CURRENT COMMENT
The people of Nebraska have a right to know all the facts con
cerning the awful tragedy t the Nebraska State Prison early last
spring, and all the incidents leading up thereto. Let it be borne in
mind that the constitution requires that the appointment of a warden
of the penitentiary must be ratified by the senate. The warden is the
only appointive state officer whose appointment must thus be ratified.
Tom Smith of York county was appointed warden by Governor Shel
leuberger, and the' appointment was ratified by the senate. When
Aldrich was elected governor he speedily announced his appoint
ments, but he made no mention of warden. "Warden Smith, knowing
that he would not be permitted to long remain at the head of the
prison, made a request that his successor be appointed at onee. No
Attention was paid to his request. The senate adopted a resolution
calling upon the governor to announce an appointment before the
senate adjourned. Aldrich ignored this request, tor reasons that wu!
become evident when further facts are made known.
Immediately after the adjournment of the legislature, when it
was no longer possible to follow the plain mandates of the constitu
tion, Aldrich announced the appointment of James Delahunty as
warden of the penitentiary. The storm of protest that arose over
this appointment will not soon be forgotten. Men and women who
have devoted their lives to prison reform work, and who knew some
thing of the needs of the state prison, protested vigorously against
Delahunty 's appointment. They did not question his honesty nor his
good intent: they protested because they knew he was not the right
raan for the place, and they based this knowledge upon his record as
a deputy warden. But Aldrich, who seemingly was well aware that
Delahunty 's appointment would not be ratified, and who had appar
ently already bartered the appointment, persisted despite all protests,
and Delahuiity assumed charge. Very soon after "Warden Delahunty
assumed his duties open friction between him and Chaplain Johnson
broke out. Rev. Mr. Johnson has devoted many years to the scientific
study of prison reform, and his standing as a penologist is admittedly
high. Time and again he protested against methods in vogue at the
prison, but Aldrich, who knows nothing at all of prison reform, and
who has given penology no. study whatever, paid no attention to the
advice of this student of that science. At last conditions became un
bearable for Chaplain Johnson and he resigned.
Men and women who cheerfully give of their time and means to
help the convicts to better things were given scant courtesy. Natur
ally the stories of brutal treatment, told by the convicts themselves,
received scant attention. But it gradually became apparent that all
was not moving as smoothly under the Aldrich-Delahunty manage
ment as well as under the Shallenberger-Smith management. The
''dope" traffic after Smith took hold was wiped out, but it is common
knowledge now that when Smith left the traffic was resumed with
greater volume than ever before. Thus things went from bad to
worse until that fateful day of the escape of three desperate men.
Pause just long enough to ask yourselves what kind of prison man
agement was it that permitted the smuggling of arms, ammunition
and dynamite into three separate cells. What sort of prison super
vision is it that permitted three.men to simultaneously blow the locks
from their cell doors, rush out and spread death on every hand.
As a result of Aldrich's evasion of the constitution and it was
simply that and the reasons for that evasion will be left to the sober
judgment of those whose minds are not biased by political prejudice,
eight human lives have been snuffed out. In addition to this terrible
toll of human life there is the toll of taxation, for all this has resulted
in piling up an expense of thousands of dollars for the taxpayers to
ray.
ernor of South Dakota. In view of the attempt to deceive the voters
as to Senator Morehead's attitude toward the initiative and referen
dum it is only necessary to refer to the printed record, which proves
that the votes of Skiles and Morehead to be the same in every par
ticular, and that the amendments supported by Morehead were sup
ported by Skiles, the introducer of the bill.
Republicans of the bull moose variety, as well as of the steam
roller variety, profess to see in the protest filed by Andrew M.
Morrissey, democratic candidate for attorney general, a repudia
tion of the fusion idea that prevailed among democrats and popu
lists for years. There is not the least similarity. Democrats
and populists fused legally and because their interests and poli
cies were mutual. The bull moosers disclaim allegiance to the
republican party, disavow the action of the republican convention,
and failed in every point to conform to the law which plainly sets
out how a newly organized party may get upon the ballot. They
did not elect their candidates at the primary, nor did they nomi
nate them in a convention having 500 delegates present, as the
law directs. At no time were there to exceed 250 people present
at the "progressive. party" convention in Lincoln, including women
and children and newspaper reporters. The petitions filed fraudu
lently set out that the petitioners were present at the convention.
