rilE OMAHA DAILY REE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1003. 4 The Omaha Daily Dee K. ROSKWATHH, EDITOtt. PUI1LISHKD EVERT MORNING. Ti:nM9 OF SCHSCRIPTION. fnlly lice (without Sunday). One Year. .MOO J'Blly pee nnd Stmdav. one Year n.p illustrated lire, One Year $" Sunday ft-e. On.- Year J F-itunl.iv li-. One Vear ; -J" Twentieth tvnturv Furnipr. One Year.. W DELIVERED I'.Y CARRIER. Pnllv It"e (without Sundny). per ropy.... ! JihIIv Hee (without Sundny). per week.. ..no ally Ite .Including Sundny). per week..liC Sunday Re.-, per ropy " Evening Jtee (without Sunday), per week be Evening Hc-e (Including Sunday). Per week r;;--1 Complaints of Irregularities In delivery slmui.i i),. addressed to City Circulation fe ll irrtment. OFFICES. Omaha The Ree Rulldlrig. South Orrahn-Cltv' Hull Building. Twenty-fifth ami M Slreeti. Council Rluffr 10 Pearl Street. hlrag ICfO Unity Uiilldlng. New York IS: Park Row Hulldlng. Washington 6nl Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news end edi torial matter should he addressed: Omaha llee. Editorial Department. REMITTANCES. . Remit hy draft, express or postal order rayable to The Ree Publishing Company. nly 2-cent stamps acrepted In payment of mall accounts. Personal chocks, except on Omaha or easterr exchanges, not accented. THE BEE PUBLISHING COMl'ANl. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. State of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.: George R. Tischuck. secretary of The Bes Publishing Companv, being duly worn. says that the Hctual number of full and complete copies of The Dallv, Morning, Evening and Sunday Bee printed during the month of November, 1903, was as follows 1 20,070 2 I .30,000 37,400 1 30,030 41,100 7 81.7SO ;.. 26,800 80,120 10 3XMOO 11 2O.00O 12 ito.eio 13 40.9B5 14 20,810 IS XU,VM 16 20.T40 17 30,1 OO 18 it so.stao 20 ; 40,B 21 no.otso 22 2T.1T0 23 3O.O50 24 30,120 23 80,000 2 81,130 27 31,020 28 30,100 28 27,023 30 80,300 A fi&tDLKS VUMMISSIOX. Just lfforp the niljnurnniont of ron cross for the holldnys, Iteprespntntlve Vrwlnntl of New York introduced a bill providing for the npiNlntinent of n nonpnrtlsnn commission to ootisldpr the subject of the merchant ninrlne nnd fuuifpst such legislation ns It tnnf deem desirable In furtherance of our mari time Interests. It provides that the commission shall consist of five mem bers possessing expert knowledge of ninrlne industries, each of whom shall receive a salnry of $4,000 per annum and exjienses incurred in the perform ance of the work required by the bill. There is no need of a commission of tills kind and its crentlon would Involve a wholly useless expenditure by the government of $100,0110 or more. The merchant marine question is already very thoroughly understood by every iHMly who takes any interest in the sub ject and trie proposed commission could Dietrick contributa to it nothing of value. It would necessarily go over ground that has been fully covered and obtain repe titions of the opinions of those wbojire familiar with the question and have frequently expressed themselves re garding it. The question has been un tier discussion for years, during which every point worthy of consideration lias been, brought, out. Scores of care partisans who are trying to make politi cal enpitnl out of the, contribution of John I. Rockefeller - toward the con struction of a building for the Uni versity of Nebraska. If the chancellor would only tell what lie really thinks of the small-bore bigots who are trying to prevent the acceptance of the gift, he would doubtless use language more forcible than elegant. - LB.ST n'E FUKOKT. , A mislaid memorandum on the editor's desk contains a few items of interest to Douglas "couuty taxpayers: 'The total amount paid for county vault work was $14,11).", which repre sents an overcharge ofvnot less than $",0O0. Of the above amount S4.7SS was paid on July 11, 1003, for fixtures in the vault of the county clerk. A duplicate sketch of toe drawing? and specifications was made by 'J. E. and submitted to different manufacturers for bide; The Ilerger Manufacturing company of Canton, O., oltered to duplicate this work complete for $J,L50. or $2,W8 less than the county pnid for them. Up to date no explana tion of this extraordinary deal has been made.". "The iron bridge constructed south of Waterloo across the Elkhoin measured 210 feet in length and cost $4,000, while fully prepared speeches on the subject the bridge across the Elkhorn river on have been made In congress and the the Military road, which is ten feet Total 032,033 Less unsold and returned copies.... 10.20J Net total sales... .' 922,073 Not average sales 30.7SS GEORGE B. TZSCHL'CK. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to .before me this 80th day of November, A. D. 103. 