THE VALENTINE DEMOCRAT
f. M RICE EDITOR
TJinrwdsiy , Febrnnry 11 , 3DO4
Entered at the Post-olllce at Valentine , Cherrj
Bounty. Nebraska , as Second-class matter.
TERMS
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Parties living outside Cherry county not pel
eoually known are requested to pay in advance
10 per cent additional to above rates If over (
months in Arrears.
Notices of losses of stock free to brand adver
tisers.
Japan and Kussia have begun
their scrap. At first Japan seems
to have the best of it but it will
not last long. When Kussia gets
started Japan will wither like mown
weeds in the sun and will bo glad
to accept most any terms for peace
before Russia gets through with
her. It may be the bloodiest war
of the century if other nations
take a part in it. What the United
States should do and must do , if
we Know our places , is to remain
neutral not only in war policy but
in sentiment which is already di
vided almost equally among our
people. Many of our students of
history will not forget that Russia
was , and always has been , a friend
ly nation to the U. S. and without
her kindly assistance and encour
agement , together with that of
France , our country would still be
in the hands of Great Britian. We
will not forget these kindnesses of
-Russia and though not hostile to
the Japanese , in fact most friend
ly relations have heretofore exist
ed , we cannot and must not break
our former friendly relations with
the power to whom we owe the
second greatest debt of gratitude.
V . .V.
- It's up to the republicans to get
down to honest work and show us
that they meant what they said
when they told us that nobody but
: Moses could save the fort at this
- . . . . .place. We havn't heard of anything -
' - thing that he has done for it yet
l" * and we've been waiting patiently
; all these months to learn that some
thing had been done. It now
comes to our ears that he hasn't
- done a thing and that the post is
on the list for discontinuancy , to
- * - J , take place before another year shall
have rolled around. What will
be the next spiel that the republi
cans will make to re-elect Kincaid
to congress ? Will it be the same
old howl that they made be
fore that he would look after the
cattle men's interest and the sheep
men's flocks , the homesteader's
rights and the farmer's corn ? Will
they tell us what he is going to do
with Ft. Niobrara and that no one
but he can do it ? There'll be a lot of
broken or unfilled promises like
eggshells after the chickens have
gone from them , to encounter in
the next campaign and the g. o. p.
organs have already began smooth
ing the way and giving Kincaid
credit for a lot of things that some
one put him next to for a campaign
cry this coming fall. I'IIE ' DEMO
CRAT does not believe that Ft. Nio
brara is going to be abandoned ,
and if it was , Mr. Kincaid couldn't
do anything to hold it as a post or
he'd have done so long ago. This
post is costing the government
nothing to keep it up and it is as
healthy a place to live as any where
and there's a hundred other reas
ons why the government should
' not be-short-sighted enough to give
up what they may be willing to pay
a big price for some time and then
have a lofc of kicking from parties
whose'land must be condemned to
establish just such a post as Ft.Kio-
brara makes. There isn't a reason
M'hy thegoverment should give up
any post now in existance that is
equipped as well natural'y ' as Ft.
N'iobrara. Any talk to the contrary -
' trary is for political buncombe or
from a lack of knowledge of the
situation or our government of
ficials will wantonly give up that
' which will in years to come reflect
discredit upon their judgement and
thej will be condemned in future i
years for their short-sightedness.
Let him who never did a noble
act , strike the blow to the army
posts and reservations of our Unit
ed States Army , that he may go
down in the history of our land .is
its enemy and that all men may
unite to condemn him.
House Votes to do Away Wit2.
Civil Service.
Washington , Jan. 13. After a
lively debate , lasting three hours
the House today , in committee of
the whole , by a vote of 78 to Go ,
struck out of the legislative , exe
cutive and judicial appropriation
bill the paragraph providing for
the * salaries and expenses of the
Civil Service Commission and
clerks employed under the com
mission. * * * * Mr. Grosvenor
of Ohio spoke against the civil ser
vice as it now exists , asking why
an lappointment should not be as
properly made upon the recom
mendation of a representative of
the people as to have the Presi
dent appoint A. Foulkc to be pur
veyor of all the appointments.
He asked why the Committee on
Civil Service Reform had been sit
ting on the safety valve , saying
that if a vote was permitted the
Civil-Service Commission would
be stripped of a vast amount of its
power. * * * * Mr. Grosvenor
further said :
"When this law went into effect
the expenditures under the bill
now pending here amounted to
about $20,000,000 ; the total now
amounts to § 30,000,000 , and we
are told that the reason for that is
that 16 per cent of this amount-
that is , the estimate given to me
yesterday is paid to men abso
lutely worthless to the public ser
vice ; so that we have practically a
civil pension. It is enough to say
that the expenditures under this
system have increased 30 per cent.
It is enough to say that , under this
system , the wrongs and outrages ,
irregularities and crimes that are
charged today , if they did not
originate under the civil-service
administration have been covered
through the administration of that
system up to date. "
Concluding his remarks , Mr.
Grosvenor said that an oligarch of
three men had been built on , and
up to a recent date was controlled
by one man.
