The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Page 17

EI) HJimttprg artbtute A SOUTHAM NEWSPAPER Tha Winnipeg Evening Tribune li printed u4 publlihed every evening except Sunday by Tribune Newspaper Company. Limited, ft printing and publishing company Incorporated under the lews o( the Province of Manitoba, at Ite hea office, chief plac of bualneae and plaoo of bode, la the Tribune Building at the Mortheaat corner of Smith Street and Graham Avenue, in the City Winnipeg, la the aatd Province F. N. SOUTHAM, Preildent IL E. NICHOLS.

Vlcd Prealdent, Managing Dlrectoi W. McCURDT, Buslnraa Manager W. L. MacTAVISH, Editor A. W.

MOSCARELLA, Advertising Director B. r. SrRVO. Secretary Treasurer The Tribune atmi to be an Independent, clean newe paper for the home, devoted to public service. TELEPHONB 24 S31 Prtvate bran (it ezceange connecting an denar.menta.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4. 1934 CANADIAN WHEAT PRICES Two grain experts within the past few days have expressed the opinion that the price of Canadian wheat is too high and must come down if it Is to be sold abroad. "The reason Canadian wheat is not selling: today is because it is five shillings a quarter higher than that of other countries," declared one of these experts. "Canadian wheat' is worth three shillings a quarter more than others, not the five shillings Canada Is demanding." It does sound as if Canada were maintaining a foolish policy of holding back her wheat and attempting to force the price level higher, but things are not always what they seem. The truth is that If the price of Canadian wheat were to be lowered two shillings a quarter today, the price of Argentine wheat would be lowered two shillings a quarter tomorrow, and the margin of five shillings against which this expert protests would be exactly as it was.

The course of events above outlined is not based on conjecture or probabilities. It is based on fact, established by conclusive experiments. The price charts of the past two or three years establish it beyond question. The margin of difference in the price of Canadian and Argentine wheats has been maintained at the same point whether the Canadian price rose or fell. It is maintained not by any desire or action on the part of Canada, but because the three world importing concerns who really control the Argentine wheat have willed It so.

As a matter of fact, further, Canadian wheat has not been too high In price to sell freely. Canada has held her fair share of the world wheat imports, and is holding It today. Even while prices have been advancing here in the past two months, export business has proceeded steadily. The Winnipeg price has never been far out of line with Liverpool. Canada might sell a little more wheat by entering Into a price cutting war with the Argentine, but Judging from the past record it would be very little because the Argentine price would fall Just as rapidly as.

our own. And it would be a foolish position for Canada to take, at a time when there Is a fair prospect that we will be able to sell at a fair price all the wheat we now have and all the wheat we will produce this year. The equalizer of increased Canadian catUe Imports by Britain, follows Mr. Elliott's bonus on British grown beef. The Ottawa conference arrangement has shown no cloven hoof in this respect AUGUST FOURTH 1 Twenty years ago the civilized world burst into flame.

Great Britain's declaration of war against Germany, after the failure of frantic attempts to avoid conflict, was the point at which the European quarrel became a world i war. August 4th will long stand In history as one of the black dates in human affairs. After twenty years the fires in Europe are still smoldering. Hindenburg, the last of the Great War figures remaining in a key position, died Thursday. For nine years his heavy Prussian hand steadied German politics.

Now that he is gone and his office is usurped by a lesser man, the uncertainties of Europe are Increased. In a very large measure the future course of events In Europe will be affected by the extent of Hitler's hold upon the German people, which today is an uncertain quantity. His dictatorship is obviously weaker than was Mussolini's in Italy at a similar stage, or that of Pllsudskl in Poland. He is dictator by a narrow margin of popular support, ruthlessly applied force, and mere chance. If he survives for a year or so, Germany may remain one of the great powers.

If he falls, it is entirely possible that the Reich may break up Into a group of smell Independent states. In either rase there Is little prospect of a general European war. In every country in Europe the people are far too busy with pressing domestic problems and, as Abbe Ernest Dlmnet says, far too uncertain which neighbor they hate the most to make war possible. Europe today presents a spectacle of disintegration. This contrasts strongly with the situation of twenty years ago, when there were five strong continental powers, and one mar? militarist setting out to unify Europe by force of arms.

He was stopped after four bitter years by the unified forces of democracy. These forces attempted at the end of that struggle to set up new instruments of har m.iny In European affairs. What democracy and idealism gained in the war has been gradually lost in the postwar years. The balkanization of Europe has THE WINNIPEG EVENING TRIBUNE. not yet run its full course, hut there is still room for hope that this process of disillusionment and frustration may end in some form of pan Europeanism without resort to the instrument of war, which was so thoroughly discredited in 1914 18.

