The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-27
\. 'oday
100 Million Penguins. HiIdebert's 21 Children. Strong Men Wanted. Rich California.
 By ARTHUR BRISBANE

Rich California.
 By ARTHUR BRISBANE
 The penguin was strange, foolish bird, living in great numbers in the Arctic regions. He and his brothers stood in long lines, looking like sol diers. They would allow sailors to walk up and knock them on the head. Now they are almost extinct
 No American citizen may laugh at them. The American penguin bird. 100.00o,000 of him, stands quietly and allows himself to be knocked half unconscious by any strike or other trouble that comes along. with never . thought of self-defense. < The people of the United States own this country, including its coal mines and railroads. They give to both the value they have. They ought to have a government strong enough to enforce their rights against any body--even against railroads, own CTS of the present imitation national government.
 Hildebert Letounneau, French Ca nadian, has raised 21 children and this year fine crops on his farm have brought him the government medal flor agricultural merit" Newspapers praise him, neighbors shout. Carry on. Hildebertp
 Nobody mentioned Hildebert's wife. She had something to do with the 21 children. as old Mother Earth, who had something to do with the fine crops.
 Senator Walsh wants the govern ment to take the mines and work item. Senator Calder says: Give lowners and workers 24 hours to set stle their fight, then take the mines.'
 Violent discussion and loud pro- tests from other. senators.
 When it comes to talk of taking mines or railroads you will learn ap- proximately how many honorable senators the mines and railroads own.
 Meanwhile, making hay while the sun shines, mine owners and coal dealers in Illinois put the price of coal up s1.25 more, and the public. ot course, will pay. It cannot strike.
 If mine workers. wanting little extra money, held up and robbed enc man in Illinois. all concerned would go to jail. Mine owners can hold up everybody in Illinois, get millions more and that is legal. We have one set of laws for men, an- ether and more convenient set for dollars and corporations.
 There ought to be some ono in Illinois or at Washington with enough backbone to protect the pub. lie from the coal hold-up. Wash ington talks. saying one lining to- day, another thing tomorrow But 1t does not do anything Talking is its speciality. That's how it got elected, and like parrot in cage, it thinks that talking is the job for which it was chosen.
 Statistics show that California is the nations richest state. The only real wealth is independence and California has more independent men and women than any other state.
 In mere money, California is the richest state per capita. The aver age Californian has more money than the average in any other state. But that is only half. California's bank resources of twenty-five hun dred millions are not worth one tenth or -thousandth as much as Californias soil. And the worth of the California climate, which gives happiness, is not counted at all.
 What the mere material wealth of California will be in future years no one can guess. The state will have tens of millions of inhabitants. They will live on the magnificent heights, overlooking the Pacific, and fly down for work or pleasure to the fertile valleys. All the water that the west { side of the Rockies takes from the clouds will be used, first for power, heat and light and then for irriga- tion.
 The future gigantic empire of Cali fornia, with it's 1,0Oo-mile long magic coast line. will be the wonder of fu ture ages. All the more reason for keeping it well protected from Asia now. No wonder the Asiatics dream of it and long for it.
 MT. Doheny, biggest oil man, next to John D. Rockefeller, has been cruising along the coast of Alaska in his yacht. but has found no oil He says:
 q do not want to find more oil The price is too low for anybody to make money"
 Gasoline comes from oil. Have you noticed any panicky drop in gasoline prices?
 Production is profitable art. But retailing is pactorian science. "Cheap. perhaps, but not to the con- sumer," is the motto of American distribution.
 However, as Eugene Driscoll phil losophically remarked long ago: "The public is there to be robbed. why wouldn't they rob them?"
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