CURT COMMENT ON TOPICS OF COMMON INTEREST
The deaths of Arch Hoxsey and Moisant, the aviators, both on
the same day, calls renewed attention to the progress of aviation.
True the air machines have not -et been perfected, nor is it even
approaching the commercial stage, but progress has been marked
during the last two years. Those who are predicting that navigation
of the air will never be accomplished are either the original skeptics
concerning the telephone, the phonograph, the wireless and the X-ray,
or the lineal descendents of such. The day is not far distant when
navigation of the air will be as commonplace as navigation of the
oceans.
The attitude of the wake earners of Lincoln towards the pro
posed city charter was fairly well evidenced last Sunday by the reso
lutions adopted by Lincoln Typographical Union. That organiza
tion went on record unanimously as being opposed to the proposed
one-man power policy, coupled with the retention of a cumbersome
councilman ic body. The printers demand either a commission form
of government or a retention of the present form. That proposed
charter bill will receive short shrift when it comes before the tax
payers of the city.
been the scene of many pleasant and brilliant social functions. Time
was when the executive mansion was looked upon as a private resi
dence, but it is now admittedly more than that : As the "first lady of
the state" Mrs. Shallenberger threw open the mansion on every pos
sible occasion, and by her graciousness and wit she made herself de
servedly popular. Mrs. Shallenberger, with equal grace and social
diplomacy, increased the warmth of the mansion. Those who have
been privileged to be guests at the mansion during its occupancy by
Governor and Mrs. Shallenberger will always hold pleasant recollec
tions of a gracious host and a charming hostess.
It has been variously suggested that the ball room in the mansion
during Governor Aldrich's occupancy thereof be used for drying the
washing, for a chapel, for a store room, etc. Governor and Mrs.
Aidrich have their own peculiar views concerning social matters,
which views are entitled to respect. Mrs. Aidrich will doubtless
piove a gracious hostess, and those of us who have been permitted to
enjoy the hospitality of the executive mansion can wish for her no
greater honor than that of presiding over its social functions with the
charming grace and skill shown by Mrs. Sheldon and Mrs.-Shallen-berger.
1
Police Commissioner. Wappich of Omaha bemoans the fact
that a lot of money is being lost to Omaha because the city isn't
run on the wide-open basis. Perhaps a lot of contention in Omaha
could be avoided by appointing to the fire and police board men who
would enforce existing laws, regardless of their personal opinions
concerning the goodness or badness thereof. '
How long has it been since Nebraska has had a full-bearded
governor? If memory serves rightly Governor Furnas was the
last executive who wore a full beard, although Governor Crounse
came mighty near it. Governor Savage wore a bunch of whiskers
on his chin. Governors Sheldon and Shallenberger were minus
hirsute adornment, and Governor Aidrich also is content to go
without. Governor Boyd's mustache was his particular pride.
Governor Shallenberger and family will return immediately to
A-ma. where they will be warmly welcomed by the citizenship. We
venture the prediction here and now that at the first opportunity af
forded to the people of Nebraska they will call the ex-governor back
to official life. With a record as a chief executive that has no equal
in the state's history, with the knowledge borne by the people that he
was prevented from holding a second term by an alliance between
the most vicious elements of the state, and' knowing his splendid abil
ity and his unswerving honor knowing all these things the intelli
gent citizenship of this state will seize the first opportunity to again
secure the services of Ashton C. Shallenberger, and next time to an
office, of even greater dignity, though of no greater importance, than
the governorship.
The "sob squad" found mighty small comfort in the executive
cr-ambers during Governor Shallenberger s term. He did not waste
much time listening to sobbing appeals for executive clemency. Be
ing a thorough man of business he made the hearing of applications
for pardons a purely business affair, unbiased by personal appeals.
As a result there have been no pardon scandals connected with the
Shallenberger administration.
