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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1916)
W-rwmn?W:V The Commoner VOL. 16, NO. 10 p vwgnr-r -fir"7 "" ' Mi Nebraska EDGAR HOWARD ;)oino()i'ntic Candidate for Lieutenant-Governor During tho next legislative assembly In Ne braska will appear three problems for tho bet tormont of tho conditions of atf tho people of tho state, but particularly for tho betterment of tho condition of tho agricultural interests. Legislation will bo asked for to onablo tho peo plo to form public water-power, districts on Ne braska creeks and rivers for tho purpose of generating electricity and carrying it at low cost to tho homes and barns of tho farmers, as well as to tho homes and business houses in the towns. Anothor legislative problem will bo tho devising of a workable warohouso law, modeled upon tho principlo of our splendid law which guarantees tho doposite of money in tho stato banks. If wo could havo had such a law in Ne braska when tho wheat crop was harvested last summer tho farmers of tho state could havo savod millions of dollars which is now in tho pockets of tho big grain speculators? Thousands of farmors wero compelled to sell their grain whon tho prico was at the bottom, because they had no storage room for it, and many sold at ilfty cents a bushel less than they could havo re ceived if they had been able to hold tho grain a littlo whllo. Still another legislative problem confronting tho now legislature will be the demand for a maximum long-distanco telephone law, just like our present maximum telegraph law. riio law forbids a tolograph company to charge more than 25 conts for a ton-word messago between any two towns ir Nebraska, but the great Bos ton corporation which controls the long-distance tolophono business in Nebraska is allowed to charge as high as throe dollars for a three-minute phono messago between distant points in tho state. ' rtmtically every family has iolt the power of Utri bigcorporation to exact' unfair tribute, and the people will bo expecting the legislature to grant relief. It will bo well for all tho voters to talk to tho legislative candi dates about this needed legislation. Edgar Howard, tho democraia nominee for tho office of lieutenant-governor, is advo cating this proposed good legislation, and all Nebraskans who desire this legisla tionaccomplished should try to elect as lieutenant-governor tho man who has done more than any other to arouse public interest in these throo propositions which will mean so much of good to Nebraska if they can bo accomplished. GRANT L. SHUMWAY . Democratic Candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands and Buildings Mr. Shumway has all the qualifications neces sary to All the position of commissioner of public lands and buildings. In discussing the policies with whjch ho would have to deal if eloctod Mr. Shumway says: "I favor the invest ment of school and public moneys in securities within tho stato. Much Nebraska money has been Invested in bonds of Idaho and other states while we havo within pur own stato many latent resources, sleeping for lack of encouragement of capital to devejop them. Millions of dollars run annually to waste for want of money to dig ir rigation canals and develop fertile lands. The great central Nobraska project sleeps for that reason. Our lack of control of rivers and our undeveloped water power iff a far greater waste. Tho fall of the Platte is greater than ton Niag aras. "Why not invest all of Nebraska's millions in Nebraska school, road, county, municipal, in dustrial and community bond issues? Why not Invest at home instead of thousands of miles away, which always helps tho other fellow der. velop his industries? Why not invest in safe and sound securities where we can supervise tho investment instead of seeking 'invisible invest ments' somewhere in tho distance? Why not a water power development and the perpetual revenue from tho horso power developed? Why not havo million dollar institutions strung out across the state, continually pouring wealth into our stato treasury as taxes and revenues? "Tho income would support our stato institutions, build our highways and bridges, and do much more. "I believe in good roads and the construction thereof, keeping as far as possible within tho . smaller unit, each county and road district doing tho work within tho district. Overhead ex penses and top-heavy bureaus are dangers of centralization in road building. However, the stato heeds a system of trunk lines and the nation a system of transcontinental highways, and in this it will bo'necessary for co-operation. If elected I will be a member of the board of , state highway commissioners and will do my utmost that Nebraska secures its full proportion of tho sums appropriated by congress for good roads, without favor to anyone; such money to be expended under tho direction of local people. "The commissioner of public lands and build ings is a member of nearly every state board that has to do with the control of school lands, investment of public money, taxation, equaliza tion, irrigation, highways, bridges and drain age. Though considered one of tho minor offices of the state, it will be found to be -very important. "If elected, my services shall belong to tho state, and I hope it will mean something to tho taxpayers, aside from the constructive policies which I will help to promote." Grant L. Shumway should receive the support of every Nebraska voter who favors the develop ment of Nebraska's resources for the benefit of all tho people of the state. GEORGE E. HAMj Stato Treasurer of Nebraska . Mr. Hall, state treasurer of Nebraska, is a man who knows his own mind. Nobody who has watched things at the "State capitol closely during tho 'past year and a half will question that statement. It used -to be said of some men who served