The Washington times., 1922-04-04

Intelligence Wins.
Rock Of Ages, Age Of Rocks
Perpetual Light Bulb.
6afour, Yes.
Asquith, No.
By ARTHUR BRISBANE

Nsqu'tn, no.
lLBy ARTHUR BRISBANE
tcopyrisht lssa)
The coal strike shows how well
the cunning and intelligent. that
have worked to the top Of our
social system. understand their
affairs; how little workers,
through their leaders. under
stand.
For instance. the strike comes
because an agreement between
miners and mine owners ended
and a new agreement must be
reached.
Observe that the agreement
ends April 1-when there isn't
much demand for coal and when
the mine owners can afford a
strike. 1t doesn't come October
I. when the loss would be- great
est to the mine owners.
Observe also that mine own
ers have on hand stored along
railroad tracks, in coal yards,
ETC.. enough coal to last three
months. That being the case,
many men would have been laid
off at the mines. anyhow. The
owners don't care whether the
miners work or not. They will
get a high price for the coal
that is stored and for the pres
ent save 100 per cent of their
pay roll. :
When the strike ends, as it
will end, they will have sold
their surplus at a nice profit,
the demand for coal will be
great. prices will be stabilized
ut higher average. and the
mining business will 90 gayly on
perhaps with the unions more
or less demoralized.
The mine owners know where
and how to hire intelligence. and
pay well for it.
The workmen to q sad extent,
remind you of the man that
"never forgot an enemy or re.
membered a friend" They for
get those that help them; they
do not adequately reward good
leadership.
Mr.. Bryan says that it is
more important to know the
"Rock Of Ages" than the age
of rocks. More important, per-
haps, and certainly easier. But
while "Rock of Ages" is a
beautiful and inspiring hymn
to know, the age of rocks also
has it value, even a value that
will appeal to Mr.. Bryan, apart
from evolution and the ques-
tion as to whether or not his
ancestors were monkeys before
they moved to Nebraska.
For instance, men In search
Of coal mines spent millions of
dollars in useless boring, all
over creation, until one piece
Of information as to the age of
rock enabled them to stop vast
ing money in that particular
way.
A scientist who knew the
"Rock of Ages" AND the age
of rocks, said to the mine seek
ers: when your bore brings
to the surface a stone forma-
tion of this particular kind,
dig down no farther. For that
stone is of greater age than
any coal deposit on earth. 1t
dates back millions Of years be-
yond the carboniferous era,
when coal was made.
Formerly when borers met
the particular kind of rock for
nation mentioned, they went
right on, still boring for coal.
When the matter was called to
their attention they began
comparing notes and found
that, as a matter of fact, they
never had found any coal below
that formation. Now, when
they come to it, they stop and
try somewhere else. There is
value in knowing the age OF
rock.
Some earnest scientists NOT
sellers of get-rich-quick stock,
are working at the production
of an electric light bulb that,
once charged with electricity,
will continue to supply light
without any further current for
. year. possibly longer. This
sounds to the ignorant like the
old perpetual motion" over
again. But ignorance is always
suspicious.
Scientists tell you that every
cubic millimeter of the ether
contains, stored up and ready
to be released and used some
day. as much power as would be
generated by a million killowatt
power running continuously for
several million years.
This means that mass Of