Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-10
Views and Reviews
Tvo Interesting Letters from
Old Correspondence Files

Old Correspondence Files
No one realizes what mine of interesting
reminders piles up in his accumulated CORE
spondence until he begins sitting out bach
files. AS result of going at this occasional
job again | have turned up several half-for.
gotten letters that seem to have renewed
timeliness warranting putting them in print
Here is one from former Senator Henderson
written a little over 10 years ago in response
to message had sent him at the time he
was victim of an automobile accident:
Thank you for your letter. Although
considerably bruised and cut over much of
my body am getting along as well as |
could expect after that dreadful mishap
With this reckless driving of automobiles
by the inexpert, there will come serious re-
suits and if by ordinance and statute the mat
ter is not regulated. those who walk and use
the old time methods of getting about will
have to protect life and limb by drastic
methods. No unlicensed person should be
allowed to run these ponderous and danger
GUS machines and no license should be
granted to any but adult males, who have
been able to pass rigid examination to
their capacity, ability and knowledge The
tact that a man owns machine gives HIM
no ght to run it and he should be compelled
to pass the examination and obtain the Ii
cense. Automobiles are more death dealing
than revolvers and protect ourselves
from the latter and allow the former danger
Gus liberty. The indignation the country
over against the prevailing method of man
aging the matter is great and is becoming
intense. | have received numerous letters
in the past six days that are most emphatic
in their condemnation | make this extract
from one of my old associates in the SEN
ate:
II hope that the shock of the internal ma
chine may not bring you future trouble and
the accident simply confirms my opinion
to the danger of the automobile. l don't
know how the average citizen in the wild
and woody looks upon the machine as it
rushes through the country, often with
drunken or irresponsible operators, but be-
fore long it would not surprise me to read
of formal action being taken by political
parties to suppress what has really been in
parts OF the country nuisance. At all
events, something will have to be done to
make certain the punishment of the thugs
who race along with utter disregard of the
rights of others"
hope The Bee will take the lead in de-
handing the passage of city ordinances and
state laws that will remedy this evil now SO
pronounced.
We all know the evil of reckless automo-
bile driving has in fact grown instead of dimin-
'sHeu PROBABLY because OF the nlulNpNCauOn OF
automobiles and that the lawmakers are still
cropping for the remedy. Whether they will
ever adopt Senator Manderson's plan fof
limiting their use to licensed drivers and
whether this plan would accomplish the de-
lred result still Invites to speculation.
Of more or less pertinence also is ques-
tionnaire dating few months later, sent out
by Rev. Frank L. Loveland, then pastor of
the First Methodist church, perturbed evil
IDENTIFY by the same old question why people
are SO worldly and churches 50 poorly pat
ronzed. DR.. Loveland wrote as follows:
As a minister of one Of the churches of
Omaha | am DESTROYS of obtaining the opin-
ION of some of the leading business and pro-
tesslonal men relative to the church and its
work in this city. | am intensely conscious
OF the fact that oft times ministers have very
1ndlstinct, or at least vague ideas as to the
real mind and attitude of the business world
toward the church and ministry of our mod
times.
Personally, as minister, I should like
very much to have you give frank and
open expression of your views upon certain
questions that are vital to church problems
in'Omaha. I ask this of you for the reason
that | desire to look at these problems from
the standpoint of the business world as we'll
as from the standpoint of the ministry.
I assure you that l shall be deeply inter-
ested in any answers or suggestions you may
give to my queries. ! am writing to num-
Der of the citizens of Omaha and their re-
plies, | am frank to say, will form the basis
of series of sermons which | hope to preach
during January and February If it is not
asking too much will you please give me a
word or two on the following questions:
First-Why do so few business profess
sional and laborng men belong to the
churches of Omaha?
Second-What do you consider the most
important work now being done by the
churches of this city?
Thrd-What do you consider the great
est weakness of the modern church?
Fourth-What specific evils, if any, should
receive attention from the pulpit?
Fifth-Are present day business and So
ciety methods antagonstc to Christian
pety and Christian propaganda:
Sixth--Is the modern church, in your es-
tination, fulfilling the office for which it
was founded by Jesus Christ?
Your replies will be considered strictly
confidential and your name will not appear
in any of the sermons which l may deliver
from subjects suggested by these replies.
OF course this was before Rev. Billy"
Sunday held his sinners saving revival here
and before the demon rum was driven out OF
business. Some of our up-to-date preachers
however, could probably ask these questions
anew and secure data for another series OF
heart and throb sermons equally as inspiring
and instructive.