the oil trust and his
secretary of the treasury's great oil com-
pany by admitting free of duty oil coming
into this country from Mexico by which
the importers saved over $25000000 an-
nually at the expense of the country and
the treasury.
The people wanted a change and they
got it.
Special selfish interests in the manu-
facturing centers have written the tariff
bill as they pleased and in their own in-
terests which will impose burdens of bil
lions upon the consuming public; and yet
under this republican tariff bill the pro-
ducers of raw materials get practically
no benefits for their raw products o
either field or forest or mine or ranch or
otherwise.
The republican president called the
congress together five months ago for the
express purpose of passing a tariff bill
and a tax bill. But after all this time
it has done neither. It is divided in coun-
sel: it is without leadership; it is as a
ship without a rudder. The republican
majority is split up into matny factions
and its only coherent policy so far devel-
oped is to turn the country over to the
tender mercies of Wall street as It did in
former times.
The people wanted a change and they
got it
From a condition of tranquillity plenty
and prosperity under the democrats they
have come to strife adversity and dis-
tress under the republicans. Confidence
in government itself has been much
weakened. .Fellowship between em-
ployer and employe which the democrats
built up so that there was a fair division
of the rewards of labor has been de-
stroyed under the republicans. Factories
are idle everywhere. Credit is withered
np. Capital is in hiding timid scared.
Millions walk the streets -seeking jobs.
Hope and happiness have deserted the
countryside. A condition almost of despair
ip in the hearts of all. And this has
happened under the party which has al-
ways boasted of creating ibe full dinner
inland boasted of its business ability.
The people wanted a change and they
got it.
And already they pray God to deliver
them from republican bondage.
FALLING OFF LACTEALLY
Dallas Evening Journal
The bureau of census reports for the
decade 1909-1919 availing off of 11 per
cent in the production of milk on Texas
farms and a decrease in the production
of butter almost as great. But for atim-
ulated interest in the dairying industry
within recent year's as attested by re-
assuring report from many sections of
Texas the percentage of decrease in
production might have been even great-
er. When the increase in consuming pop-
ulation for the sa me period of years is
considered the disparity between the
consumer need of milk and butter and
the producer supply of those commod-
ities may well occasion comment It
would be interesting to determine at it
may be possible to do later on the
nniount of sonsumor money that has gone
out of Texas tor dairy product! of other
States during the cited ten years.
There has been much assertive talk
that Texas is able to feed herself if she
set her hand to it. But Texas has never
done so. Perhapa the next ten years
will record greater progress in this pro-
ducing specialty. Introduction of fine
dairy breeds into the State is already
having spurring effect upon the indus-
try. When creameries are established
and successfully operated in every dis-
trict commercial center as they should
be. and correct distributing systems are
adopted as they may be. Texas may
atone for its delinquency in this respect
The State can and should produce ita
own flapjacks gild them with ita own
butter and baptize them in Hi own
syrupt.
TURNIP GREENS.
Marshall Morning News.
East Texas is the country that in-
vented turnip greens it ia where they
grow the tenderest and eweetest and
where they thrive the best. Tuesday
night's rain waa a turnip green rain and
it will be responsible for many a fine
bait of the fine old dish. With corn
pones on the side showing . aa in evi-
dence of good faith the priata of the
fingers that made then and a bowing col-
or shadings til the way from a cream
colored yellow to a rich golden brews
on the high spots; wiu sweet creamy
butter manufactured mainly ut of ber-
muda and clover; with t generous chunk
of homemade bacon for a aide flavor and
lubrication and with a great big goblet
of rich velvety buttermilk with t few
little yellow floating islands aa top to
chase it all down with; with tkit kind
of setting and with these accompani-
ments and especially If tha battenailk
baa just a friendly little kick ta it it it
passes oa down why shacks! yot just
can't beat turnip greens; that't all
there ia to It
. JLetterj From the People
CONCERNING THE PENITEN- '
.-.;). TIARIES. .''.vS. -
To Tha Editor of Tha Pott:
Tha interest of tha people of Texas tn
tha prison system of the State it quit
keen and universal at tht present time.
