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VOLUME 10
ISN'T THIS JUST TOO SWEET NOW?
Isn't this newly founded amity between Omaha and Lincoln
just too perfectly sweet for anything? No reason at all why it
should riot have existed allthe time, and doubtless it would had it
not been for the damphoolishness of a lot of narrow-minded men
but it hasn't. Now that it is here, and seemingly well established;
it makes us feel mighty good." We've labored for it many years.
When a few big-souled Lincoln men hustled around and got a
train load of big-souled Lineoln men to go to Omaha and whoop it
up for Ak-Sar-Ben, something started. Omaha turned right around
and sent 4,000 of her citizens to the state fair, and incidentally to
. sing the praises of Lincoln and the new-found friends of Omaha
resident here. In a couple of weeks 'steen thousand Lincolnites will
journey to Omaha to whoop it up forthat city and pay deserved
tribute and homage to Ak-Sar-Ben. And now comes along a propo
sition from Omaha . to build a magnificent new state bouse IN
LINCOLN!
i Bless Omaha's dear old heart! If she's got any big project
in mind that Lincoln can help .her out on, just tell us. We'll shed
, our coats, roll up our sleevs and pitch in and help until we sweat
like Jamaica niggers and make blisters on our hands as big as silver
dollars.
Dog-gone it, we're feeling so good that we've just got to burst
forth into song, to the accompaniment of the loud hew-gag and the
beating of the tuneful tom-tom :
'
Now Omaha and Lincoln joined have bridged the bloody chasm;
The pin-head and the jealous-eyed have thrown their final spasm;
The hammermen have been subdued, the booster takes the rostrum;
No more for aye the chronic grouch will dea) ui cut his nostrum.
Instead of growling day by day we sing each other's praises.
Upon the good points either has the other fondly gazes.
Prom Kennebunk to Junglepore, from Ind to Atabaska,
Well make 'em notice Omaha and Lincoln and Nebraska.
The fifty miles that separate once seemed an awful distance,
But, glory be, our common sense and long years of persistence
Results at last in bringing near and making us close neighbors,
And gobs of joy that now result well pays us for our labors.
There never was a bit of sense in clawing 'round like felines,
Or growling like a mangy lot of mongrel yellow canines.
And. new that we march hand in hand with billing and with eooing
"We'll lead 'em all so gol-darned far there'll be no .use pursuing.
Now curses be upon the man who tries to come between us.
We'll slam his coco, bust his slats, until he's sad he's seen us.
And what is joined together now may nothing rend asunder
Too long we scrapped like cats and dogs it hurt us both, by thun
der! Avaunt, you mossback! Scat, you grouch! And welcome, O you
booster f i
You bet your life these thriving burgs will not scrap like they
use'ter.
They've got their voices" joined in song, a melody none sweeter,
And sing for old Nebraska now God bless her, can you beat her?
We cheerfully admit the musical and literary imperfections of
, this song, but we'll be gol-swizzled if we'll admit that there's any
thing lacking in the sentiment 'we try to express therein. We will
ingly admit that when it comes to voice our vocal efforts call to
mind a gang saw ripping into a big knot, but we would have
you remember that "behind the song is ever the heart of the
inger,"'and we claim that the thing lying closest to our heart is
the welfare of these Nebraska cities, and of every Nebraska
city, regardless of size and of Good Old Nebraska.
Let's see to it that the era of good feeling continues, and that
this splendid and profitable friendship grows stronger as each
passing day dawns and waxes and wanes.
WE NEVER FORGOT THEM.
Ordinarily a newspaper does, not pay any attention to anony
mous communications usually because the writer of an anonymous
communication is a coward and poltroon. But we have just re
ceived what Marsh Elder would call "A synonymous postal card
without no name signed to it." It reads as follows: "All right to
boost Nebraska, only don't forget your friends who fed you when
you were starving. Speak a little respectful of others, for you may
have to. go back to them some time." God forbid that we should
ever speak diarespectfuly of those who, in the bleak years of Ne
braska's pioneer existence, succored hungry and sold Nebraskans.
