The
- Platfsmouth - Journal
Published Seml-Weeklj 11 mminouin, Mrnit w )
R. A. BATES, Publisher.
Entered at the Postoflke at PlatUmouth, Nebraska, as second-class
matter.
$1.50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
the Hon. Lafayette Young.
Senator Loiimer shares Secretary
Ilalllnger's reluctance to "resign un
der fire," but It's different with Lorl
mer he Is UkeTy to ho fired out If he
doesn't.
We hope the good roads propor
tion will result In something more
than wind, and that a good road law
will be enacted, no matter who the
author may he.
:o:
Mr. Hoot la among those who op
poso the flection of United State
Henators by direct vole. Ho believes
the senate should continue, as In the
past, the most exclusive club In the
world.
:o:
Why not dlaciiKS the water fran
chise question at the next meeting of
the commercial club. The time to
act Is drawing near. What Is host
to do regarding the matter Is what
the club should discuss.
:o:
Champ Clark declares the world Is
growing better rapidly. It Is easy for
a winner to be cheerful. A lot of
republican congressmen are equally
certain thnt the world Is rushing to
the bow-wows pell tnell.
:o:
As for Senator Loiimer's expressed
desire to save his friends from any
"embarrassment" on his account, It
may be said that certain of his
friends, having no shame, are proof
against the emotion mentioned
' io1
It would be better for some mem
bers of the legislature not to vote at
all, If they have not sufficient Judg
ment to vote the sentiment of their
constituents on all questions before
the legislature.
r? '0
, A Washington preacher announces
that the mllonnlum will come In
U91&. Others hopo that It will be
"possible to get rid of Balllnger and
Lorlmer before that time.
' The verdict In the Raaco case
(shows that Nodaway county, MIs
nourl, 1b an old-fashioned community
where the people bellve that a man
who murdered an entire family with
out provocation ought to pay the
death penalty.
:o:
The "Pack to Iowa" movement re- voted against the removal of the cap
cently Inaugurated In that state 1 ital from Lincoln, and a thousand of
likely to be enforced In the case of the voters of Buffalo county have
petitioned him to resign. A man
should represent his people on aln
such matters, or quit.
:o:
The men like Senator Root, who
are opposing the popular election of
United States Benators miss the point.
The average man doesn't care two
straws for any theories of govern
ment Involved, What he doe3 care
about Is that the senate as at present
constituted has failed to be respon
sive to public opinion. It has repre
sented the Interests that were domi
nant In the legislatures rather than
the common welfare. The move to
elect senators by direct vote Is an
attempt to bring the upper house Into
Iluo with popular Ideals -not to work
out any particular governmental
theory Kansas City Star.
:o:
The defeat of the reactionary sena
torial candidate, Smith, and the elec
tion of the progressive, Martlne, was
the first Important victory of Gov
ernor Woodrow Wilson In New Jer
sey. Now the governor Is at work on
a sweeping program of election re
form. iMeasures extending the di
rect primary system to the nomina
tion of candidates for governor and
congressmen already have passed the
state senate, while other measures
providing for the Oregon iplan for
the election of senators and for a
preference vote on presidential can-
dldates have been Introduced in the
house at the governor's request.
: :o:
Lincoln has been nearly two years
without saloons, and Just as much
whlBkey and beer has been sold, and
It has been an endless task to keep
out the "dead-falls." They now pro-
poso to-limit the number of saloons
to fifteen and raise the license to
$2,000 a year. As long as liquors
are manufactured it will be sold,
no matter how strict the law, and It
Is always best to legalize the sale
where strict laws are in force and
officers are elected who will maintain
those laws. Lincoln Is too large a
town to keep out dives, and the peo
plo will show good Judgment In re
turning to the license system.
:o:
WIIUHK W1IKAT TRICK IS MA DM.
A day's record In wheat prices,
February 7, Wlnnepeg, No. 1 north
ern, 90c; Minneapolis, fl.01Wl.03;
Liverpool, red western, $ 1.76. Wheat
movement: World's shipments:
America, 2,192,000 bushels; Russia,
rice of domestic wheat if that futile
and empty protective tax of 25 cents
a bushel on Canadian wheat be taken
mllrely off Sioux City Tribune.
:o:
i:i:ji;ctix coixrv oitiox.
Nebraska Is not the only progres
sive B'.ate that Is rejecting county
option.
In Wisconsin it was beaten in the
primaries by an overwhelming vote.
In Oregon it was repealed by the
people, In the election last Novem
ber, and in Indiana it has Just been
repealed by the legislature in pursu
ance with the recommendation of
Governor Marshall and the specific
pledge of the democratic state plat
form.