Through political discussion Investigat-
ing committees newspaper publicity and
the effort of certain societies for prison
reform much has lately been taid in
Texas about our prisons and prisoners.
May I bt permitted to add my bt to
these discussions not as a politician but
aa an bumble citizen of Texas. I offer
no. expert testimony of the economist
reformer nor publicist but merely some
first hand observation! and Impreisionau
tt haa been my privilege to spend eight
days in Huntsville recently as the guest
of tha chaplain of the penitentiary doing
some special religious work. Through
the cordial co-operation of tha prison
commissioners chaplain and warden I
was permitted to speak to all the pris-
oners - at Enntsville assembled in the
chapel each afternoon for a week.
It waa a high and holy privilege to
preach to these unfortunates the gospel
of divine We forgiveness and hope and
the messages were received most cordi-
ally by the men. I found all sorts sizes
and complexions among a promiscuous
group of several hundred mei anywhere
assembled. I have no doubt about the
sincerity and genuineness of the faith
and spiritual devotion of many of these
men with whom I talked. The arm of
Jehovah is not shortened nor his love
and mercies limited that he may not
visit bless and have communion with
the lowliest and most pitiable. Of course
the penitentiary is the place one would
expect to see criminals and Huntsville is
no exception to the rule. There are
some of as vile and hardened confirmed
criminals there as you could perhaps find
in the worli They did not care for my
sermons nor are they responsive to
moral suasion and tender ministries
G6dclfimM Ahead Says Scliw 1
But Readjiistment f Comes- First j
. (Til r r y.v . a
By 0. E. McOeary
. n Tht Wuhlngtora 8tar. '
MNSMtt
x
saettttttMMteaA. .
thlntton-
from anv source. Thev are "hardboiled
toughs and pride in making trouble and
breaking law. But this number in my
honest opinion is quite small in com-
parison to the total of 3000 prisoners in
Texaa today. Many of the fellows 1
talked with are "tirst termers" victims
of circumstances and not hardened crim-
inals at all. It is altogether unsound and
unfair to place all of them in the .class
of hardened and bopeless criminals.
I met members of noble Texas fam
ilies among these men a good percentage
of college men fellows who had lived
straight and useful lives before they got
into trouble. If the ultimate purpose of
a prison is to reform and redeem men so
that they may become assets and not lia-
bilities to the State then there is large
and bright hope for the penitentiary at
Huntsville accomplishing such worthy
work.
Commissioners Herring and Dean (the
only commissioners in Huntsville during
my visit) impressed me as men thor
oughly competent for the heavy tasks
committed to them. They are doing hard
and heroic work for Texas and deserve
the co-operstion and appreciation of all
the people. They manifested a most
sympathetic interest in all the prisoners
and cordially supported the special re-
ligious efforts in their behalf. Warden
It. F. Coleman is recognized as one of
the best administrators of prison work
in the country. He is surrounded by a
corps of efficient and capable assistants
in all departments and seemed to have
a well ordered organization running as
smoothly as such work could reasonably
be expected to run. There hsve been
three attempts at escape among the con-
victs lately about which a lot has been
published and said. It is my sincere be-
lief that with the exception of two or
three gusnls not an officer or man em-
ployed at these prisons was in any way
responsible or blamable for these un-
banpv breaks.
