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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1906)
n, jj -J (, M ' AUGUST .10, 190G A DESTROYING IMPORTANT EVIDENCE A sensational affair was that near Greeley Center, Greeley county, Neb., when representatives of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad company set on flro and burned two freight cars loaded with records. The Omaha World-Herald printed the first news of this mysterious perfor mance. Knowledge of the fire was strenuously denied by Burlington officials, but proofs wero forthcoming in the shape of photographs of the remains of the cars and a photograph of one of the documents which related to a rebate grantod to a Concordia merchant, J. C. Stewart, this docu ment reading: "Beatrice, Neb., March 11, 1904. Mr. Bdw. Clark, S. C. A., Omaha, Neb. (W. W. J.,' Claim 2317). Dear Sir: Herewith papers in claim John Stewart, Concordia, for $8.52, rebate on shipment of produce from points on our Concordia branch. Our agreement with Mr. Stewart Is to refund 33 1-3 per cent on the charges on these shipments which move from points within the state of Kan sas. Yours Truly, "W. W. JOHNSTON." . The method of disposing of the records was Bufficient to excite suspicion. The cars were cut out of a westbound freight and run up to Bel fast, a station on an obscure siding north of Greeley about eight miles. This was late Thurs day afternoon. The cars were pulled out a little ways, where section men, under the direction of Roadmaster Burns of Aurora, poured coal oil through the rubbish and set fire to the papers and the cars. A breeze carried some of tho papers a little distance and although the men worked until late at night to see that every scrap of paper was consumed and poked out the cinders next morning, a package of papers was found by "Gar field Luce, a farmer boy, who refused for some time to reveal the nature of their contents. The World-Herald staff man secured a photograph of the letter mentioned above and the rest of the papers remained in the hands of the boy for sev eral days. Witnesses of the fire were found among the farmers of the vicinity and the iden tity of Roadmaster Burns was ascertained. When questioned at his home in Aurora he denied, all knowledge of the affair and said he did not know of such a station as Belfast. Later the World Herald discovered that a telegram was sent to him the, day after the fire saying: "Belfast fire O'. K.," and signed by the section boss. County Attorney Howard reported the affair to the attorney general of Nebraska and stated to the World-Herald that he had positive Infor mation that would convict the Burlington of vio lation of the inter-state commerce law. Attorney General Brown reported the case to the United States attorney general and at the same time other high authorities were at work. The United States district attorney's office at Omaha was in structed from Washington to investigate the case. Assistant United States Attorney Lane, secret eervice men, and stenographers went to the scene. Meanwhile several days had elapsed and the boy and the county attorney were the only individuals who knew the entire contents of the papers which escaped the fire. When the district attorney demanded the papers on Thursday, just a week after the fire, the boy gave them up readily for the first time, and inspection revealed nothing, apparently, of inter-state concern. However tho attorneys and secret service men are continuing their search. When the news of the fire was first pub lished by the World-Herald railroad men and others were incredulous, as such an affair was unprecedented. But when the photographs and stories of eye witnesses were produced the whole state was mightily interested. If there were no inter-state records why did the Burlington destroy two freight cars in such a mysterious way? Or why did the county attorney of Greeley declare positively that ho had conclusive Infor fatlon with which to convict the Burlington of violation of the inter-state commerce law? These are two questions which have been asked everywhere in this section of the west. JJJ .THE 1906 "ARGUMENT" Pointing out that in the conference between Mr. Roosevelt and other leading republicans It was decided that the republican party should "stand pat" on the tariff question, ue Sioux City (Iowa) Journal, republican, called upon the repub lican state convention to say whether it was pre paring to repudiate Roosevelt by endorsing Cum mins. The issue in the Iowa republican fight was plainly drawn. It was the corporations against The Commoner. Governor Cummins. The representatives of tho special interests were arrayed against tho Iowa governor, yet several republican newspapers solemnly declared that tho renominatlon of this man, who Is brave enough to grapple with tho foeB of popular government within his own party, meant tho repudiation of tho president who claims to be tho unrelenting foe of monopoly and the uncompromising opponent of special in terests. A few days prior to' tho convention tho Sioux City Journal said: "Tho republicans of this state do not desire to cut loose from tho president." How does it happen that in tho great contest in Iowa tho republicans "cut looso from tho president" whon they cut looso from tho corporations? Hero we have a puzzlo that needs unravel ing. How does it happen that in Iowa tho re nomination of tho governor, who has been bravo enough to fight tho spoclal interests, moans tho repudiation of a president who prides himself upon his anti-monopoly record? How does it happen that In order to "stand by Roosevelt" in the Iowa contest, republicans must cast their votes with the representatives of the- corpor ations? "The republicans of this state do not desiro to cut looso from the president." This was tho declaration solemnly made by the Sioux City Journal in a plea for tho repudiation by Iowa re publicans "" of .an anti-monopoly governor. And this Ib the "stand by Roosevelt" argument with all its hideousness exposed. JJJ THE PRIMARY PLEDGE As this copy of The Commoner may be read by some one not familiar with the details of tho primary pledge plan, it is necessary to say that according to the terms of this plan every demo crat is asked to pledge himself to attend all of the primaries of his party to bo held between now and the next democratic national convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to secure a clear, honest and straight-forward declaration of the party's position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak. Those desiring to be enrolled can either write to Tho Commoner approving tho object of tho organiza tion and asking to have their names entered on the roll, or they can fill out and mail the blank pledge, which is printed on page 1G. Extracts from letters received at The Com moner office follow: E. R. Copp, Nelson, Pa. Enclosed herewith find signatures of fifteen democrats to the pri mary pledge. Robert W. Houston, Austin, Ark. Enclosed please find pledge with thirty signatures. Ami circulating two other sheets and hope to got thein filled before returning. Virgil L. Penland, Mountain Grove, Mo. I enclose a list of thirty-five democrats who have signed the primary pledge. This makes 154 I have sent in. If I live, I will send more. There will be a democratic victory this fall and a great er one in 1908. C. S. Workman, Claremore, I. T. The above ninety-five have signed the pledge, but I have copied their names for The Commoner. Please send them each one a sample copy of tho paper. SPECIAL OFFER George W. Garretts, Jonesboro, La. En closed find money order for $30.80 to pay for list of subscriptions herewith enclosed. Yearly subscriptions to The Commoner have been sent In as follows: George W. Garrett, Jonesboro, La., 48; C. A Ross, Novelty, Mo., 25; S. E. Polndexter, Lynchburg, Va., 19; H. A. W. Skeen, Big Stone Gap, Va., 17; P. A. Requarth, Dayton, O., 16; J. Smith Hays, Winchester, Ky 16; O. B. Wills, Ansted, W. Va., 16; J. E. Moore, Benton, 111., 15; H. V. LIpe, Oolagah, I. T., 16; M. A. Hoyt, Carroll, la., 14; Isaac R. Carlton, Keensburg, 111., 10; J. S. White, Burton, W. Va., 10; Wm. Welch, Beaver Dam, Wis., 9; Charles Van Horn, Poneto, Ind., 8; Thomas M. Crowley, St Joseph, Mo., 8; W. S. Hastings, Green, Pa., 8; W. W. Porter, Ava, O., 7; Frank McMurray, Aurora, Mo., 7; J. M. Russell, Atlus, Okla., 7; P. C. Frazier, Milton, Ore., 6; AW. May, East Oakland, Cal., 6; Dr. W. H. Stevenson, Cincinnati, la., 7; H. O. Boyles, Pomeroy, Wash., 6; T. C. Foulds, Higglnsville, Mo., 6; Charles Stewart, BraUford, Pa., 7; W. narrlngton, Tokamah, Neh., 6; Prod M. Burt, Rock Island, 111., G; J. A. Tip ton, Troup, Toxas, 7; Wm. Penisten, Humboldt, Kan., 6; John Wyscarver, Quaker City, O., 6; Thomas Gormly, Shoals, Ind., 6; J. h. Frieud, Bollvillo, 111., 6; E. B. Mitchell, Puoblo, Colo, 29; Georgo P. Jones, Edgoly, N. D., 10; D. N. Decker, Bluffton, Ind., 8; F. William Bordor, Bloomflold, Ind., 6; F. L. Hcnn, Sharon, Wis., 7; Dan W. Perry, Carnegie, Okla., 7; Samuol G. Novlllo, Knoxvillo, Tonn., 7; Mrs. H. F. Launann, Strafford, Texas, 6; T. F. Fitzgerald, Holloy, N. Y., 13; J. E. O wings, Milan, Ind., 8; L. T. Halo, Falrmount, Ind., 9; Cbarlce B. Stllw.ell, Bryan, Toxas, 8; Dr. Robert C. Milburn, Logansport, Ind., 12; Olivor Cronk, Springfield, Ma, 8; B. H. Hutchinson, Lcnah, Va,, 7; C. II. Lofflor, Sanford, Fla., 0; P. C. Hampton, Llnovillo, la., 7; A A. Nebekor, Laketown, Utah, 0. Each of tho following have sent in flvo annual subscriptions: F. C. Miller, Blackwater, Mo.; William W. Weisoll, Sr., Bluffton, ind.; John F. Lynn, Annlston, Mo.; Ellas Hatfield, New Sa lem, Pa.; Theodore Forco, Klnsby, Kan.; Dr. J. Y. Crawford, Nashville, Tonn.; Edward McDon ald, Coon RapIdB, la.; D. S. Burson, Richmond, Ind.; John F. Henderson, Greenwood, Ind.; Sam uel Smallwood, Ewlng Ind.; W..T. Conner, Guth rlo Center, In.; R. M. Graham, Norman, Okla.; Fred L. Scott, Waynesvillo, Mo.; G. C. Mawor, Oak 'Harbor, Ohio; W. A. Combs, Humboldt, 111.; J. Y. Crawford, Nashvillo, Tenn.; F. L. Gordon, Silver City; Miss.; R. F. Nix, Centralla, I. T.; G. C. Arnold, Palmyra, Mo.; J. W. Parr, Tecumseh, Kan.; William Hurlock, Canbridgo, Md.; D. H. Cross, Highland, Wis.; S. A. Guberson, Los Ange les, Cal.; A. C. Muffin, Sand Ridge, 111.; G. W. Paries, Lexington, Ohio; Robert F. Coll, Valpa raiso, Ind.; Glen Morroll, Seattle, Wash.; B. H. Caldwell, Tyler, Texas; John Abbott, Trilby, Fla.; John T. Billings, Flora, Ind,; D. A. Jones, Abing don, Va.,- I. B. Talbott, Akron, la.; A. A. Alraeted, South Newbury, Vt; H. Bender, Wisdom, Mont.; Conrad Martin, Delano, Minn.; G. L. Blake, Oro nogo, Mo.; Herman Winder, Shelby, la.; John Youman, Westfield, Pa.; J. M. Earnhart, Lebanon, O. J. Y. Crawford, Jr, Nashville, Tenn., D. W. Ward, Portland, Ore.; H. M. Russell, Warrens burg, Mo.; Lloyd T. Everett, Washington, D. C; J. A. Vaughan,, Birmingham, Ala.; B. M. Bryan, Alexandria, La.; W. J. Savage, Colma, Cal.; A L. Bryan, Tenalia, Texas; J. P. Baker, Cheat Haven, Pa.; Charles E. Fahrnoy, TlmbervIJlo, Va.; Georgo E. Wolter, Portland, Ore.; G. H. Lil lard, Norwalk, Cal.; T. S. Cavvood, Cloveland, Tenn.; John Kincannon, Granby, Mo., S. S. Lcm ley, Burton, W. Va.; John H. Stone, Kansas City, Mo.; A. M. Griffin, Carthage, N. Y.; H. B. Han non, Bryan, Ohio; R. M. O'Roar, M. D Dan ville, Ky. Everyone who approves the work Tho Com moner is doing is invited to co-operate along tho lines of the special subscription offer. Ac cording to the terms of this offer cards each good for one year's subscription to Tho Commoner will bo furnished in lots of five, at tho rate of $3 per lot. This places tho yearly subscription rate at 60 cents. Any one ordering these cards may sell thera for $1 each, thus earning a commission of 1 on each lot sold, or he may sell them at tho cost price and find compensation in tho fact that ho has contributed to the educational campaign. These cards may be paid for when ordered, or they may be ordered and remittance mado after they have been sold. A coupon Is printed below for the convenience of those who desire to par ticipate in this effort to increase 'The Commoner' circulation: THE COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER Application tor Subscription Cardt 5 10 15 20 25 50 75 100 Publisher Commoner: I am interested In In creasing Tbe Commoner's circulation, and de sire you to send me supply of subscription cards. I agree to use my utmost endearor to sell tbe cards, and will remit for tbeaa at tbe rate'of CO cents each, when sold. Nun. Box, or Strict No P.O. Statu. Indicate tbe number of cards wanted by marking X opposite one of tbe numbers print ed on end of this blank. If you believe the paper Is doing a work that mer it encouragement, fill out the above eupea and mall Ij. t THE COMMONER, JLlncate, Ueb. . .o