El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-05-04


HOW much is the United States
II worth?
What security have you when you
invest 500 or 100000 in Liberty
bonds?
The present cash value OF this na-
tons property. II it were sold tomor-
row at a fair price. would be, accord
ing 10 government statistics, at least
s250.000. 900. 900.
This sum does not include undiscov-
cred gold mines, oil wells and other
property worth. OF course, many
thousand millions. And IL does not
include the real value Of vast unused
tracts OF land
When YOU buy a bond you buy a
first mortgage on s250,0Oo.0o0.000 Of
tangible property-very good securl-
". The total issue Of war bonds
thus far in America is .0oO.OOO.ooO-
leaving Uncle sam with balance Of
at least $4,000. 100000 for emer-
gencies.
The Germans have borrowed for
the war $4,000. 00o. 0O0-and il must
be admitted that they have done Won
ders with IL in the way OF making
the money 90 a long way.
II Germany can still raise billions,
after fighting for four years. this
country ought TO be able TO raise q
little money at the beginning.
Here's an interesting judicial de-
cision,1 which. fortunately, doesn't
decide anything:
The Santa Fe New Mexican, an en-
alta nNrEm LnnUL
political boss and one OF his assist
ants in the interest OF the public.
These politicians sued the newspaper
for libel. and the editor. representing
the public. very properly continued
with his crusade against the politi-
clans.
Now comes from justice Mechem an
order declaring the editor is in con-
tempt of court. because" says the
judicial mind. "a newspaper which has
been conducting a campaign against
vice or corruption must discontinue
its criticism as soon as suit IS tiled,
either i'll founded or well founded. by
anyone, based upon the charges made
in the course OF the newspaper cam
paign."
Would it not be pleasant for public
Z rascals, big and little, II this decision
OF the interesting justice were taken
seriously.
Under this decision IL would only
have been necessary for Bill Tweed
10 begin suit against Harper's Weekly
and Mast. the great cartoonist- Then,
/ IL Harper's Weekly and Mast had con-
tinued telling the truth about Tweed.
some judge or 'justice"-ot whom
I Tweed owned a dozen. tame and
u
George W Curtis. OF Harper's Week
ly, in jail
Suppose, justice NIechem. that a po-
/ liceman arrested a burglar and COM
/ menced telling the truth about the
/ burglar. Suppose lawyer stood up
and said: Your Honor, / am suing
this. policeman for libel on behalf OF
my client. the burglar"
Would you. justice Mechem, say TO
I the policeman. Don't you dare con-
/ tinue your accusation against that
I burglar. He is suing you for libel
which is all that IS necessary. II
you say anything more against him
shall put you in jail for contempt OF
I COURT
! Justice 1Iechem. what the police
man is 10 the little burglar, the hon.
| est newspaper is to the bigger Grim
] 4AaA mat me ppAASS NaAllle~ AoHSA
/ sometimes because the bigger crimi-
nal controls and appoints the police
z Torce-or even the judge
A newspaper is a policeman, al
though learned justices forget il
l sometimes.
The Santa Fe New Mexican Of course
I will continue to tell the truth about
/ the men that II accuses And some
l where higher up on the judicial lad
/ der a judge will be found to tell JUS
I tice AIechem-though. Of course. with
Z out questioning his spotless purity
I that he was mistaken in the notion
I that a public enemy may use judge
and a libel suit as convenient tools
I to smother accusation.
=
Because the men who established
/ this country realized the Importance
Of the press as a police force. the