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