In Minnesota, last Tuesday, county
option was defeated in the lower
house of the legislature by a vote of
CD to 50. The Pioneer-Press, com
mentlng on the result says:
"It was apparent when the roll was
called yesterday, that practically
every man voted Just a he expected
to vote when he came to St. Paul
County option was an important Issue
In the fall campaign. Nearly oven
proof would hurt
farmer. The steel trust loves the
American farmer almost as devotedly
as It does the widows and orphans.
We are glad to see our people are
agitating the water plant question.
This is a matter that has been a pest
to many towns the size of Platts
mouth, and we have plenty of time to
make up our mind3 as to what is best
to do.
:o:
Only about twelve more days re
main for the introduction of bills In
the legislature. The people will hall
the closing hour for this purpose with
great delight. Too many bills have
been Introduced already, such as they
are.
:o:
The man who sold sugar trust
secrets to a magazine nas been sent
to prison. The law seems to have
had better luck in this case than it
has bad in its efforts to send some of
the guilty officials of the sugar trust
to prison.
:o:
the American ' ment will reduce the farmer's lumber
bill more in a year than he would
ever gtt in decade on his wheat by
reason of a tariff. The best feature
of the reciprocity idea as the presi
dent has advanced it la that when
ever we find we are getting the worst
of it, if that ever comes, it is not
necessary to break a treaty with Can
ada, but simply repeal the statute
Lincoln News.
:o: r
TUT AM) RKC1PROC1TY.
PreVdt-nt Taft is zeabjs" en
deavoring to procure the ratilicctli n
by (oiijiess of the Canaaii!;i traJe
eg' foment. No other measure since
L s administration began has re
celved so much direct and insistent
attention. In this effort the Presl
dent evinces a full consciousness of
the country's dissatisfaction over the
new tariff law, but his purpose to
procure reciprocity Is on a still
broader basis that of consistent and
beneficial relations with Canada.
Opposition to this agreement
conies almost wholly from the old
line protectionists, men who
of some thought on the part of mem
bers of all political factions of our
beloved but somewhat confused com
monwealth, to-wit, those who favor
capital removal and the Initiative
and referendum, those who oppose
both, those who favor the initiative
and referendum, but oppose the sub
mission of capital removal, and
those who demand the submission of
capital removal but oppose the initia
tive and referendum. And if all this
makes your head ache, gentle reader,
it is merely because you have not
kept up with the rapid evolutions and
convolutions of recent Nebraska
politics World-Herald.
:o:
Thnt legislative Investigation com
mittee sent to Omaha at the instance
of the governor, it would Beem, have 2,406,000; Danube, 712,000; India,
80 far disclosed nothing that would 716,000; Argentina, 2,008,000; Aus-
rxclte the unusual activity of the I trails, 2,376,000; Chile, 180,000.
Another capital removal bill will
legislator was on record as to what come to the front again this week.
I
he would do. The arguments and At least that seems to be the pro-
oratory of yesterday did not change a gram, and It thought tho new bill will
single vote, nor is it likely that there pas3 the house with a whoop. The
would have been any change had the people can place tne capital where
subject been discussed till the last they want to or leave It where it is
day of the session." Under the new bill any town can get
la Ohio the bill repealing the cotin- In the race,
ty option law of that state has passed :o:
the senate by a vote of 22 to 12. Sen- Some of the Plattsmouth ladies say
ator Dean, author of the repealing they don't care how soon the Hatfield
bill, said In the course of the debate anti-hat-pln bill passes and becomes
upon It: a law, so that It Is as fair for one as
"The Rose law In practical opera- It is for another, and all alike are
tlon has been found not to be practl- compelled to throw aside the long
cal. It fastens upon communities daggers. All they want Is to be In
conditions they do not like and will style, and they can do that Just as
not tolerate. There are evils con- well with a short pin as a long one.
nectcd with the liquor traffic. If the :o:
Rose law curbed those evils I would The county optlonists are gradu-
not be standing here now urging the ally getting their eyes open to the
passage of this amendment, but it fact that the Anti-Saloon League
doe3 not, and every member of this made a great mistake In bringing
senate Js aware of this. The legalized Toulson to Nebraska. He Is eter-
saloon has been supplanted with the nally getting his foot In It, and a
blind tiger' and the 'den,' more In blunderer from start to finish. The
number and much more vicious in county optlonists have lost a third
character." - -, 'of their strength since the election
Senator Andrews, a republican last fall on account of Poulson and
member from Ironton, a city that has his dictatorial manner of trying to
been voted "dry" by the county do things.
