Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, October 28, 1894, Page 11, Image 11

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    niM-ATTA TIAIT/V np/rrnvnvn 11
SHEARING THE PUBLIC LAP
Menacing Evils of the Spoils System
In Popular Govornmcut.
THE QUESTION Of MUNICIPAL REFORM
-Mnrlilno Government nnil I'olltlcul lto l ni
;
Inlmlrul in Amnrlciiii Institution * ;
Vlcvri of Ilerbnrl Welsh at Hie
Kiitlnnnl Municipal League ,
" *
4
There ore two political reform movements
which have long been before the American
public separately , both ot which would gain
much nt the present moment by a close con-
Junction. They are naturally and logically
united , snd there will ba great practical bene
fit to the publlo If there Is a general popular
recognition of the relationship. These are
I civil service reform and municipal reform.
Both movements spring from a deep desire
to sustain the American Idea of free Institu
tions guarded by law and based upon sound
moral and Intellectual principles , to guard
that idea from the Inevitable attacks of Ignor
ance , greed and self-interest , Intellectual and
/ moral1 aspirations , which are so greatly
nourished and stimulated by religion and by
\ Institutions of learning , are necessary to
saro the country from thai narrow selfish
ness which Is always opposed to the public
welfare , and from the control of popular
sophisms which result from mingled Intel
lectual uhsoundnesa and moral perversity.
Men and women wlio , by reason of Individual
nature and of education , arc peculiarly sus
ceptible to such aspiration , who are sincerely
and Intelligently patriotic , can with especial
profit give close study to- - these two reforms ,
their history , characteristics and purpose ,
and they should use the means at hand to
promote them , For not since the civil war ,
certainly , has there been a moment when a
return to foundation principles was more
necessary limn at present , when there was
more need to urge- our people to look to the
rock whence wo are hewn , the pit whence
we are digged.
The converse of the civil service reform
Idea or the merit system a more lucid and
descriptive term , Is the spoils system. These
two opposed terms simply represent two Irk -
. k reooncllably antagonistic Ideas , which find
their ofigln respectively In good and bad
motives of human nature. The merit system
Is the expression ot those who would use all
the nohpolltlcal machinery ot the govern
ment , federal , state and municipal all those
ofQcca which are concerned simply with tlic
honcit and efficient administration ofbu&l-
ness , not as bribes or rewards- for party
service , but with a view to the best Inter
ests of the public. The spoils system , on
the other hand , U the expression of those
some of whom do not care primarily , some-
not at all about the public welfare , wlio
would use thcso offices and the salaries and
Influence which are attached to them
for the Eood of the party to
which they belong , or of the clique
_ ; , within the party , or of their friends , or most
Individually and selfishly ot themselves. Of
course there will always be until the millen
nium these two antagonistic classes of men
In this or other countries , but the adoption of
civil service reform laws and the propaga
tion of the civil service reform spirit will
turn the balance of power on the side of the
belter class of men with the sound princi
ples. Instead of leaving the worse class ot
men with the ( also and destructive principle
tree to get the Illicit rewards they are In
search of and do all the harm they de
sire. The question for us to consider Is
whether the friends of good government
or Us enemies shall hold the redoubt. The
Si. salaries attached to > the federal civil service
" * > olflces alone represent more than $60,000,000.
It Is a serious thing It you say to 60,000,000
people that this great sum anil all represented
by state and municipal service besides. Is
offered In a game ot grab , that It Is not to
be used as the wage of legitimate service ren
dered to the publlo under conditions which
shall stimulate motives , of self-respect ami
_ procure the best work , but that It Is the
prlte of the strongest , the spoil of the fiercest
1 and the least scrupulous who can seize and
_ devour It. The spoils Idea appeals to all
that Is base and solusli in human nature- ,
and with the Immense rewards it has to offer
It Is not to bo wondered at that. It lias gained
a power so tremendous and so baleful In
American politics. But It Is inexplicable that
a people so keen-slghtod , ttna among whom
uducatlon Is BO general as ours , should not
have perceived the. dangerous nature of the
guest which they were- admitting when , In
spite ot the example and the precept of carl'er
statesmen of WoslilnRton. Madison , John
Qulncy Adams , Jeffcr&on and others they
opened the door of American politics to the
spoils system. As fatal an enemy of our free
Institutions as the sea to the meadows of
Holland , the spalls system once let In by
natural folly has ravaged the wide domain
of our public life. It has given us machine
government & political monstrosity which
destroys conscience , crushes manhood and In
dependence , and Is designed only to let greedy
men Into the publlo treasury. It has lowered
the tone of all our public life , executive and
legislative , putting many men In office to
make laws and to carry them out who have
been forced by the conditions which created
their political lite to think not of the things
which ought to bo done for the public good ,
but of what will help the p-irty , or more
frequently , help self. The Influence of the
spoils Idea has been nowhere more apparent
than In the great range ot publlo work ,
whether belonging to tha federal , state of
municipal service , which IB concerned with
the education or the care of human beings ,
and the relief of human suffering the Indian |
tervlce. publlo education , publlo hospitals , In-
tane asylums and similar branches of public
philanthropic work. In such departments of
tflort U has meant murder , theft , cruelty. In i-
efficiency , Infinite loss In various kinds iif
moral Intellectual material. The cold Intel I-
lectual abstraction xvhlch the term civil serv
ice suggests assumes a vital meaning to one
who , from actual experience , nas learned ieo :
fcnow and hate the spoils system , because his
line of experience has taught him how evil
arc Its deeds. Personal experience In Indian
affairs taught the writer that a peaceful and
satisfactory solution of that problem was ob
structed mainly by the spoils system , which ;
let every sound principle of management at J
defiance by effecting appointments and re.