This is false in a majority of instances. Mr. Morrissey -will have
very little difficulty in convincing the vast majority of the voters
that his protest is well founded. It remains to be seen whether
he will be equally successful in convincing a partisan supreme
court.
Stung by Mr. Morehead's exposure of his cheap attempt to
grab off emoluments in the shape of an appropriation for groceries
and meat for the executive mansion, all of which is prohibited by
the constitution, Governor Aldrich is retorting with cheap abuse
.and billingsgate directed at the democratic nominee. Gifted with
a hairtrigger tongue set on a swivel, Aldrich is able to utter a
lot of words in an orotund, tone of voice. In' the meanwhile, as
Governor Aldrich is attempting to hide his attempt at grab be
hind a lot of words, Mr. Morehead continues to tell the voters in
a plain, matter-of-fact and business-like way just what he will
do if elected governor. And men who know John Morehead know
that he will do just exactly what he promises.
ASHTON C. SHALLENBERGER.
Ashton C. Shallenberger, ex-congressman from the Fifth dis
trict, and ex-governor of Nebraska, is, the democratic candidate for
United States senator. "The best governor Nebraska ever had" is
the expression one hears everywhere whenever Shallenberger 's
name is mentioned. Under his administration the state's affairs
were conducted with businesslike precision, the state's institutions
were carefully and economically managed, and the most progressive
legislation enacted. It was under the administration of Governor
Shallenberger that the first step in taxation reform in twenty years
was taken; under him was taken the first step in progressive liq
uor legislation in a quarter of a century. The state's unfortunate
wards were given better care, education was more liberally pro
vided for than ever before, and the laws were strictly. and impar- '
tially administered. . ,
Governor Shallenberger is equipped by legislative experience to
do credit to the state in the senate of the United States. Thor
oughly informed upon public questions, a debater of unusual abil
ity, earnestly progressive and fully in sympathy with the demands
of the people for political reform, he would at once assume a high
place in the senate. Governor Shallenberger 's progressiveness is
not new-born ; he is no sudden convert. 1 He was among the first to '
enlist in the struggle that took the democracy of Nebraska out of
the hands of those who had always made it an adjunct to the re
publican corporation machine. He stood shoulder to shoulder with
tne pioneers ot political reform in Nebraska, and was soon recog
nized as one of the ablest advocates of the new movement. Farmer,
stock raiser, business man Ashton C. Shallenberger is acquainted
with the demands of the people, is in full sympathy with them, and
will represent them at all times and under all circumstances.
Henry Richmond is neither a stockholder in, official of, or
agent for any old line insurance company. He never lobbied
against any insurance bills calculated to protect the people, against
exploitation by any insurance combine. He admits that if elected
auditor he will have a lot to learn about the insurance business,
but he will not forget that tlfe people have some rights that
even an insurance lobby or combine will have to respect.
What bargain was made prior to Aldrich's inauguration that
compelled him to evade the constitution and withhold the appoint
ment of a warden until after the legislature had adjourned f Who is
, primarily responsible, in the light of these facts, for the sacrifice of
eight human lives and the addition of thousands of dollars of needless
expense to the taxpayers of Nebraska? The voters of Nebraska owe
it to themselves to think this over calmly and deliberately. They
owe it to themselves to locate, if possible, the responsibility for this
needless sacrifice and expense, and having located it to hold the re
sponsible party strictly to account.