The convicts in Joliet penitentiary have stopped the Institution's clocks. But they are still doing time as usual. RECIPROCITY NEGOTIATIONS Endeavoring to explain why no reciprocity negotiations have been entered into witn various principal customer nations, the Washington administration presents the following note as regards Canada: "Canada Reciprocity is a political Issue in Canada and although faint overtures have been made by William D. Her ridge, the Canadian minister, there is no expectation of active negotiation until the reciprocity question is settled between the Dominion's political parties." Now that is very strange. One of the remarkable features of parliament in the last session or two has been the cordially unanimous agreement on the question.

All parties, even Including the C.C.F. and the one or two Independents, favor reciprocity. Mr. Bennett is enthusiastic. Mr.

King only regrets that others are entering his chosen field. As for the alleged "faint overtures" on the part of Mr. Herridge, did not Mr. Bennett go to Washington particularly to assure Mr. Roosevelt that Barkis was not only willing but anxious? The trouble, we are afraid, lies elswhere.

Not long ago one of the most experienced observers in Washington declared his opinion that the so called reciprocity negotiations would consist of a ton of show to an ounce of results, and so far his observation has been borne out by results The United States does not want Canadian farm products, or the products of our fisheries. It can use a little lumber, some minerals, some pulpwood and paper, and a few other scattered Items of trade. It does not want the things we have to sell. It wants to sell the things we have no particular need to buy at least from the United States. The.

tariff wall built around the Unitea States Is not likely to suffer material damage in negotiations with Canada or any othet country. They may knock a chip on a brick here and there, but that will be about all. Marie Dressler's post decease bow, in her capacity as testatrix, was as graceful and kindly as anything done In her lifetime. TELEPHONE EARNINGS For seven months starting December 1 last, the Manitoba Telephone System has shown an operating surplus 25 percent higher than that of the corresponding year. During June the telephones had an operating surplus of $26,639 as against $18,342 in the same month of 1933 an increase of 45 percent This Is one of the best Indicators of the improved business and employment situation in Winnipeg and Manitoba.

True, the telephones were 18 months ago suffering from a sudden fad which developed among the subscribers. In their efforts to economize, a good many people bad their telephones removed in the belief that they could get along without them. This generally proved to be false economy. Most people found that the telephone was worth what it cost and a good deal more. The steady stream of replacements, coupled with a considerable Improvement in business conditions, has made a remarkable change In the net revenues of the system.

The significance of Premier Okada's abandonment of nnval equality lies In the fact that the Japanese emperor specially selected him for the post, over the heads of the no' allst militarist groups. ENGINEERS TO THE RESCUE The American writer, Stuart Chase, says "Plato once called for philosopher kings. Today the greatest need in all the bewildered world Is for philosopher engineers." Mr. Chase then describes the engineer type of mind as being professional, not commercial; dedicated to building, not to profit making; a mind that has the courage to accept the Job of taming the billion wild horses which Watt let loose; that thinks straight and hard; hates waste and confusion, dirt and despair; that never stoops to the shoddy or adulterated. No doubt Mr.

Chase is right when he says we need the engineer mind. The whole system of production and distribution no longer serves the people as it should; but It cannot be set right by men who by the nature of their training have very little real consideration for the human and social factors Involved, even though they may be quite sincere when they talk of "service" and "public duty." The vast economic forces created largely by the engineers have hitherto been left to tho management of "business men," and financial magnates, but they seem no longer able to handle the machinery. Perhaps it is about time to consult the philosopher engineer In matters which naturally belong to his profession. The engineering type of mind has been successful in solving the production problem. No doubt It is also able to solve tie problem of distribution if given the opoprtunity.

By V.V.M, UST hazarding a guess I would say that among the world's least overworked citizens at present Is the gent who looks after Mr. Hitler's foreign fan mail. WORSE 'N' WORSE DEPT. "Waiters bemoan fewness of tips." They claim It's dime for some change. "Many Western teachers have between 40 and SO pupils to look after." I always did think the modern schoolma'ams had plenty of class.

LIMPING LIMERICK DEPT. An Englishman who went to The Pas Said: "This is much better by fas. Than the African veldt er Where you would just swelter And the jungle roads DO Jas your cas. George C. Walght.

