The Nebraska Independent
DECEMBER 27, 1906
governor's chair in spite of the Roose
velt wave that swept everything be
fore it that year.
The public grasped the idea. Its
influence upon thera was apparent at
once. The vote that was cast for Mr.
Berge convinced the republican lead
ers that they must beat an immediate
retreat from the railroad camp or the
people would rally behind Berge and
inake him governor and put the re
publican party out of business-.
What caused tho somersault of the
republican leaders on the pass ques
tion? The answer is, the people had
caught on to the idea that men. who
accepted passes from the railroads
could no longer be trusted to give them
justice as against the demands of
the railroads. The people had at last
began to understand that the men who
rode on passes were not-to be trusted
to nominate candidates for ofllce that
would be distasteful to railroad pass
distributors. Hence the republican
leaders realized that they must give
up their passes and have their party
declare against them.
Note the result. In the campaign
of this year all parties declared
against the pass evil, and no man
could be elected to the legislature,
outside of Omaha and Lincoln, who
was known to ride on a pass. The
. incoming legislature is pledged to
abolish the pass evil, and it is a fore
gone conclusion that a law will be
enacted that will limit, if not destroy,
the insidious bribe that has been so
.potent a factor in the politics of the
state, that the railroads have enjoyed
the privilege of plundering the people
ad libitum.
THE WEST AND THE SUBSIDY
BILL
(From; the Milwaukee Journal)
It is a very significant fact that two
of the hardest workers for subsidy
are men who were unable to persuade
their constituents to renominate them
for congress. They are Grosvenor of
Ohio and Minor of Wisconsin. They
. will vote for a subsidy bill in any
form, notwithstanding they represent
states that can in no way be benefited
by a subsidy law. Subsidies are not
popular in this country, and it is safe
to say that other advocates of the
scheme will be left at home by their
constituents when opportunity is af
forded. It is in the power of representatives
from the great middle west to defeat
subsidy legislation if they will assert
their independence and overcome
their fears. Wisconsin ought to do
her full share toward -accomplishing
this end. Congressman Minor is hope
less, it seems, but the people should
make their wishes so plainly known
that no other representative from this
state will dare to give his influence
and vote for a measure that is so un
just and so opposed to sound public
policy. Let your congressman know
what you think about subsidies and do
what you can to prevent this proposed
iniquity.
THE WESTERN COAL FAMINE
(From the New York World)
In North Dakota there Is a coal
famine. Two families have already
dM froiK Inability to obtain fuel,
although amply able to buy It if any
could be had. Widespread suffering
and inconvenience from lack of coal
are reported from half a dozen states,
yet there has been no shortage in
the season's output. The winter has
not been unusually severe and snow
blockades have not been numerous.
The fault is with the railroad compa
nies, notwithstanding their complaints
about a scarcity of cars.
Coal is a low grade, easily handled
freight, but does not yield as large a
revenue as some other freight. Con
sequently it is likely to be sidetracked
to make room for more profitable
business.
The car-shortage complained of un
doubtedly exists in some cases. But
that is , no excuse for not hauling
abundant supplies of a necessary of
life even though the roads through
inadequate equipment cannot earn as
much money that way as on some
other- grades of freight.
American railroad managers seem
capable of learning almost anything
except their obligations as common
carriers to the public.
THEN AND NOW
(From Philadelphia Public Ledger)
Before the United States acquired
the Philippine islands this country
was in an absolutely impregnable pos
ition. Since the seizure and annexa
tion of those distant island the mili
tary position of immeasurable strength
has been at one stroke absolutely re
versed. No country, and not all the' powers
and nations of the earth combined,
would have dared to think of a war
excursion across the Atlantic or the
Pacific against the United States.
America's position was absolutely un
assailable, but with the acquisition of
the Philippines she has given hostages
to any enemy; because, though "all
things are possible to Americans,"
even they would tax all their resources
and all their power and all their
strength if they were to attempt to
conduct a combat with a first class
power at a distance of 8,000 miles
across seas from , their base of sup
plies. There is, of course, ao war on the
horizon, but it is safe to say that
these, our first fruits of colonialism
and foreign adventure, when- tbey are
coldly considered, will give pause to
the American people and to a:iy sane
administration in the future when the
subject of the fate of the Philippines
is to be calmly considered.
MR SHAW'S FINE DISTINCTION
(From the New York Evening Post)
Secretary Shaw's explanation of bis
"prosperity speech" of last Thursday,
at a Washington banquet, is marked
by great subtlety. He did not, he
replies, give any such advice as "Get
down on your knees tonight and pray
God to save this country from its
prosperity." What he did say was,
"We who pray should ask God to save
ua from any increased prosperity; we
have all we can stand." Whether
there is or is not any difference,
economic or theological, between those
two pious sentiments, we imagine that
many, even of the secretary's admir
ers, have already reminded him to
apeak for himself In such itiUonx,
and not for other people. There are
always Jerry Crunchers with an ill
natured objection to people suspected
of "prayin' agin them." The further
exposition by Mr. Shaw, that "we
are growing more crops than we can
harvest, and harvesting more than
we can haul to market," would appear
to mean a hint, in the nightly petition
that a little adversity be granted us.