The congressional fight in the First district is going to be some
scrap, if we know anything about political signs. Maguire and Clark,
the contestants, have elements of strength. Clark is somewhat fa
vored by the fact that on a strict party vote the district is overwhelm
ingly republican, but he is hampered by the fact that the g. o. p. is
sadly divided. Maguire has behind him a record of two terms of
faithful service. He hasn't set any rivers afire with his eloquence.
but he has been content to vote his honest judgment and faithfully
perform the chief duties of a congressman of the present day attend
to errands for his constituents. . Clark is one of the most aggressive
campaigners in this section of the country, and Maguire has the
knack of getting around over the district and impressing the people
with his earnestness and his enterprise. Clark is an organizer of
unusual ability, and Maguire is a member of the same class, though
perhaps following a different method. Maguire has been unusually
fortunate heretofore in that his opponents were not strong candi
dates. He is fortunate now, not that Clark is to be classed with
former opponents, but because of the internal strife in republican
circles. We opine that Maguire was born under a lucky star. But
we seize this occasion to warn 'Maguire and his campaign managers
that if they expect an easy victory over Clark they are liable to meet
up with disappointment. It will not be easy to defeat Clark under
any circumstances.
So much effort has been made to befog the facts relative to the
submission of a workable initiative and referendum law that it might
l.e well to make them so plain that he who runs may read. In the
first place, there was no division of sentiment upon the one fact that
Nebraska should have such a law. Second, the only division of senti
ment was upon the percentages that should be fixed for initiation,
referring or adopting constitutional amendments. It is doubtless
true, as charged, that some reactionaries sought to minimize the good
effects of the law by fixing the percentages unreasonably high. It is
just as true that some over-enthusiastic advocates of the law wanted
to fix the percentages so low that any fool proposition could get on
the ballot. The sensible thing to do, then, was to make the percent
ages reasonable first, to permit of the initiation of good measures
without too much difficulty ; second, to make it reasonably difficult to
initiate measures calculated to bring the law into ridicule ; third, to
make it reasonably easy to refer without making it too easy and thus
permit the law to be brought into disrepute; There was one element,
ostensibly enthusiastic for the adoption of such a law, that was so
blindly partisan that it sought to secure the enactment of a measure
that would be ridiculous, thus enabling them to charge the demo
cratic legislators with being incompetent.
The bill as introduced provided for a 5 per cent petition to initiate
a law or to have a law referred. The bill as finally enacted provides
for a 10 per cent petition. These amendments were supported and
voted for by Senator Skiles, introducer of the measure, and "Senator
Morehead. The conference committee of March 17 recommended
that the house recede from its amendment providing that initiated
measures should have only a majority of the votes cast thereon, and
providing for a majority equal to 35 per cent of the total vote cast at
the election It also recommended that the senate concur in the
house amendment requiring 15 per cent of the voters to propose a
constitutional amendment. On the same date three-fifths of the mem
bers in both houses agreed to the report of the conference committee
The votes of Senator Skiles and Senator Morehead were identical.
The record shows that every amendment adopted was calculated to
make what is admitted to be the very- best measure of its kind in
any state. It is so admitted by the governor of Oregon and the gov
R. V. Clark, democratic candidate for superintendent of public
instruction, is making a splendid impression everywhere he goes.
lie impresses those who meet him with his earnestness and his
love for his chosen profession. Having secured his education by
hard work he knows the disadvantages that many seekers af tei
knowledge labor under, and fully realizes the need of progressive
reform in educational matters. He would "make the public schools
of more service to the average child instead of making them of
peculiar service to the fortunate few.
Clarence Harman's years of experience as a traveling sales
man peculiarly fits -him for the position of railway commissioner.
There are already twb lawyers on the board, and it is high time
that the men who ship and the traveling public in general be rep
resented by a man who knows something of actual conditions.'
Twice during Governor Shallenberger 's administration he was
required by law to take some action looking to the investment of
surplus- funds in the state treasury.. Nothing like that has occur
red under the Aldrich administration. On the contrary it has been
necessary to register state warrants for future payment because of
a lack of funds, and now comes the report that before December
1 the registration of warrants will have to be resorted to again.
of $100 a dozen. What Nebraska needs is a governor who is cap
able of attending to the state's business in a business-like way, and
who will do it. - ,
LOOKS LIKE A GOOD SCHEME.