Mr. Lacey of Iowa said the pres
ent system was not a merit system
as it now exists. Men , he said ,
had gone into government service
without examination , and had since
been covered in the civil-service
and are now irremovable. * * *
"A FRAUD AND A
Mr. Hepburn declared that he
was not inclined to criticise the
beads of the commission , "but the
civil service as it administered is a
fraud and a humbug. "
Mr. Hepburn delared that if th
republican party was responsible
for the administration of the affairi
of the government the friends o
that party should hold all of the
available places.
Mr. Hepburn referred to an
interview he had had with the head
of a department having over 500
clerks , who stated that he had 50
clerks who could not get to their
desks if the elevator in the build-
was not running , and that should
he be permitted to select his own
force he could do all the business
with 200 clerks.
Mr. Bingham gave notice that
in the House he would demand the
yeas and nays. St. Louis Repub
lie.
The efficency of men is no long
er a qualification in the civil-ser
vice according to the republicans
in the House of Representatives.
Instead of a man being selected by
a competitive examination on the
requirements for his position in
the governmrnt service they would
bave him show that he is a "good
fellow" and a "good republican. "
Iliey prefer a man who is a spoils
man and recommended by a con
gressman as being in the ring , to
i man who is tried as to his merits
ind qualifications for the place.
A.11 this talk about a man being
worthy and educated , for the po-
dtion he strives to fill must be ' t
relegated and a man chosen who
will fill the bill as a politician , a
"ward heeler , " a "bunco sterer"
for the party in power , regardless
of his qualifications , if he can get
the consent of his local machine
and his congressman which may
be done as it has been done in the
past , to reward him for some party
service or because he is a good fel
low. This is good republican doc
trine that our people are howling
for. Why don't they lay aside
their prejudices and vote as they
would talk if you cornered them
on this proposition ? But they
won't. If it is said to be good by
the republican leaders , every man
of them will try to excuse himself
for voting against his principles
and judgement in one way or an
other. Some will endorse the
whole thing. Others will try to
make their friends believe they're
studying into this thing a little and
finally say they guess it's the best
thing to do and outline a defense
of their decision to follow their
leader. Read what petty politic
does for the National Guard.
Petty Politics in the Guard
There is no other one thing in
the National Guard that is produc
tive of such harm to the efficiency
of the service as the species of pet
ty politics that so often is found
in all organizations.
An unqualified man desires a
commission. He does not consid
cr his lack of qualification for the
office , and thinks only of his am
bition. He becomes a hindrance
to his company by criticising his
superior officers who possibly
stand in the way of his realizing
his ambitions. In time he mars
the disipline of the command and
lowers its standing and efficiency
as a trained military force. With
out qualifications he must purchase
support , and he does it by cater
ing to the most undesirable ele
ment in the company. * * * *
Merit is the one thing , and thp
only thingt that should count in
the selection of officers for the Na
tional Guard. If possible , it is
more important that the National
Guard officer be chosen for merit
than the army officer. The latter
*
cannot effect an entire command
so easily as can the former. Thr
National Guard command that pro
motes a man for the reason that he
"is a good fellow , " is not likely to
remain long in the service , if it is
in a state with efficient officers in
the adjutantgeneral's-and inspector
general's department. The "good
fellow , " as the term is generally
used , is not likely to be a good
soldier. He is of the "free-and-
easy" sort , who cares but little for
discipline ; who would , rather re
tain the good will of the laggards
in his company by lax methods
than secure the good will of the
workers by a strict enforcement
of orders. Such a man was never
intended for command , and the
sooner the company find it out and
prevent his selection the better it
will be for the company. Nation
al Guardsman.
Speculations on War.
The strong probability of war in
the far east results from the clos
ing events of the Chinese war.
When Japan had by conquest
gained possession of Port Arthur
and the western powers compelled
her to relinquish it and then im
mediately allowed Russia to seize
it under the forms of a lease all
iiope of peace in the orient for a
generation to come had vanished.
Smarting with chagrin , enraged at
European treachery and staggered
: > y an inestimable loss , Japan has
lever seen a day since she evacu-
ited Port Arthur when she did not
nean to retake it.
It is this which makes peace
veil nigh impossible. Japan has
wrposely made demands on Rus-
ia which Russia cannot meet with-
mt humbling herself in the dust
lefore what she regards as an up-
tart and half-civilized power.
Vhen hostilities begin it will be
n water , and there is every reast
n to believe that in the naval cent
3st Russia will beworsted. _ While I
tie entire Russian navy 'is * .do.uble _ if i , . .y
as large as the entire Japanese
navy , the conditions in the far east
are exactly reversed. In the com
ing conflict the naval strength of
Japan , counting all craft , will be
110 vessels , and that of Russia ,
counting all craft , only 53 vessols.
The disparity in personnel is wen
greater. The Japanese are n.-ilur-
al seamen , mechanics and uisi-ks-
men , and their courage is something
thing- entirely out of the ordinary.
En these respects they are greatly
superior to the Russians.
With all these advantages , how
ever , Japan will not be able to an
nihilate the Russian navy. Ja
pan's communications lies cross a
sea 200 miles wide and the Russian
navy will be able to interrupt it
considerably without risking gen
eral engagements. If it meets with
reverses it can take shelter under
the guns of Port Arthur and Vlad
ivostok , and if the Japanese armies
land safely in Corea and China
Russia has nothing to fear from
them.
