Nebraska Newspapers

    X
THE OMATTA DATLT BEE : STTNDAV , SEPTEMBER 37 , 180(1. ( in
Demand for Cfoinpaign Litorataro 8nr-
AH Records.
WORK OF THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
nocmnrntn Ity the Million 1'rliUi-il
nnil DlKtrilHitci ! SlKiilllrrttit JJe-
iiiiinil fur Siipi-olics on
( lie Tariff.
WASHINGTON' , Sept Correspondence (
of The Itcc. ) The literary bureaus of the
nallonnl campaign committees have never ,
stncD the war , done such clliclcnt work as In
the present contest. Political manager * say
this I * n reading campaign. Usually the
great demand la for small pamphlets and
leaflets touching the main Issues. This year
the cry Is for exhaustive- documents laying
bare every phase of the great financial ques
tion which Is agitating the country from
center to circumference. The democratic
campaign committee has Issued one sevcuty-
slx page pamphlet. The republicans tipped
the high-water mark In a document consist
ing of forty pages , and , strange to say , this
Is ono of the most popular pamphlets In their
list. The demand has been phenomenal and
probably exceeds anything In the history of
political campaigns.
Already the icpubllcan committee has
Issued over 20,000,000 copies of speeches
made In congress by prominent men on the
Bllvcr and tariff questions , and In one day
recently ahlppe < l an aggregate of 792,000 doc
ument * , all of them going to republican
state committees and congressional candi
dates to bo distributed among voters. Here
in Washington the congressional headquar
ters form a distinct feature of Interest , and
something about the Inside workings 'of a
J. W. BADCOCK , CHAIRMAN.
great campaign and the men who are directIng -
Ing Its operations and the methods they cm-
ploy will not be amiss.
The committee used to occupy limited
quarters In some by-street ot Washington ,
where a few clerks and a small mailing
force were employed In sending out about
1,000,000 copies ot congressional speeches to
candidates for congress. In this campaign
the committee occupies the entire second
lloor ot the Hotel Normandlo for Its execu-
tlvo force , consisting of editorial writers ,
stenographers , clerks and messengers ; near
by the committee has rented two buildings ,
where about 150 clerks and packers are em
ployed In folding and shipping documents ,
QUARTERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The committee rooms at the Normandlc
overlook McPherson Square , and are among
the most pleasant quarters in the capital.
There are. , altogether , ten spacious apart
ments , Including two basement rooms , wheru
some of the light packing is done. Five
of the number are occupied by the officers
nnd their assistants. The remainder are
reception roomst and apartments devoted to
the use ot the' executive staff , typewriters
and telephone attendants.
The officers o ! the committee- are Repre
sentative. Joseph W. Babcock ot Wisconsin
chairman : Representative Lewis D. Apaley
of Massachusetts , vlco chairman ; Repre
sentative David H. 'Mercer of Nebraska ,
secretary ; Warner P. Sutton , assistant sec
retary ; and William U. Thompson of Wash
ington , treasurer.
With something like Inspired foresight
there was this jcar a much earlier organi
zation of the committee's working force
than usual. The republican convention was
held Juno 18 , but weeks prior thereto the
energetic chairman of the committee had
his headquarters located In one of the most
accessible parts of. the city and a force at
work preparing the printed matter that waf
to be sent out during the campaign. At
that time It was supposed that the 'Issue
would bo well defined between the pro
tective tariff and the Wilson law. Few
statesmen anticipated that the sliver ques
tion would project Itself upon the political
/
LEWIS D. APSLEY , VICE CHAIHMAN.
arena llko an avalanche. The declaration
ot the St. Louts convention for the gold
standard sounded the key note of the cam
paign , but the gauge of battle had not yet
been picked up by the opposition.
CHANGE OF PLANS.
Then eamo the Chicago convention. Free
coinage was declared to bo the policy ot the
democrats who nominated Mr. Bryan , and
the hottest political campaign since the
war was begun.
Long before the managers had recovered
from their surprise , long before the excite
ment which was engendered by this bold
divergence of political declarations had sub
sided , the congressional committee was at
work. Even before the men hail been
selected who were to direct the campaign
as members of the national committee , half
a dozen printing presses wcro running and
thousands upon thousands of documents pre
senting the sound money side of the ques
BS tion were going out from the Washington
headquarters to the various states where
, republican success was In danger. By the
early days ot September upward of half a
million documents a day were being mailed.
