FOB SQUARE DEAL
Govtrntr Shaldtn Intinds tt ht
tht Ltadtr.
BATTLE FIERCELY TO THE FINISH
Eitoutivt Dtolarat Hi Wat Elttttd
by all Partita and Pladgtt
Ltyalty tt Thtm
By our Staff Correspondent George W. Kline
A party pledged to reform is mak-
Ing a strugglo for square deal logis-
lation in Nebraska. Gov. George L.
Sheldon, the first native born execu-
tive, is tho leader, in tne senato anu
in the house he has conferred with
men who aro eager for laws in favor
of tho people. The legislature is or-
Dame
to annum, anemon is a non-paruban
. . . , . ..
governor, tor tne nrst ume in me
history of tho state a governor in his
message has thanked all political par-
ties, Governor sneiupn mm especial
stress on tne declaration tnat me in-
dependent voters, democrats, popu-
- I
lists and republicans, had elected him
to omco and ne oeterminea to mane
his official actions pledges of his loy-
alty to the common people.
Governor Sheldon Is a Nebraska
farmer. His father was a member of
that band of gallant pioneers which
reclaimed Nebraska from the desert
waste and laid the foundation for a
prosperous state. At the state unl
verslty George L. Sheldon was edu
cated. He lived all his life on his
fathers homestead. In the Spanish
American war he went to the defense
of his country. In education, in ethl
cal standards and in his private life
he has reached the ideal of the Ne
braska people. He has determined to
fulfil the pledges made to the people
on the stump, and while he may make
... , . .
iuisiukuh iib 10 a rnun wuum wc jiuu-
pie will trust implicitly and should
he err they will overlook it because
of the sterling qualities of the leader.
Early in the week the two houses
reaumeu concurrent sessions alter au-
Journment over Sunday. So far sixty-
two bills have been Introduced In the
house and eighty-nine have been pre-1
uented in the senate. Tnese emiirace
all subjects. "Party pledge" bills on
all partisan questions will be outlined
by the Joint committees of the house
and senate and all other measures will
DO Slain.
There was never a session of the
Nebraska legislature when the chronic
mud slingers were absent. In the heat
of the speakership fight a number of
epithets wore bandied about. Adam
McMullen, tho author of one of the
first primary bills introduced in the
last session of the legislature and a
consistent reformer, was attacked by
his political enemies and denounced
il 11 -1 ft TT Tnwk I
ii i i i I i it i. it A. I
aiso attacKeu anu it was mouKui
his vote could be secured by a certain
candidate it the "scare was appneu.
Byram refused to be stampeueu. Both
men have settled down to do some
naru worn anu tnus get even wun tuu
. .fi n..
early critics.
Partisan strife has so far not been
displayed in the Nebraska legislature.
'Party lines may bo drawn later In the
session. It has been decided that tho
pledges contained in both tho ropubll-
can and democratic platforms will bo
carried out. Joint committees have
been appointed In each house to look
after reforms. The senate Is repre-
sented by seven men on each commit-
tee, tho house by a like number.
There will be threo joint committees.
An anti-pass bill will bo outlined. Tho
measure, as sketched by the Joint
committee members, will forbid all
sorts ot political transportation. Rail-
way officials and employes may be
granted passes. Ministers of tho gos-
pel and charitable workers will be
allowed passes. In other instances It
will bo a felony to asK or give a pass.
The context of the railway regula-
tion bill has boon outlined. The meas-
uro to bo approved by the joint com-
mltteo will contain provisions to al-
low tho state railway commission to
make all rates, hoar all disputes and
adjust differences. The commission-
ers must publish tariffs and rate
Hheets and must grant the railroads a
hearing whenever a protest is filed,
The commissioners probably will re-
m1t 2,500 per annum, and a secre-
ttary will b provided at a salary of
$1,800 a year. 'Two assistants will
also bo provided for at an annual sal
ary of $1,200 each. Thoro aro a num
ber who wish the secretaryship of tho
commission. However, thoro is a pro
nounced sentiment for a man who
knows railway rates, and tho place
doubtless will bo given to a practical
freight rato man. Any interest in a
railway, telegraph, telephone or ex
press company will disqualify any
member or assistant from serving on
the commission. Transportation must
be paid in cash and tho commission
ers and their assistants must not re
ceive, either directly or Indirectly, any
profits from tho earnings of a public
service corporation.