God. forbid, too, that the time should ever come again when" we may
find it necessary to "go back to them." We are so interested in
the welfare of those who once aided lis that we want them to come
' lDva An A crrftb off a share of Nebraska's prosperity. That's what
we are trying to prevail upon them to do. They helped us when
we were worse off than they ; we want to help them now that we
afe better off than they. We assure "Justice" that he reads with
mighty poor comprehension the cheertul and optimistic anicies in
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, SEPTEMBER 13, 1912
this newspaper. His ideas of "Justice" seem to hi? sarllv warned-
his conceptions of decency utterly lacking else why his failure to
sign his real name?
NUMBER 24
THE BEST OP ITS KIND.
Will Maupin in his Weekly of last week got out a splendid
edition one of the best of its kind ever published in the state.
In it he vividly portrayed the past and present conditions and the
future greatness of Nebraska one of, if not the greatest state in
the union. Maupin is not only a Vfact" gatherer, but is one of
Nebraska's best newspaper pensmen. Last week's issue should be
read by every individual interested in development. Tamora Lyre.
WHAT IS HURTING LINCOLN NOW
STANDING UP TOR NEBRASKA
Jones was a good provider in a rather careless way,
Giving little heed or caution to the brand of goods he
bought.
He imagined all his duty was accomplished for the day
If he merely got a plenty for his family as he ought.
But his wife was truly loyal to Nebraska, and had sense,
So when Jonesy brought some flour home she at once gazed
gazed on the sack;
Then she said: "Now, hnbby darling, I am meaning no offense,
But 'twas not made in Nebraska, so you'll have to take
it back!"
You will have to take it back;
Got the wrong name on the sack.
Must be made here in Nebraska or you'll have to take it
back.
William Peter Andrew Wilkins bought a box of candy fine,
Paying for a fancy label and a big Chicago brand.
Then he spruced up and departed for a call on Evangeline,
Meaning on that very evening to demand her heart and
hand.
Angeline was quite a booster and stood up for her home state,
So when William P. A. Wilkins, thinking thus to earn a
smack,
Handed her the foreign candy she remarked with air sedate:
"This was not made in Nebraska, so you'll have to take
it back!"
You will have to take it back;
Of the right brand there's a lack.
Offer me Nebraska candy or you'll have to take it back.
Billy Blivens of Nebraska left the state by death's dark route,
Full of years and full of honors. And old Peter swung his
gates ,
To admit good Billy Blivens, who, without a bit of doubt,
' Was entitled to admission to the heavenly estates.
Billy paused beside the portals and he gazed upon the sight
Stretching out before his vision not a smile did Billy
crack
Then he said to old St. Peter' "Well, this place may be all right,
But I much prefer Nebraska, so I guess I'll travel back!"
Billy now is coming back .
To the state where there's no lack
Of the x good and true and beautiful so Billy's coming
back!
WORKING FOR NEBRASKA ALL THE TIME.
The latest issue of Maupin 's Weekly, of Lineoln, published by
Will Maupin, labor : commissioner under Governor Shallenberger,
is certainly the booster nurnler it is intended' to be. Mr. Maupin
is the Nebraska editOf who has caused the apple growers of Idaho
and Washington to sit up and take notice that Nebraska also raises
apples. He has challenged attention to the statement that Nebraska
raises more apples than either of these states. The quality and
market-ability of the Nebraska apples has thus come under dis
cussion and even if William has accomplished nothing more, he has
accomplished a great deal by doing that. We shall expect the
former commissioner to be distinguished from the rest of his tribe,
in decades to come, as "Apple" Maupin. And, likewise, he is
"Booster" Maupin. Grand Island Independent.
NEBRASKA'S BEST ADVERTISER. ,
Will Maupin 's 28 page Harvest Special issue representing the
ninth annual booster edition of his most valuable weekly paper
more properly known as the Nebraska Magazine, reached us Mon
day. It's a dandy. It's a booster. It's the best piece of Nebraska
advertising we've ever seen. It contains subject matter that should
be taught in every school room in the state. It contains matter
worthy of careful perusal by every one worthy of the name of a
Nebraskan. There is no better way to know your native state than
to regularly read Will Maupin 's weekly. Norfolk Press.
Not much, to be sure but plenty. And it is high time that
this plenty be. materially reduced. . .:
Every time somebdoy endeavors to do something worth while,'
up jump a lot of "grouches" and would-be "reformers" to make a
protest. They see a graft in everything, mistaken notions in every
proposition,, and crookedness in every public transaction.