To no man Is duo so much credit for the
remarkable work which the republicans are
doing as to Chairman Babcock.
Immediately after the organization of the
national committee- Babcock went to Clove-
laud and had a conference with Chalrmaji
Ilanna. Ho was able to report that 300.000
documents were going out from congres-
ulonsl headquarters each day , and that
orders had been placed to increase the
amount to 500,000 , Whlio the democrats
and populists were still looking about for
suitable headquarters , the republican chair
man was sending out his first edition ot
10,000 Campaign Text Books , which was
soon supplemented with further edjtlona
reaching an aggregate of 50,000. Chairman
Hanna could but bo pleased , and com
mended the work of the pushing westerner
In terms of highest praise. As a result of
the conference the jurisdiction of the con
gressional committee was largely extended ,
and the chairman was authorized to take
the state cotnmltteea as well as the con
gressional nominees under his care. He waa
given carte blanche iu other material re-
upecls.
ENORMOUS SHIPMENTS.
AU the campaign wort of the committee
is demo uudor the ponorul supervision ot
the chalrrpftii. ansUted by Vlco Chairman
Apaley and Heprescntatlvo Mercer , Tbo
organization , however , Is wholly the work
of the chairman. How admirably the committee
mittee- machinery operates Is llIustrate-1 by
the circumstance that a carload ot litera
ture numbering 231,000 documents waa re
ceived at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon , Sap *
tembor 11 , and by G o'clock 200,000 of trio
document * had been placed In enTClopes
end reshlpped to different state ? . The
whole system of bookkeeping by which these
thousands of pamphlets are kept account of ,
so that .1 glance at the record ivlll show-
no w many documents of any description are
on hand , how many have been Issued , what
number are being printed , etc. . was the
plan of the chairman. As a result thcrf
has been no contusion , no blundering , no
delay , but every part of the work has been
pushed with a steady energy that his ; chal
lenged the praise of republican leaders In
all parts of the country.
Under Ilabcock's management the con-
DAVID H. MERCER , SECRETARY.
gresslonal committee has developed from an
Institution auxiliary In character except
In a congressional campaign to ono ot In
fluence paramount with any working de
partment ot the republican organization.
Ho Is a Vermonter by birth , but a west
erner by cholco and ninilntlon. One of
his colleagues recently said : "He went to
Iowa and Wisconsin with nothing but an
axe on his shoulder , and hewed his way to
wealth and Influence by hard work and en
ergy , " Ho Is a remarkable combination of
those qualities that muko great men In the
west.
TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE.
As chalunan of the congressional commit
tee In 1801 , he contributed inoru than any
single Individual to the success of the re
publican cause. The democrats controlled
the house In the Fifty-second and Fifty-
third congresses by great majorities. In
the Fifty-fourth their number was reduced
to 103 , out ot a total membership of 357.
The republicans fhat year waged one ot the
most carefully managed campaigns In the
history ot the party. General attention
was quickly fixed upon the hustling chair
man who had wielded the thunderbolts.
In the organization ot the house he was
given the chairmanship of the committee
on the District of Columbia , and common
report In congressional circles is that ho
passed moro beneficial bills and wiped from
the statute books moro obsolete legislation
than any member that ever filled the posi
tion. Babcock is what popular parlance
dcslglnates a "mixer , " a hale fellow well
met with all men , shrewd In business , openhanded -
handed by disposition and a natural-born
campaigner. He Is In politics for the ex
citement and because It affords an escape
for his pent-up enterprise.
Another strong factor In the successful
WILLIAM B. THOMPSON. TREASURER.
upbuilding of the committee Is Vlco Chair
man Apsley. He Is the most popular mem
ber of the Massachusetts delegation In the
house , and' was associated with Babcock
In the management of the congressional
campaign In 1894. The two men. are warm
friends. He Is strictly self-made , president
and treasurer of the Apsley Rubber com
pany of Massachusetts , and llko bis Wis
consin associate , not in politics for the
salary , but the pleasure ot It. He has
helped to Introduce business methods Into
political campaigning and to redeem practi
cal politics from the reproach and odium of
corrupt methods. Men llko these make
politics respectable and a legitimate object
of ambition. The best commentary on
their work Is that they closed their accounts
at the head of the committee In 1S94 , after
i signally successful campaign , with not a
dollar outstanding.
WORK OF SECRETARY MERCER.
