CURRENT COMMENT
"We haven't anything to do with letters that Tom Allen may he
sending out relative to the re-organization of the democratic - state
central committee. Personally the editor of. "Will Maupin's "Weekly
is of the opinion that if Mr. Allen did send out the letter quoted in
the "World-IIerald of July 17, he acted in rather poor taste. But
we are equally of the opinion that the "World-Herald acted in like
manner when it gave space to the old insinuation that Mr. Allen
received and sequestered $15,000 of campaign money sent by the
national committee to Nebraska during 1904.
It is true- that the national committee did send $15,000 into
Nebraska during the Parker campaign. It is true that Tom Allen,
the chairman of the state central committee received the money.
That money was secured from the national committee through the
intercessions of National Committeeman James C. Dahlman and
Chairman Allen. It is equally true that the money was expended for
legitimate campaign purposes. The charge that is "disappeared"
and was "never accounted for" is false. There is today in existence
a complete set of vouchers accounting for the disbursement of every
dollar of that amount, and the World-Herald has but to ask for a
sight of them. Mike Harrington gave ear to the same accusation,
and Mike, with all his faults, will admit, if questioned, that he
examined the vouchers and receipts and is perfectly satisfied with
the way that fund was handled and accounted for.
This newspaper holds no brief for either Tom Allen or the
democratic organization. It is not at all concerned in the personality
of any candidates. It is merely, advocating certain principles, and
it so happens that at this time the democratic party comes nearest
to voicing those principles. For this reason it regrets that old ani
mosities that should have long since disappeared are being revived.
"We are not at all concerned about what happens to the political
fortunes of Tom Allen or John Byrnes or Chris Gruenther, but we
are deeply concerned in the triumph of those progressive principles
so well voiced by the Baltimore platform.
It was only natural that the populist state central committee
should endorse the candidacy of John II. Morehead. Mr. Morehead
has been fighting for the chief principles espoused by the populists
ever since the early days of fusion. The populists, being rather level
headed men, are not deceived by the press bureau charges that More
head is not a progressive. They know better. They know that he
is a reliable, safe, business man who is heartily in sympathy with
the progressive thought of the day.
This being the year for the re-valuations of real estate for assess
ment purpose, it is only natural that there should be a whole mess
of trouble. Land in one county is assessed at $75 an acre, while just
across the public road in another county similar land is assessed
at $60 an acre. No two counties are assessed anywhere near
equally all is a jumble, with practically every county seeking to
evade all it can and shove as much of the burden as possible upon
neighboring counties. Some of these days we'll discard this ante
deluvian system of taxation and adopt a modern, up-to-date and
equitable plan.
"We levy a poll tax on voters. "Whyt Is it for the same
reason that we levy a similar tax on dogs? "We pile the taxes on
property that can be moved -or hidden, then wonder why men per
jure themselves. "We put a premium on lack of enterprise, and fine
thrift and public spirit, then wonder why more men do not invest
mpney in public improvements. "We've got our whole system of
taxation on backwards.
We weary somewhat of the constant demands Superintendent
Carson of the Anti-Saloon League makes upon newspaper space and
notoriety. Admitting that the Almighty made everything even
snakes and mosquitoes and fleas for some useful purpose; we can
not deny that He also made Carson for something. But if Mr.
Carson knows of so maUy flagrant violations of the excise laws,
why in the name of commonsense does he not act like a loyal and
patriotic citizen and swear out complaints against the offenders
nistead of rushing into print? If the sheriff of Douglas spent all
his time snooping around to see if anybody happened to be selling
liquor' illegally, what would become of the other business of the
office T Of course liquor is being sold illegally in Douglas county,
and in Lancaster county, and in every other county. It always
will be. But what good is Mr. Carson accomplishing by occupying
so much space in the newspapers telling about it. He can have the
offenders arrested, and he ought to do it if he knows who they are,
and he says he does.
FACTS TO THINK ABOUT
In the matter ff street car service Lincoln has a greater can mileage than
any other city her size in the United States.
Lincoln's street cars cover every twenty-four hours a distance greater than
from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon.
The Lincoln Traction Co., pays annually more than $375,000 in wages to
citizens of Lincoln. It is the largest employer of labor in Lincoln, apart from
the steam railroads.
It pays to the city in the shape of taxes and percentage on the gross earn
ings more than any other corporation or concern more than enough to pay for
the maintenance of the police force.
The interests of the Lincoln Traction Co., and of the city of Lincoln are
mutual V
The prosperity of one is the prosperity of the other. The two corporations
should be working in harmony.
Help us to make street car travel easier and safer; help us to develope the
city and surrounding territory.
The Lincoln Traction Company
MEN AND MATTERS
"Morehead might possibly palm himself off for a progressive if
he did not have a record that points the other way," says the
Bloomington Advocate. The Advocate's editor has been victimized
by the republican press bureau operated at the state house by one
of Governor Aldrich's appointees. If "faunching around" and
pawing the air while vociferating with a pair of leather lungs is all
that is needed to make a man a "progressive," then John Morehead
is iot a progressive. But if standing squarely for those things
demanded by the people, supporting '. men and measures in tune
with the desires of the masses, and doing it quietly but efficiently,
makes one a progressive, then John Morehead is a progressive. It
lakes something more than political "hot air" to make a pro
gressive. It takes something more than watching to observe which
way the cat hops and then hopping with it. John Morehead does
his own thinking, utters his own thoughts and knows his own mind
longer than over night.