Confusion and divergence of opinion
. . . nrlmary ,aw
L,. atat..taa nf TnWO winrnnin and
Mlnneaota aro bolng overhauled. To
.. . RUrnrlBO the ieeiBiators have dis
. th t dlBaati8ractlon exists in
each of tnQ thpee 8tates named. Daily
new8paper8 as a rule, favor liberal
'
. nrntractGd debate. In a large
stat0 It Ia Impoggiblo for a candidate
tQ r(Jach all tho people except through
tnQ dftUy pre88 Tnls means that a
daUy paper and a syndicat0 of week
af hft annrnH In order to con
llUi 111 IIU W MV MW -
, , winninc campaign. More de
pends Qn the countvy pr08s, it is as
t , th ver before as a candl
dato can be made or unraado within
fQW davs nrecedinc tho party bal
lotine bv a well directed newspaper
attaeki Partisans are also eager to
th narty orKanizatlon. This
,g anotner problem which vexes the
ropubllcana and dCmocrats alike. It
, ro,i,tn,i thprn win bo more
strife and turmoil over the primary
bill than all the rest of the legist
Ljon
The half-trigger legislator Is ex
tremely liable to meet with mishap
In tho Nebraska legislature this ses
slon. Senator Wllsoy of Frontier nas
hln "tmokntre."
Z rI n7 Inn nnlerlne
L, .
the summary arrest, Imprisonment and
. ff a anaaAv
M at the bar Qf the 8enatei Hg
resolution was so drastic that any
casual visitor at the capltol could be
arrested and disgraced. Sentiment
nronounced against such a meas-
d It was withdrawn after the
author boasted that no one dared vote
, t lt It Is not denied that a
u organlzed band of senators and
t tl Uow reDort8 to ema
nato tnat ..Member Such-and-Such" is
rallroad man. In this way a weak
kd mernber can be forced Into line
for almogt any .bin. A lobby reso
Iliitlnn xiraa Intrrwlnnnrl In thfi Hfinato
to admit visitors at the request of
the members, cards being Issued. A
similar arrangement exists in the
house. The anti-lobby crusade has
had one result. Lawyers are making
money. As soon as a piece of legis
hation is introduced tho interest af
fected must either hire a lawyer or
arguo In person before a committee
g0 the lawyers are picking up many
$5o and $joO foes.
ThQ status of the food commission
. oniiRfl . . th . the
. . . . u , tt b d
. . f f , bl
I v
thQ nouso Representativo McMullen
, Intrnrlnppd n bill tn rnnrcranlz
the state food commission. Deputy
Food Commissioner Redfern wants a
salary 0f $1,800. He would like
chemist and throe inspectors, one for
foods onc for dairy products and one
for dnrSi and Is tho author of tho
Burns bjn. An unknown organiza
ti0n of chemists aro championing the
opposing bill which provides substan-
tially the same reforms the rigid in
sGOtion of impure foods, drugs and
dajry products. The pure food reform
jB suro to be adopted. It will bo
merely a skirmish for the patronage.
This cloud of cuttle fish mist may
absorb columns of space, but tho
chief issue from the start will be the
man aftor the pay check. Redfern
has tho advantage which is nine
LointB of advantaco in a legislative
scrap.
Senator Phillips of Holt wants to
start another junior normal school at
O'Neill. Ho Is tho author of a meas
uro to establish no less than threo
nor no more than six normals. Ho
designates tho places as Alliance, Mc
Cook, O'Neill and Valentine, with the
two other sites in doubt.