Representative Mercer , the secretary of
the committee , represents the Omaha dis
trict In the house. A. better choice could
not have been made. He Is another type of
the high class westerner , popular , aggres
sive , self-reliant and practical. Ho has
worked as a harvest hand in the summer ,
taught school In the winter and practiced
politics between times. A man of broad
experience In many fields of enterprise , he
has proven one of the best working mem
bers of the house. It was natural that a
man who had overcome untold difficulties
to pass a bill in the last hours of congress
appropriating $150,000 to support a Trans-
mlsslsslppt Exposition at Omaha should not
escape a keen observer like Babcock la or
ganizing his committee. Ho was offered the
secretaryship and accepted It.
William U. Thompson , the treasurer , and
Warner P. Suttou , assistant secretary , are
neither of them members of congress , The
former Is ono of the leading business men
of Washington , whose Interest in the re
publican cause Is of the most sincere and
disinterested character , and the latter U
an experienced diplomat and a successful
politician , who served his country for many
years with marked ability as consul gen
eral to Mexico , and as chief clerk , by Mr ,
Blalne'a appointment , of the Panamerlcan
congress. Mr. Thompson has served the
committee faithfully as treasurer In eoverul
previous campaigns and Is one of the liar
monlous elements In tbo concert of lead
ers who are commanding the batteries at
the Washington end of the campaign.
They have waged a remarkable campaign
so far. Within thirty days after the Chicago
cage convention the great work of the com
mittee was beginning to tell , and from all
sections of the country republican party
managers were writing the chairman that
the timely work performed by his committee
was having a marked effect and that thou
sands who had been stampeded for free sil
ver were returning to the republican fold.
DOCUMENTS PRINTED ,
The committee has so far printed twenty-
three different documents. The most popu
lar ono Is a glxteen > page condensation of
the speech delivered by Representative
James T. McCleary of Minnesota In the house
last February. The speech was made In
reply to hla colleague , Representative
Tawno , who was generally credited with
making the best speech on the silver ques
tion In the last session of congress. The
committee baa already Issued 2,500,000 copies
of McCIeary'a speech. Next In point of
popularity Is a slxtecn < page pamphlet con
taining tbo six-ecu of Representative Bab
cock on the "History of Money and Financial
Legislation lu the United States. " Another
very popular document Us the one referred
to In the first part of this article , consisting
of forty pages , and dealing with the silver
question in a conversational form. Tula Is
a document amazingly popular with students
of the question. Four neighbors discuss the
problem during three evenings. Each has
different Tiews anil advancej hla specific
.from th * standpoint ot > popu
list , a frco sllvcrllo anil a sound money
man.
Senator -Sherman Is represented In the
list by two speeches , ono attributing the
financial difficulty to deficiency of revenue ,
and another embodying his famous speech
In the senate of August 30 , 1893 , In which he
gave a complete history of the passage of
the act of 1ST3 , showing that all the Pa
cific coast senators. Including Stewart and
Jonts , voted for the bill on the only roll
call which was had on the measure In the
senate , whllo he himself voted against It.
This rnniphlet gives copious extracts from
the speeches of Senators Stnwart and Jones ,
delivered In 1874 In advocacy of the gold
standard. Sixteen months after "the crime
of ' 73" thc-y commended gold as vociferously
as they now denounce It. The practice of
silver organs and stiver orators , extending
oven to Mr. Uryan. of quoting Mr. Dlalnc
as opposing the demonetization of silver ,
from n speerh delivered In the senate In
187S. Induced the committee to print 1,000-
000 copies of the full text ot the document ,
which has been sent Into every part of
the country. The committee has reports
that the reaction created by this speech
among republicans who for a time became
wedded lo the free ellvcr doctrines Is ex
ceedingly marked.
TARIFF SPEECHES.
The list Includes speeches delivered by
Hon. L. D. Apsley , Representative Dlngley
of Maine. Representative Martin N. John
son of North Dakota , an able refutation
of the "Seven Financial Conspiracies ; " a
speech by Representative Mercer and Reed's
great tariff speech of 1801. The tariff ques
tion , by the way , Is treated directly In but
four of the documents Issued by the com
mittee. They are "Apsley on Reciprocity , "
Reed on the tariff , Dlalnc's reply to
Gladstone , reprinted from the North Amer
ican Review , and Orosvcnor on the effects of
the Wilson bill. Indirectly , In connection
with the money question , the tariff Is
touched upon In the speech of Congressman
Mercer , and In a document , In conversa
tional form , entitled "The Poor Looking
Forward. "
Ono of the most fetching documents Is
sued by the committee Is the speech ot
Judge Ocorgo W. Aldredge of Texas , which
handles the silver question with a Judicious
and highly seasonable Injection of western
humor. Judge Aldredgo Is a democrat. He
delivered his Interesting speech some months
WARNER P. BUTTON , ASSISTANT SEC TY ;
before the national conventions were held ,
and Senator Caffcry of Louisiana , having
inserted It in his remarks In the senate.