34. li. H UNGATE, (Seal.) Notary Public. January clearing sales will, as usual, succeed the Christmas bargains. Hailstones have fallen in Porto Rico. That explains why Mr. Cruzen has turned his back on Porto Itlco without saying good-bye. In spite of the cold weather, the Ne braska political pot shows' signs of warming up from the heat of spon-' taueotis combustion. press has teemed with facts and argu ments relating to it. Otllclnl reports on the merchnnt marine leave nothing to be desired In respect to a crura te in formation. A commission could do no more. What everybody knows Is that only about 9 per cent of our foreign trade Is carried in American ships sailing under our own flag. There are uot many who dissent from the view that It would be greatly to the advantage of our foreign commerce if we had an American merchant marine. The very general opinion Is that It would have the effect to increase our trade abroad. The difficulty is to agree upon a policy for building up a merchant marine nnd we do not think Unit a commission would solve this dlfilculty. Such bodies very rarely Justify what they cost. The committee to which the merchant ma rina commission bill was referml should bury it. A good resolution - bj; the railroad men not to" have any more wrecks the coming year would be greatly appreci ated by tho traveling public. BCSPECTID nUSSlAX IXTRtaUIC. It is said to be suspected at Washing ton that Russia is intriguing at Peking to prevent the ratification of the com mercial treaty negotiated between China and the Uulted States. Of course the State department Ik' silent on the subject, but the fact that tho Chinese up or nre ieftkjng. shorter and built with wooden Joists, cost $13,Sl8.tO, or $0,000 more than it should have cost. With such an ex cessive cost it would be presumed that the contractors would have tnken great pains to carry out tho plans nnd sped flcatlons In every tssentlul particular, but Messrs. J. "E. House and J. E, Dietrick, engineers employed in making a careful Inspection of the work, report that the contractors have failed to live up to their contract obligations in many particulars. The concluding sentence of that report reads: 'From conditions encountered we do not hesitate to state that there was a laxity of proper super vision in the construction of the super structure of this bridge and of this'ad vantage.wns taken to a degree that came nearly causing the collapse of the whole bridge.' Although attention was called to this Job. months ago, no ex planation' bus yet been made. P. S. Subsequent to the construction of this bridge T beams were added at upward of three times their ordinary cost and a bill rendered for $1,800." A very big leak has also been un covered in the plumbing Job of the county hospital by tho city plumbing Inspector, but upjto date it Is not known whether 'the leaks have been plugged tlve Interest to the people of this country. They will hire nnd be hired after the fash Ion qf their fathers. Railroad Doing: Qlte Well. Philadelphia Tress. The 4 per cent semi-annual dividend Just declared on the stock of the Lake Shore A Michigan Southern railroad does not look much like hard times. That Is an S per cent basis, or 1 per cent higher than the prevailing rate for some years buck. The railroads are all doing well, giving no Indication of hard times. Excesses of t'apltat and Iabor. Bt. Louis Republic. Between Schwab's and Morgan's stock schemes and the excesses of some labor leaders, the American public Is being per suaded that Industrial enterprises are dan gerous Investments. Tf the unwillingness to Invest leeomeg a settled opinion, goodby to prosperity, to profits and to good wages. Everybody would better be careful. Catching- Ip with the Procession. Minneapolis Journal. The Jacksonlan club of Omaha has unan imously voted to reinstate those members who were expelled for refusing to support the Chicago and Kansas City platforma. This is taken to mean that the club no longer considers a man's position on the allver qttestlon as affecting tho genuine ness of his democracy. We are living In a rapid age. Sovcn years ago a man couldn't be a democrat and believe in the gold standard. Now It doesn't make any difference. Fatnon i'Scoop" In History. Bt. Taut Pioneer Press. Chancellor Andrews of Nebraska uni versity has the world "scooped" In his new history of the United' States, lie says of the officers and men on board the Maine In Havana harbor that "not one saw tho next morning's tun." All that the corre spondents of nn alert press were able to discover whs that two officers and 2C4 men were lost, if Dr. Andrews means that there were no survivors the news will come as a surprise to Admiral Slgsbee and the officers and men with him on the Maine, aa well as to the world. If It means that the weather was cloudy It Is no doubt Valu able, If less astonishing, Information. Heeding; Obvloos Trains. Springfield Republican. A score or more prominent members of the Jacksonlan club of Omaha, who were expelled In 18SC for refusing to support the Dryan presidential ticket, have been In vited by resolution to rejoin the organ ization. The preamble to tho resolution cltjs a fact somewhat well known, that 'time makes great changes in the thoughts and idoas of mankind, nnd more particu larly In the conditions and creeds of politi cal parties" and It would be well for the democratic party If It were to give more general heed to this obvious truth. The expelled persons are asked to come back, notwithstanding that they remain as hos tile to "Bryanlsm" as ever. This action of the club Is supposed to mark the death of the fusion movement in that staje. Mr. Pearse desires It distinctly under Btood that he has no Intention of re- trtbuted to Russian influence, since government is showing b reluctance to take