Japan in her effort to dislodge
Russia from the fastnesses of these
provinces will wear herself-out
within twelve months , and then
what ? Is she expecting that Eng
land will come to her help ? If so
she is leaning on a broken reed.
England rarely fight ? on her own
account , and never to help any
body else.
In spite of all that Russia has
done for America the sympathies
of this country , both from interest
and from sentiment , will be with
the "yankees of the far east , " but
fine words butter no parsnips and
the future of Japan is anything
but bright. Chicago Chronicle.
From Word-Herald :
The Standard Oil Company has
cut the wholesale price of kerosene
5 cents on the gallon in the eastern
states and 2 cents on the gallon in
the west. This cut does not mean
that the company has experienced
a "change of heart , " however , but
is done to force another company
out of business. Not only that ,
but about the time the cut in prices
was announced the percentage of
well water in their oil seems to
have been doubled. The article
now dealt out to the consumer haste
to be greased on both sides before
it will burn , and when poured on
fire refuses to explode tiU the water
boils out of it.
Problem : If the Standard Oil
company loses 2 cents per gallon
by the cut in price , and gains 3
cents per gallon by the increase of
well water , how many gallons must
they sell to enable John D. Rocke
feller to endow another college ?
If we could boil
The Standard Oil
And get the water out ,
'Twould give a light
Both clear and bright ,
Beyond a shade of doubt ;
When poured on fire
J Twould blow us higher
Than Gilroy's famous kite ;
But as it is
'Twill only fizz
Which shows it isn't right.
We think it mean
That kerosene
Should all be watered thus/
But folks must pay
For all the hay
That feeds the octopus.
But don't get mad
And say things bad
Because you're made a tool ;
The great John D.
Is good you see ,
He teaches Sunday school.
The summer day
Will come this way ,
With hours of light extended.
So we will be.
As you can see ,
By nature much befriended *
5Tis just this thing
That makes us sing ,
And lengthens out our smile ,
We'll have day light.
Till in the night
And won't need Standard "ile. :
Deshler Chronicle.
There will be a literary enter-
linment held at Ward school , dis-
rict No. 2 , on Friday evening ,
'eb. 10. Everybody cordially in-
ited.
Jas. E. Pepper W. n. McBrayer Canadian Clnb
i
All the standard brands of Whiskies , domestic and
imported Wines , Gordon's Dry Gin , and Cigars
of the choicest brands. Kliie Ribbon- Bottled Beer
a specialty. : : : : : : :
Oakland Hunters Rye Blue Grass Dewars Scotch Whiskey
JAMES B- HULL
THE OWL SALOON Proprietor.
Cf V Cf V Cf V Sole Agents for
HERALD PURE RYE WHISKEY
Ale and Porter , And FRED KRUG'S BEER
Choicest Wines and Cigars. ,
VALENTINE x NEBRASKA
W. T. Bishop ,
LIVERY FEED AND SALE STABLE
The Wilber Barn
Your Patronage Solicited.
aiace : I/CO 14
HEADQUARTERS FOR
WINES , LIQUORS AND CIGARS
OF THE CHOICEST BRANDS
Valentine Nebraska
HENKY TAYLOR GRANT BOYER.
TAYLOR & BOYER ,
Contractors and Builders , Carpentering.
s
All kinds of wood work done to order. Stock tanks made in all sizes.
GHir'Work shop in Charbonneau's blacksmith shop.
VALENTINE - . NEBRASKA.
THE VALENTINE HOUSE
Valentine , Nebraska
RATES $1.00 tr $1.25. . C. D. JORDAN , Propr.
Opposite the Court House , 21 blocks north of Depot.
ADVERTISE
IN THE
DEMOCRAT
NEW STORE
Just opened up a stock of
Dry Goods , Notions , Cloth
ing , Furnishing Goods ,
Shoes and Flour.
door to City Hotel.
A. JOHN & ABDALLAH.
TIME TABLE
Great Nor I horn
at O'neill , tf ebr.
ioing East , Going West.
Leaves 10:10 a. m. Arrives 0:50 p. m.
Passenger , daily except Sunday.
'Jonnections with Elkhorn trains east and
rest-bound from all points west of O'iseill.
hortest route to Sioux City and beyond.
Through connections fcr Sioux Falls , Minne-
Mlis , St. Paul and all points north and west
ay local tr kets to O'Neill.
FBED KOGERS , G , P. A.
Sioux CIty'Iowa
Chicago Minneapolis
Edwards ,
Wood
Manhattan Alain Office Buildln ? , &Co.
ST. PAUL , MINN. .
Dealers in
Stock , Grain , Provisions
Bought and sold for cash or c/fj
on reasonable margins , upon w&
a commission will be charged of -
on gram , i on stocks and ion flax
Private Wires.
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vate telegraph cipher mailed free.
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BRANCH OEFICE
\ TValentl'ne , Nebraska.
H T
(1st door north 1st National Bank )
Lincoln - . ,
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n c M
Mojnes