It becomes frankable matter and Is sent out
by the committee In franked envelopes by
tens of thousands.
Among the ammunition used by the re
publicans In the southern states where they
have a fighting chance Is the printed form
of the address of Secretary Carlisle to the
worklngracn ot Chicago , delivered last April.
There has been an enormous demand for
this speech In Kentucky , Texas and Mis
'
souri. One of the latest docume'nts prepared -
pared by the committee for circulation Is
a compilation of the leading features of
the anti-tariff utterances of Mr. Bryan In
the house , March 10 , 1892 , nnd January 13 ,
1894.
1894.Tho committee finds that in sections where
the silver question has been thoroughly cov
ered In the way of documents the tariff
question is slowly but iiircly coming to the
front as an Issue. The earliest demands for
tariff literature came from southern states.
A great many orders came from the Pa
cific coast. In the cast and middle states
the demand was wholly for sound money
literature. Within the past two weeks , however -
over , orders are Increasing In number from
the middle section of states and the demand
is gradually extending eastward. Chairman
Babcock and his associates regard this as
ono of the most favorable symptoms of a
reaction and upon It base strong hopes that
the 1st of October will see the tariff ques
tion overshadowing the money problem.
cmmcii is oi'is.v.
lloaton Transcript.
Our pastor comes to work refreshed
Looks llko another man ;
An' Satan trembles when ho sees
That healthy coat o' tan.
Yia , pastor like a giant comcg
To wrastle 'rlR'nal sin ;
An' wife she wnistles 'rlg'nnl Hleep
Of husband's with a plu.
She never somnolntes. herself
Ketch Huldy doln' that ;
She'd lose tb sermon perhaps a look
At Missis Jones's hat.
Th' church's debt we tncklo no\v7
Uy varied ways an' means ;
When moral suasion won't prevail ,
Try oysters , plea tin * beans.
TIM : OLD-TIM Hits.
William Henry Smith of Burlington came
to Iowa In August , 1833 , and has lived In
Burlington over since , and unless an older
settler Is heard from ho will be regarded
as the plocder of the pioneers.
Joseph Bowman , ono ot the pioneers In
the collar Industry , of Troy , N. Y. , has Just
died , at the ago of SI years. Ho did much
to develop the collar Industry and kept pace
with Its developments.
Lady Georglanna Grey , aunt of Earl Grey ,
Is nearly 100 years of ago , but , though she
la not very brisk upon her legs , manages to
keep Informed on politics and the talk of the
day by having guests to dinner almost every
night.
The oldest man at the bar of New York
City Is William Cookson Carpenter , who
was 03 years of ago on July 30 last. Ills
eyes are bright and shrewd , and ho might
easily pans for 70. Ho was born In Now
Brunswick , and has been In practice In this
city for sixty years ,
A census of centenarians recently taken
In Franco , gives 213 persons of 100 years or
over , 117 of them women and CO men. . The
oldest was a woman who had just died nt
150 , In a village of the Department of Haute
Garonne. Nearly all the centenarians be
longed to the lower ranks of life.
After smoking tobacco flfty years or more
Mrs , Hannah Chard , a Gloucester county ,
New Jersey , centenarian , has thrown away
her pipe with the determination never to
use It again. The old lady became con
vinced recently that smoking was shorten
ing her life. "Aunt" Hannah still enjoys
good health and Is looking forward to Uie
celebration of her lOSth birthday ,
Peter Nceb of Shelbyvllle , Ind , , who cele
brated hla hundredth birthday last weak ,
has been a moderate drinker of whisky all
hla life. He is In perfect health , Is lu pos
session of all his faculties , has never to his
knowledge been sick In bed a day , and has
never had the rheumatism. On his birth
day he related his reminiscences of General
Lafayette , Daniel Webster , Henry Clay , John
Calhoun and others.