the action necessary to put the treaty into effect is quite naturally at- it signing his $3,000 a year job. Nobody in Omaha thought he had. It was only' another free advertisement To a man up a tree the case of the Cheyenne" postofflce lease Is perilously similar to the Hastings postofflce lease. Hut Postmaster General Payne says tho Cheyenne lease is all right. The new county assessors will go along With their business just as if a motion tot a rehearing on tho revenue law de cision were not pending, with thee bject in view of ending their official usefulness. Our Davo is suld to be patiently wait ing at' Washington for something to turn up. Rut in Washington it Is not often that unythiug worth getting turns up for ',the mtiu- who has been turned flown. South Omaha has uot issued any bonds for three months, hence the clamor of South Omaha patriots for a proposition authorizing tho mayor and council to paste another mortgage plaster on that ovcrbonded community. Ohio republicans will hold off their tate convention as long us possible and still comply with the requirements of the rules of the national committee. That is Ohio's play to see first what the other states propose to da If Japan and Russia will only both apend ull their money on buying new warships, they may soon have so little money left as to be tot) poor to fight one another. Herein lies the emVaey of the warship as a pence promote. !- J The foreign iusuraucc compuules per sist that they still waut to fight against the tuxes imposed upon them by -the new Nebraska revenue" law. They ought to ponder over tho significance of Mark Hannu'a apt phrase, "Let well euough alone." We apprehend that John D. Rocke feller is not very much distressed aver the refusal of the citizens of Lincoln to drop GOO.otiO nickels hi the slot for the construction of a university chapel on condition that he should drop two times U0O.O0O nickels in the slot. It . goes without saying that Ne braska's delegates lit the republican na tional convention will le for Roosevelt fur the prvtiidcntlul nomination, but that will not prevent! them from trying to have a voice in tho selection of his running mute on the ticket. Tho second boh of Emperor William of (ieruiuny has been selected to visit the St. I-Atula exixinitlon us the repre sentative of the royal family. The re ception accorded Prince Henry has evi dently done n great deal to pro mote the friendly Ulsitosltlou toward America such a visit would betoken. The democratic and populist leader at the state rapitol are iu a brown study over the plau of cuuipulKit to b waged next year on refjrm limn that mean something moro t'.i tu a tlivUIou of niwllx. Unfortunately the fusion reform force of Nebraska huve never uiined U any thing more than etantling room for a few plactt buulera at the pie counter. Is well understood that that power Is very strongly opposed to the opening of the two ports In Manchuria provided for in the treaty. A Washington dispatch says that If direct evidence can be obtained showing that Russia or any other power is In terfering between the United States and China to prevent the currying out of nn agreement Into which they have entered, there can be no question that the administration will make a most vigorous protest direct to the offending power. On the other hand, If no direct evidence of such action cun be ob tained, after waiting n reasonable time for action by the Chinese government the State department will call upon that government to carry out the pro visions of the treaty and proceed with the exchange of ratifications. It is pointed out that such a course ,would place China in the position of having to act or give some reason for not do ing so. If China should then point to Russia ns the obstacle In the way of action there would then be ample grounds for sending a note to the Rus sian government protesting against such intermeddling. The United States senate having ratified the treaty places the administration in a position where it can Insist that China shall carry out Its agreement. It is said that no surprise will be felt in Washington it it should be found that Russia Is' blocking the way in Pe king. It Is highly probable that such is the casn and if so it will probably be to no purpose for our government to Insist that China carry out the agree mcnt, unless the Russian government can be forced to withdraw Its Influence and allow the Chinese government to act freely. There is no reason to doubt that that, government desires to act in good fuith. It was entirely willing and even anxious to make the treaty with this country, understanding the value of such an agreement in strengthening the friendly relations between the two na tlous, and the feeling and motive that prompted the negotiation of the treaty undoubtedly remains. Hut the Chinese government seems to be utterly un able to free Itself from . Russhm in fluence and it ought by this time to be clearly understood that that Influence will not be exerted In favor of any thing favorable to America. Russ'a fears the growth of American inter ests in the fur east and Intends to do whatever It can. in its' insidious way all the time professing friendship and good faith to thwart the efforts of the United States Iu that portion of the world. As to the Chinese