Senator Root of Cass is after the
wolf bounty law. He has Introduced
a measure repealing tho whole act in
toto. A big deficit has piled up and
I the scalp claims are still coming In.
GALL A CONGRESS
Mtttlngs Will bt Htld In Dtnvor
During January
RRIGATION TO BE ITS PURPOSE
All Stattt Wttt of tht Mltsturl
Rivtr Will Stnd Larf a
Dtltfatltnt
For the first timo in tho history of
America a general movement has been
naugurated looking toward the rapid
development and settlement of the
dry land sections of Nebraska and
tho west. Acting on tho suggestion
of many western farmers and business
men, Gov. Jesse F. McDonald of Colo
rado has called tho "Trans-Missouri
Dry Farming Congress" to moot in
Denver on January 24 and 25. Tho
call has been sent to every state west
of the Missouri river and assurances
have already been received that dele
gates will come, with stato sanction,
from practically all of tho sixteen
commonwealths Included in tho call.
Tho Importance of this movomont
cannot bo overestimated. Nino acres
of farm land out of every ton in tho
whole country west of tho 98th morld-
an can never bo Irrigated and bo-
cause, of slight rainfall most of this
great territory must look for its re
demption entirely to some method of
scientific agriculture Within tho last
decade the spread of tho so-called
Campbell system, more commonly
known as "dry farming," has con
vinced the thinking men of the coun
try that in some such method as this
lies tho agricultural salvation of the
west, and lt Is now proposed to start
broad, unprejudiced movement, In
which every stato affected shall take
part, to further develop these soil cul
ture systems and bring them to the
attention of tho world at large.
It Is necessary also, so It Is said by
those who are interested, that some
steps be taken to educate tho farmers
who are today coming into tho dry
lands of the west. In Colorado, Ne
braska and Kansas alone 150,000 new
homescekers have settled themselves
within a year. Twelve hundred home
steads In Kit Carson county, Colorado,
wore taken up in 100G, and this record
was almost If not quite equalpd by
other counties in other western states
Of these great bodies of settlers tho
larger proportion aro from eastern
states and are entirely unfamiliar
with western conditions.
The purpose of tho congress which
will meet In Denver is, first of all, to
form a permanent, educational, inter
stato organization somewhat on tho
lino of tho National Irrigation Con
gress, and second, to afford a full and
free discussion of tho principles of
scientific soil culture, and of their
development in the west. Speakers
will bo present from every stato west
of tho Missouri river. The United
States Department of Agriculture will
be represented, it is hoped.
FARMERS WILL FIGHT TRUST.
Takes Possession of Omaha Plant and
Offers Inducements to Independents.
Tho Farmers' Co-operative Cream
ery and Supply company, with tho
avowed purpose of fighting tho cream
ery "trust" by tnldng into member
ship all the farmers in this part of
the country, has been organized at
Omaha. Tho concern proposes to
unite 5,000 cream producers in tho
manufacture and sale of buttor and
tho purchase of all farm supplies. Tho
company has already 3,000 patrons
Tho members of tho association will
sharo In tho profits of the entiro busi
ness and will have their butter fat
produced at actual cost. Members
will bo furnished separators and like
goods at factory cost. Non-members
will bo charged a trifle more than
mombors.
Farmers will be encouraged to ship
their milk direct to tho now factory
Instead of selling at tho country sta
tlons of tho other creameries.
Charles Harding, formerly prosldopt
of a creamery company bearing his
name Is president and general man
ager of tho now organization.
Big Year for Auto Trade.
An estimate made by tho dealers
places tho number of automobiles sold
In Omaha In 1900 at 250. More could
have been disposed of had tho ma
chines been obtainable.
Already orders have been taken In
advance for 190 7for forty or more
cars, something never before known
SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEE
The Following Named Will Act as
Chalrrr.cn.
