The Commoner.
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VOLUME 12, NUMBER 51
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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY ,
Entered at the Postofllce at Lincoln, Nebraska,
an Bi'Cond-claHS matter
111 1M J. I JtYAN
I dJtor and Proprietor
FlOMTlII 1. MTCAI.KK
Atuwlalr Fdltor
ClIAJU.KS . I RYAN
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln. Neb.
A NEW YEAR'S SENTIMENT
"I know of a land that is sunk in shame
Of hearts that faint and tire
But I know A NAME, A NAME, A NAME
That can set that land on fire!"
made as railway promoter and stock operator
was one of the first of those great aggregations
of private wealth which startled America. At
his death in 1892, when this vast sum went
to his children, Helen Gould's share was in the
neighborhood of $10,000,000. Invested in the
Gould properties that her brothers control, this
has now multiplied to something like $30,000,
000. Her life she is as busily devoting to its dis
tribution as did her father to its acquisition.
Seven secretaries are employed to help her in
the office suite that she has set apart in her
mansion at the corner of Fifth avenue and
Forty-seventh stret. Here she works at her
desk eight hours a day, while cards of regret
represent her at the dinners and teas and lun
cheons that diversify feminine existence all
about her.
Tho first appearance of the Gould money in
philanthropy dates back to a" short time before
the death of Jay Gould when he subscribed
$10,000 to the cause of missions. New York
was stunned at the announcement. It was
known that his gift was actuated by love for
his daughter Helen, who had asked him to do
it. Next he gave $45,000 to New York uni
versity towards purchasing its present -site on
Washington Heights.
During her father's lifetime Miss Gould in
variably accompanied him on his business trips
over the Gould railroad lines. When the Y. M.
C. A. movement among railroad men came to
her notice, she exclaimed, "This is the improve
ment that the Gould xailroads most need."
Straightway she endowed the work with $100,
000 and employed a secretary to organize it.
Now as a monument to her interests, the Gould
Toads have at thirty points clubhouses for their .
men. Tho latest one is the $400,000 building
which she has given to St. Louis.
With the outbreak of the Spanish-American
war there appeared "the wrong that needs re
sistance." It appealed to Helen Gould's pa
triotism. She could not enlist to fight for the
cause that called to her heart, but she could
Very effectively provide the sinews of war. She
sent the government her check, for $100,000.
When she looked about her for another outlet
for her unlimited zeal, she found the soldiers
encamped at Montauk Point sick and suffering
for supplies which the government had not been
able to provide the nurses and doctors in charge.
They needed much that money could buy. She
bought it to tho extent of $25,000. Then. she
spent $25,000 more through the Woman's Na
tional War Relief association in providing for
. soldiers who had to be nursed back to health
after their discharge from the service.
Helen Gould's beneficence has brought her
recognition that is unlquo in history, and it has
bem in spitQ of her protest. With" a shrinking,
feminine timidity to which, publicity is positively
painful, she haa begged to be allowed to go
about her philanthropy in so quiet a way that
her left hand should not know weu her right
The Haman and Gibbet Story Referred
to by Governor Wilson
The story of Haman and the gallows upon
which ho was hanged is told in the concluding
chapters of tho Book of Esther, beginning with
the rise of Haman in the favor of King
Ahasuerus, who, the Bible says, resigned "from
India even unto Ethiopia." Wlun Haman had
strengthened his position with the king he
sought to destroy the Jews in the 127 provinces
over which Ahasuerus ruled.
After Haman's plans were made known to
Queen Esther, she, acting upon the advice of
Mordecai, her father, induced the king to ac
cept an invitation to a banquet which she pro
posed to give to Haman and the king. When
Haman received the invitation he was so elated
with the honor of dining alone with the king and
queen he went "home, gathered his wife and kins
men about him and boasted of his position at
court. However, he declared, his power was
not safe so long as Mordecai was honored by
Ahasuerus.
Haman's wife, Zeresh, feeling confident of her
husband's ability to carry out his plans to
destroy the Jews, suggested that Haman build
a gallows 50 cubits (about 75 feet) high, and
on the following day to induce the king to hang
Mordecai on it.
Work on the gallows apparently was rushed,
for the next day it was ready.
At the banquet, which was described as "a
banquet of wine," the king was so well pleased
he told Esther to ask what she would, even to
half his kingdom. The queen then disclosed to
him the details of Haman's plot to kill the Jews
through the provinces. The situation apparently
was a warm one for Haman, for the narrative
says, "Then Haman was afraid before the king
and the queen."
Ahasuerus stalked into the palace garden to
reflect, leaving Haman and the queen alone.