government, it is virtually helpless and there appears to be no promise of a change from this condition unless nome ixwtr or powers, Ftrong enough to counteract Russian In fluence, shall assure China of protec tion In carrying out Its treaty obllga tiona and iu dealing fairly with all countries. If thla he not done It U in evltable that the power of Russia In China will be steadily extend'Hl, b coming In the not remote future so for midable as to sutvessfully defy opiMtsi- tion. Hie Beo is Impelled to recall these Items In the memorandum lest we for get that a rejwrt concerning these Irregu larities is overdue. A conscience-stricken Individual in St. Louis hus been easing his distress of mind by turning in over $100 to the city treasurer and over $1)00 to differ ent . railway olllclals, presumably" "to make good money held back on taxes and transportation charges. Now ' if the railroads would only endure some pangs of conscience that would lead thein to pay up all the back taxes they have shirked br evaded, 'the general tax-paying public would enjoy great relief. In Nebraska alone, a wave that would prick the ' railroad conscience to the quick would at the lowest esti mate produce a windfall for the state and local treasuries that would practl cally wipe out at one stroke the whole accumulated debt piled up by shortage of revenues In the past Rut there Is uo prospect of any such turn. "Flannel Mouth" Dunn never misses an opportunity to air a grievance, whether It be real or imaginary.. His latest outbreak Is occasioned by a con- fuslou in the headlines rushed Into the afternoon edition of The Beo announcing Judge Estelle's decision in the Diamond mandamus cuse. The monumental mountebank Is trying to pose as a re former while In fact he is hired nnd paid to carry on his warfare In the courts and before the police commission in the Interest of a dealer In whisky and beer who Is at war with local rivals. Idaho's supreme court has knocked out the state depository law on the pretense that it is unconstitutional Most people think it Is more unconsti tutional for treasurers to farm out pub lic funds for their own private gain. It may take nn experience like Ne braska's with treasury embezzlers, to bring Idaho to realize the dangers of unprotected treasury manipulations and then it will have a depository law and euforce It even If it has to chuuge the supreme court or change the constitu tion or chuuge both to get it. , The Congressional Grab-Baa;. Philadelphia Ledger. Fifty women's wrist bags, In price from .45 to $30.60 each; . handkerchief cases. from $3.10 to $5.65; chatelaine bags, costing from $4 to $12; card cases, costing from 25 cents to $11.90; Vienna glove cases, mani cure sets, domino sets and books. That is curious list, and seems remarkable when we are Informed by tlie secretary of the United States senate ' that thoy were pur chased out of the contingent fund for the use and behoof of that august and stern body, the United States senate. That !s not all, but it Is emAigh to show the ca tholic taste of the senators. Another Item a hundred dinner cards is wholly Inex plicable. Of pocket -knives. the senators used during the session of last year sixty nine dozen, or 828. Another mystifying item is the 'number of cases for holding railroad passes. Congressional free seed. fat allowances in mileage and the sena torial grab-bag the greatest and most wonderful la the grab-bag. But congress men are only human. WILL THE PRODIGALS RKTlRXf Jacksonlan Bid for tho Backsliders Excites Comment. New York World. The action of the Jacksonlan club of Ne braska in reinstating members who were expelled ' In 1S96 for refusing to support Kryan on the free-silver platform la an In dication of returning political sense. The need of a united, vigilant and vigor ous opposition party has never been greater since the close of the war than It la today. The high-handed, rash and disturbing pol Icy of President Roosevelt and the failure of a republican congress to recognize the obvious needs of the country create an op portunity and Impose a duty which the democrats should prepare to meet. As the democratic party lacked W).V0 votes and 95 electors of winning In 1896, and was short 850,000 votes end 137 electors in 1900, It Is plain that It can win next year only by recalling the voters who gave it a popular plurality of 383,000 and an electoral plurality of 133 In 1802, and attracting the independent, thinking, conservative citizens who usually decide presidential electloni To proscribe democrats who refused to become fusionlsts or populists In 1K)6 Is a good way to keep the party small. To bury and. forget past differences and unite upon "the cardinal principles of democracy," ai the Nebraska Jacksonlan club has done In the temporary absence of one of Its shining lights In Europe Is to take the necessary first step toward a restoration of the party. cask of F.vvrort SMOOT. -Sot Kmmy to Discover on What Gronnds He Can Be Excluded." New Tork Independent. Our total sympathies are with the op ponents of Mr. Smoot's admission to the senate of the United Slates, and yet It is not now easy to discover on what grounds he can be excluded. It Is acknowledged that he is not a polyg amic. If he were that would be ground enough. A polygamlst is not fit company for