Partheula Bragg , a negress , who lives at
Frogtowu , a settlement of colored people ,
about six miles from Versailles , Ky , , U
probably the oldest Inhabitant of the Blue
Grass state , She is in her 120th year ; as a
slave she belonged to the Kentucky family
< lf Hamlltons. Among her earliest ac
quaintances was the pioneer , Daniel Boone ,
She says she nursed the great commoner ,
Henry Clay , to his childhood. "Aunt Par-
flny" Is the "Mother of Frogtown , " the
greater proportion ot Its population being
her direct descendants ; her children , greai-
granchlldren and great-great-grandchildren
number abut 200 , She has burled four hus
bands and now Urea with a married
daughter , who Is 80 years old. The old lady
Is wonderfully utronf , considering her
ago.
OMAHA AND MEXICAN PRICES
I- K
, . . 11
ii i
Striking Facts foV"Wngo Earners nnd
COST OF THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE
r n *
An Otijert liFKNiiti TUmtrnlliiR ; Ilctnll
Prlcrn fiuler r'VVlhltvif In AI05L-
Ice anil trio ' ( iolil Stnml-
uril l'ilnbiiialin.
ft.o
Labor Commissioner Powers of Minne
sota. In an address [ to'Worklngmen on Labor
"
day , made n sensible"Suggestion concernliig
the financial questlovrr He suggested to all
worklngmen of middle ago who had homes
and families , not to accept as gospel asser
tions of politicians with respect to the al
leged ovlls of the gold standard. Instead ,
they wcro urged to discuss the matter with
their wives , particularly thb cost of living
now compared with that of twenty or moro
years ago. Mr. Powers declared that such
comparison will show that the average of
wages Is higher now and the amount re
ceived will purchase moro of the comforts
of llfo that were beyond the reach of most
families twenty-five years ago.
Mr. Powers' suggestion Is equally applica
ble to the conditions existing In silver
standard countries. A comparison of wages ,
prices of the necessaries of life and the cost
of household utensils In Mexico and In this
country brings home to heads of families
the fact that depreciated dollars meana
higher prices for all articles. Several of
those tables hove appeared In The Bee.
Later lists ot prices In Mexico , from two re
liable sources , ore published , together with
the Omaha price for the articles named.
They deserve the thoughtful consideration
of the heads of homes In Omaha and vi
cinity.
cinity.A MERCHANT'S OBSERVATIONS.
A letter from Mr. J. L. Pcruct , a coffee
dealer at Orizaba , Mexico , to Mr. II. C. r all
of Louisville , published In the Louisville
Courier-Journal , contains some Interesting
statements on the condition of labor and
prices In Mexico. Mr. Pcrnet says :
"It docs not require any great ability In
a man who has lived In this country any
length of tlmo to clearly understand that ,
It there Is any great amount ot prosperity
hero It Is not In any way. or to any extent
whatever , caused by the fact that the current -
rent money ot the country is silver , but on
the contrary , any man , with any experience
and common sense enough to comprehend
the simplest business proposition , can easily
see that If silver has any effect on the gen
eral prosperity It Is detrimental and not
beneficial , and you may bo absolutely sure
that any man who makes a statement to the
contrary Is either without experience and
Ignorant ot the 'truth , or for some reason of
his own Is willing to misrepresent It.
"The population of Mexico Is about 12-
000,000 ; of this about 9,000,000 are Indians
who are in a state of semi-civilization ; as a
rule peaceful , quiet and , in their way , In
dustrious , but generally very poor , though
sorao Individuals among them , and some
tribes , have acquired considerable property.
These Indians supply the common labor of
ClofliiB quotations i i u , , u , . . . . > . . . . . .mo. . . . .
U.S. ! < , renow. . llinjit ] . I" . Istsof'l j. . . . 101) )
U.S. 4scoup.nuiv. 11 , fTOi K. O. 7s 110) ) $
U. S. 01 , res Ill , ! . . * K. G. tl 5
U. S.fis.conp lit'ft/in'.Ms { 00
pOiUOU i in tut ? aHr * r. * a A Itq luti
STABLE , GOVERNMENT.
"As you know , up to ab&ut fifteen years
ago the government qf this country was
very unstable , and H Is'bnly since the begin
ning of the administration ot those In power
that there has bci n qpy encouragement to
outsiders to come In and make Investments
or embark In enterprises for the develop
ment of the resources , of the country. Since
that time , however , there has been a con
siderable Influx o'f 'capital , and railroads
have been built , factories established , mines
opened , etc. , and thcr9 has been considera
ble 1 progress towaixl a general development
of Industry. ' " - -
"These things have irequlred the employ
ment of operatives , and mechanics from the
outside world , and the'activity that has re
sulted i has been largely mistaken for pros
perity that has not yet become a certainty.