I would like to mention at this point that so many Limping Limericks have been sent into this here now column recently that it will be quite Impossible to use them all. Nevertheless I want to thank each and every contributor and to assure them that even It their work was unpublished it certainly wasn't unappreciated. Cowboys are opening a rodeo In Winnipeg today. First thing spectators will notice is that when one rides a steer it doesn't PROBLEM SOLVED What would happen if Irresistable force met immovable matter? Tou have, no doubt heard this question brought up every so often by the sort of person who brings up that sort of question. Somebody brought it up last night and it reminded me of Greg and Hilda.

Greg was not only big and handsome but be had plenty of the old personality and in addition to this he was nobody's chump. He went through college with considerable distinction in classrooms and on the playing field. He also left a wide swathe of wide eyed gals who fell all over each other In their efforts to catch his eye. But with Greg a little feminine society went a long, long way. He was determined that no dame was going to land him until he was good and ready.

All the cleverest co eds on the campus did their darnedest to get him to give them a tumble but he was quite impervious to their wiles. In other words Greg became known as "Immovable Matter" because nothing seemed to upset him in any way. Then, as you have already guessed, along came a little lady who was different from all the others. She bad never been to college but she had majored in her special subject which was Man. Her strategy was different She didn't go after Greg In a big way.

She didn't flatter him, ogle him, or hurl herself into his arms. She was too smart for that. She told Greg she always wished Liat she had had a big brother a big brother just liks him, so fine, so noble, so manly, etc. She asked him whether he would mind her treating him just like a big brother. Greg, of course, said It was O.K.

with him. He could see no danger In this big brother stuff. It was all so frank and friendly. No mushy stuff or anything like that Then came the day when "Immovable Matter" was elected senior stick, or captain of the f'otball team, or something like that. When he told this to the little lady she said she was "SO proud" of her "big brother" and, matching the lapels of his coat, she stood on tif.

toe to give him a little kiss a sisterly little kiss. But somehow there was nothing sisterly In the look In her eyes. What happens when "Irresistable Force" meets "Immovable Matter?" You'll find the answer if you go to a certain bungalow out Sliver Heights way. "Immovable Matter" pushes the perambulator. WHY TEACHERS LOOK THAT WAY "Resolve means to disappear like sugar when you put It Into a cup of tea." A Bible Message (From the Authorized Verrlonl Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning.

The old commandment Is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past and the true light now shlneth. He that sailb he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth hit brother abideth In the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling In him. But he that hateth his brother it in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darknett hath blinded hit eyes.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is cf God; and every one that loveth Is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth cot knoweth not God; for God Is love. No man bath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwellcth in us, and his love is perfected in us. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

(I John 2 7 11; 4: 7, 8, 12, 21.) SATURDAY. AUGUST 4, 1934 Reclamation in theU.S. (From Bualneea Week, New York) ROUGHT, which seemed at first a localized mishap, and even a left handed blessing because it would reduce troublesome crop yields, now appears in its true light as a great disaster, and a national problem of the first magnitude. It overshadows In urgency if not in Importance the problems of unemployment, crop control, even politics. It may actually create new relief problems greater than those for which AAA was founded.

Moreover, we. gradually have come to realize that this is not an isolated thing, to be cured by good rainfall next year, and then forgotten. This year's drought is the culmination of more than 15 years of subnormal precipitation. A 30 or 40 year trend in the decline of ground water levels tells part of the Etory. At last, we listen to the scientists who have been saying for a long time that the natural balance of the continent's vegetation could not be upset with Impunity.

With trees gone and grass lands put under the plow, aridity and wind erosion are inevitable. We must restore ground cover and windbreaks, we are told, or our central plains will become as the central desert of Asia. Here is the proper place for planning, and for co operative action. The most rugged individualist would concede tbht no one farmer or cattleman was to blame for creating the conditions; no one inhabitant can remedy them. It is a job for government a Job which must be carried on through many administrations to follow this one, with a consistent policy of forestatlon and land reclamation.

But this Is not alone an agricultural problem. The cities are hard hit In a tyta! spot Competent engineering Investigators report water supply conditions in the drought area almost incredibly bad. At high water season this year, tome streams on which cities and towns depend were at the usual fall low water mark; Since then, they have dried up. Various emergency methods have been devised to get a little more water, and to utilize It economically. But there is no substitute for adequate water supply, and already Western communt tiesare looking toward the future, with programs that will call for the expenditure of millions as insurance against being caught again short of life's greatest essential.

Business is bound to suffer from the present situation. The cost of calamity on sucn a scale is inevitably great. But from calamity, through wise Interpretation, we shall learn better to 'establish a sound, permanent basis for the nation. We shall also learn the limits of "planned economy." Ultimately, restorstion and rebuilding of the agricultural economy of the drought area will be acomplished. A better, safer basis for farming and for stock raising will be established.