movals so that faithful and Intelligent service
was persistently buffeted and discouraged ,
while Incompetency , dishonesty and vice were
rewarded , and a general con a It Ion of chaos
maintained. But this practical experience
had also a bright side , since It showed clearl ' , *
how effectively Intelligent work may remove
§ uch evils us formerly were rampant In the
.Indian service. By a systematic constant ap
peal to publlo sentiment , based upon actual
ind clearly stated facts , the spoils system ,
while It has not yet been wholly destroyed ,
has been nt least greatly weakened , while
j the merit system ha been Introduced , has
> produced hopeful results and Is slowly but
ileadlly winning Its way.
U Is Interesting to note how this encourag
ing change for the better has gradually been
wrought In the Indian service it Is valuable
also to note It , because the-methods by which ,
the change has been effected can bo applied
equally well to promote civil service reform
throughout the full range of our public life.
Every effort should be made to Interest a
much larger number of our people In an un
derstanding and use ot such methods , so that
Ihey may apply them freely and effectively for
themselves , GO that harmonious and effective
action aiming to secure good government may
take the place of an Impotent desire to have
It. The civil service reformers have accom
plished remarkable results considering- their
Insignificant numtVr and the obstacles op
posed to them , but how much larger would
those results have been had funds been at
their disposal to effect a more vigorous agita
tion. H may safely be assumed that every
publlo evil will succumb to public sentiment ,
but the problem ls Just how to create an In
telligent and sound publlo sentiment , and then
to give It the chance to act In time- before
the harm which U Is designed to prevent has
been done. W must do precisely that for
publlo sentiment which the gun barrel does
for the powder which makes the -explosion
effective and drives the bullet to the mark.
The Indian Hlghts association planted and
fostered civil service , reform In the Indian
lervlco In a way that a few words will .ex .
plain , The association's flrat strong move
waa to acquaint Itself with facts by frequent
tourneys of Its members and agents upon the
western reservations , Ttui it came to speak
with authority , nnd Its statement of facts
could not be zuccesufully disputed. The as
sociation soon learned that Its main objec
tive point mimt be the ilvitructlon of the
spoils system unreasonably partisan changes
In the personnel of the service. Such n change
of theory In Its management ivai- absolutely
necessary to supply n solid foundation for
nil kinds ot work. The association found
many faithful , good people a Rente , anil sub
ordinates In the service , who under the
spalls system would be dlsmlsucd with the-
outgoing of the administrations which op-
pointed them. The problem was to protect
these people from removal by calling public
ntlenllon to their work , their merits and the
Importance ot their retention. Of course , this
was trying work ; It meant constant persua
sion , druggie , conflict even , with republican
and democratic administration ! . It means
arguing with the officers of the government
and the publlo through the newspapers , case
after case , Such work has been carried on
( or twelve years. The neneral principles of
civil ncrvlce reform could be elucidated with
telling force by Illustrations of individual cases
of money and folly Involved In removals tor
spoils. But the results were full compensa
tion for the trouble Involved. Today 700
places. In the- Indian service ore under civil
service rules , nnd the- merit Idea Is making
constant headway. All , the while the stand
ards In the management are lifting. It Is
eauy to point out the elements of success In
this peculiar work. One or two members of
the association gave up almost all their time
and thought to the work they made a busi
ness of II. At less cost It could not have
been done. This Is the first point. Their
appeal to the public aroused Interest , because
It was made upon an Indisputable basis of
fact. When the association made requests
or demands ot the government It spoke as
"one having authority , " because It had pub
lic sentiment behind It. Without this support
of public sentiment. Its own requests , no mat
ter how Just or reasonable they might have
been , would , In most cases , have accom
plished llttlo or nothing. The effective power
evolved resulted from the combination of an
aleri organization , which had sufficient funds
both to acquire Its ammunition ot facts and
to place them before the public , and a re
sponsive public which was ready to give the
organization the power for which It asked.