I found the prisoners as contented nnd
comfortable as any net of men under sim-
ilar circumstances could be expected to
be. Of course every one of them nat-
urally wants his freedom and i.ome ought
to have it. The noble governor of Texas
will not be tighter in this matter than
he ought to be and I am confident that
many of these unfortunate men will eat
their next Thanksgiving and Christmas
dinners at their own homes. Most of
these men must be kept until they serve
out their sentences' a considerable num-
ber of them being in for life. There arc
human obligations and considerations that
must be accorded those men. and I am
hnppy to ray that these arc not over- T
l 1 'i :.. t I
mnn and dninj a great work. He is wisr
k.vmpatlietir. brotherly and has the os-
teon! and affection of the men to whom
he ministers. Regular preaching and
other religious services are maintninvd
every Sunilay. There is a large Itible
school. Volunteer Prison league and
other societies among the men. A very
fine orchestra and brass band is furnished
and supported and the men are enter-
tained. There is library of more than
10.01 K) volumes about 300 magaiines dis-
tributed every month daily newspapers
are at hand. Writing material is fur-
nished for such letters as should be writ-
ten and a man is appointed to write for
those ' who cannot write. The premises
are kept in sanitary condition and the
health of the men is safeguarded. A good
hospital efficient physicians and surgeons
are always at hand. During my week at
Huntsville there were about 1000 pris-
oners there and on the nearby farms less
thnn a doisen being sick and in hospitals.
There is plenty of food well cooked and
wholesome. frved three times a day.
I visited Wynne farm and was shown
through it by Captain Thornton who is
superintendent. Here are kept the tu-
bercular convicts and others who are in-
firm. Only two deaths have occurred
there in two years one of those by acci-
dental drowning. This is a remarkable
record when it Is known that more than
JOO men are kept here all the time most
of them more or less sick. Chaplain
Dickey also ministers to the inmates of
this farm as be does at Coree farm alxo.
At floree the female prisoners are kept
and where all convict clothes are made.
Mr. Iturns. the manager here sa well as
Captain Thornton impressed me as
capable sympnthetie. faithful men who
are doing good work.
With Commissioner Pean Chaplain
Dickey and Dr. Thornberry I had a day
at Kaslham farm. But very few people
know what a wonderful place this is. The
State owns 1.1.000 acres in one tract of
land. OOHO seres being in cultivation. I
doubt if there is a more beautiful or
richer farm in the country. It showed
signs of beinf well kept and highly cul-
tivated though the unfavorable seasons
and other hindrances have played smash
with the cotton this year. Captain J. I.
ByO.II. McCreary In tht W
Btar. -
That any aadden return to prospirltJ
It decidedly unlikely was tha opinion ex-
pressed by Charles E Schwab president
of the Bethlehem Steel company in an
interview granted the writer.
Although the steel mignata expreaed
his belief that America -baas ahead of
it tn era of unbounded protaperlty the
immediate future does not give forth
any promise of a revival in buainesi or
let up of the present depression he as-
serted. Prospects ire far from being
bright.
Itcsponsibility for l large xaart of the
present Industrial depression one of the
worst through which the country has
ever passed Mr. Schwib placexl upon the
railroads in their failure to reduce freight
rates. '
He said: "The railroads of the coun-
try jnust bring the cost of transporta-
tion down before the present industrial
conditions can he made much better. The
railroad rates are t big factor in de-
termining industrial conditions. For ex-
ample some time before the war pig
iron at Bethlehem 'wis selling; at $14 I
ton. Now it costs $14 a ton for freight
alone.
"The big trouble with the American
railroads under the present system )
that they are unable to put. into their
operations that personal initiative that
means so much to the succress of my
large concern. In my Bethlehem plant
all salaries are supplemented by a profit-sharing
plan. The income of each em-
ploye is regulated U a great extent
by the earning power of the plant. Thus
there is an incentive to efficiency and
maximum plant production. The rail-
roads are unable to adopt this system.
All questions of wsges rates and other
matters affecting the various lines are
regulated by a board of supervision a
slow slow process.
'"I am not telling Congress nor at-
tempting to tell Congress wvberein the
remedy lies" Mr. Schwab explained "but
this condition must be changed it we
would witness a return to national pros-
perity." ."It is evident" he continued "that the
railroads will only seek to stimulate their
business after they hive put. into effect
a reduction in rates.