The city school district issued a , big block of bonds, making
their terms unusually advantageous to the district. Mr. Barkley -managed
the bond sale advatageously to the district, saving it sev
eral thousand dollars and incidentally making a bit of money for
his work. Immediately the anvil chorus begins.
Mr. Ferguson serves the school district well and ' faithfully -as '
a member of the board of education, giving freely of his time and
business experience, and reciving not a cent therefor. He happens
to be president of a brick eompany, and because it is proposed to
build the Lincoln high school of Lineoln , brick, and buy them of
the company of which Mr. Ferguson is a member, up jump the
hammer wielders.
A score of men work unceasingly and without adequate remun- .
oration to make the state fair in Lincoln. a success. Because the
things usually incident to a big exposition happen, local newspapers
give space to idiotic complaints because pop is sold for 10 cents a
bottle, and people charged a bit extra for comfortable, seats to see -exhibitions
that " they couldn't see anywhere else for twice the
money. Intimations of "hold-up prices" receive editorial mention
with insinuations that they are true. . - f '
Enterprising men combine their capital to build a huge and
handsome publie building. They needed, and had to have areaways
to gain admittance to basement rooms." Up jumps a coterie of
"hang baekers" who object, claiming themselves to be the protect--ors
of the public. In this wise is public spirit curbed."
The city needs parks, and to secure them must have money. :,
The proposition is defeated by men whose wealth was secured by
reason of the fact that men and women who most need parks have
builded here a city land thus vastly increased the value of real es
tate held by these "mossbacks."
A wealthy and public spirited citizen gives the city a beautiful
fountain. It is kicked around from pillar to post by "pinheads"
who did not, like the political position of the aforesaid donor. Yet
we wonder why other . wealthy citizens do not confer favors upon
the community. ' " '. V '
. With civic problems of grave moment confronting us, we find
that the question of the "four-foot" line monopolizes attention.
Not half the schoolhouses in the city have adequate play-
grounds. :-- '
Lincoln has more "culture clubs" tha any city of its size in
the country. Their members know more about tlieosophy, high art, -Browning,
literature and such like subjects, than they do about
the whereabouts of their young sons and daughters at night. -,-
Lincoln, a city of ,50,000 people possessing more than the aver-,
age amount of wealth per eapita, has a "city jail that is a stinking
disgrace, but every time the fact is mentioned the subject is
changed 'by men who prefer a perpetuation of the disgrace to spend-. ,
ing a few thousand dollars to secure decency and eommonsense
treatment of offenders. -
Yet Lincpln is a splendid city. It has thousands of earnest, ;
progressive eitizens. It is a city of homes and schools and churches.
It exceeds the average municpality in intelligence and in morals. :
But it would seem that it has not yet learned the lesson of co-oper- . .
ation, the necessity of developing a civic spirit, or the need of lend
ing a helping hand in building up. ,'
It is time for introspection.
OMAHA AT THE STATE FAIR.
Manager Parrish of the publicity bureau of the Commercial,
club and those who co-operated with him are entitled to a publie
vote of thanks for their splendid services in making Omaha day at
the state fair so unqualified a success,
The influx of Omahans into Lincoln and the fair grounds Wed
nesday made our sister city and the fair management gasp with
surprise and pleasure. It was an unprecedented and entirely unex
pected showing that Omaha made. The train service between the
two cities, including a. number of special trains, was swamped, and
in addition hundreds of Omahans went down in automobiles.
Omaha got more arid better advertising on i that day than it
has had for many a day. Omaha made multitudes of friends, and :,
doubtless caused more than one embittered and biased critic to sit . ,
up and overhaul his judging faculties. But far better than all that,
Omaha, through several thousand of yher representative citizens was
enabled, in one day and at one place, to strike up an invaluable
acquaintance with the state on whose development and prosperity
Omaha's own future, in so large a measure, depends. ' . ,
The better we in Nebraska come to know each other the better
we will understand each other. The better we understand each
other the. more genuinely friendly and mutually helpful will be
our relationship. And with that , we can work together and pull
together -effectively. The Wrorld-Herald. ;