As we face the distress of the moment it is reasonable to look beyond the problem In order that we may see the benefits from solution of these present and pressing troubles. Scientific agriculture, utilizing the skill of modern engineering for water supply and water control, will bring the nation through to the stable future. Though distress may be great, panic has no place in our national consideration of this catastrophe. There will be no famines. Ultimately we shall plan more and better, thus both preventing recurrence of drought disaster and creating new requirements for men and materials.

This Day One Hundred Years Ago TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1834. Price 7d. Funeral of S. T. Coleridge, Esq.

On Saturday, the 2nd the 'mortal remains of the poet and philosopher, S. T. Coleridge, were deposited in the vaults of Highgate church. His funeral was strictly private, and hit hearse was followed by a very few Intimate friends only who had known and appreciated the high moral excellence of the man, and his affection, ate love to all who had shown the least kindness to him. Many of the admirers of his great attainments and his high literary fame and reputation would have wished to attend, but they were not invited, some even excluded, by the friends who had the conduct of his funeral, and who were best acquainted with the dislike of the deceased to empty ostentation, and with the just but meek and Christian feelings and sentiments of his last moments.

Hit works, either now before the world or posthumous, under the care of able friends, will be the noblest monument which could be raised to his memory, and prove to posterity what a loss England and the world have experienced by his death. From a Correspondent. We have reason to believe that during the early period of his life he enlisted as a common soldier in the Dragons: of course, he did not remain long in the Service. Perhaps his then democratical principles made his officers willing to get rid of him perhaps (which is a fact) because he could not be taught to ride. Athenaeum.

3 per Cent Cons. BO'S to THE CRAZE FOR OLD NAMES r'mm the St. Thnmae Tlmee Journal Over the radio recently a violinst who owns a $30,000 Guarnerlus violin played a melody upon it then repeated the melody with an ordinary violin or "fiddle" costing abaut $100. Then he asked the radio listeners to write in and say which was the $30,000 instrument and which the $100 one. Eleven percent did not notice any difference, 54 percent guessed the $100 violin was the $30,000 one, and 35 percent gave the right A few years ago a firm of violin makert In London named Hill Invited a committee of expertt to judge between a Stradivarius violin and one of their own make from stock.

A skilful musician playd on the two instruments behind a screen. The unanimous decision ot the committee was that the Hill violin was the Stradivarius. All of which go's to show that this old master fetish it largely an affectation. A SQUELCHER! The Bore "My grandfather fought in the. The Bored "Really.

On which side?" Reproduced by The Winnipeg Tribune by Berners Street Hoax English humorist who was flourish ing one hundred yean ago wat Theodore Edward Hook. His name it sel dom mentioned sow, nut be wat a voluminous author in verse and prose. In 1833 he produced no fewer than six volumes, and before he died in 1841. the list of his published works contained 38 Items. His form ot humor palls upon us today, but be was appreciated not only as a writer of stories but as a wit nd particularly as a Jolly after dinner speaker.

The Berners street hoax, perpetrated by him In 1809 created more laughter In London than any jest he ever made. In walking down Bernes street one day, his companion called Hook's attention to the particularly neat and modest appearance of a house, the residence of some decent shopkeeper's widow. "I'll lay you a guinea," said Theodore, "that In one week that nice modest dwelling shall be the most famous In all London." The bet was taken in the course of four or five days Hook had written and despatched one thousand letters, conveying orders to tradesmen of every sort within the bills ot mortality, all to be executed on one particular day, and as nearly as possible at one fixed hour. From waggons of coal and potatoes to books, prints, feathera, Ices, jellies, and cranberry tarts nothing In any way whatever available to any human being but was commanded from scores of rival dealers scattered over the business district of London. It is difficult to conceive the crash and jam and tumult In Berners street 'thHt day.

Hook had provided himself with a lodging nearly opposite the widow's house and there with a couple of friends he nearly laughed himself sick over the midday melodrama. In addition to wares supplied by merchants, professional men had also been hoaxed. Among these were doctors, lawyers, and teachers. There were also hairdressers, tailors and philanthropists at the wldovf't door. This hoax was Imitated In many English towns, also in Paris, with numberless variations: When Hook was a young man his name was entered as a student at St.