The organization would have been powerless
without the public , and the public without
the organization , to effect the end desired.
The organization , by such popular work run
ning on rational lines , all that Is good In
public life la sustained and strengthened , all
officers who wish to do their duty are sup
ported.
The work of the Indian nights association
has been given only as Illustrative of the pre
cise kind of effort which at this juncture the
country most needs. H Is a systematic , well
directed effort to turn latent forces for good
Into active vitalizing connecting with our
public nnd political life. When our Institu
tions are subjected to severe strain from po
litical corruptions of various kinds , when
grave public questions receive unsatisfactory
treatment from poor material with which the
spoils system fills our public offices. It Is
time to give the question of reform serious
consideration. We have allowed the poorest ,
least thoughtful and conscientious elements
of our population , acting through the medium
of the spoils system and of the. machine , to
gain control of our politics. We have not
taken our public lite seriously enough , and
now wo are apprised of the danger of such
pourile and light-hearted Indifference when
the time of harvest Is come. When grave
emergencies arise , and we- find weak or evil
disposed or corrupt men In places of power.
It becomes clear as noonday that the question
of public administration is among the most
serious of all questions. The two routes by
which a reform of American politics , which
the present condition of public affairs show
to bo Imperative , can best bo reached , are.
In the opinion of the writer , civil service re
form and municipal reform. Let us keep the
thought clearly In mind that the so reforms
are coordinateboth must bo pressed for
ward at once and In harmonious union. Civil
service reform , In which the late George
William Curtis was the distinguished leader ,
has already by his efforts and those of the
comparatively small number of men associ
ated with him accomplished much , but the
main work Is yet to come. It can only come
through strong organization acting on public
sentiment , The practical step ta bo taken
Is to strengthen and develop Immediately the
National Civil Service Ueform league , of
which Hon. Carl Schurz Is the president and
Mr. William Potts Is the secretary. The
headquarters of the league are In New York
City. This organization should be equipped
with not less than $15,000 annually , so that
It can at once promote local organizations In
all parts of the country where they are
needed , but especially In thesouth' and west.
The movement for the reform of municipal
government which Is at present being agi
tated In many leading cities of the country ,
and for the management of which the Na
tional Municipal league has been organized ,
la based on civil service reform principles.
The. question of getting men of character and
efficiency Into office ami of holding them there
dcsplto the Importunities or changes of par
tisanship , Is the vital question. To convince
voters that national questions should not be
discussed and national campaigns fought
within the sphere of municipal affairs Is the
hard task before us ; for nothing seems In
practice more dttflcult than to Induce other
wise Intelligent men to abandon so evident
and dangerous a fallacy as that which main
tains that good city government can be had
by action guided on party lines. The city
must be ruled , not with a view to affecting
this or that national Issue , but to- promote
the comfort and welfare of its citizens. But
It Is also true that by setting the city to
mind Its own business we shall Indirectly
purify politics at large , for national politics
find a , great source of corruption In machine
rule , which centers In the great cities ; free
them from that tyranny ot the machine and
they cannot but be Immensely benefited. The
most essential means to the maintenance of
any effective municipal league or organlza
lion which alms to secure good city govern
ment Is some method whereby those * who are
engaged In the work may have frequent and
systematic opportunity for studying and dis
cussing the problem In Us practical and Inci
dental phases. There must be the opportunity
for easy and frequent associations It any
effective organization ot the dormant forcx-a
of good Is to be obtained. Trobsbly the sim
plest and best means for obtaining such as-
sociatlon will be found In "the parlor meet-
Ing. " The politician has the liquor saloon
for perfecting his plans and oiling his ma-
olilne. The municipal reformer must have his
"parlor meeting. " The social quality must
mingle with the Intellectual and moral In this
enterprise. Let some Intelligent woman In
terested In the cause and gifted with social
tact Invite to her house a few friends of both
sexes , some of whom are Interested In million
nlclpal reform and Eome of whom need to
have their attention called to the subject or
their sympathies aroused. Tha Invitations
might , with advantage , be wider than the
social lines laid down In the hostess' visiting
list , The- first hour and a half of the even
ing might bo occupied In short , pertinent ad-
dresse * . treating the general lines on which
the municipal reform work should bo con
ducted , but also leadingup to some practical
matters of Immediate local need. Then let
general discussion follow. The remainder of
the evening Is likely to manage Itself and to
flow alone smoothly enough. Conversation ,
aided by some light refreshment , will take
Its direction from the addresses and will be
as. abundant as need be. This Is a simple
expedient , but a very effective one for the
spread of Ideas and the creation of public
sentiment. Such meetings , held with reason
able frequency throughout a community. If
Judiciously managed , are. likely to accomplish
results which cannot be attained by more
formal and expensive public gatherings.