as state treasurer at different times that they were "bossecUfroin the- outside." No body has ever accused Hall of any such thing. Tho principal charge brought against Treasurer Hall by his critics, in fact, is just the reverse. It is that he "won't take advice." His friends-put it differently. They say: "When George Hall makes up his mind that a thing is right or wrong, he acts accordingly. He doesn't play politics in the way that many public officials do. He follows his convictions and doesn't stop to figure out what the political effect may bo upon himself." The state treasurer's office is a place where a man has to know his own mind if he is going to manage it with an eye single to the interests of the state and its people. He handles cash and securities amounting to $15,000,000 a year. He is responsible for a million or two of state funds deposited with banks. Treasurer Hall's requirement ' for county treasurers and state departments to pay all state funds into the treasury monthly (which was never done before) has made it possible for tho stato board of assessments to reduce the state taxes during 1915 and 1916 $1,000,000 lower than they wero for 1913 and 1914. Treasurer Hall's wise and careful handling of state funds entitle him to re-election. MR. BRYAN IN MONTANA From the Missoula, Mont, Missoulian, Sept. 25 Two Missoula crowds heard powerful address es by William Jennings Bryan yesterday, and though tho scanty moments between lectures wore monopolized by leaders of Montana dem ocracy most of tho day was dedicated to mat ters appropriate to the Sabbath. In neither of his addresses did Mr. Bryan speak of partisan issues. To both the, audiences he faced ho gave religious lectures, ree from any trace of party feeling. Before 3,000 people at the state university in tho afternoon he appealed for nation-wide wo man suffrage; denounced tho liquor traffic and sketched a plan for world peace, "based upon application of the philosophy of Jesus Christ In the evening, addressing all who could crowd into the spacious auditorium of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Bryan lectured on "The First Com mandment," rebuking the worship of false gods Governor SteWart accompanied Mr. Bryan to Missoula. The city's gueBt was -welcomed whole heartedly by admiring audiences. The great democrat's hold upon the popular imagination was revealed in the attention given his lectures and the sharp applause which greeted all he had to say. FROM COMMONER READERS Following are some of the letters received from Commoner readers: John J. Murphy, Williston, N. D.: You will find enclosed list of 2,500 voters from my county. I enclose draft for $62.50 to pay for sending the October issue of The Commoner to each name in this list. Edwin L. Durkin, New York City: Enclosed And check for $25 for wJiich kindly mail cam paign numbers of The Commoner into localities where they are most needed. I feel confident that the campaign of fact which you are carry ing on for the President is sure to prove effective and gain results in his re-election. Mr. J. W. Waddle, Roosevelt, Ariz.: I am en closing herewith $5 for which please renew my Commoner subscription for a year, and for tho balance of this money send extra copies of The Commoner into close congressional districts and close states, wherejt will be most helpful in the campaign. W. S. Ellis, Jonesboro, Ark.: I stopped out for a few moments today and made up a littlo club of subscribers, all in this town. Enclosed find my check for $8.40 to pay for the enclosed list of fifteen yearly subscribers. If I had the time I could get a thousand in a few days. I certainly hope the present administration will win, ont by a large majority. Xi. B. Lester, .Batesville, Miss.: Enclosed find check for $3.20 to pay for t.wo yearly subscrip tions at your campaign rate, and remaining $2 to be used to pay for eighty copies of The Com moner at 2 cents each you to mail them from your September or October numbers the papers to be mailed direct by you to forty per sons for the two different months, or eighty persons for one month in any doubtful or close state; if you do not have the names to send them direct then have the national committee supply you with such names. Of course I could supply the names but in Mississippi that would be a waste of money, as there is no doubt about how this state will go in the fall election. I want to get Mr. Bryan's facts and figures and logic into the hands of independent republicans and pro gressives in doubtful states. I consider that my small contribution expended in this manner will do more good, and bring more thinking men under the democratic banner than $100 expend ed on any other literature. W. P. Holmes, Sherlock,-Wisc: I am enclos ing check for $10, which represents donations to the democratic national campaign fund for my self ana Messrs. L. F. Dickert, L. S. Dell, J. W. Waterman and J. H. GarWick. In offering this donation it bespeaks our feeling in our great President and manifests our interest in the re election of Woodrow Wilson. It may be inter esting that the donators are commercial travel ers and we fear not to trust the future indus trial as well as social welfare of the nation to the care and guidance of our honorable Pres ident. U. S. G. Pettycrew, Dunkirk, Mont.: Enclosed find check for $5 for the Wilson campaign fund. I admire a man who has brains enough to make argument without abuse. To mmind abuse is the weapon of the hoodlum. D. Downey: Enclosed find $1.00, my contribu tion to the democratic campaign fund to help to continue in power the present administration, ' which is moving in the direction7 to again give to the people the governmental freedom which belongs to them. Copies of this issue desired for campaign use will be mailed in bulk or to separate addresses at the rate of 2 1 -2c per copy. Order early.