American senators. Another possible ground Is that he Is an active officer In an ecclesiastical organisa tion which supports polygamy and that he bellevea In It. Mis belief, so long as he does not practice It, Is not criminal, just as we say that a man must not be punlshe 1 for simply believing in annrchy. If It can be proved that he perform the ceremony on the plural marriage of others that will be a serious chnrge and ought to excluda him from the senate, but we suppose It cannot be proved. All that can be proved, we suppose, Is that a considerable number of Mormon apostles and others are living in polygamy and that they have entered Into that relation since polygamy was pro fessedly given up and since Utah was ac cordingly admitted as a state. We suppose there are scores and scores of such case's and that they are not prosecuted In the state. courts. If It can be proved that Mr. Smoot is actively responsible for these of fenses, that he as an officer of the Mormon church has promoted and not opposed this condition of things and has screened those violators of law, then he is not u fit man for senator, but we have seen no evidence of It beyond the fact that he Is an apostlr.. Ho himself does not enter Into plural mar riage, and who knows that he is guilty of Its support? The only other charge that we know of that can be brought against him is that he has taken a vow of loyalty to the Mormon church that Is superior to his oath of loy alty to -his country. That la no offense at all and ought to be no bar. We observe that a gentleman who bears the title of "Judge" writes from Salt Lake City to one of our religious Journals: "Suppose a cardinal of the Ioman Cath olic church should announce himself u candidate for senator of the United States, what would hnppen then? Would all who opposed him be put down as the enemle? of his church? Of course ho would be un frocked at once and lose nil power rts an officer of the church; but It would not stop there. The American people would not have a cardinal of the church of Home a senator for very many and most obvloua reasons, the chlefest of which would be that by the obligations he had taken his tlrst allegiance was to Rome." The Judge la greatly mistaken. Cardinal Gibbons is Just as much eligible to the United States senate as Is the Judge him- self. If he Is not eligible neither is Arch bishop Farley, or Bishop McQuald, or any Catholic priest, or any layman thut now sits In the senate. They ire all ecclesiasti cally subject to Home and politically sub ject to the United States. Cardinal Gib bons does not believe that his allegiance to the pope can contravene his allegiance to his country. The souring lark does not pierce the breast of the level-flying dove. They move In different planes. It is bet ter to obey God than man, but loyalty to God and loyalty to the state will not clash; if they do then we will all of us repeat with John Qulncy Adams his reply - to George Lunt's "My Country, Right or Wrong:" If then thy country trample on the right, Furl up her banner and avert thy alght." As to the Mormon church or state it Is not enough to talk of the old Danltes, or the ancient war against the United States government, any more than to talk of the treason of the seceding states. That Is all condoned and pardoned, whether In South Carolina or Utah. 1 If.lt could be jroved that the oath of allegiance of the Mormon apostle to his church makes him a citizen of a foreign oatlon, which Is impossible, or if it can be proved that this oath or al legiance Is of a peculiar sort which Is In consistent with allegiance to one's country, then it will be possible and right to deny Mr. Smoot admission to the senate. But this he would deny as Indignantly as a, Catholic or a Covenanter denies that al legtance to his church Is Inconsistent with full loyalty to his country; and therefore we do not see, without further light, how Mr. Smoot can be excluded. And this we say fully sympathizing with "the sentiment of the women and ministers who oppose his admission. We agree with them that polygamy still exists In Utah ana that new plural marriages are still oc cnslonally entered Into, and that the Utah courts are guilty, and wilfully guilty, of a great wrong In protecting this evil. We agree with them that the Mormon church is a vicious and tyrannical organization, which Is colluslvely guilty of tho polyg amy which exists, and that It maintains a dangerous control over Its weak and obedi ent followers. But we do not expect to do any real hurt to that church by shutting out of the senate the man whom It has nominated and elected through Its influ ence over the legal voters of Utah. BITS OF WASIII3GTOX LIFE. Minor Scenes nnd Incidents Sketched on the Spot. "Washington's dsliy parade of person ages Is most fascinating," relates Walter Wellman In Success. "Of a sunny winter afternoon stroll oift fashionable Connecti cut avenue, the broad thoroughfare which leads from the White House to Dupont Circle, post many of the embassies, lega tions and notable private houses. Here our democratic court may be seen at Its best and brightest, out for an airing, un ostentatious, genial and affable. Ton hear a clatter of horses' feet on the asphalt, and you see the president ,atrtde his big charger, returning right nnd left the sa