against Its will under the county :o:
option law, and hlmBelf a temperance Some sheriffs over the state are
man who had been supported by the favoring the repeal of the anti-pass
Anti-Saloon League for election, an- law insofar that they may be allowed
cording to the newspaper reports, to accept these favors from the rail-
"made an Impassioned speech and roads. They claim that It will bet-
declared he had seen more drunken ter enable them to run down crlml-
boys In Ironton, since it was voted nals. We don't see Just how that
'dry,' because of the ease with which would help them any. We have not
liquor was socured and the law dls- heard of any county refusing to pay
obeyed, than when tne saloons were the expenses of a sheriff who Is en
regulated." gaged in the legitimate and bona fide
It Is not because they are all In. the pursuit of criminals. And under the
toils of "the brewers" that these tld pass system we never heard of
states which have had county option any sheriff deducting anything from
are repealing It while other states fcls expense bill to the county because
as progressive aa Wisconsin and Ne- re carried a pass and was compelled
braska aro rejecting it untried. It li to pay no railroad fare. Whenever
rather because experience has dem- Lny of their bills were turned In
onstrated that the system does not they always Included their little old
work as Its friends say it will, and r.lleage charge of 10 cents per mile,
ns most of them honestly believe it if there is to be any Juggling and
will. Instead, by forcing prohibition rnmnrnmlnlnir nn th nnan niioaMnn
THE PKOPLE BETRAYED.
There Is no denying that large
masses of the people are beginning to
distrust representative government
and that the demand for direct legis
lation will grow. This condition of
affairs has been brought about by the
repudiation of platforms by repre
sentatives after they have secured
their election by advocating the prin-
have clple9 contained In the platforms.
fooled the farmers for many years, There is no doubt that Taft secured
and from some of the fooled farmers, his election as well as many members
The rank and file of voters In the of the house and senate upon a plat-
agricultural sections have seen long form that the people understood to
since that the tariff, in all Its years mean, and which these men declared
of operation, has been only a cost in did mean, a reduction in the tariff,
making more expensive things they and that platform and those prom
have had to buy and affecting in no ises were afterward repudiated and
way things they have' had to sell, the tariff raised instead of lowered.
Duties on products that are exported That gave a tremendous impulse to
in large volume to the world's mar- the demand for direct legislation,
kets, which fix the prices, cannot en- The state senate of Kansas has
hance the domestic prices of such added still more force to the demand.
products. The platform of both parties in that
The strongest point in the opposi- state contained planks demanding a
tlon to the Canadian agreement law for the recall of state officers.
comes from men who are afraid to The senate killed such a bill by a
let the farmers see that the tariff has vote of 23 to 15. That is as serious
meant nothing to them that it has as representative government
been for the benefit of the manufac- has yet received. If parties can ap
turers almost wholly Kansas City Pe&l to the people on a well defined
Star.
-:o:-
A CASE IX POINT.
In the troubles or Representative
Rassett, of Buffalo county, is present
ed a case exactly In point as bearing
on the initiative, referendum and re
call. The people of Buffalo county,
it Is said, by an overwhelming major
ity are in favor of submitting capital
removal to popular vote. They peti
tioned Mr. Bassett as their represent
ative in the legislature, to support
the bill, and he refused to do so,
holding that It was unfair. They
j now demand that he resign from his
office, on the ground that he has not
set of principles, and the men elected
aa representatives are at liberty to
defy those principles, there would be
little use In holding elections at all.
A general adoption of such a practice
would entirely destroy government
by the people., . , ,
The Nebraska legislature will nev
er disgrace itself in that way. All
parties promised an Initiative and
referendum, and that of course Im
plied a practical, working law, and
that kfnd of a law Nebraska will have
a chance to adopt at the polls
World-Herald.
:o:
UPOn a tOWn against ItS Will it makes It unnlil Iia tiisf na tn ronnnl tho
police. Smart Alcxs always get their Market note: "IJverpool opened Ud f -.n , . ,i.
1 ' for defiance and violation of the law. whnlA mpnsurn. Rmrespntnt v
higher, Influenced by light offering for laxness and disorder. The county Meyer, of Nichols county, has Intro
and the light shipment from Russia." vn(,ia n ,,,. ,, t. ...... . ,., ... ... 1V1
leaves It to that "wet" town to en-Linn to the sheriff,.. If h WIL.
force tho law to which it Is opposed, ture expresses the will of the people
Louis Meisinger came In from the
farm this mornine and visited fripnrta
represented his district, but has mis- ln the conn(y Beat for a few hours
represented it. and also transacted some business
Nobody, we presume, will question which demanded his presence.
the Integrity, ability and patriotism
of Mr. Bassett. He Is one of Ne
braska's most substantial and valu
able citizens. HU character is above
reproach. He ihas no doubt voted, in
this matter, according to his con
science and best Judgment which
have led him, it would seem, to op
pose the wishes of the people who
An
eye-teeth cut sooner" or later.