"I think that mining and manufacturing
have 1 generally proven profitable , as well as
certain ] branches of agriculture , but doubt
If ' there is a railroad In the whole republic
that declares a dividend , triinrh tliov sire
all liberally subsidized by the government.
CURRENT WAGES.
"Labor , as a rule , to which I know of no
exception , Is , as compared with that in the
United States , poorly paid.
"In this place , which Is one of the most
Important manufacturing centers in this
country , wages are paid as follows :
Per Day.
Journeymen carpenters $1 00 to $1 50
Journeymen brick nnd stone
masons 75 to 1 00
Journeymen blacksmiths. . . . . . . 50 to 1 25
Per Month.
Rnllroad engineers ( passenger ) $150 00
Jtullroad engineers ( freight ) 110 00
Uallrond firemen 4300
Hallrond brakeraeti 33 16
Itnllroitd conductors ( piiHsenwer ) 11000
Railroad conductors ( freight ) 10000
Section hands G2H cents to $ L25 per day ,
owing to varying conditions , locality , etc
Wages of common laborers range from
25 cents in sorno sections to CO ec-nts In
others , In rare cases little more , but 371/-
cents per day Is considered the average
for the country.
"This Is not a complete list , but other
trades , as well as clerks , bookkeepers , etc. .
are paid In the same proportion , and In sil
ver money , of which one can buy today $1.90
for $1 American money.
"I have not a list of prices of dry goods ,
but they are relatively quite as high.
Calico , 3 to 1 centH a ynrd In the
states , costs here 12 ! > c
Common domestic , 7Vi cents there ,
coats hero 20o
Common lawn , 7 centa there , costs
here 18o
Common cotton shectlnp , 2 ynrd.s wide ,
about 20 cents , costs hero 75o
"Thus you see that , while wages are low ,
the cost of living is high. But right In the
face of these fact ! , tnero are men asserting ,
dolly that as much can bo had for a silver
dollar In this country as for a gold one In
that ,
"Why such assertions are made Is beyond
my comprehension , for they are absolutely
and equivocally false.
CHEAP MONEY AND POVERTY.
"H Is aa difficult for a poor man who
depends on his dally labor to acquire a
silver dollar In this country , as a gold one
In that , If not moro so , anil ono gold dollar
will buy $1.00 of this ruonoy.
"That Is the. rate of exchange now. It
has lluctuated from S4 to 9ii per cent In the
last six weeks , and , In the last five yearn ,
I have seen It range from ubovo 30 per cent
to 101 per cent. What more argument can
bo necessary ?
"I have illustrated , that under silver thu
wages of the poor are low , while the expense -
ponso ot living Is high ,
"Being a businessman , you can appre
ciate the InconvwUence and necjssarily
detrimental effect tlfat a medium of ex
change , fluctuating1 , as1 this does , limit have
on general .commerce , ! uud thu in art hunt who
sells goods must protect hlmuelf against unfavorable -
favorable fluctuations'by putting high prices
on his commodities' . So I think it would bo
there , with gold driven Item circulation ,
and silver , unsupported by the credit of the
government , the medium of exchange ,
Mr. Pernct inclosed1 In hla letter a price
list Issued by ono ol the best grocery stores
In the City of Me.xco. | The pi Ices corres
pond with that of wa'ltcr B. Stevens , cor
respondent of the St.'Louis Globe-Democrat ,
who la now In Mexlcp. Mr. Stevens explains
that prices In thu City of Mexico are lower
than In most parts of the republic , on ac
count of better tram-portatlon fncllltiea and
moro active competltlpn , The list waa sub
mitted to a prominent Omaha grocer , who
furnished the retail prices for comparison
COMl'AHATIVK rnidlJ.
. , „ . Mexican JTIce Omaha Price.
Article ! .
( Silver. ) ( dolil. )
llama , American , per
pound , . | , SOf # .S5 i .JJ IS
Cuffee , per pound. . . . . . . . , l5tfj ) .GO ' * oinu
Tea. KUnpowOer , ] > er
l > uunct < . . . . , , . . , . . , , . 200 WyT9
Tea. Hyson , per pound , 1.73 ' . . . '
BiiBur , American , per
Pound ,25
Flour , Mexican , p r K
pounds 1.7502.00
Klour. American , per 25
. .
Hurkwlieat Hour , iwr
Iiound , . . . , .2 ; , ( n
Conum-al. white , per
pound .10 ,1'j
Corn ineal. yellow , per
pound 1J , m
liomlny frits jwr
Ittuutl , . . , .U .1'
Mm < tr nl , per pound , . . .159 .M injtir ,
llli-ft r > r-r iHiim.l IPO .17 'IfM '
t'"irn Mnrdi. rr found , . (0 .OT
St.irrh. ii ( > r pound .36 M
Star h. Mel m , prr
| Kiun < l ,1 i
Table * % H. prr | mtmd. . .Q1 MH
Common * nlt , pep pound. .91 . * 15 |
Itroonw iM .
\Vhlk lircoms JW .W > * * S
\Vs h txninli" .75 _ "
Want ! tub * , wood. . . . . . . . 2,0Bg3.M ' "U"
lluckfts , wood Tlwt.W .15JI5
Scrubbing brmhes I9 ' SSS
tthoc bnisdie . . . . 7IWI.W .2PW83
Clothe * pins , fprlnff , per . . .
down .33 .vj
Clothes pins , split , per M
dntfn < 1S .W
CnnM-ntrnted lye , per _ . _ . , ,
| Kit .50 " ! ?
Mnrkrrrt. per kit B.SO
Mltod pickles , per pint „
bottle 1,10
Cienm fheo ! > , per _ , .
m. <
-
pound .75 .1MJ-JO
Jfpw Orlenns molns'cs , „
per snllon I.M _ , -M
VltifSHr , per imllon. . . . , > 'oSJS
VcplHT , blnck , p-r pound 1.00 1SR ? ?
Dried tipples' ' , per pound .10 '
Piled penches. per . „ . ,
pnuhil -M ' *
Canned froll , nil kinds , , , .
per tin 1.60 '
llakrnd powder , per
. ( (
'These ' pr'lces"es'tnbllsii the fact that the
cost of the necessaries of life In Mexico are
In every Instance moro than double nnd in
many Instances treble what they are In
Omaha. Kvory workingman , every house
keeper will tvndlly see from this comparison
of prices what a great gulf there Is between
the condition of a free silver country and
that ot the United States under a stable
currency good for Its face the world over.
PHICRS OP DRY GOODS.
The Olobe-Uemocrnt correspondent gives
the prices of dry goods In Durango , the see-
on-l city of the republic. The figures were
obtained not from ono but from several of
thu leading merchants , lu response to an
ofllclal request , and with care as to details.
A vara Is commonly called a yard In Kn-
ullsh. It Is really a little lens , about tlilrty-
tbrre inches. The prices on these goods
aiv per vara :
Sheetings-
Guadalajara ( Mex. ) manufacture , 22'i
Inches wide , lOc.
Kngllsh manufacture , 77 Inches wide , fi ! > c.
Kngllsh manufacture , S3 Inches wide. 75c.
Muslins
Kngllsh manufacture , 32 6 inches wide ,
25c ,
Rngllsh manufacture , 31 Inches wide , 22e.
Ungllsh manufacture , , ' 13 Inches wide , ISc.
English manufacture , 28 inches wide , IGc.
Calicoes
Orizaba ( Mex. ) manufacture , 23'/2 Inches
wide , 12'c.
Kngllsh manufacture , 22 Inches , ISc.
English manufacture , 27V4 Inches , 2ic. !
French manufacture , 31 Inches wide , 3lc.
Orizaba ( Mex. ) manufacture. 29V4 Inches
wide. 25c.
Ginghams
1'arras ( Mex. ) manufacture , 21 % inches
wide. 13c.
English manufacture , 22 Inches wide , ISc.
Orizaba ( Mex. ) manufacture , 26 Inches
wide. 25c.
English manufacture , 23 Inches wide , 22c.
Outing nnd canton flannels
American manufacture , 27 Inches wide ,
3 Ic.
Ic.French
French manufacture , 24 Inches wide , 3Sc.
Monterey ( Mex. ) manufacture , 24 Inches
wide , 31c.
Jeans
United States manufacture , ! 221 Indues
wide.llc. .
Parras ( Mex. ) manufacture , " 2 Inches
wide. 25c.
Kngllsh manufacture , 24 Inches wide , 2hc.
