CURT COMMENT ON TOPICS OF COMMON INTEREST
The Omaha Examiner is of the opinion that Governor Aldrich's the worse off it will be. This newspaper never did warm up to the
inaugural address did not contain one statesmanlike utterance. The county option question as a political issue, knowing full well that this
Omaha World-Herald was even more severe in its criticisms of the legislature would be unable to settle it one way or the other. If a
governor's address. "Demagogic" is the description given by the county option law is enacted its opponents will appeal to the refer-World-Herald.
"Suggests the mountebank," says the Examiner, endum, and we will have the old fight over again. If it is defeated
Of course only those blinded by bitter partisan prejudice, or those the supporters of such a policy will appeal to the initiative and ref
who define "per sonal liberty" as practically unbridled license, will endum. Because of this fact why not shove the bill to a final vote
agree with the two newspapers quoted above. On the other hand, without losing any time and then prepare to go through the whole
only those who believe that the successful candidate of their party struggle again. That's what we are up against,
can do no wrong will claim that Governor Aldrich's inaugural ad- , 1
dress was the address of a wise and far-seeing statesman. Among . "But it may be that this legislature will refuse to enact an in
other merits possessed by that address was the merit of brevity, itiative and referendum law,'' you say. We cannot conceive of the
Another merit was its plainness of speech, and its direct allusions legislature being guilty of any "such folly. Both parties are pledged
to several matters that the people of Nebraska are directly interested to it. The democrats have a clear majority in house and senate. If
in. While there doubtless are many who do not agree with the this legislature refuses to eact a satisfactory initiative and referendum
policies advocated by Governor Aldrich, it is quite certain that they law the democratic tickets for the next ten years to come will not
are not undecided as to where Governor Aldrich stands on these pol- poll enough votes to wad a shotgun.
icies.
From the Omaha Trade Exhibit, and other Omaha publica-
The World-Herald's comments are biased by politics ; the Ex- tions. we gather the pleasing information that during the year 1910
aminer's comments are biased by "booze." Perhaps no one is sur- Omaha manufacturing institutions turned out products aggregating
orised at the Examiner's fierceness, but the Wrorld-Herald could have iore than $200,000,000 in value. Of this amount beer and brewery
been fairer without in any degree lessening its fervor as a party or- products amounted to $4,056,000, or some $700,000 less than the
Can. Governor Aldrich may be narrow minded to a degree ; and he Omaha output of butter. If one unacquainted with actual conditions
aiay be actuated in a measure by resentment against some of the in Omaha were compelled to judge by newspaper frenzy and political
interests that so fiercely attacked him during the campaign. But this activity, one would have to render judgment to the effect that the
newspaper, whose editor certainly has no reason for feeling grateful "booze" industry comprised about four-fifths of Omaha's business. At
to Governor Aldrich, reads in that inaugural address the desire of a the slightest sign of interference with the brewery industry Omaha
man to render the best possible service to the whole people, not to throws thirteen kinds of fits. Yet we've never heard a whimpr from
special interests. the newspapers of that city when it was proposed to give the butter
industry a wallop by repealing the oleomargarine laws, although the
The governor's advice to the legislature not to play politics, and butter industry of Omaha is greater than the beer industry of Omaha
j rush the work of legislation and get through with it before the mid- by almost a million dollars a year. Even Omaha's soap industry is
die of March, is good, but of course it will not be heeded. The leg- three-fourths as large as her beer industry, but who ever heard of
islature will "play politics," and so will Governor Aldrich before he Omaha getting behind a propoganda to make everybody bathe reg
rets the executive chair fairly warm. He may not intend to now, but ularly in order to increase the demand for soap ? ,
has has considerable to learn about executive functions and oppor-
tunities. Beer and brewery products represents about 2 per cent of Omaha's
manufacturing industry. We are of the firm conviction that if Omaha
If the democrats of this state expect to retain the ground lost would confine her energies along the lines of "booze" promotion to
by the criminal foolishness of the last campaign, they must proceed- about that same percentage, she would prosper in a far greater de
al once to sit down hard upon the Douglas county delegation and gree. We mention this as one who loves Omaha, who spent a dozen
some of that delegation's allies from other counties. Individually happy years there, who looks upon it as the metropolis of the west,
some of the Douglas members are pretty good fellows, but as a whole and who believes that her future is greater than the mind of any pres
that delegation is not in especially good odor. It doesn't require par- ent-day man can conceive,
ticularly good eyesight to see corporation spots and splotches where-
er brewery stains are riot in evidence. The people of this state As regards the bank guaranty law in the language of Admiral
have demanded the initiative and referendum, which is bitterly op- Schley, "There is glory enough for all." Then why try to single out
posed by the corporations. The first thing the "combine" did was any individual, or any three or four individuals, to give the glory to?
to make Shoemaker of Douglas chairman of the committee to which Mr. Bryan sought to secure it in 1S94, but Joseph S. Bartley advo
ihis measure would, perforce, be referred and Shoemaker is rad- vated it in the presence of the writer in 1892. Charles O. Whedon
5cally opposed to the enactment of such a law. Then giving import- has favored it for many years. Judge Albert, who drew the law that
int committee chairmanships to Leidgh of Otoe and Sink ol Hall, has been upheld by the supreme court, deserves praise for his skill
"where corporation bills would be referred, is calculated to arouse the in framing the bill, but there were others who helped. The humblest
resentment of fair-minded men who, while opposed to corporation voter who made that law a test before he would vote for a legislative
baiting, are thoroughly committed to corporation regulation. candidate in 1908 is entitled to as much credit as anybody else.
The legislature of two years ago made some serious blunders, Our knowledge of banking is confined chiefly to standing in an
but on the whole it gave the people splendid service. The legislature humble position on the outside of the counter and asking for an ex
is again democratic, but if the present democratic legislature tages a tension, therefore we are not qualified to pass judgment upon the
single backward step from progressive lines, or evidences corpora- wisdom of the guaranty law. All we can do is to apply a modicum
tion taints in the least degree then farewell to all hopes of dem- of logic and common sense to the situation. The man who borrows
ocratic success in the future. money from a bank must give security. The man who deposits money
in a bank really loans money to the bank. If he must give security
If the committee apportionments in the house, made by the dem- when he borrows, why shouldn't he have some security when he
ocratic caucus,- are evidence of what the "wet" element calls fair- lends? This process of reasoning may not appeal to our good friends,
ness. then the sooner the "drys" cut loose and go it alone the better Dr. Hall and Beman C. Fox and S. H. Burnham and H. C. Free
't will be for the state and for the party. man. and doubtless they could knock the props out from under it
with ease and grace. . Personally this editor is not worrying a bit
The revolt against the domination of the Douglas delegation about the guaranty lawr. The time may come when he will be glad
broke loose early. It should have begun sooner, but if it is success- there is such a law upon the statute books, but just now the law
ful even now all will yet be well. Douglas county often bitterly be- isn't of the slightest personal interest to him. The only interest the
wails the fact that it does not stand well throughout the state, but editor has in the banking business is what he is called upon to pay
if the good people of Douglas were wise they would soon learn the every thirty or sixty days,
reason for this bad odor. After the awful dose forced down the
throat of democracy last fell by the democracy of Douglas, aided and Since writing the above the "Douglas combine" has received a
abetted by elements that know no party when their interests are at severe twist and presents a somewhat dilapidated condition. The
stake, the democracy of Douglas exhibits a wonderful "nerve" by democrats who want to do something more than merely play into
' even asking for limited recognition at this time. the hands of certain interests got together and hung the Indiana
sign on the "combine." The democratic majority should now buckle
There are some mighty wise political heads among the republi- down to business and give the people at large real service. There
can majority, and the may be trusted to take the fullest advantage are ninety-three counties in Nebraska,
of the situation that the democratic majority finds itself in at this ; .
time. If the democrats are wise they -will take hold of that county Another especially gratifying evidence of the sound financial
option question immediately and get rid of it. The longer it is evaded condition of this community is found in the quick sale of the trinity