"Not only the railroads axsd the nil-
road rates hut everything in American
industry must be adjusted. It Is a mis
take for employes or employers to think
even for a moment thit they can escape
the process of readjustment downward in
wages and prices. The miners of the
central Pennnsylvinia field refused to
accent a new wage scale and the mines
as t result are MJa
Only Way to Prosperity.
T would rather have my Bethlehem
steel nlant running in full than on the
present curtailed schedule. So would
the management of other industrial
plants tbroughont the country. Under
present conditions however this is im-
possible. To bring ibout national pros-
perity the freight rates MUST be re-
duced. "The cause of the bnsinesst depression
all revert back to the cost o t producing.
The fact remains that the big factor In
manufacturing is the cost of labor. For
this reason in the much talked of return
to normalcy labor must be th e chief item
to be considered. We hear much talk of
the high cost of materials asmd supplies
for manufacturing. This has little bear
ing on the subject however for the cost
of supplies is regulated mainly by the
price of labor at the source of supply.
"At the present time no steel mill
in the country is Wing operated at a
profit and in the fire of the enormous
losses being borne by the capitalists
it is unfair to bay that tbe American
laborer is bearing the brunt of readjust-
ment. An equally large part of the load
has fallen upon the shoulders of capi
tal. These are times of stress for the!
executives of any corporation. Produc-
tion and sales have shrunk to the point
where organizations must be reduced to
a level where disorganization begins a
very costly process.
'The groups of workers who ire un-
willing to accept reductions who seem
to feel that the inflated war-time condi-
tions can continue forever are sadly mis
taken In tha most txnaettltd habeas
period! for eighty years with nearly 10O .
great corporitiont Listed on tht New
York stock exchange suspended dlvi-
dends and agricultural and Industrial v
products being sacrificed it it I mistake
for the workmin to refuse to eoopertta .
nomic standards. V"-'
"Corporations art commonly believed "
to ha we no louls but I know that the..
officers and directors of the Bethlehem
Steel comninv as well as practically all -
other large companies feel a personal re- '
- -1 ' I - . 1. 1 La -
HpunsiDllllT iwr um v ea SJiuyea luu uaw -
so raitJuully served triem tor years.
"The. present depression has fleeted -
the m snnfacturer and the farmer alike. -
Industry it now working at less than SO
per cent capadty ita buying power ia
only 45 percent of normal The baying
power of finnert has been cut to about
A7 w Mtit Tha melrfinr rronn. haw
ever ia still ibtut 75 per cent active
and is fighting hard to maintain Ita .
profits. When the readjustment is com-
nleted nrices will droo. and people will be .
able to buy much more with their wages..
Production will then slowly hot surely
be restored."
When questioned concerning the pos-
sible influence of European minufictor- '
era upon the trade of tha United States .
Mr. Schwab eipresaed the conviction.- -that
we have only Germany to fear.
"The Oermms" he explained "work
. m A 1 ; f . 1... .V. ImJi Tt.
their present straggle to reorganise their
country and place it once more upon a
firm basis they have learned and are
applying the great principles of economy'
and efficiency. They are re-entering with
grim determination the markets of the-
world. In China and South America
particnlarly the American trade has al-
ready begun to feel the presence of the
Oennan firms. Thev are warinr a de
termined fight to get back the great vol-
ume of commerce which waa theirs before
the world war.
"W e in America mutt learn to meet
this German competition and meet it -successfully.
Until we do so we can not
hope to retain the trade which we have
bnilt np and which the foreign firms are
making; such t determined effort to re-
gain." Referring to the recent cot ta wage
rates Mr. Schwab expressed the belief
that the reduction in earnings will not
mean s real loss to the American laborer
but that other conditions will change andt
the order of things will be equalized The -dollar
he explained which would pur-
chase only about 48 cents worth of es- -sentiaJs
last November had risen to ;
about 60 cents In April and is still risintc
in value as tbe prices of food coal and
other commodities return to normal.
Eventually will be exchangeable for
100 cents worth of the necessities of life.'
"True spirit of economy" he idded.