When he returned he evidently had decided what
to do, for a courtier promptly suggested the
manner of disposing of Human. The narrative
continues:
"And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains,
said before the king, 'Behold, also, the gallows,
50 cubits high, which Haman had made for Mor
decai, who had spoken good for the king, stand
ing in the house of Haman.' Then the king said,
'Hang him thereon.' So they hanged Haman on
the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.
Then was the king's wrath pacified."
The king, at the request of Esther, then set
apart one day of the year on which all the
Jews in all the provinces were permitted to
attack and slay their enemies. On the first
celebration they hanged Haman's ten sons on
the gallows. The occasion became known as
the Feast of Purim. St. Louis Times.
hand did it. So far as possible she has done
this, but many of her gifts have loomed so
large on the public view that they could not be
hid. In gratitude she has been hailed with that
acclaim with which we are wont to greet a
presidential idol or a naval hero, but never be
fore a woman.
THE BEST GIFT
At this season of the year, when the hearts
of the young are gladdened by receiving', and
the hearts of those who are older are made to
glow with new warmth by the bestowing of gifts,
let us not forget the example of him in whose
memory we celebrate Christmas. HE GAVE
HIMSELF.
Trinkets bought with money serve a purpose,
and articles of use, wrought by loving hands,
give pleasure, but after all the need of the world
is SERVICE, and back of service is LOVE.
"Though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not love, it proflteth me nothing."
Christ came to bring LIFE as well as immor
tality to light; He came that we might have
life and have it more abundantly.
We give most when we link ourselves in. lov
ing sympathy with our fellow men when we
share their hopes and aspirations, rejoicing"
with them when they rejoice and mourning with
them when they mourn. Then we realize the
meaning of the words of the Master: "All ye
ate brethren." Then we heed the command
ment: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self.". This Christmas was rich in blessings in pro
portion aB it lead us to give OURSELVES, and
thus help to make life more abundant for those
about us.
A LATE DAY REPORT
Now toward the cIobo of the republican, ad
ministration we are getting some interesting dis
closures. Mr. Taft's commissioner of corpora
tions reports that the American people are in
the grip of a giant transportation monopoly.
Many people will think it strange that the Taft
administration did not sooner make this dis
covery and apply the remedy.
An Associated Press dispatch from Washing
ton says: Railroad companies and steamship
combinations control the regular steamship lines
of the United States and have destroyed com
petition on many of the water highways of com
merce, declares Luther Conant, jr., commis
sioner of corporations, in a report to President
Taft. The revelations of the report, based upon
an extensive investigation, force upon the
federal government, says the commissioner, tho
consideration of further regulation of joint rail
and water traffic. In practically all the coast
wators of the country, it is declared, railroad or
steamship consolidations dominate water trans
portations. Their control of both through pas
senger and package freight trade is especially
striking, says Commissioner Conant, on the
Atlantic and gulf coasts and on the great lakes.
Water lines along the eastern seaboard, ho
adds, have become to a large extent auxiliaries
or subsidiaries of railroads. While competition
exists in greater measure on the Pacific coast,
the commissioner points out important in
stances of railroad control there. It is a strik
ing fact, says Commissioner Conant, that be
tween a number of the more important ports on
the Atlantic and gulf coast there is only a
single regular service.
The principal features of Commissioner Co
nant's report are as follows:
Railroad companies and steamship combina
tions control the regular domestic steamship
lines of the United States, destroying much
competition.
Water lines along Atlantic and gulf coasts
to large extent are auxiliaries or subsidiaries of
railroads.
- New Haven system charged with attempting
to suppress competition on Long Island sound.
New' Haven system and the Eastern Steam
ship company, in which I the railroad is a stock
holder, control New York city-New England
traffic.
Southern Pacific Jb declared to have shown a
disposition to restrict steamship competition on
the Atlantic coast.
Railroads own tho important through passen
ger and package freight lines on the great lakes.
Some competition on the Pacific coast, but
Tailroad control also is found there.
Important hard coal fleets on North Atlantic
coasts owned by few great anthracite railroads.
Railroads control 90 per cent of mileage of
private canals and have caused many such
waterways to be abandoned.
Westbound business on Erie canal virtually
controlled by railroads; and eastbound busi
ness has been largely diverted to the railroads.
Further federal regulation of Joint rail ana
water traffic suggested.
' ! .11 l...l .. I
THE CLOUDBURST
Born 'mid the crags and spires
Of the-lofty mountain peak. .
Born 'mid the lightning's fires,
Tho dusty rains t seek.
Down through the forest spaces
I rush like an angry steed;
Tis the maddest of all mad races
Let those in my path take heed.
Where are the bonds to hold me?
Over the banks I foam;
Away from the heights that foaled me
I dash for my sea-salt home.
In vain shall they try to, head, me-
My course is clar e'er the plain;
Mark how "the ftrfcveat dread me
The avalanche of the rain.
Arthur Chapman, in Denver Republican.
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