:o:
Is It best for the city to own the
water plant, or renew the franchise aml Minneapolis was 11 to 13 cents.
to tho present owners? This Is a What the freight rate on wheat Is bo-
matter we should bo thinking about, tweon the two points we do not know.
and then give tho people an oppor- Tll distance Is about GOO miles. The
tnnity to vote "yes" or "no" on the Prlco difference must be nearly the
proposition. freight rate. The rate is 12 cents
-:o: from Omaha to Chicago, CIO miles.
:o!-
"Whcn men quarrel over whether Uut whatever caused the difference tried it World-Herald
there should be permitted twenty-five 18 ,ninatorlal. The figures of world
saloons or only fifteen, It Indicate I movements of wheat tell the story
two things. One Is that strong dls- There Is shown the great current of
satisfaction, with the no-license policy rplus wheat moving from the
exists ln potential quarters. The other countr'os of surplus production to
Is that they are bilious, and are look- tn0Be ot Insufficient production, mov
ing for a fight upon small pretext ln trom America, which Includes
Lincoln Star.
:o
The natural result folowls. Unregu- It will pass this bill by with the ox
lated liquor selling replaces regulated preslve endorsement of "Indefinitely
liquor selling, and both town and postponed.'
county suffer. That Is why states
that havo voted for county option
vote to get rid of It after they have
Moines's
commissioned him to go to Lincoln Clearance Sale is a good place
as their representative. Ought ho to to buy, provided 'OU knOW
nave none so: Ann it so, snoum ne , .
now resign when his constituents de- thC B0od? J'0" "re b ,n 0f
mand it? If he will not resign, know the honesty of the
should they have the power sum- dealer. When you know both
marny to recau mm that is, dls- , , . , ,
charge him from office before his '0U arC absolutely safe.
term has expired? Peo pie around here who
Another interesting field for specu- have patronized our "clean
lation is opened up In the argument up' sale W;U tdl tfaat
that the bill the people of Buffalo .. . L ' ,
uui a aic uuDtsi clearance
sales. They know.
-:o:
The republican members of the Ne
braska house who sternly refused to
permit the government to remove one
brick from the tariff wall because the
isexi comes feoruary zz the an- portion to be denuded was that which
niversaryof the "Father of Our U,! farm nrnrtnrts. will doubt
less feel themselves out of tune with
: O : I l X. . nntlnnal thMlfrkf tt-hfir ihAV TtxnA
I Country."
rerhaps, when Champ Clark says I of how the standpatters and lnsur
Canada and tho United States, to the the world ,a growlnR bptter. h means gents alike are Joining in trying to
center of demand at Liverpool, where g g den,ocratlc- give the president the support of both
Another capital removal bill wlllh" Price was 14 d higher "influenced :o: houses of congress. The argument
be Introduced In a few days, but en-1!Kht offerings and the light ship- A deadlock still continues ln the that the first concessions should come
tlrelT different from the one defeated. mvnt fron Kussla." struggle to elect a United States sen
No section of the slate will be ex- An(1 the price of wheat In Wlnne- ator boUi In No York and Iowa.
eluded, and any town In the state n In Minneapolis for wheat, ::
can get the capital If It can secure whether for domestic consumption or Th raltt Tuesday Is Just what w
votes enough. for Port, was determined by the hv loi5 needed ln this section, and
:o; cot of getting tho surplus product to the farmers are feeling very Jubilant
Representative Bassett, of Rear- that Point. In consequence.
ney, has certainly laced blmsolf be- "ow surd, how childish, then, Is :o:
tween the devil and the deep 8oa. He 1 1,1,8 Prttle about the decrease ln I Th teel trust fears Canadian recl-
on the manufacturing schedules has
its merits, but as long as there must
be concession ln order to make a start
It can just as well be made by those
who have never received any partlc
ular. benefit from the tariff the
farmers, whose products are priced
for him by a foreign market. As a
matter of fact the reciprocity agree-
county desire to vote on is an unfair
one. Who should have the rleht to
pronounce Judgment as to this the
people, or their representative? Sud
pose the people should initiate a sim
ilarly unfair bill under direct leglsla
tlon. Who then could prevent their
considering it in an election, and say
ing, by their votes, whether or not it
was really unfair? Shall the pro
posed constitutional amendment pro
viding for the Initiative and referen
dum be so changed as to declare that
only "fair" bills may be Initiated and
voted on, by the people, and that to
the legislature is reserved the right
of censorship ln this particular?
The World-Herald wishes It dis
tinctly understood that it propounds
these queries only academically, and
without the slightest prejudice pro
or con, on the capital removal mix
up. The case ln hand Is bo clean
cut, and Its bearing on the principles
Involved Is so direct, that It Is worthy
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