"will teach ns to become accustomed to
the new order of events."
Speaking of the general business and
industrial outlook Mr. Schwab sounded
a hojef ul note.
"When we once recover from tbe pres-
ent business depression." he asserted
"we arj destined to have a great period
of prosperity. In order to bring this new -era
about however economy ia necessary.
We must letdown to a real basis of effi-
ciency. Our growth will not be of av
mush room type but steady and reliable.
We can not expect to jump from t panic
"we can not change the law of supply .
and demand we cam not alter the basic
principles of selling price. Of course X '
want to see tbe mills avnd factories run- .
ning in full operation turning out their
maximum production. I want to see this
depression it an end.
"Above ill things Mr. Schwab as-
sert eti earnestly in concluding the inter-
view "I do not want to see the Amer "
ican laborer reduced to the tame level
as tbe European workingman. I want
to see him I well paid well lived satis-
fied being Bring contented md happy.
But be must learn to be of a more effi-
cient and i higher type returning a fair
day's work for a fair day's pay."
In addition to his large steelworks at
Bethlehem Pa. Mr. Schwab controla aa
steel mil in Germany for the mtnufacr-
ture -of pneumatic tools. Through the
operation of this plant he ia kept in
close touch with labor and industrial con -ditiona
in Europe. In this foreign plant
he can turn ont steel much cheaper than
at his plant in Pennsylvania.
KsrfieM is superintendent of Kastham
farm. He ia an Fxpert in this kind of
work and is regarded as one of the best
convict men In the State. He had some
330 men under him to whom it was my
privilege to preach and I never saw a
healthier looking bunch of fellows. Only
two were in hospital at Eastham farm.
Chaplain Miller who ministers here and
at Ferguson farm ia a well known min-
ister of the gospel and ia loved by all "his
bova" in prison. He has brn in work as
prison chaplain Id Texas for seven years.
I believe the present adtninistrafrwa
of oar Tens prisma system is efficient
and worthy and if given a fair chance
will do a work that will make every eft-
iaen of tbe State proud. They need more
sapport. financial and moral in order ta
have the best rewnlta. E. P. West.
Paster JBspart Tempts Houston Te
1 An Ancient Rom.
an ramcj
From the Chicago Journal of Commerce.
The intimate details of business com-
merce and industry in ancient times are
mine ton well known to business men of
today. We have all had our glimpses of
negotiations large and small in the ancient
literatures; in Plutirch's leaves where
rulers and la w-givers had a f ree bsnd in
business affairs in Sparta Greece and
Itnme during a period of some KOO years
before the birth of Christ; in the Bible
which contains the history of many busi-
ness transactions and a wesJtb of busi-
ness wisdom : and in the records of the
early Egyptian civiliutions which have I
come down to us.
Kut in all these autboriti
rale and had to call in both their bank
deposita and their private bans. 1'nblius
Spinther notified his bankers to return
30.000.000 sesterces f 1 .200.000) to him.
Two days later his bank closed its doors
and on the sime day news came to Rome
of the inaolvencyof another great bank in
Corinth. It was followed by another bank "
failure in Cirthage and the financial
panic of 33 A. D. was on.
Bank after bank went under. Rich
men were reduced to beggary. Houses
slaves furniture were sold at auction.
The legal rate of interest 12 per cent
would not command money. Creditors
and debtors sought relief from the senate
hy legislation. The conscript fathers
rushed news of the desperate state of
affairs to the emperor at Capri.
Vn.... Ammm tk . I. I-1 '
..... ul uic iuj m i answer was
iiwaited. lie senate and a great thronar
crowded assembled when the courier arrived with
now nisrorj niuns oa i cmupo vord from Tiberius. It was sound. Th
soldiers pnilosopners orators aepois('aef!Jtr new u business. The disturb
prophets anil preafflers. ousin ess industry jn)t decrees that hsd sent money into hid-
""' """- wl r j '"S were suspended r our million dollar
iling particular light on the various pro-
censes of trsde. What Information most
of in have gleaned from ancient times on
commercial rules laws and regulations
hove come in scraps shreds snd asides.
