Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-12


Omaha, Feb. 10.-To the Editor of
The Bee: appreciate the tone of your
editorial "Do the American People
Want War;" Fundamentally opposed
to the preparedness hysteria. and an
uncompromising foe Of universal
military training" still, when the foe
is dangerously at our doors, / can ap-
plaud your statement, while hoping
for the best, let us prepare for the
worst" The militarist would have said,
let us prepare for the worst, though
we hope for the best" There is a psy
Geological difference in the way the
statement is made.
All the energies Of our people ought
still to be bent in the direction, even
now, of preventing war with Germany.
In that way we also will stand by the
president" for he, above every other
man in this land, is still trying every
means of averting war. He is main
tanning his sanity and his great pa
tience (God bless him for it,, refusing
to fly off the handle at the least provo
cation. His attitude ought to win the
h@arty support and thankfulness of
our people. Having done this, it shall
also win their boundless confidence, so
that, should he eventually be COM
PEELED to resort to the most drastic
means. he will have with him every
man fit to call himself an American.
Then we shall find, too, that though
the American people oppose war, when
finally there is no escape we can fight
with a desperation inspired by a
genius and devotion that shall as
found the world. And this because we
shall have something to fight for.
However, the important thing is to
talk peace For this reason I am proud
Of Bryan's utterances- Never think of
war until the last final hope for peace
is fed. Then only strike in defense of
liberty.
I still maintain that the most potent
element in the settlement of interna-
tional crises is not physical force. No
nation could Withstand the united
power of the world in an economic
sense If a nation becomes incapable
of reason, let the other nations of the
world simply ostracize it. Let them
refuse to make treaties with it. Let
them withdraw their representatives
and in every way refuse longer to treat
it as civilized power. This is the
strength of the presidents position. In
d WoTu nt uOllucu NICI tudt
in her present attitude of frenzy she is
not possessed of a clear mind, and
until she returns to calmness we shall
not deal with her. That attitude should
make for peace L. ]. QUINBY.
Objectionable Charter Amendments.
Omaha, Feb Ito the Editor Of
The Bee: Although there is nothing
unprecedented in the fact that the leg
islature at Lincoln is now engaged in
its biennial task of charter tinkering
for Omaha, despite the unquestioned
constitutional right of the city to at
tend to such matters itself, there are
various proposals pending to which all
citizens Of Omaha should effectually
protest.
Foremost among these are some
provisions Of House Roll No. 70,
which originated in the city hall, being
drawn by City Attorney Rine, which
are nothing short of vicious in char
acter and are framed in complete dis
regard of the rights and interests of
the taxpayers of modest means, who
pay the bills Section is cleverly
worded, but not sufficiently so to con-
ceal the motive underlying it. 1t pro-
vides that the man or men who, at no
matter what cost, plats, grades and
cutters, and generally improves new
residence addition within three miles
of the city, before getting his plat on
record or placing his property on
the market must first make his peace
with the city hall. 1t is not difficult
for one familiar with municipal pol
itics and its operation to see wonderful
possibilities for the future in this. The
only wonder is it has been overlooked
so long. The contention that it is de-
signed to insure uniformity of streets
and alleys is too cheap a subterfuge
to merit attention.
Section seeks to remove all re-
straints upon the council in carrying
out the recommendation of the City
Planning board. Under it the board