Accounts and Expenditures II. E.
Sackott.
Agriculture, W. E. Thorne.
Apportionments, George W. Wiltso.
Banks nnd Currency, A. L. Clarko.
Claims, J. C. F. McKesson.
Constitutional Amendments and
federal Relations, C. II. Aid rich.
County and County Boundaries, J.
G. O'Connell.
Doaf, Dumb and Blind Aoylums, S.
I. Buck.
Education, L. Goodrich.
Enrolled and Engrossed Bills, W. D.
lolbrook.
Finance, Ways and Means, J. L.
Root.
Fish nnd- Game, George W. Wiltso.
Highways, Brldgo sand Ferries, H.
B. Glovor.
Intornal Improvements, J. P.' Latta.
Insano Hospitals, P. F. Dodson.
Insurance, Joseph Burns.
Irrigation, C. G. Slbloy.
Judiciary, E. L. King.
Labor, F. W. Ashton.
Library4, W. R. Patrick.
Llvo Stock and Grazing, D. Hanna.
Manufacturing and Commerce, J. C.
McKesson.
Medical Societies, F. Wilcox.
Military Affairs, L. C. Gibson.
Miscellaneous Subjects, W. H. Wil
son.
Miscellaneous Corporations, E. D.
Gould.
Municipal Affairs, L. C. Gibson.
Privileges and Elections, F. W. Phil
ips. Public Charities, J. C. Byrnes.
Public Lands and Buildings, Chas.
A; Rand ell.
Public Printing, W. II. Wilson.
Railroads, A. Wllsoy.
Reform Schools, Asylum for tho
Feeble Mindod and Homo for tho
Friondless, II. E. Snckett.
Revonuo, B. F. Thomas.
Rules, G. L. Saunders.
School Lands and FyndB, C. II. Ep
person.
Soldiers' Homo, J. G. O'Connell.
Stato Prison, C. A. Luce.
University and Normal Schools, R.
M. Thomson.
f
The House.
Judiciary, E. P. Brown.
Finance, Ways and Means.Kelfor.
Agriculture, J. Walsh.
Roads and Brides, Klllcn.
Public Lands and Buildings, Marsh.
Internal Improvements, Mlchaol Loo.
Federal Relations, Rapor.
Engrossed and Enrolled Bills
Clark.
Accounts and Expenditures, Davis.
Constitutional Amendments, Tuckor.
County Boundaries, Etc., Barrett.
Railroads, Harrison.
Privileges and Elections, Farloy.
Stato Penitentiaries, McCulIougb.
Insane HoBpltalst Anderson.
Other Asylums, Best.
Corporations, Baker.
Library, A. A. Smith. ,
Cities and Towns, Knowles.
Banks and Currency, Hart.
Public Schools, Shubert.
University and Normal Schools, Mc
Mullen. Public Printing, Hill.
Mines and Mineral, Van Housen.
Immigration, Eller.
Manufacture and Commerce, Noff.
School Lands and Funds, Doran.
Miscellaneous Subjects, Wilson.
Cla.'ms, Armstrong.
Live Stock nnd Grazing, Masters.
Rovonuo and Taxation, Dodgo.
Rules, Mr. Speaker.
Labor, Leeder.
Apportionments, Henry.
Fish and Game, Green.
Insurance, E. W. Brown.
Telegraph, Telophono and Electric
Companies, Jenlson.
Medical Societies and Sunday Laws,
Fletcher.
Fees and Salaries, Noyos.
Soldiers Homo, Blystono.
Irrigation, Hamer.
Deficiencies, Logsdon.
MEETING OF AGRICULTURISTS.
Farmers of the State Attend Meeting
at Capitol City.
Several hundred of Nebraska's most
progressive farmers gathered In Lin
coin to attend the sessions of tho
various agricultural societies of tho
stato which met at tho capital city,
In addition to these meetings several
commercial and professional societies
hold meetings, and men prominent in
thoso lines throughout the country
addressed tho meetings.