We must look to modern writers who
have specialized on ancient business for
accurate and authentic information mined
from manv time-honored writings of re
mote ant Kin it j. We have before us t Unity of this big commercial disturbance
most interesting work on 'Tbe Influence wnicll eitendedfrom sea to sea and con -of
Hea th in ImpemlKome. which gives tinent to continent to what has hippened
in dnlail A otArr ftf Ilia a s mil thnn nf a . . rl
7 j ' 7 V .l 7 mooern psnics: and also no doubt
wealth and its expenditure by the RomsnsihjTe noted how like our own were the
in their ancient city snd the provinces it 'hanking methods fni-eirn comme.
credit transactions of imperial Rome in
the days of the Caesars.
ng
were taken from the imperial treasury
and tnrned over to the banks to be loaned
to noediest debtors; interest was forbid-
den for three years bat borrowers were
to give double security in real property.
These meamres restored confidence
money became available and the Wall
street of Rome the "Viva Sacra" re-
turned to normalcy.
' i readers must nave noted the s mi
ruled. This volume written bv I'rof.
William S. Iavis of the I University of
Miunesnta. and published by the Msemil-
lan company contains absorbingly inter-
esting matter f or all businescs men indus-
trial workers bankers and wtudents of
finance and commerce generally. We shall
endesvor to condense the record of a
business panic in the year Christ was
crucified from a chapter in this book.
In the yea r 32 A. I). Seuthes ft Son of
Aleiandria. Kgypt lost three Rhips full of
spices in a Red ea itorm. and were badly
crippled financially. Shortly sfter I big
house in Tyre with branches at Antioch
anil Epheus. was thrown into bankruptcy
by a strike amor; their Phoenician work-
men and large embeulemcnt s by a man-
ager. It became known then t hat the big
banklrg houne of Quintus Ms xrimus a Lu-
cius Vibo of Koine hid loaned large sum j
to both the Alexandria and tbe Tyre con
cerns. A run on the hank f ollowee and
general apprehension was a roamed bv ru
mors that another big Roman bank was
caught by Maximus i Vibo. It happened
that the banks had large suaana loaned ia
North Gaul which they were UBtblt tt
all ia quickly.
Jnst at this time the Emperor Tiberias
tnd the Roman senate ia order tt revive
agriculture in Italy had decreed that one-
third of each senator's forttraaa should be
mvestei) in Italian firm latidi anJ..
Iteary penalties for aoncom gliance. Tht
aenatort tinea at new) waara nek u t
CORPUS CHRISTI'S SCHOLASTIC
CENSCvJ.
Denton Record-Chronicle.
Corpus Christi still rai dissatisfied
with the results of the scholastic census
conducted by tht State superintendent
whicb reduced the fiarures from iroeind
KOOO scholastics to 2000 and the Corpus
Christi acboofboard bas intimated that it
might conceivably tue the State hoard of
eduemtion for the money due on the Cor-
pua Chriati local census totals. The dif-
fereraee between 60OO and 2nufl st
each -would make a tidy total and it has
been charged that the State money ap-
portioned to the city was sufficient to
pay all operating expenses of Corpus
Christi schools a condition that would
be eminently satisfactory to Corpas
Christi taxpayers if a bit hard on those
of tbe remtinder of the State. "Other-
towns will wonder" notes the Terrell
Transcript "tow it it that Corpas
Christi with i population ef 14.298 by the
but eeosns can muster 60IJO scholastics
and tbe Terrell paper's advice to tbt Cor-
pus Christi school board is wholh manes
"from this distance it looks Bit th
Corona Christi authorities would bt aorta J
than glad to call this matter a doted in-
cident if indeed it can be thui leniently
treated." i :- -
V.
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The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 37, No. 167, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 18, 1921, newspaper, September 18, 1921; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth608524/m1/7/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .