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About The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907 | View Entire Issue (June 11, 1903)
12 -- THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT JUNE 1 1, 1903. THE EFFECTIVE BALLOT A an Introduction to the Subject Mr. Wakefield Points Oat Soma Dafvcta of tha Presanl System Editor Independent: To the thor ough student of eociology nothing is more surprising than the zeal of many reformers in urging measures which can be ocured only through the political voice of the people, yet utterly ignoring tne necessity of mak ing the peoples wishes effective at the ballot box. To obtain and to re tain any truly democratic measure re quires a tmlv uemocratic form of government a" form through which the people as a whole can speak ef fectivelycan voice their wishes in legislation can have equal voice !a congress and legislature and in se lection of executive officials. To say we now have this form of govern ment, this system of registering th 3 people's will, is to display gross is-? norance of the science of govern ment. We rely too much upon the wisdom of our revolutionary forefathers, for getting that they had been reared and educated under the British mon archy and had no democratic model from which to copy. We also forget that there was in the constitutional convention a strong and able tory, or aristocratic element, led by Hamil ton, Dickinson and others, who be lieved that "government is the bus!-, ness of the rich and well .born," and not of the masses. It is no accident that Alexander Hamilton Is today the patron saint of the republican party, or that that party hates Jefferson, th i father of American freedom, the mai who said he was not afraid to trust the common people with the power of self-government, the man who so cured the first ten amendments and bill of rights, all there is of liberty !;u our national government, and did '.t against the active opposition of Ham ilton and his monarchist followers. WHAT IS AN EFFECTIVE BAL LOT? , An effective ballot is a ballot that affects something one that is effec tive in the legislative and executive functions of government, one that gives the voter a representation in the government under which he lives and upon the character of which his wel fare depends. To say that a ballot cast for a de feated candidate, cr that is wasted la piling up a useless majority any ma jority of more than fifty-one per cent -is an effective one, is to trifle with words, to distort language. How the average voter would rage to be told when trying to vote that he had been disfranchised, yet he will cheerfully deposit a ballot for candidates he knows cannot be elected, or which do I; ot represent his views if they ars elected, or waste his vote in piling up an unnecessary majority. A ballot is effective only when cast for an elected candidate, and not then if the candidate was elected or the measure carried without its help if it was unnecessary, one more than a majority. Even the monarchies of Europe d not elect by a minority plurality, is we do. but require a second ballot be tween the two highest candidates when there is no majority on nrst ballot. ,As a matter of fact, we rarely elect congressmen, legislators, or state ot firers. bv a maioritv vote, but by a plurality only, this- plurality being usually a minority or tne wnoie vow, leaving the majority of voters total ly unrepresented in fie government .When we remember that this mi nority plurality is cast for candidates and measures dictated by a few ieaci rrs in control of a political machine, we see how much we lack of having "a government of. by. and for thvi people," and how Boss Hanna, B033 Piatt. Boss Aldrich. Boss Quay, etc., retain their power to plunder the people. "Of course the majority should rule. ' is the popular maxim, but ma jority rule Is practically impossible so long as rs continue to elect by 1 nluralitv. Not since 1888 has the state of Kansas elected a state government nor a majority of congressmen by a majority vote, though fusion has been resorted to to prevent republicans electing by a minority plurality. Though it be true that th majority should eovern. yet : does not tonow that, minorities should be unrepre sented, nor that their right to be heard in legislative councils is lesn sacred than that of the majority, ai r.rnarrpss originates in a minority- usually with a single person at first, and it is a mistake to deprive these progressive minorities of a voice In rminril until they h?ve become a ma jority plurality. - All shades of new thought should be heard. W. H. T. WAKEFIELD, Mound City, Kas. Five months trial trip, 25c. Twenty-second annual meeting of Nebraska state pharmaceutical asso ciation adjourned at Grand Island, Thursday. Officers elected: President, Charles E. Hopping of Beaver City; Oscar Baumann of Grand Island, sec retary; Carl Spielman, Sutton, treas urer; first vice president, Charles Wilson of Brock; second vice presi dent, P. G. Frandesen, Elba; third .Ice president, Carl Phelan of Shel by; fourth vice president, W. Shup pach, Columbus; fifth vice president, C. W. Root of Tec-mseh. The follow ing were recommended to the state board of pharmacy as members for the board of examiners: Short term, E. II. Dort, Auburn; W. Shuppac-V Columbus; C. W. itoot, Wolbaeh; Ions term, Harry Harper, Beatrice; George Barth, Lincoln; W. M. Tonner, Lynch. Cattle Ranches Make Geod Mwney Here 13 a ranch in Keith county wfth 1,400 acres: of deeded land and. U4D acres of scnooi lana leasea; 11 miles from Ogallala and 2 miles froru postoflice. One mile south of the 'latte river; the alfalfa land is sec ond bottom Platte valley that nevsr overflows; in an excellent neighbor hood and near good school. One-third of the land is smooth, one-third roll- ng and one-third rough not bluffs. but rough. 30U acres, of this is first-. class alfalfa land; 130 acres under cultivation; 80 acre3 in alfalfa, 30 n orghum, 20 in corn. Good bundin&b, sheds, etc., in fact every convenience or handling cattle. The ranch Will hanoie 200 to 300 head of cattle the e.tr around wilii 'tne rcsent acreage of alfalfa and with more alfalfa wi'J handle more cattle. Price of the ranch just as it stands, $10,000. Caa give time on $3,000 of this if desired. Owner also has 100 head of cows with calves that he .will sell at market price if desired. A gilt-edged ranch propo sition that no one should overlook. This Is No. 724. Here is 1,650 acres of deeded land. nearly all choice bottom on the Re publican river in Hitchcock county; alfalfa land some now growing as a test. There goes with thi3 a lease to one section of school land. Ex ceptionally good frame buildings. Fenced and cross fenced; 350 acre under cultivation. An ideal ranch proposition and this land will doubla n value in a few years. Price com plete, $19,000. This is No. 713. This is a ranch In Dawes county of 5,280 acres of deeded land and three sections leased adjoining; 36 miles ot ence; improvements are good, frame buildings; cuts 1,000 tons of hay; 600 acres fine bottom that will raise al falfa; never failing running water. No sand hills in this deal and everv bot of the land would make good farms. Price $5 per acre. We have another ranch near this in Box Butte county of 6,400 acres deeded -land, x4 miles from Alliance, fenced and cross fenced and cuts 2,01)0 tons of hay; this ranch owned by a banker and no ex pense has been spared to make it the very best. Price, $5 per acre. A splendid ranch In Perkins county; 800 acres deeded land; 200 acres in cultivation; smooth land, good black soil and will raise anything; 9-room house that cost $2,500, 4 barns, ono 38x44, one 14x44, one 22x36 and one 12x24, all frame; old house 30x36., suitable for tenant; cribs, granary, coal house, repair shop, etc Cattle barn 36x46, 4 corolls, 2 wells and wind mills, etc. Ranch will handle 400 head of cattle annualy and has done so for several years past 8 miles from Vernango. The present owner has lived here for 17 years and has built up the ranch for a home; has maue all his money here and as his children are all grown and married ho wants to move to town. Price of the ranch complete, $10,000. He has 70 head of shorthorn cattle and 25 head of horses that he will sell if desired, worth $5,000. No. 683. We have ranches large and small and at all price? : can suit any one and save buyers money. Write us just what you want and allow us to submit some of our bargains. WEBER & FARRIS, Lincoln, Neb. Two Systems Wn hi (A Lincoln gentleman, who is net much enthused with the idea of a doti ble telephone system in this city, handed The Independent the follow ing clipping from an towa paper, with a request that it be reproduced The "sweet singer" of Moline is one of tha promoters of the new system here. Ed! Ind.) It takes a good deal of hard luck to persuade some people, says the Da v enport, la., Democrat, but by the per sisnt hammering of stubborn facts into them they finally get wisdom. It hurts when it comes hard in that way, but it comes to stay when l. comes. . Two or three years ago Moline could not wait till she got a new tele phone exchange. ndtening to the siren song of that sweet singer, Frank L. Bills, she believed that all she had to do was to give him a franchise, and tnen proceed to talk over a nice, new, "independent" exchange, and throw away the Central Union Telegraph company's instruments. Bills sail that this happened everywhere he came down to earth. Whenever he lit the grasping Bell monopoly withered away like Jonah's gourd, and the new "independent" exchange took the bus iness at less than half the rates and paid as high as 36 per cent dividend?. Those are the very showings he made r-gnt there in the office of the Demo crat And Moline believed him. The first thing that Moline's trust ful souls discovered was that not all the Central Union , telephones wero taken out. Then they found that the promises of limitless toll line cot nections through the new exchange were all wind. Then they discovered that the instruments of the new ex change were worse than the old ones, and demanded a change. Then the found that they couldn't; get service with much of anybody outside Moline. And at last they have come to u. conclusion that the Democrat was right when it told them that thoy would be simply saddling themselves with the burden of two exchanges, higher rates, and no better service. The Mail of Wednesday evening talks down in the mouth after this fashion ;. "After months of agitation of the telephone situation in Moline mem bers of the Retail Merchants' assocla-; tion at their meeting last evenimj faced the situation as it is and not as they hoped it would be. "They found that all the efforts cf the past had firmly fastened upon the bac- of the municipality the burden of a double telephone system, and they were unable to see how there is to be a change. Under the present circum stances the only thing they could see to do is to have both systems. "The directors of the association at their meeting declared that they were ready to order out the old telephones at once and the question was put to tie membership. Many declared their willingness to do so If the new sys tem would put in better transmitters and meet its promises of good service Others declared that as the situation s at present they would not abandon the old instruments because they could not cover the field in the new. The meeting was evenly divided be- twesn the old and the new, and 1 larger number declared themselves compelled to have both. "This will probably end the tele phone fight as far as the merchants are concerned unless the future de velops something new." Farmers.ftttention! Do you wish to sell your farm? If so, send full description, lowest price and best terms. Or, if you wish to buy a farm, ranch or Lincoln home, write to or call on Williams & Bratt, 1105 O st, Lincoln, Neb. K. L. Gaylord, Arthur, la.: I would be willing to spend some time cir culating The Independent, but the av erage Iowa mullet head is so well sat isfied with the "unprecedented pros perity" that he won't read ar.ythiiig that does not bear the g. 0. p. label. leaving voted for Abe Lincoln, Peter Cooper, Jim Weaver, and twice for W. J. Bryan, I confess to being disgustel and discouraged. Names of Farnws Ytatad Tha Missouri Valley Farmer wants name and addresses of farmers anywhere ia tha want. Thoy want to get them interested in thair big farm atajraaiae which now has a circulation of oyer 100,600 copies nnd is acknowledged to be tha best farm paper m the West. The subsorip tiaa a iaa is 50c per year, but if you will send them Ira farmers' names aud addresses aad tun eeats in stamps or siWor they will enter yon as a saasoriber fully paid fur a wholfl year. Ad dress Ma. Valley Farmer. Tcpika, Ks. W. I. Stephen of Ord, Neb., had 2 cars of nice fat heifers on the South Omaha market the 10th inst. that brought the fancy price of $4,75. Th jy were sold by the Nye & Buchanan Co. The total receipts of cattle, hogs and sheep received by this enterprising firm last month were more than fifty cars above the total received by any other firm. Particularly - low are the rates to Colorado which will be in force early in July. Detailed Information as to through car service, cost of tickets, etc., win be furnished by nearest Rock Island ticket agent, or by writing F. H. BARNES, 1045 O st. Lincoln, Neb. Our friend, Jess Miner" of . Friend. Neb., sends us a communication of his clipped from the Friend Tele graph giving some interesting remin iscences relative to the civil war, in which he was one of the boys thai wore the blue. Miner is one of tho populist stand-bys and never fails' at: a state convention to have the civil war veterans stand up and be counted for the cause of right and justice. , Send an order to the Farmers'. Gro cery Co. for one of their combination orders of groceries. Hundreds of our readers, have found thejr combination bargains exactly as represented and entirely satisfactory. Mention TIi? Independent H. I. Little, Dayton, Ark.: The In dependent is to be commended for it J outspoken opposition to corruption if: church and state. The churches gen erally are as rotten as the two old parties. Cry aloud and spare not Give us a gospel sermon occasionally like that in last week's paper. God give us men. A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, trua faith, and steady hands. Men whom the lust of office doca not kill; Men whom the spoils of office, cannot buy; . Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor and will not lie. Improve the Vacation. The summer vacation is the 'opportune time to start your son or daughter in the study of music. If already started the summer months offer the greatestamount of leisure time for study and practice. Get a proper instrument, piano or organ, and give them the opportunity to acquire a musical education. The Prescott Music Co. of this city are offering some excellent bargains in high grade instruments. See their ad on another page. You will find the com pany reliable and honest in their deal ings. Write them fully as to your needs. E. J. Benton, 250 E. Church st, Macon, Ga.: As long as the columns of The Independent are open for the free discussion of the vital questions affecting our common interest, I am glad to support it. I do not see how we can move the republican adminis tration until the true democracy and the populists unite. Cleveland Hill, Gorman and Parker, along with o ir Senator John T. Morgan as well, also gentlemen of the opinions similar to Henry Watterson's, are all connected with the republican familya crovd of fawning "poor relations." I am puzzled whom to trust. In truth : feel somehow Hearst is unsound at heart. Would prefer men who had risked and won, or risked and lost iom Johnson, Carter Harrison, Bryan. J. C. Chambers, Holbrook, Neb.: I am thankful I can read the best inde pendent paper published. Feel likj writing some and expressing my views on certain subjects, but I am a pojr speller. (It would astonish Mr. Chambers to know that plenty of col lege professors can double discount him in poor spelling yet they have no hesitancy about rushing into print. The secret is: They let the editor look after the spelling and that is what Mr. Chambers should do. Come ahead with your views. Associate Editor.) Perry D. Plain, Atwater. 111., wouU like to . correspond with some first class printer who would publish a small paper. ROCK ISLAND SYSTEM. LOW RATE BULLETIN No need to stay at home THIS summer. All sorts of low rates are offered by the Rock Island and thev pnply to all sorts of places. No1 these: To California, in June, July and August To Colorado, in June, July and August To Detroit and Boston, in July. H. E. De Blanc, New Iberia, La.: I consider The Independent and The Commoner the very best papers pub lished in Ihe United States and will not stay without them. I wish ev ery citizen in the co:inty would sub sprite T; trcm and adopt the prin ciples they advocate. IV st'"?n. to be th general telief that we cannot shun a revolution in this country. Well, if so. we better begin to prepare fci it light now and pick good and able men to put at the head of it We nr. iv rest assured that the money pow er is already prepared to fight us. J. P. Bridger, Mt Airy, Ga.: I could get 50 subscribers for The In dependent here if the people wers able to take it. They are actually not able. Keep on hitting the ras cals and especially these hypocriti -.a! money kings arid the injunction bu:',i ness. I do wish the people could un derstand it and were able to buy anl read your paper.