Mary's Hall, Oxford. His friends would have preferred a residence at Exeter college, but to this, as entailing a somewhat more strict observance of discipline than was compatible with bis habits, he positively objected. A compromise was effected and his brother presented him to Doctor Parsons, head of Balliol college, for matriculation. The ceremony wat promptly because of an Ill timed Joke on the part of the candidate. On being asked If he was prepared to subscribe to the Thirty Nine Articles, be replied, "Oh, certainly, sir, forty if you desire." The horror of the head of the college may be Imagined.

Hook was requested to withdraw, and it required all the influence of his brother, who fortunately happened to be a personal friend of Dr. Parsons, to Induce him to overlook the offence. Hook, like Hood and other humorists or that period, was an Inveterate punster. One of the best examples of his punning ability was inspired by the information that he received from a friend that the latter had entertained bis bookseller at dinner and his guest had become Intnxirsted. "Why," said Hook, "you appear to me to have emptied your wine cellar Into your book WORS'N CAT AND DOG Front the Tlmmlne Advance An Oklahoma lady called a traffic officer "a big ox!" The officer charged her with disorderly conduct The Judge dismissed th case, saying it wat simply the woman's personal opinion and she had a right to express her opinion.

The judgment would seem to allow the officer the right to call the lady a cow. It should brighten up the repartee between traffic officers and motorist! down in Oklahoma, 17 Zulu Punch. epeclel arrangement with eublllhera of Punehl Letter to the Editor Letters to the Editor, not exceeding 2S0 words, will be published on tbe Editorial page and will have priority over longer letters which will appear on another page. Longer letter cannot be printed promptly. They have to wait on availability ot space.

Write briefly and often. Your name will not It published if you wish it otherwise, but signed letters are preferred.) Advitet Aldermen to Think Mora of the Unemployed Tax Relief Scheme To the Editor of The Tribune. Sir, Reading an editorial a few days ago In your valuable paper on the need of five days a week; then read of our brilliant aldermen at the last council meeting worrying about increasing hours for men at work. Better to put in their time thinking of the unemployed. We have quite a few Labor aldermen.

But they know the Nazi working for taxes; put in 10 to 11 hours a day; Canadians 8 hours a day. Most of tbe men working on the tax relief scheme are substitutes. The real taxpayers, most of them, have steady Jobs, yet unemployed taxpayers can't get on. One man working for his taxes, a few weeks ago, received a contract from ths C.N.R., a Job at Transcona, about 11.500 for labor only. He is still working for his taxes.

One hears a lot about governments keeping out of business. It's time they investigated tome of the employers In our city. A lot of our prominent employers are still making big profits, are using reduced ttafft, and making those working, work overtime, Including Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Others have to do several hours home work, ansl kflif lr rr XX "Vi a raa a Vim aiiu iiii uvj vniig uuu unemployed READER, Winnipeg, August 1. Pointt to the Canadian Pacifie At a Developer of the West To the Editor of The Tribune.

Sir, B.N.'t letter asking what't behind the railway merger Idea? Simple economy made necessary by hard times and lack of business, emphasized by duplication of services. Sure ly some preference should be given the C.P.R., seeing It opened up this western wilderness, made Its own business, by colonizing it, ami became a necessary public service. On the other hand, the C.N.R. as planned was never needed, seeing It paralleled the C.P.R. to tap business created and successful'y handled by that road.

Had the C.N.R. built 100 miles north, colonized, and built up its own business, Instead of trying to skim the cream off the C.P.R., we should never have seen the present abominable state of affairs, where the government Is competing and cutting the throat of its largest taxpayer. The world has never seen Its like before. It is an original conception of government policy. Are the politicians proud of It? S.B.N, quotes Fainvesther as saying undue economy can close the shops.

What about undue competition R. TOMSON, Winnipeg. July 31. WHERE AND WHAT CANADA SELLS I the Ottawa Journal) In June, on every week day, goods to the value of more than $2,000,000 left Canada for i some other country. During the same month more than $1,000,000 worth of these goods went every day Including Sunday to some 1 Empire country.

Our exports were 26 pr cent better than during June of last year. In that month Canada sold as much to Great Britain as to all the rest of the non Biiti'l world combined. The figure wic: Exports to foreign countries, to Great Britain, $26,497,000. In addition, Canada sold to Empire countries the other Dominions, and the Colonies some $7,000,000 worth of goods, making our British Empire sales about greater than our sales to ail tiie other peoples. It Is a tremendous sidelight upon Empire trade Our farmers must be telling more, and our manufacturers must be selling more, and 1 neither can sell more without considerable gain.

A whole lot of people farmers, work ingmen, buines men, transportation em ployes must have more money than last year..