Will Maupin's weekly. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1911-1912, June 16, 1911, Image 6
TALKING OF MEN AND THINGS Until Judge W. II. Westover shied his castor into the ring there was a seeming possibility that the democrats would have to draft its candidates for the su preme bench. However, Judge West over's announcement is likely to bring other democratic aspirants to the front. Uoldrege has every reason to feel sore over losing the new state college of agri culture. It was Holdrege enthusiasm and Holdrege push that made the school poossible. Holdrege is situated close to the heart of the territory that is to be benefitted, and has exceptionally good railroad facilities. But such an enterpris ing and pushing city as Holdrege should not waste any time in mourning over the loss of the school. Its time could be em ployed to far better advantage. J Jut, just the same, we can not blame Holdrege for feeling sore. It is just as well to discount about 90 per cent all the stories you hear about the "brutal treatment" accorded to in mates in the state's charitable institu tions. The relatives of an afflicted One are quite apt to exaggerate. That bru tality is often practiced by brutal guards is well known, but compared with the great number of inmates these cases are rare indeed. The most brutal treatment accorded the inmates of our state insti tutions is not at the hands of nurses, at tendants or watchmen.- It is at the hands of legislators who, under the mistaken idea of economy, refuse to make adequate provisions for the proper housing and care of the unfortunate wards of the state. The Nebraska Publicity League has been organized, its purpose being to ad vertise Nebraska. The intent is all right, and its promotors are deserving of sup port in every way. lint the plain truth of the matter is that the legislature commit ted a grevious sin against the state when it failed to make an appropriation for the establishment and maintenence of a Bureau of Publicity and Promotion. Ad vertising Nebraska properly is a big task, and as fill Nebraskans will profit by ad vertising the state it is only right and proper that all Nebraskans should share the expense. To it good friend, Isaac Friend, and his good wife, Will Maupin's Weekly extends its hearty congratulations upon their rounding out fifty years of happy marired life. After knowing Mr. Friend for a little while it is easy to understand why he looks so lowed his heart to grow old; he has kept that young. And with a companion as cheerful and as companionable as him self, the two have enjoyed a half-century of wedded happiness. If our Avishes come true then Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Friend will be celebrating their marriage anniversary for very many years to come. We greatly fear that our good friend Gurdon W. Wattles of Omaha, has been soinimersed in the work of piling up money that he has lost touch with the dominant sentiment of Nebraska. His address to the Nebraska Press Associa tion was that of a man seemingly labor ing under the belief that Nebraska news papers were trying to tear down the great corporations and put a crimp in capital. We have such a warm admiration for Mr. Wattles, albeit he proved to be about the hardest proposition this editor ever went up against in an effort to settle a difficul ty, that we dislike to see him harboring such an illusion. Mr. Wattles need not fear that any reputable newspaper in Ne braska will attack a dollar of honest capi tal, or endeavor to tear down a corpora tion that is being legalhr conducted. But Mr. Wattles should make up his mind that the day has gone by when capital was considered too sacred for mere men to control hy law ; that the time is come when corporations are no longer greater than the laws that created them. The capitalist who de laaii'snd lyfa e los-ro capitalist who deals fairly and acts squarely need have no fear. lint those who attempt to invest a dollar and squeeze dividends on 10 dollars by charg ing the public excessive rates, may ex pect to be bumped. We could say more to allay the fears that seem to be surg ing in the heart of Mr. Wattles, but we are content with this much, hoping that it may be conducive to his better sleep and appetite. Charles W. Post has been sat upon by the supreme court in his effort to stir up more labor trouble in connection with the now settled Buck Stove Co. case. This is the same virtuous Mr. Post who was mulcted in the sum of f 50,000 for having charged that Collier's Weekly tried to blackmail him into advertising; also the man who manufactures a breakfast "food'' and sells it by claiming it makes brains. Either the claim is false, or else Mr. Post has failed to consume much of the product of his factories. The Lincoln daily papers are making "slug head stories'' out of the fact that the assessment shows a big gain in values. The gain in actual figures is less than $1,000,000. It is to laugh. Does anybody believe that less than one million has been added to property 'values in Lancaster county during the last twelve months? Our whole system of taxation is a farce and a fraud. It puts a premium on per jury and a tax on enterprise; it fines the man who does tilings for the development of the community, and pays dividends to the drones who do nothing else than seize upon community made values, banks of Lincoln alone will show deposits of more than f 5,000,000; the assessors will make returns of less than $100,000 in banks. Two magnificent buildings have just been completed in Lincoln the First Na tional bank building and the Bankers Life building. Each of these corporations has added immensely to the value of residence lot for blocks around. Because they have been enterprising each of these corporations will now be fined $5,000 a year, or ore. Property owners about them will secure an unearned increment. The enterprising ones will be fined ; the unenterprising ones will be handsomely use and occupancy of every business and rewarded for their sloth. The wonder is that people or ordinary intelligence will endure for years such an unjust system of taxation as the ones now existing. It is to be regretted that only a few heard Judge Cornish's splendid address before the Tax Reform club meeting at the Lindell last week. An address so full shouldof information, so replette with facts, should be heard by every taxpayer. In plain and simple language Judge Cor nish pointed out the inequalities under our present system, and then, in even plainer language pointed out the remedy. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to say that Judge Cornish is a disciple of Henry George. And so will every other intelli gent man be who studies the George theory of taxation with unprejudiced mind. The fact that Dan V. Stephens of Fre mont is the head and front of the good roads movement in Nebraska leads us to believe that the movement will achieve a great success. If Brer Stephens ever scored a failure in any of his numerous undertakings we have yet to learn of it. He gets a backset now and then, but he utilizes it to get a running start that carries him over any and all hurdles. There is only one thing lacking to make Nebraska roads the best anywhere on earth save those that are paved with asphalt. The one thing lacking is inter est. And Dan V. Stephens is arousing the interest. A couple of weeks ago a piece of land in the city of Indianapolis sold for 340,000. It was unimproved. The original pur chaser paid the government 65 cents for it. Not a dollar was ever spent upon it by any owner. A bill board lease more than paid the taxes. Yet this 65 cents bit of land sold for more than one-third of a million dollars. Did the people who put the value on that land get it? Not on your life ! Not only were they refused any share of the value they created, but for years they have been fined for putting that value upon property they did not own by developing and beautifying their own property. Only the ignorant or the criminally careless would permit such a svstem to continue. The proposition to have all workers strike on the day that McNainava is. put