Mr. Roosevelt will stand for no divided allegiance. Those who
are for him must be against everybody else. Candidates for state
office can not get on the Bull Moose ticket if they have their names
on the regular republican ticket. This puts some of our truly good
friends up aginst it mighty hard, which we deeply regret. We'd
be frightfully worried about the safety of this republic if we
thought as some of our friends seem to think, that Theodore Rose
velt is the only man that stands between us and everlasting ruin as
a nation.
Know Nebraska better, then tell what you know to everybody
wihtin reach of the mails. The best course of study upon the
subject of Nebraska is Will Maupin's Weekly. Tuition, one dollar
a year, one lesson a week. Now is the time to matriculate.
The Bloomington Advocate further remarks that "He (More
head) was caught in bad company in the late legislature a good
many democrats are not satisfied with his explanations. Let's see.
The late legislature enacted some pretty good laws. There is the.
initiative and referendum Morehead voted for it. There are the
laws safeguarding life and limb in factories and upon buildings
in course of construction Morehead voted for both of them. More
head's legislative record is an open book, and not all the animadver
sions of an appointee of the present governor will deceive anybody
who does not dearly love to be deceived. He is not making "expla
nations," and for the very simple reason that he has nothing to
explain. His public record is as clean as his private record, and
his private record is sa clean as a hound's tooth. Ask the people
of Richardson county, among whom he has lived and done business
for thirty years. 'We'll frankly admit that if Nebraska wants a
Chautauqua lecturer for governor John Morehead won't do. But
if Nebraska wants a levelheaded, careful, conservative business man
for chief executive a man who will manage the state's vast business
just like he has successfully managed his own 'business, then. More
head is the man Nebraska will select.
It is now "ex-Senator Lorimer," glory be! Not that we rejoice
in the humiliation of Lorimer, but that we rejoice in this splendid
evidence of the awakened conscience of the American people. It
wasn't so much Lorimer on trial as the vicious system that so long
controlled American politics. And by an overwhelming vote the
senate responded to the insistent demand that the last vestige of
that vicious system be wiped out. The late John J. Ingalls once re
marked that "the purification of politics is an irridescent dream."
Ingalls was mistaken. Politics is not yet purified, but the process of
purification is going on at a gratifying rate.
Disgusted because his party is dominated by the Morgan-Bel-mont-Ryan
crowd, Mike Harrington has joined the Bull Moose party,
which is dominated by the steel trust, of which Morgan, Belmont
and Ryan are the chief fuglemen.
Nebraska needs a business man for chief executive much more
than Bhe needs a Chautauqua lecturer. She needs a man who will
attend to the state's business instead of forensically fulminating on
things in general.
Will Maupin's Weekly has been semi-officially notified that it
will not be recognized in the distribution of constitutional amend
ment pie. Well, our digestive apparatus is a bit out of kilter, any
how, and pie might make us sick. .
It is never too hot to stand up for Nebraska.
The wreck on the Burlington near Chicago the first of the
week calls renewed attention to the fact that it is the human equa
tion that must be reckoned with. The railroad company utilized
every invention to safeguard its passengers and its property. But
behind every safety device is the human agent that must operate it
and the human agent is not infallible. The railroads can go
just so far, and no farther. The day will never come when railroads
will be automatically operated. The human mind must still be
utilized and the human mind often makes a mistake. Safety
devices can only minimize they can not wholly eliminate!
bears his name. And it appears that the judge was an almighty
good consumer of his own invention. The "Hanford cocktail" seems
destined to enjoy a great popularity in certain circles. But that
onion, which takes" the place of the olive ordinarily used, appears to
us to be rather dangerous. The fragrance of the onion, combined
with the fragrance of the other ingredients, makes it dangerous.
We 11 be afraid to eat onions hereafter. It's hard enough to explain
now, without having to make explanations for, that onion breath.
Naturally enough the republicans are hoping for a ruction
when the democrats of Nebraska meet 'at Grand Island on July 30.
And while hoping they are doing their best to make trouble as sure
as possible. But if the democrats are wise they will avoid anything
that looks like trouble. The issue is not any one man, nor any set
of them the issue is whether Nebraska democrats are going to stand
squarely for progressive principles and avoid getting all snarled tip
over a lot of fool side issues that have no place in politics ; whether
they are going to stand for progressive principles or try to "get
even" for some fancied grievance. It is going to be mighty easy for
the democrats of Nebraska to do the foolish thing but, by the same
token ,it is going to be just as easy for them to act with wisdom. ,
If the superintendent of the anti-saloon league knows of his own
personal knowledge of so many lawbreakers, why doesn't he act the
part of a good citizen and swear out complaints against the offend
ers instead of rushing into print t
OUR WHOLE
SPRING STOCK
-OF-
Wool Su&s
Wool Dresses
-AT-
Judge Hanford of Seattle has won deathless fame or is it
notoriety? First he decided that a man holding socialistic views
was not eligible to citizenship in this republic, a decision that merely
evidenced that the Hanford mind was wobbly. But that wasn't a
marker to the other thing that will perpetuate his name. This
eminent judge, for whom we are commanded to have wholesome
respect lest we undermine the republic and destroy the courts, is
marked for deathless fame by being the inventor of a cocktail that
HALF.PRICE
Somewhere in This Assortment You Will Find Just What Yob Meed
For Early Fall
For Your Vacation
Something New for
the Rest of the Season