The Shallenberger administration has been above reproach in
every way. There has been no breath of scandal connect ed wjth the
i?anagemcnt of any state institution ; the deficiency claims will be far
Smaller than usual : the departments under the immediate supervision
oi the governor have been well conducted, and the retiring governor
sees the state in far better condition than it was when he assumed
the reins.
The proposed abortion, alleged to be a city charter, has been
most effectually squelched. The squelching process was presided
over and managed hv Charles W. Brvan. for which service hp is en
titled to the thanks of the voters of Lincoln, and especially the wage,
earners. Mr. Bryan has the right idea. The legislature should enact
a law permitting every municipality to frame its own charter, subject
only to constitutional limitations. What do the people of Omaha
know about the wishes and desires of the people of Lincoln in the
matter of municipal government, and vice versa? Under present
conditions it would seem that each city is intent on forcing the other
to accept something it does not want.
The Industrial Review issued by the State Journal on January
1 was not only a credit to that newspaper, but it-made a remarkably
geod showing for. the Capital City. The year IS 10 was one of the
best in Lincoln's history, and the Journal's review covered the facts
in a most interesting and convincing manner.
Lincoln wants a commissiion form of government; and those who
sought to "stall it off' by framing up the ridicuous proposition that
has just been squelched can not prevent it. There will be a bill drawn
and presented providing a charter for Lincoln that will mean a real
commissiion system. It will not be drawn by the representatives of
corporations on the one side, nor by dreamers on the other. It will
be drawn by men who favor the commission plan, and whose object
and aim is to give Lincoln what it wants in the best possible shape
There will be no fol-de-rol of joint committees: it will be drawn by
hard-headed men who know what they want, know what the people
want, and know how to draft a charter.
W hat we would like to see is some method adopted whereby
these big "Jauary Clearing Sales" could be hung up until some time
when we had the money to take advantage of them. But how'n
launder is a man with a big family to provide for at Christmas time
j;omg to have any money left over to go shopping with the first
week in lanuarv?
'Be and the same is hereby repealed" should be the chief slogan
of the legislature. Already we are suffering from an over supply of
''Be it enacted."
Two years ago John Porsan of Chicago was working on a
scaffold in a brewery. The scaffold fell, precipitating Porsan into
a vat of beer, the beer being nine feet deep. Porsan was drowned.
The other day his widow secured judgment for damages in the
sum of $SOO0C The more you read this paragraph, the more you'll
wonder.
What will probably be the last dancing party in the executive
mansion for two years was held there Tuesday evening of this week,
tbe occasion being a military ball and reception tendered by Gov
ernor and Mrs. Shallenberger to the governor's staff. The evening
was delightfully spent by those permitted to be present.
During Mrs. Shallenberger's reign, over the executive mansion
she has achieved marked success as a hostess and the mansion has
In his valedictory message Governor Shallenberger recommended
an increased appropriation for the department of labor. The recom
mendation should be concurred in. It may not be generally known,
but the manufactured products of Nebraska in 1910 amount to prac
tically 0 per cent as much as the total agricultural production. It
should be remembered too. that the number of people earning a liv
ing upon farms in Nebraska is not as large as the number of people
earning a living apart fr$m the farms. Nebraska is growing as a
manufacturing state. It has upwards of 30.000 people working in
mills, shops and factories, many of them women. These people are
entitled to as much protection as the hogs and cattle of the state.
There are other thousands working in stores and offices, and these,
too. are entitled to protection. We have laws providing for the pro
tection of cattle from infection, but no laws providing for the safe
guarding of machinery or the protection of workers in our mills and
factories. We spend thousands in holding chicken shows and cattle
shows and bee shows and all sort of thing all necessary and serving
excellent purposes but not a cent is allowed whereby men and wo
wen who work for wage get together to discuss plans for their own
social and financial betterment.
We believe in farmers' institutes. They are a grand thing. But
while the state is paying for holding farmers institutes why not also
l &y for "'wage earners institutes," and give the men and women who
work for wage a chance to learn how they may better their coadi-