The Omaha morning bee., 1922-11-28
The Decay OF A Crime.

Prom the Toledo Blade.
| A western horsethief rode all night
rode all day and nearly killed the
animal and himself. Then the sheriff
started from his door after O. leisurely
breakfast, drove his car for two hours
and pulled the thief from his mount
Thus in comfort, almost casually
does the law deal with q crime In
these dull days that at another time
tested the laws tenacity, its ingen.
uity, the ability to ride hard on hard
saddles, very often its power to
shoot straight. The old-time "hoss
thief may have been able to go into
training for his professional excur-
sions. He picked his creatures with
artistry. He practiced deception in
leaving the records Of his travels.
Frequently he made previous arrange
ments for spreading misinformation.
He was known to change the shoes of
stolen horses In order to confuse
trackers. He had, too, trick OF
dyeing gray animals into bay, piebald
into shining black. Inasmuch as
posses were usually compelled to
spend long hours at their work, stop
ping seldom for meals and never for
a smoke, they would catch up with
a fugitive in small temper to be del.
icate with his sensibilties. So the
"hossthief" that was went armed,
grimly prepared against the heavier
casualties Of his trade
Now we behold the unexcited sher-
iff Tipping his flivver over a multi.
tude Of roads until inevitably he
meets up with his prey, filings him
handcuffed into the tonneau, stables
the horse at the nearest barn and
spins back home in plenty of time for
dinner.
There is more excitement in chas-
ing an unauthorized truck of botleg
whisky
And--if rumor is correct--a vastly
greater profit.
Forest Preservation a National Duty.
From the Scientific American.
The most cursory reader of dis
patches from Europe during the past
few months must have noticed how
largely the German forests have fig
ured In the discussion OF ways and
means for reparation. Unable to cover
the total Indebtedness In cash. the
German government has suggested
that large portion OF II might be paid
In lumber and various forest products.
At the same time France points TO the
great denudatlon OF her forests, both
by the Germans in overrun French
TERRITORY and by the French them.
selves In meeting the large demands
for timber for their own military pur.
poses. The British also made deep
lnroads on their own forests. Both
they and the French are systemati.
eally planting the eut'over areas with
view 10 restoring their Justly IA
nous forest lands for future genera.
tions
Fortunately for the three couptrles
named, the art % forestation was long
ago brought up to high pitch of
efficiency Had not roplantinE been
carried on side by slide with cutting,
the valuable and extensive timber
lands In these countries would today
be a. completely swept bare As were
those af the more ancient countries
In which scientific fprtstaslon was un.
known and where evidently no thonght
Whatsoever vas given % the needs az
the future
Now the fact thar Germany, heavily
populated a. 4 ts ard has been fnf
msny a decade should be IN a posls
tlon "a oFeF the prosiurls ~ heF faF.
esIs a. enc of ths most important
s0ufcga - rspaFMtlen payment. = fuli
a hsiinnai significance fer ne rsnnie
n ths United states where f0F rpns
nFiss ws kaSe hssn eatiins daWH ne
masnifieens yirsin forests - the sauu
s1Y. waiheut taklnR nlsaspras ~ ~