lutes of the throng passing In carriages or automobiles, or afoot. By his side la Mrs. Ro,sevelt, sitting her saddle with rare ease and grace, and presenting a most charming figure In her black habit. There Is no escort of cnvnlry or other guard, as when royalty rides; only an orderly, grim and grizzled from his service on the plulns, riding far behind. The president leans from his saddle to chat with a grctip of three who are swinging along toward the country for a rnmhle across fields. As the president walks his big horse tip the avo-nue-there will be plenty of galloping when the country roads nre reached, and both the president and Mr. Roosevelt will come back In a couple of hours bespattered with mud ho lifts his campaign hat to tho gay Countess Casslnl, riding In a barouche be side her father, the ambassador of tho czar of Russia; to a handsome woman who drives her automobile fully as fnst ail tho law permits the Baroness Hengelmueller von Hengervar, of the Austria-Hungarian embassy; to tho distingue Misses Nancy It. C. and Marguerite Lelter, whose beau tiful sister was the heroine, of the Durbar; to Admiral and Mrs. George Dewey; to Mr. and Mrs. George Weatlnghouae, who live Just across Dupont Circle from the I.elters, In the house which James G. BhUne built; to Thomas Nelson Page, the author, ahorse, ss becomes a true Vir ginian; to Mrs. Scott Townsend. leader of era, sometimes tight and sometimes loose; but Uncle Sam needs them Just the same to keep up his" Right here the voice of the Hon. Henry Richard Gibson struck a lilnh treble note, flared and stopped short. His vocal eoros failed to vibrato arfd produce sound. The house held Its breath while Repre sentative Henry Richard GIHson took a lor.g one to clear his throat. The suspense, which seemed to last for fully a minute, was more painful to auditors than to or ator, for everyone was wondering, whether the Hon. Henry Richard Gibson would say "trousers" or "pAnts," and some even thought that he might say "pantaloons." Inasmuch as he comes from a remote mountain region. Even "overalls' would be better than "pants," which is most un parliamentary. But all fears were without foundation, for the Hon. Henry Richard Gibson would be gulify r-f no In-tn t rlety. Finally, when he had e!ssr"-l 1 1 . thront and recov ered his voice, i - vi"d, "his running expenses" The words which followed for the next half minute were forovor lost In the shouts of laughter coming from raemlers had never before heard Uncle Barn's trcu Bers referred to aa running expenses. Everyone Is familiar with the fact of a statuary hall In the national capltol, where figures of our great men are placed on ex hibition. A correspondent tells of a little man who comes tcgularly to the kail and salutes all of the statues In turn wlUi a ants as the "Little Statue Man,", and oth plensant word. He Is known to the attend erwlse he Is a harmless mystery. He comes Into the hall, halts In front of, suy the statue of Fulton, ( and says: "Good morn ing, Robert; still at work on your steam boat, I see." Then ho goes the rounds, addressing a pleasant word to all of the marble effigies as though greeting some old acquaintances. Ollle M. James, who represents the First Kentucky district in tho home,. Is tho whopper of that body. He Is about as tall as Congressman "Cy" Sulloway of New the smart set, whose chateau on Massa- 1 ,,ut ne carries much more weight than tho chusetts avenue Is like a royal palace, and j New Englander. James Is easily the heav- list man In either branch of congress. None of the new members Is more pleased with Washington life than Ollle. He lias a powerful voice, is only 82 years- old. Is ranked as a good country, lawyer-and. Is, the happy bridegroom of a fortnight. H'U only committee assignment la election)-'. to many more whose names are famous In the world of diplomacy, government, litera ture, Invention, science and society. PKRSOXAL NOTES. Senator Hoar and Mr. Bcott. the editor of the Portland Oregonlan, turned their backs on each other In the Benate clovator the other day. The veteran editor from Oregon was the guest of Senator Mitchell, from that state, and they met the sage of Massachusetts In tho elevator. "Senator Hoar, let me present my friend, Mr. Scott, editor of the Portland Orego nlan." said Senator Mitchell. "1 must decline to shake hands with Mr. Scott, V replied Senator Hoar. "Ho Insulted my dear friend. Senator Morrl'l, some years ago by saying he remained In the senate long after he was dead and refused to be burled to save funeral expennes." Senator Mitchell and Mr. Scott were taken aback by the outburst of Senator Hoar, but Scott denied that he had ever said It. "You are the editor of the Oregonlan and that paper said It," retorted Hoar. "You are responsible for W-hat anneara In the paper, are you not? I decline to Lhu-ke hands with you, air." Mr. Scott was now as angry as Benator Hoar, and, while there was little room In the crowded elevator for him to turn his bulky figure, he did so and retorted: "I am responsible, and I turn my back on you, slr." When the elevator reached the senate landing Senator Hoar made his exit. 3ecause his silk hat touches the eaves of the legation when he stands on Its steps, Horace N. Allen, United States minister to Corea. wants a new building erected. ..He has written the State department about IU Minister Allen thinks it Is hard enough being this government's representative at Seoul without having to live in a tumble down legation. I am six feet two inches tall without my hat." proudly boasts Minister Allen. "My office is 12x8, with a ceiling 6 feet 6 Inches high. ' "The kitchen, unfortunately, Is at the front of the house," complains Mr. Allen, "and this is disagreeable. The four bed rooms are satisfactory except that they are right down on the ground and are most unhealthful In the summer rainy season Having barely escaped with my life after a three months' run with malarial fever 1 have been compelled to build myself a sum mer home in the country. I do not stay at the legation at night or during the sum mer months." In justification for his absence from the legation at night Minister Allen says: "I may add that two ministers, after suf fering greatly from malaria while residing in. this house, have died in America from what physicians pronounced to be the ef fects of malaria contracted In Corea, and also an official of the State department who spent ten days In this house lost sum mer Is now In a critical condition In Wash ington from malarial fever, which his phy sician says he contracted In Corea. Our legation Is a disgrace to the United States." WAIFS OF THE" WITS. Jsscles What are the grounds for di vorce? Waggles His better half rlslms slae didn't know how her other half lives. Judge. Ethel Will told me last night he was afraid his mind was going. Mabel Weren't you seared? Ethel Yes, I was afraid he wouldn't go with It. Cincinnati Commer cial Tribune. Bloblis You seem very attentive to Miss Oldglrl. Why don't you marry her? Slobbs I hate the Idea of throwing her chaperon out of a steady Job, Philadel phia Record. "I didn't think the minister would actu ally kiss the bride." "Why not? He was well paid for It." Detroit Free Press. - The doctor looked solemn. : "You must keep quiet," he said, "talk as little as possible, and under no circum stances speak above a whisper." "In that case," she replied thoughtfully, -"you must keep my husband away from me." Chicago Post. Mrs. Noobrlde The surest proof that a man loves his wife Is when he buys her everything she wants. Mrs. Elder Not at alt. The surest proof is when ho buys here everything she wants and doesn't growl about It. Phila delphia Press. "That Mr. Galley must be very poor." -n "Why?" "I asked him how he made his money and he suld he earned it." New Yorker. "Father." said the little boy, "what Is a grafter?' ' "A grafter, my son. Is a man who goes after other people's money on a compara tively small rrale and gets caught at It." Washington Star. "You think a grat deal of your husband, don't you?" said the vMtlng relative. "You have the wrong proposition," an swered Mr. Meekton's wife, with the cold tones of the superior voman: "I think for him." Washington Stsr. "I thought," he said, "that I knew how to make love." "And don't vou?" "Well. It didn't seem to work rlirht when I told Rone she was the only girl I had ever loved." , "What did she say?" "She said she'd, never marry a liar." Chicago Post. "Novr Let the Battle Begin.- Chicago News. While we might not be able to thrash Colombia single-handed, it must be remem bered that we are to receive help from Panama. Boom for More. Minneapolis Journal. The United States now has 210,000 miles of railway. And yet there are some parts of the country that are hundreds of miles from a railway. SOl'THERX CHAMPION FOR WEBSTER Contributor to NaahTllIe Paper Invites Attention to Kebraskan. Nashville American. To the Editor of the American: The re. publicans of Nebraska have brought out Hon. John L. Webster of Omaha as a can didate for vice president. There Is much bbout the "boom" of this emlnept Jurist that looks like It . has .' staging qualities." Mr. Webster is a native of Ohio, born In 1847. His genius as a journalist, hia broad grasp of great public questions and bis purity of character have already attracted wide attention und given him national re pute. Hitherto he has been chiefly content with a private station, although widely known for his great and profound interest In public affairs. His position In that far west, which has come to be a thing to be reckoned' with by the grudging east, gives him a formidable starting point. Perhaps the strongest card his devoted 111. The Pot Should Kern St Pittsburg Despatch. Still. It is not in particularly good taste for Englund to develop such conscientious scruples about what we may have done In Panama, considering what she did In South Africa. One Republle Sut I ngratef al. Nr- York Tribune. Not every republic Is' ungrateful .when the pension bill of the Stars and Stripes carries an appropriation of more than $13.010,(10 nearly thirty-nine years after the surrender of Appomattox. Chancellor Andrews is altogether too gentle lu handling the narrow minded A Waste ot Mrratji. Chicago Tribune. Whtn a man has nothing to talk about which interests hi in more than the shadowy poslbl!itli of the dUtaiit future he may discuss with propriety the passing away cf the wajje system. It Is not a living ques tion. It la one which to of merely specula- Rockefeller has given Chicago university couple of millions more. While the lamp holds out to burn, the vilest sinner don't care a d rn. Senators have a terrible time wrestling with Spanish words. They put the accents on the wrong syllables or give erroneous sounds to the vowels. A learned member of the Kansas City council known as Huckle Berry, vehe mently denounced a recent action of the mayor as a "coat of tar." Another learned Mlssourtan says he meant "coup d'etat.'" The story comes from Parsons, Kan., of a man who was overcome ny Knockout drops placed in whisky. It Is a wanton attack on the reputation of Kansas whisky. A professional pugilist doesn't need as sistance to floor an amateur. Of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest comes from the crew of the cruiser Cincinnati, now in Chinese waters. For the love of humanity and for our sake," they write In unison, "we beg, of you to tell us how old ts Ann?" Captain Hohson. who believes the great object of every man. woman and child should be to turn to and urge the T'nl'fd States to build warships, says he doesn't answer criticism, but lust saws wood. Trob- ably he doesn't cut much, though the wheels seem to buzz. Senator Hoar In his remarkable speech last week dealt frequently with the word Panama." which he Invariably spoke as though It rhymed with "pajama." Senator Henry Richard Gibson comes to congress from one of the mountain districts of Ten nessee, where they make moonshine whisky and vote the republican ticket with such persistence as continually to keep the In ternal revenua officers busy and the dem ocrats out of office. Ho la short of stature. He bos a weak, squeaky little voice which sometimes gets clogged In the midst of what might be an eloquent peroration or a flight of oratory calculated to bring forth the appluuse of his auditors. Glbcon was addressing hlmbtlt to the ldlosyncracles of the democrats In general and their-position upon the tariff question In particular, when he exclaimed: "Why, tariffs are like a pair of suspend- IX THE GOOD OLD SIMMER TIME. Riooklyn Life. I sat nnd watched her ns she packed. And suld (aside) that If she lacked A single thing a girl row Id want To carry on a summer jaunt, I'd rather not have my poof wit Taxed with the task of burning It. A case of pencils, sketching block And paper Oh, a splendid stock! A cunning stool her ndjectlvc A white umbrella ns I live, When this nice Item met my view, I wished that I were going, too! These sundries got a special tray, ' And with such care were tucked away, It seemed she meant to give to Art Much of her time the better part, If not quite all. And later she , Confided this was so to me. Iter letters, for ft little while. Cnme frequently, and when the pile More slowly grew they painted still In glowing tints the shore or hill. And what more natural? I thought She'd come home sadly overwrought. Instead, a flat portfolio Was all that greeted me. for though Two strong, brown hands held o'er the maid . , t Her white umbrella, In Its shade The only sketches finished were Of rosy custlts lu the air. frtnrln ran nlnv In Iha rernflrniKed fact thnt If he should be called to the foremost place Daniel, the eloquent Virginian, had occa the country would have a helmsman equal 'on to speak often or the treaty or isew Granada, which he pronounced as tnougn It rhymed with Canada With the Incumbency of Governor Taft Yale has governed at Manila; with that of Governor Hunt. In Porto Rico; with that cf Governor Carter, In Hawaii, and with that of Governor Brady, in Alaska. Governors Taft. Hunt. Carter and Brady are all Yale alumni. Altogether It makes a page in hlttory which Yale can point to with pride. "Down in my country," said Representa tive Swaneon of Virginia, "Just before we market our cattle we take them from the clover patch and put them on short gracs to get their flesh hard and Arm. Every to any ot our line of presidents. The con servative elements, who dusire prudence and care In the executive station, would hall his nomination aa.a surety of future wisdom In administration should ho be called to the first place. The repubilcuns of this state will do well to study this eminent gentleman when they are locking around for a candidate for the second place. In this day, when the fiercer sectional politics have cooled down, the members of each of the great parties, who are pa tr otic. wish for the best of tht-lr opponents in the selection of candidates for high place. Waltham Watches The name is a guarantee. 'The Perfected American Witch," an Illustrated book of interesting information about matches, tvill be sent free upon request. American Waltham Watch Company, Waltham.. Mass, We would be glad to see such a man aa farmer knows that If he leaves his cattle Jut. a L Webster upon the republican ticket, or. ahort grass too long they get In tad s that, should we fail to secure a demo- condition. The trouble with the democratic crat, we will have the beat the oppoaitloa party is that we have been on short grass can do. H. M. DOAK. too many years. What we need Is a chance Cedarwood, Tenn., Dec. 22, VKi. 1 at the clever patch.' Quality and Style First Price Afterwards In aU the fins leathers the Ingenuity of tho tanner can produce. Ths Ue catur Shoe for men has ths distinction of being one shoo in Omaha direct from Maker to Wearer. $3.50 and $5 Farnam $5 and $3.50 r