Tho attendance of the farmers at
the former annual gatherings has been
very large and satisfactory, but this
year's crowd broke tho record. Most
of the societies held their sessions
at the state farm.
FOR NEW GUARDS
The War Dtpartmtnt Hat Anntwitd
Itt Inttntltnt
OOii'T WANT REPETITION OF 1898
Jtbratka May Havt tht Flattt
Military Org anlzatltii In tkt
tht Unltta Stattt
Tho now regulations for tho moblll-
nation of tho national guard, Just per
footed by Assistant Secretary of War
Oliver, will make lt possible for Ne
braska to havo ono of the best or
ganizations in tho United States. The
now order will result in making im?
possible any repetition of tho difficul
ties of reorganization of tho militia
forces in tho faco of war, as experi
enced in tho early days of 1898, Is ex
pected by tho war department.
Those regulations, which havo Just
been printed and promulgated aro
drawn under tho terms of the consti
tution and oxlstlng militia law and
preceding Btatutos. They provide for
tho minimum strength of tho organ-
zatlons of tho militia In timo of peace
and equipment by tho stato author-
ties so that this forco will bo in
stantly avallablo in timo of neeti.
In tho first placo it Is oxpected that)
tho stato authorities will take advan
tage of tho generous appropriations
mado by tho national govornmont an
nunlly for the support of tho national
guard, to keep their organizations at
a certain fixed minimum strength.
These men are to bo completely
equipped and drilled. And, in addi
tion, the stato must provide ample
oquipmont, arms, clothing, quarter
masters' storos, tenting, ovorythlng
necessary for the militiamen who may
bo called Into service under tho torms'
of tho law.
Tho exporionce of tho Spanish war
rocrultment demonstrated that lt was
an impossible task for the national
government to equip recruits In twos
and threes and half dozens In little'
country hamlots and feed and convey
them to central recruiting depots.
STATE HISTORIANS WILL MEET.
Researches Into Nebraska's History
Will Be Made.
Tho results of a year of research
In tho early doings of Nobraska peo
ple wero recounted at tho annual!
meeting of tho state historical so-)
ciety held at the stato university atj
Lincoln, January 1G and 17. Historic
and prohlBtoric times wore delved Intol
and one of tho features of the session!
was tho report on tho discoveries in)
tho mounds near Omaha, which havei
formed tho basis of somo learned ar
ticles and comment in scientific pub
lications all over tho world. Remi
niscences of tho men who crossed
tho plains in tho oarly days, of ad
vontures with Indians and of tho de
velopment of Indian happenings early
and late, forme dother points which
wero covered by tho peoplo on tho
program.
GAIN IN ATTENDANCE.
Registration at Agricultural College
Increases.
Registration for all courses at the
agricultural college of tho university
has already exceeded last year's fig
ures. Tho total will probably reach
445 for tho year, an Increase of over
20 por cent above last year's regis
tration. Registration In tho three
year course Is 22G, and In tho winter
course 171, a total gain over last year
ot' forty-four. Tho growth of, attend
ance has been so rapid that students
at tho farm aro finding considerable
trouble in obtaining board.
New Telephone Lines.
Tho Independent Telophono conn
pany has completed a copper toll lind
to Lowell, which, as soon as the sec4
tlon at Konesaw is comploted, will
give connections with Lincoln, Omaha
Des Moines and Kansas City and in
tervoning points. The company had
expended $15,000 during tho past yea
In extending Its linos. Tho state as
soclatlon moots in Lincoln next weekj
Adams County Doctors Mset
At the annual meeting of the Adams
County Medical association the fol
lowing officers were elected: Dr.
H. Lynn, of Hastings, president; DrJ
F. L. Taylor, of Hastings, secraUrj
and treasurer; Dr. B. O. ItooU, C
Pauline, vis, iresldemt.
