The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-07-08
BY PAUL GREER.

bcncVd, NED, July t-lSpcSldl
Tclegram.)-Some OF tic enthusiasm
hat K. B. Howell is cxpending III
his campaign for the republican sem
itorial nomination was caught yester-
day by a group OF people who met
him at half dozen towns along the
motor highway from Clay Center to
Geneva.
In some cases business men locked
up their stores to gather under the
shade OF tree while Mr.. Howell
spoke. Twice he was greeted with
voluntary testimonials OF regard
from men who had served with him
in the state legislature. One of these,
William Brookly of Edgar. is a
democrat. The other was Mon
Brodrick, a farmer of Fairfield. The
crowds were not large, seldom num-
bering more than 50 persons, but
the towns were small and the farm
crs are busy in the fields.
At places along the way it was
declared that there are many citi-
zcns who do not know who is run
ming for even the most important
offices. A small primary vote is
predicted in several localities. The
only candidate who had been seen
was Byrum, and i'll recognition OF
his fiery speeches. It was often said
that he was the local favoritc for
governor. McMullen also shows
strength.
Addresses All Crowds.
The crowd, large or small, Mr..
Howell discussed the issues Of the
day for fully an hour at each stop,
and it must be said that his au-
d;ence was always larger at the end
than at the beginning.
Frequently there were women
among them. They appeared inter
estcd in his stand against any modi-
fication of the prohibition laws or the
return of light wines and beer.
First basng his position on moral
grounds, he later turned to the busi-
ness aspect of prohibition. Almost
$4,000, 100000 year would have been
spent with retail liquor dealers, he ex-
timated. without prohibition. The |
saving Of this sum, he declared, had |
lessened adverse economic condl-
tions.
An English statesman was quoted |
to the effect that if the British would
adopt prohibition they could pay the
war debt owing to America. From
this point Howell turned to condemn
the proposal of some eastern finan-
cial interests for cancellation of the
allied loans.
Small towns visited yesterday re-
fuse to view Mr.. Howell as the radi
cal that some consider him. His man
agement of the municipal water, gas
and ice plants in Omaha has adver-
tised him, not so much as an expo
nent of public ownership, but as hav- |
ing succeeded with big job.
Attacks Railroad Laws.
When he advocates the repeal of
the Esch- Cummins law it shocks no
one, for there is heavy resentment
over freight rates that fingers after
the recent reductions. He also en-
dorses the farm bloc. If the railroad |
troubles are to be settled it must be
done by some one besides the rail-
road executives, he declares. The
antitrust act has failed in this and |
all other cases and SO has the at
tempt at government regulation, he
told his audiences. He asserts state
railway commissions have little of
their power left and their idea of rate
revision is upward instead of down.
Il can conceive of a reason for the
government setting maximum freight
rates, but not for minimum rate,
which forbids competition" is one
OF his statements.
He does not urge public owner
ship of the railroads and in fact says
that it would be tremendous
calamity if all the lines were thrown
into the hands of the nation. He
then announces his scheme by which,
if government interference became
necessary, he would have the United
States take over only one transcon-
tinental line and run it in competi-
ton with the privately owned sys-
tens.
Mr.. Howell calls this idea public
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