The Union Pacifie-Northwestern has ff amd up a scheme that
1 T - nj A Ti ! I i .1 1- T.UI a - 1 a ni i
imM guuu to us. j. ti is a, . uaiigut iram uei-ween unicago ana
the Pacific coast. It leave Chicago about 9 o'clock in the morning
and makes, the run to' Boone, la., by-nightfall. There the train lays
over until morning, when it resumes its journey. It doesn't run
at night. This means that passengers will be given ari opportunity
to see all of the country. We like that scheme immensely because
it will give the passengers aboard an opportunity of seeing Ne
braska and they'll never see a better state. They will see -thriv
ing Nebraska cities and towns, thrifty farm communities, evidences
of posperity on every hand and a wealth of opportunities spread
out for the energetic and thrifty. The chances are that by the time
the train has spent a whole day in Nebraska most of the passen
gers will disembark, take the next train back towards the Missouri
river and grab off some of the choice propositions that Nebraska
offers. You bet we like that daylight train proposition. We've
been over Nebraska so often we know pretty .much every valley and
hill and canon and river and creek, but for all that we'd enjoy at
any old time a daylight ride on a luxurious train as it crosses this
great state.
COMING TO NEBRASKA.
Score another point for Nebraska hustlers. The latter "part of
September seven' presidents of as many Nebraska commercial clubs
went to Indianapolis, Ind., to attend the national meeting of execu
tives of commercial elubs. Nebraska had the second largest' state
delegation at the meeting and scored the record for the longest
mileage traveled by a state delegation. Then those Nebraskans got
busy and secured the 1913 meeting for Omaha,1 beating out such
contenders as St. Paul, Grand Rapids and Detroit. , The Omaha
Commercial club will see to it that the 1913 .meeting is a record
breaker in more respects than one, and the delegates who attend
are sure to return home with praise for Nebraska and her enter
prising men. , . - ' :
.
Our state is rich in natural resources not yet developed,
a condition due to the lack of public knowledge of such
wealth. We therefore, favor a liberal appropriation by the
legislature for the purpose of giving publicity to the state's
resources. From the Nebraska Democratic Platform.
'
A SEVERE BLOW.
The promoters . and managers of the Kearney Canning com
pany met with a severe loss on account of the early frost in that
section. The sweet corn crop was not good on account of spring
weather conditions, . and the dorn pack was small. But the com
pany built high hopes upon the tomato crop. But. the frost got in
its work early, and as a result 12,000 bushels of tomatoes were
ruined. The company is not discouraged, however, and is making
preparations for next season's pack. It takes a whole lot more
frosts than one to put a permanent crimp into the energy of a Ne
braskan. ' ' . .
The warden of the penitentiary is the only appointive state
officer whose appointment must be ratified by the senate. Governor
Aldrich refused to appoint a successor to Warden Tom Smith until
after the legislature adjourned, although Warden Smith repeated
ly requested to be relieved from duty. The results of this bull
headed evasion of the constitution will never be forgotten by Ne
braskans. They are written red in the blood of murdered men
and made a heavy burden upon the taxpayers of the state.
Governor Aldrich seeks to curry favor in church circles by
pointing to his veto of the Sunday baseball bill. But he takes
mighty good care' not to assert that he vetoed it because he is op
posed to Sunday baseball. He signified a willingness to sign a bill
legalizing Sunday baseball provided it were amended to make it
optional in every county.
Fairly good ehautauqna lecturers can be employed at the rate
' THINK IT OVER THEN SWEAR.
School children in Lincoln cooped up in unsanitary rooms over
grocery stores and butcher shops. Now the school board is com
pelled to build a "shack" to take care of the overflow caused by
Lincoln's criminal neglect to make the school facilities keep pace
with the city's growth. And when an effort is made to rectify the
mistake, men jump in with legal technicalities and render the ef
foot unavailing. Think it over, you parents whose children are be
ing handicapped and we'll forgive you if you use, lurid language
smelling of brimstone. t
Next week we will have no hesitancy in announcing that the
next-president of these United States has visited Lincoln during the
campaign. ,
Nebraska school children ought to know their state better than
they do. Teach Nebraska facts and history to Nebraska school
children ! '
Other states are developing their water powers. Nebraska,
with better opportunities than any of them, is frittering away
her time. . ' v - ..