Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-15

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OUR Omaha people do not, fear, appreciate
" what an important place one OF our own
number is filing in the work of preparing
the country for its military operations. In the
current news reports reference is made to General
George H. Harries as heading the committee in
charge of the mobilization of all our electric rail.
ways for war emergency service which in its vital
relation to national defense, if not first is second
only to the mobilization of the steam railways
General Harries, / happen to know, has
been engaged in this work for some time
and combines the peculiar experience OF a
tried army officer who knows the necessities Of
military transportation and also Of public util-
ty executive who knows the capabilities and pos.
sibilities of the whole electrical industry. II
there is anything doing at any time in the move
ment of troop for coast defense General Harries
will be right on the spot with his branch OF the
service fully ready for business.
II was delight to renew association with
Frederic R. Coudert, Jr., in Columbia with me
as classmate, during his recent visit to address
the patriotic meeting held in Omaha week ago.
We studied constitutional law together under
Prof. Burgess and international law under Prof
John Bassett Moore. Mr.. Coudert and his travel
ing companions Sundayed here to rest up bit
on q strenuous trip which gave better oppor-
tunity to hear from him about his personal ex-
perences in the war zone to which out OF mod
esty he seldom alludes in his public addresses
Mr.. Coudert was in Paris in the very early
stages Of the conflict, giving active and valuable
aid to Ambassador Herrick, and has been back
and forth number of times since. II have four
boys in my own family" he said, in answer to a
question, but am also father to zig children in
France" By way Of explanation It should be TN
derstood that the large family in France con-
sists Of Belgian and French boys and girls who
have lost their parents, one or both, and had to
be taken out of their homes inside the firing lines
and cared for in improvised orphanages. There
L. Il ALAax InH sk,.tA ne
helpless little ones whose wants are being looked
after through the generosity of foster-parents,
chiefly Americans, enlisted like Mr.. Coudert, in
this wonderful relief work.
Mr. Coudert was much impressed with Omaha
and with his whole western trip giving him his
first glimpse Of this section of the country The
meeting in Omaha" said he, twas the best we
have had with the possible exception of Des
Moines. In the east it is unusual to hold such a
meeting without the speakers being heckled or
interrupted with some kind of disturbance. Here
the audience manifested an intense and respectful
thusiastic, but they plainly showed their eagerness
for all the information and enlightenment they
could get"
1t may be recalled that the father Of this Mr..
Coudert, the elder Frederic R. Coudert, was one
of the receivers of the Union Pacific on behalf Of
the government, being appointed as personal Sc
lection of President Cleveland and in that ca
pacty came out to Omaha more than once during
the period of the roads reorganization. That both
the father and the son should achieve an emf
hence at the bar commanding distinction at home
and abroad is certainly exceptional.
In his talk to the Creighton law students at
the Good Fellowship dinner, Judge Wade referred
to Bourke Cochran with all the fervor of deliber-
ate judgment as the greatest orator that America
ever produced" America has produced some great
orators including distinguished fellow Ne
hr,e II, NJ al nut
| first and above all the rest? Incidentally the
cleverly executed toast program proved that there
| are several promising budding orators in Creigh-
toms coming crop OF legal talent.
see announcement of the death Of Diamond
| Jim" Brady, who has been one Of the spotlight
characters in New York for many years, and with
whom happened to be thrown in contact once
or twice. Probably many times millionaire,
| Diamond Jim" Brady told me himself how he
started out as trucker" for the railroad. He
worked UP and later got into the railway supply
business and made all kinds Of money and knew
all the big railroad men who used to be stationed
| here in Omaha. His fad, or hobby or weakness,
or whatever you may prefer to call it, was dia.
monds and other gems and he bedecked himself
like . jewelry store. He had diamond shirt studs
and diamond scarf pins, diamond cuff buttons,
watches inlaid with diamonds, diamond-set watch
chains and diamond buttons on his waistcoat-
! all in unique designs and in completely matched
sets-whch he changed from day to day as he
would change his clothes was sitting in the
dining room Of Washington hotel eating break
fast with him one day when little girl at an
adjoining table suddenly glmpsed him and called
her mothers attention to the mammoth bejeweled
watch charm he was sporting, and to satisfy her
curiosity he threw back his coat, as he said, so
she could have full veiw Of the whole works, "
His other fad was first nights at theatrical per-
| formances which he attended so regularly that
| first night in New York without Diamond Jim
could hardly be called success. Despite his
idiosyncrasies and display of vanity he had a
most kindly disposition and was easily approach.
able by one and all, never forgetting how he had
come up from the very bottom. He was treated
for some ailment at the Johns Hopkins hospital
few years ago and showed his gratitude by a
| donation Of $4,000 to carry on the work that
| would bring relief to others suffering from the
same malady feel certain that in the distri-
button Of diamond Jims" money lot of worthy
people and worthy institutions will be remem-