Public prayers in the churches for
bad weather at harvest time, for in
stance, might carry out the idea effectively.
THE "BACON DOCTRINE"
(From the Providence, R. I., Journal.)
More important than the ratifica
tion of the Algeciras treaty by. the
senate was the adoption by that body
of Senator Bacon's resolution declar
ing that this country has "no purpose
to depart from the traditional Amer
ican foreign policy which forbids par
ticipation by the United States in the
settlement of political questions which
are entirely European in their scope."
Although, as the resolution says, this
non-interference In European concerns
is a traditional tenet of American
policy, it might be difficult to point
out an occasion upon which It has
been affirmed in so clear and author
itative a manner; and if we are to
maintain the Monroe doctrine, which
aims at the continued exclusion of
Europe from' participation in the
affairs of the western hemisphere
except so far as that privilege now
exists it follows as a natural infer
ence that we should not interfere in
European problems. In time the Ba
con doctrine may become as familiar
as the Monroe doctrine, and prove as
salutary in maintaining a just inter
national balance.
The people demand the enactment)
of an honest primary law, minus alt j
political jokers.
If samples of Nebraska weather
could be exhibited in the eastern
states, the state soon would be over
whelmed with winter boarders.
The primary law should contain a
provision penalizing non-voting. The
state has the right to compel voters
to perform their political duties in
the interest of good government. The
result of the enforcement of such a
provision would be wholesome.
If the Incoming legislature redeems
its pledges to the people of the state
in good faith it will be the means of
saving approximately $20,000,000 per
year now paid in excessive freight
rates. The people must keep a close
watch on their members and call
them down, if detected in playing at
the old game of politics.
Probably Mr. Rockefeller and the
other very pious gentlemen at the
head of tho Standard Oil trust will
not be feazed or troubled a bit by
these later revelations of setting up
dummy oil corporations In various
parts of the country for the purpose
of keeping up an appearance of active
competition in the industry. Rather a
clever trick, they may regard It, If
not legitimate exercise of tho wis
dom of thes erpent which is command
ed of the Lord's anointed in the con
test with the adversaries of evil. But
more likely it will call out another
solemn and extended assurance from
26 Broadway that the Standard Oil
company has ever been perfectly open
and above board in all its dealings
with tho public Springfield Republican.
EXECUTIVE LIMITATIONS
(From the Philadelphia Public Ledger)
Six messages are on the way,
Perhaps as much as seven,
While If of themes enough turn up
There might be leventy-leven.
Now shall we hear of Panama,
There where the dirt doth fly
And where a hundred years from now
Shall ships sail proudly by,
We'll hear the navy personnel ;
Set forth with-flnal word; ; i
The incident about the Japs; ;
The row that Cuba stirred.
At public lands he'll take a whirl,
And thieves who looted, bold;
Also the reason colored troops
Were turned out in the cold.
The subsidy for ships comes next,
And after this, who knows?
Belike a treatise on aigrets,
And kindred furbelows,
It may be he will warn the race
That suicide is wrong,
And on the size of families : ;v
Come out with ukase strong. . J"
Yet in one thought is mighty cheer
Whatever he may say
Will be in spelling not reformed,
But just the good old way.
The laws laid down to guide the world
Though many things they do,
Can't make us use a "mist" for missed
Or cut our through to "thru."
Was From Boston
An over-smart Bostonian moved to
the country not long ago and purch
ased a farm. He was just getting set
tled when a man with a book under
his arm leaned over the fence and
said:
"Just bought this land?" , ,
"Yes." I'HfH
"Very fine farm." ' 1fl-
"Yes, sir, very fine."
"Must be worth around $1,000?"
"More than that; I paid $1,500 for
it. Then there are indications of coal
on it which are alone worth another
thousand."
"You don't mean it."
"Yes, sir. And then the new branch
railroad is going across one corner.
I consider my farm worth $5,000."
"Five thousand, eh?"
"Yes, sir; I would not take less.
What are you putting down on that
book?"
"Oh, nothing much. You see I'm
the tax assessor. Hope you'll stay
some time. Good morning." Phila
delphia Public Ledger.
The foreign nobleman puffed his ci
garette dejectedly and refused to be
consoled. "And to think," he sighed,
"I proposed to her on my knees every
night for two weeks."
"And did you bag the beautiful heir
ess at last?" asked the interviewer.
"No; all I bagged was my troup
ers." Chicago News.