To the mind of the writer U see-ms clear
that one ot the most serious of our present
problems centers In the corrupt combination
of unscrupulous wraith and machine politics
which systematically corrupts legislation.
This dangerous condition , which tends to
bring a most Important political function Into
contempt and furnishes o plausible excuse
for lawless anarchistic utterances and acts ,
Is most apparent In our great cities. The
radical cure for this evil , which menaces our
entire government , Is to be found In a pro
found exigent public sentiment , working In
numerous practical ways toward the accom
plishment of civil service reform , and the
purification of the politics of our great cities.
Wo should be taught by tha alarming events
of the past lew weeks the folly of delay In
undertaking xo necessary awork and the
magnitude of the task which ite accomplish
ment Involves. HERBERT WELSH.
Philadelphia , Pa.
A K W LOT OF COATS JUSTHECEIVEG' '
If you have bought your Winter /Qvercoat / we are sorry for you for we are-going to sell Overcoats to-
morrow-V-We are going to sell Overcoats at such prices as you nor dealers outside
of our corner have ever heard of We will save you enough money on some of
* them to buy a suit of clothes with But don't miss this Overcoat sale tomorrow of
all things you do.
Men's Overcoats Real Blue Chinchilla with Fine Beaver Overcoats , in single or
-fancy worsted linings , warm and durable , $2.75 double breasted , blues , blacks or
worth § 5.00. Sale price . browns , tans and oxfords you r $10.00
choice at this sale
Overcoats , just the thing for short and
Fine Shetland and Frieze Storm Ulsters 5.00 stout people , in beavers , kerseys $12.50
three grades go in this sale at. . . . : § . and chinchillas , sizes 37 to 46 , go in .
this sale at
Extra size Overcoats , from 44 to 507-
Fine Kersey Overcoats in five shades , ele two shades , blues and blacks , in $12.50
gantly trimmed , blues , blacks and browns $7.00 kerseys , chinchillas and worstedSi $ .
choice in this sale
your . go in this sale at
Fine kersey and beaver Overcoats , the
Men's" Overcoats Blue and black , plain best made in these fabrics , wool lin
beavers , cut medium long ; these gar ing , silk yoke , 50 inches long , in
ments are dressy and need no guaranty $7.50 loose or tight fitting , single or double $16.00
as to their wearing qualities , staple as . breasted , in blues and blacks , sizes .
sugar , worth $15.00 sale price 34 to 42 , at this sale anly
The pick of over 350 suits from some
of the finest all wool cheviot sacks
made will be in one lot tomorrow to .50
stir up the business at less than half
former price
,
* * namt-jmBmufJi * mma a * * *
xmmmBmammi mnBi mMma mmamm a i BmBm * Bfmammf i i mm
The H. Cook Clothing Co. ,
t ° Columbia Clothing Co. ,
13th and Farnam Streets.
NEW YORK'S ' CONSTITUTION
Substance of the Proposed-Amendments to
the Organic Law.
VARIOUS IMPORTANT REFORMS OUTLINED
OTi-crful Foes nattllnc Agnlnst Its Adop
tion Opposition to the Apportionment ,
I'ool Soiling nnd Other Clauses
A borloas Error.
The amendments to the constitution of the
itate of New York , drafted by the late con-
tltutlonal convention , are to be passed upon
iy the electors at the approaching election.
The proposed changes In the organic law are
hirly-ono In number , and are submitted to
ho voters In three parts. The amendment
; overnlng the apportionment of the state
nto senate and assembly districts , and that
elating to the canals , are submitted separ-
tely , and the remaining twenty-nine must be
'Otcd on aa a whole.
The- first amendments propose a radical
ihange In the first article of the present
lonstltutlon. They authorize the passage ot
general laws for the drainage of agricultural
anils across the lands of others , prohibit
pool selling , bookmaklng , lotteries and all
'orms of gambling , and repeals the clause
Uniting to $5,000 the amount ot damages
ecoverablo for Injuries resulting In death.
The second clause of the- constitution , re
nting to the suffrage , la amended by making
ninety days the minimum tlmo In which a
'orelgner ' shall bo a citizen before ho can
rote. It also directs the leglsoture : to pass
laws excluding from citizenship persons con-
rlcted of bribery or other Infamous crimes ,
nmates of charitably Institutions not wholly
supported at public expense are not to be
deprived of their votes , but they are pro-
'ilblted from voting In the district In which
: he Institution Is situated. Only" by going to
ihclr former residence can they exercise the
right to vote.
llcgardlng registration , an amendment Is
submitted prohibiting the legislature from
requiring personal registration of voters In
communities having less than 6,000 Inhabi
tants. The legislature la given discretionary
power to adopt other means of voting than by
ballot. This Is Intended to permit the use of
voting machines. All registration and elec
tion boards shall be bipartisan. Hitherto
this plan has been confined to New York
City.
The amendments relating to the legislature
effect several Important reforms , In event
ot the lieutenant governor falling or refusing
to act In his capacity as presidingofllcer ol
the senate , the senate Is authorized to elect a
president , who shall perform the duties ol
the office. This Is designed to prevent a
repetition of an offense committed last win
ter , when the lieutenant governor attempted
to block legislation by refusing to entertain
motions. Every bill shall be on the tablet
of members , "In Its final form , " lor three
legislative days before It can become a law
unless the governor certifies under seal to
the necessity for Its Immediate passage. AS
an additional safeguard against hasty legisla
tion at the closing hours of a session , It la
provided that no amendment sha.ll be of
fered to a bill on Its last reading.
The apportionment article divides the state
Into fifty senate and 150 assembly districts
against thirty-two and 128 , respectively
under the present constitution. The plan o
apportionment departs from the common rule
of numerical representation In restricting the
county representation , regardless of popula
tlon. No one county can have more than
one-third of all the senators. , and New York
and Klngt , county together shall not have
more than half or that body , no matter how
large the combined population may ba. DIs
trlcts may be altered and made to corre
ipond with population within the limits
named , after the state census of 1903 , 0111
every ten years thereafter.
The amendments relating to the Judiciary
make many Important Improvements In th
existing system. An Intermediate appellat
court Is created , composed of five judge
appointed by the governor. Appeal
from thU court to the court o
appeals U limited to qifostions o
law. As the judges of the new court are note
to lit In department courts , ai U now tin
practice In the Intermediate supreme court o
tha state. It is expected they will have sum
clunt time for deliberation and consultatlo
and thus expedite the hearing of appeal * .
Two amendments cover very completely th
exlng question of appropriating- public
moneys for other than" public Institutions.
The legislature Is prohibited .from granting
money to , ony sectarian , school , nor shall
ny subdivision of the state appropriate money
or the support ot any , 'schoqf or Institution
learning "wholly or hv p rt , undergo con-
rol of any religious denomination , or In
which any dcrfbmlnallpn ienet or doctrine Is
aught , " The "state shall provide for the
maintenance and support of a system of
reo common schools , wherein all the children
f the state shall be educated. "
A state board of charities Is provided for
nd rested with the supervision and rcgula-
lon of all charitable and correctional instl-
utlons In the state not a state prison. The
oinmlssloncra are appointed by the governor ,
he senate concurring. The legislature is
uthorlzcd to make- what provision may seem
> roper to It for the blind , deaf and dumb and
uvenllo delinquents , and the duty of refl
ating such Institutions devolves on the com
missioners. Counties , municipalities and
ouns are flt liberty to provide for orphan
.sylums and other Institutions for the care
if the unfortunate , whether those Institutions
are under public or private control. They
are authorized to contribute to institutions
under private control , but no publlo money
may be expended for any .Inmate ot an In-
tllutlon who Is "not received and retained
herein pursuant to the rules established by
he State Board of Charities. "
The separation of federal and ttate elec-
lens Is provided for by an amendment mak-
ns the next state election In 1S97 and there
after every alternate year. The terms of
state olHccrs are reduced from three to two
rears.
The amendment relating to municipalities
divides the cities ot the state Into three
classes the first class consisting of cities
mvlng more than 250,000 people : the second ,
cltle-s having more than 00,000 apd less
han 250,000 , and the third all lesser cities.
general laws may be passed governing the
cities in each class. All special laws are to
> e submitted to the city affected and If It Is
disapproved by the- city speaking through Its
mayor and council. It must bo again passed
> y the legislature before It can be sent to the
jovernor.
Other amendments relate to matters of
purely local Interest.
Of the thirty-one amendments submitted
: o the voters only four provoke opposition ,
jut the manner of submission Is such that
he opposition threatens to defeat the entire
work of the convention. The apportionment
articles , against which the democracy Is
battling fiercely , is submitted separately and
may be defeated without Imperiling the re
mainder. Not only Is the Hill democracy
arraigned against It , but the mugwumps also ,
and all the Independent newspapers of New
York and Brooklyn. The main point of at
tack Is the provision giving an undue proportion
tion of representation to the rural over the
city districts.
The twenty-nine amendnients submitted as
a whole lnvo provokcdioppoeltlon of a dan
gerous kind In unexpected quarters. The
principal opposition comes from patrons of the
turf , uho area unit iaga3nst the amend
ment prohibiting pool seWnffand booljmaklng
at races , This Is a ! ai\j < y , 'powerful ' element
of New York's population , arid they are In
the fight with the dcspefhOoiif-of men battling
for the existence of their' favorite sport. In
terviews with horsemen1 'coVhty ' fair officials
and others , published lrff'JNew York Her
ald , slions a practically' uftanlmous senti
ment against the destruttlJt ; of a business
In which millions arelln\'ested. and their
following Is sufficiently numerous and Influ
ential to seriously alarni.jtlic . friends of the
proposed constitution. The corporatlons will
undoubtedly fight the # ip < jnJment repealing
the } 5,000 damage clauto upd leaving to
juries the question of a'p ynt of damages to
be recovered for Injuries rfjultlnr In death.
Their opposition , however , Ui.carrlt-d on under
cover , as a public demonstration would prove
a boomerang. Out there ore many ways o
killing a cat without working a brass band
while the massacre Is on. Sharp opposition
has also developed agalnit the amondmeni
limiting the employment of convicts In prison
Another obstruction to success IB the growing
fear that the clause relating to "other forms
ot gambling" may , If adopted. Imperil specu
lation In the various commercial and Qnancla
exchange * of the state. The fear Is acceler
ated by the announcement of the prosecuting
attorney of New York City that he will. If
the amenqtment becomes a law , prosecute al
complaint * against parties coaling In options
wherein the good * are not. delivered.
Last but not leiit Is the discovery of an er
ror In the final clause ot the proposed const !
tutlon. It provides that "the constitution
shall be > In force from and Including the
lit day of January , 1895. " Thli nullifies the
election of members of the next legislature
tnd If adopted will leave the state without a
legislature until 1890 ,
MPERIOOS CAESAR CUFFED
"lie Autocrat of Anaconda Booses the Ire
of Helena People ,
BATTLING FOR THE CAPITOL PRIZE
Unique and Vigorous Contest for tuo Kent
of Government of Montiina The C'nn-
tcetlnjf Cltloi , Their Surrounding !
nnd Clmructdrlatics.
The ruddy glow of prospective gore lnges
he hilltops of Montana. From the placid
) lalns of Miles City to the rugged cliffs qf
Callepell , and from the meadowy moorings ot
Vllssoula to the variegated shacks of Vir-
; lnla City a thrill of anxious suspense
pervades the land. The solemn hush that
precedes a battle envelops town and trail ,
and those peacefully inclined are scooting
'or ' shelter before the crash comes.
The Immediate causa ot these wide and
wild alarms Is the contest between Helena
and Anaconda for the capital prize.
Two years ago a preliminary bout was had ,
n which seven cltlea participated , viz :
Anaconda , Boulder Dozeman , Butte , Helena.
Deer Lodge and Great Falls. It was agreed
hat the two cities receiving the highest
vote should be the ilnal contestants for the
prize. Thus It happens that Helena , which
received 14,010 votes , and Anaconda , 10,183
votes , are now In the' race for blood and
victory.
Helena has been the territorial and tempo
rary state capltol since 1874. It Is con
ceded to be the most accessible , convenient
and attractive site for the seat of govern
ment , and having In possession a decided
advantage over Its competitor , It expects to
bo the winner. Dut talk and hope and su
perior advantages are not effective vote-
getters when pitted against boodle , booze and
corner lots. Ascend the barren crest of
Mount Helena , forming a background for
the city , and the eye rests , on an enchant
ing perspective. A well built city of 20.000
people , surrounding the old diggings of "Last
Chance , " and a ga'ntly sloping valley ,
twelve miles wide , through which the crystal
Missouri meanders , flanked with timbered
foothills. Toward the northwest , pierced by
the Northern Pacific , the countless tops of
the Bitter Root 'rango unfold themselves
to view , presenting a picture of marvellous
mountain beauty. To the west mountain
peaks rise to loftier heights and kiss the
receding sun. Southward the spurs of the
Prickly Pear valley and the snow capped
dome of Old Baldy , forty miles away. The
pioneers of the city , forlorn and fatigued
proapectora though they were , might have
searched the valley In vain for a more dc
llghtful spot to pitch their tents and fouhO
a city. Little did they dream when , dis
couraged by months of fruitless prospecting
they threw themselves on the rocky sides
of a purling creek , exclaiming , "This Is our
last chance , " that a city would rise above
the gVavelcd earth from which fortunes
were extracted. The city Is substantially
built , stone butdings predominating. I
has all the accessories of a progressive
wealthy and prosperous community ot 20,000
people , and Is surrounded by mineral wealth
In product and value second only to Butte.
Anaconda la on the west side of the Dltter
Hoot range , twenty-eight miles from Iluttc
It Is wedged In between two mountain spurs
enclosing a narrow valley through whlcl
flows a branch of the Sliver Bow river
The town was founded by Marcus Daly , am
was named after tha mines In Dutte , ownei
by the company of the same name , of whlcl
he Is president and general foghorn , The
company owns the town and Daly runs It
Here the company's smelters are located
and when In full blast give employment ti
3,000 men. Outside of the smelting- plan
and a handsome hotel , the finest In the
state , the buildings give one an exceeding ) ;
tired feeling , They lack the metropolitan
mold , for the reason that the town , depend
ent as It Is on , one chief Industry , furnishes
no Incentive for tha enterprising Investor.
Mr , Marcus Daly Is the autocrat of Ana
conda end exerts a powerful pull In Butt
and more remote point * . He struck tht site
of Dutte on foot with a blanket on his back
touched the earth with a pick , and Is now
worth anywhere from U.000,000 to 110,000,000
Ho Is a democrat when the ticket Is to hi
liking , and a republican when Ills Interests
end that way. At all times he Is for Marcus
Daly and Anaconda. Ho makes and unmakes
lolltlclans , as several distinguished aspirants
mow to their sorrow. Tno.mas H. Carter ,
H-congrcssman , land commissioner under
larrlson and chairman of the republican na-
Ibnal committee , was boosted to fame by
) aly , not because Daly loved Thomas H. ,
mt because he hfld a score to settle with his
pponent. Vf. A. Clarke of Butte. Some years ,
ack Clarke purchased at a nominal figure a
vater right which was necessary to the suc-
cssful operation of Daly's mills at Ana-
onda. He pinched : Daly for (100,000 ( on that
cal , and Daly Is squaring the account by de
grees. Clarke was defeated for congress In
SS8 and his defeat for United States senator
n 1892 was due to Daly's power In perfecting
deadlock In the legislature.
Lavish with money , unscrupulous as to
means , and a spirit that knows no defeat ,
Mr. Daly and his town will give Helena a
Ively chase for the capltol prize. No wonder
lie denizens ot Last Chance arc In a per-
plratlon , and scarcely know which way to
urn to circumvent the combinations of the
error of Silver How.
The unique campaign Is getting decidedly
- arm and vituperative. Helena at the outset
Idlculed the pretensions ot Anaconda , dub-
Ing It a Jay town In jeans and similar en
coring terms. Daly retaliated with what
10 conceived to Ge a knock-out a pamphlet
r of 11 sel y Illustrated with pictures showing
he shallow , kid glove cult ot the erstwhile
apllal city. The point of the pamphlet
was to prove that while Helenaltes lived by
heir wits Anaconda thrived and prosperc-1
in the dinner pall brigade. To make the
clear a scries of statistics were
nserted , of > shlcli the following Is n sample :
Helena , Anncomla.
ten who wear kid Rlovea 4.S52 o
ten who near overalls 0 3,220
l-ltrhea on kneefln 0 203
'niches on conscience 1 , 31 8
JInncr buckets In dally use. . . 2 4,028
Manhattan cocktails , dally con
sumption 17/.W 127
Oln ilzzes , dally consumption. . 18.12) 150
leers , daily consumption 4,088 S , 5I
L.cules ( Hho nurse their own
IjaWcs 124 2,876
. .adieu vho do their own fishIng -
Ing S ! KO
-.a llrs who dance the minuet . . . 3,773 K
- Adleslni do the skirt dance. . SCI 1
.adieu who kick the chanilollcr 140 0
atllcB who rip other ladles up
he 1mcl < I,2S JI7
Skeletons In closets 1,3(3 1C
The shabby cont.avt of brown anJ cul
set Helena by the ears and raised town pride
tora fighting pitch. Daly's campaign scav
enger Imagined the pamphlet uould arouse
: he uorklngmen In favor of Anaconda , but
.he indications point to a contrary effect.
The ladles of Helena , feeling grtevtously In
sulted , are up In arms , organized and going
! rom town to town exposing Daly and his
: own to the sneers of the multitude and
lauding their home city to the ekles. Their
missionary work Is actively supported by
the men of Helena , who are not only out
For scalps , but propose to put up two dollars
to Marcus Daly'ts one nnd fight It out on that
line till the last vote Is counted on Novem
ber C.
Helena expects to hold the vote cast for
tier tno years- ago , and In addition the votes
of east sld ) towns , which were scattered at
that election. This alone would give her
20,000 votes , about one-half of the number
expected to bo catt , Slio also expects to
make Inroads In Anaconda's strength on the
west side by working on the jealousy of
rival towns.
The battle IB an Interesting spectacle at
long range nnd the result will bo awaited
with Impatient Interest. -
Hull a Horlou * Tlmo ol It. ,
While in Chicago , Mr. Charles L. Kahler ,
a prominent shoe merchant of Dea Mollies ,
Iowa , had quite a serious time of It , He took
such a. severe cold that he could hardly talker
or navigate , but the prompt use of Chamber
lain's Cough Remedy cured him of his colt
so quickly that others at the hotel who hat
bad colds followed his example , and half a
dozen persons ordered It from the neares
drug store. They were profuse In their
thanks to Mr. Kahler for telling them how to
cure a bad cold so quickly. For tale by
druggllts.
HI'.I.HIIOUH.
Tests on fatigue for different kinds o
work should be made to let us know how
much the average child or the weakest chili
can stand at &ch age.
Bishop Newman of the Methodlet Eplscopa
church attended the recent Internationa
Methodist conference at Stockholm , Sweden
and was chosen president.
The Swedish Parliament has shown Its In
tercst In religious Influences for Swcdlsl
Bailers by an appropriation of 10,000 crown
for church work ) among these who ure
gathered In foreign harbors ,
In Madrid recently 1 r < i Plunket. th
archbishop of Dublin , assisted by the blsho
QDENA
A NEW LINK CUFF
( Mi's Brono-Celeig.
plendlJ cnmtlro njfnt for Nerroug or EJofc
f d ch , brain K h u tl n. filMpl w M.
pectil or t.ctml . . . NeuratgUi _ _ _ ilK _ ) lor _ Bbttt. _ _
* t4am , 3 .k . 17 ! * iviT ( orer 1 . * j5
pep U , Anwmlk. Antldota for
ml other ncouwo. j.'tlco , 10. M and
i t.
THE ARNOLD CHEMICAL CO. '
IBT S. Wctt m Avenue. CHICAUO.
For sale by all druggists , Omaha.
of CloRher and Down
, consecrated the proU
want church and Immediately after cons -
crated Scnor Cabrera , a Spanish clergyman.
3 the
first
protesiant bishop of Madrid.
Mrs. Caroline E. Haskcll of Chicago has
opened the subscription list for a Swlna
Memorial chapel with a check for 110000
The University of Chicago will be the plnco
or the memorial.
The Pennsylvania railroad department ofT
YTJ ? en'8 Chrlstlan" association of
Philadelphia
keeps Its buildings open all
nlglit for the accommodation of
crows run-
ilns Into the city late. There are beds for
fifteen men. The library contains
- 2,000
, -olumes.
The
membership of the
assocla-
lon Is 1,200.
Hev. Sablne Baring-Gould , tlio author of
he popular hymn , "Onward , Christian Sol-
ulcr. Is at once-a. country
parson , a country-
squire , n lord of ttie manor , n aermon writer , '
a student of
comparative religion , a popu-
ar novelist and a poet. He has written
uty books , is deeply versed In mediaeval
nyths and legends , and at the same tlmo la
n 8 > mpalhy with modern life and progress ,
lie Is sixty years old , and lives in the beautl-
ul old Elizabethan manor house at Lew
l-renchard , where the Gould family have
Ived ever since the days of James I.
In order to allow tired mothers , who can
not leave their children at home , to attend
publlo service on Sunday , Itev. Charles Town-
lend , pastor of the Woodland Avenue Pres
byterian church of Cleveland , O , , has estab
lished a sort of nursery In the chapel of th
church. Mothers bring their little children
there and leave them during the service In
the liands of
trustworthy persons. Th
privilege Is a free one open to all mothers ,
and It Is said that many have enjoyed It ,
Dr. Good , a missionary In the Interior ot
Africa , says that the poverty of the native
languages Is a serious hindrance to mis
sionary effort. In the Bulo language , fop
Instance , them IE no word for "thanks" or
" ( hanksfilvlng. " ' 'To believe , " "to trust"
"to have faith" are all expressed by one.
verb to which Ihere Is no corresponding
noun. There Is no word for "spirit. " The
Bule have always believed In an Invlslblb
god , but they have never given such a being
n name. With the Dule a living man had
n body and a Hhadow the literal shape
cast by Iho living person which at death
leaves the body and becomes a disembodied
spirit wltli a new name which can not bet
used to apply to Qotl and the angels. So
Dr. Good Is driven to say that God IB a
"shadow" and that Christ will send Ilia
"holy shadow" Into men's hearts , etc.
The Fun of tha Thing ,
A boy who was recently sent to a hoarding
school , rays the New York Tribune , has just
Bent the following letter to hU loving anil
anxious mother : "I eot hero all right and I
forgot to write before. It Is a very nice
place to have fun. A feller and I went out In
a boat and the boat tipped over and a man
got mo out , and I was so full of water that
I didn't know notliln' for n good long -while.
The other boy has to bo burled after they
find him. His mother came from Lincoln
and she crlea all the time. A hess klcketl
me over and I have got to have some monc/
to pay the doctor for fixing my head. Wo
are golnn to cet an old barn on fire tonight ,
and I thouM smile If we don't have bully ;
fun. I lost my watch and em very sorry.
I shall bring home some mudturtles , and I
shal bring homo a tame woodchuck. If I can
get 'em In my trunk. " \
Mother Horror * ! How did you get io >
muddy } Small Son Ilunnln * home to see It
there wait anything you wanted in * to tla.