The Guadalajara sheeting , 22Vi Inches
wide , at 10 cents a vara , Is the coarsest cot
ton cloth made. It cannot be compared with
the imported sheeting , and Is almost un
known to American families. If a gardener
In the United States wanted the cheapest
stuff he could buy for covering of his vege
table frames , what ho would get would cor
respond to this 10-ccut Mexican sheeting.
An American farmer might use It for hay
stack covering , but not for sheets on bis
bed.
OMAHA PKICES.
The foregoing list of Mexican goods and
prices was handed to Mr. Thomas Kllpatrick
of Omaha , for examination. Replying to
questions as to the price of goods of llko
quality In this city , Mr. Kllpatrick said :
"We do not have any sheetings as narrow
as 22 % inches , and we are not aware ot thc-ir
being made In this country. To correspond
with the 77-Inch goods , wo have 0-4 , which
Is 81 inches , at 14 % , IG'/i and 18 cents per
yard.
"In muslins , wo do not keep anything lo
correspond to 32 % , 31 or 33 Inch goods , but
we sell 3G Inch at 5 , G , 6 % and some Una
grades up to 12 % cents.
"American sheutlngs and . 'muslins nro
always recognized as being better than
Kngllsh goods , being Indeed the best made
In the world.
"Calicoes To correspond with 23 % and
22 Inch , wo have the best brands of Amer
ican calico , which we sell regularly at 5 and
G cents , and when they are a little off in
style , they are often sold at from 3 to1
cents. To correspond with English manu
facturers , 27 % Inches wide , wo have a num
ber of fancy weaves , usually In French
styles , very handsome , prlco 9 and 10 cents.
As corresponding with French 31 Inch , and
Mexican 29 % inches , we have what we
think are about the same goods /or from
9 to 12 % cents.
"In Ginghams to correspond with Mexi
can 21 % Inch and Kngllsh 22 Inch , we Ho
not have anything ao narrow , and so far
as wo know they are not used In this coun
try , but to correspond with the 26 Inch
Mexican at 25 cenl , wo have American
madeKluguams at 5 , C and 7 % cents. Wo
have nothing to correspond with the 23
Inch goods.
"In Outing and Canton flannels , to cor
respond with the American manufacture 27
Inches wide at 31 cents , wo retail goods at
5 , 7 % and 10 cents.
"Wo hnve nothing to compare with the
24-inch 'French or 24-Inch Mexican.
"Jeans Wo are not sure what Is meant
by 'United States manufactured Jeans' or
' 22-Inch Mexican Jeans , ' but wo think that
they may refer to what Is known with us
as corset jeans , and If so our price for the
best quality la 10 cents. "
HARDWARE PRICES.
Following Is the list of prices of hard
ware and household utensils In Duraugo :
Mexican money.
Handsaws. 4 feet Ions J4.U ) to J3.SO
Three-pound nxes i.kg to 3.DO
Ordinary table knives , per dozen. . . . 5.00 to 9.00
HutehetH , each l.tO to 3.00
DIsntnii'H double ) mnd aw , U feet. . . . 7.M
llarbed wire , per 100 pounds 9.00
Cotton rope , per pounil CO to S7
Tin coffee pots , uccordliy ; to size. . . . JS to 1.30
Tin pana , 3 quarts , each 1.75
Slop palls , according to lzc 3.50 to 4.00
Kettlf , Iron , each , according to nlzcl.0) to D.CO
Krylnc pans , according to size 21 to 1.00
Scissors , according to size C ) to 2.01)
I'rnrl button : ) , per KPUSS (0 to 3.00
Ordinary valise , leather su.ro
Ordinary valise , paper c.tO
Cook stove , No , 7 , Mexican make. . . . 30.CO
LUIIIPH , pint 1.50 lo S.M
Lanterns I.M
Itlrtnk books , ISO pages , Mexican mnke 1,87
Lctfil cup paper , lint ; quality , iwr
ream. Mexican umke 2.23 tJ 10.00
Note paper , per ream , Slexlcan 1.J5
Writing fluid , tier quart , Mexican. . . . t > 7
Cut nallH , per KVR , Mexican make. . . , 13.CO
Who rmllB , per keg , Mexican make. . 13.(0
They are so little you hardly know you
are taking them. They cause no griping ,
yet they act quickly and most thoroughly ,
Such are the famous little pills known as
DaWltfa Little Karly Illsers. Small in
slzo , great In results.
Uohn "Queer Statistics" says that the
steam engines of tbo world represent tbo
work of 1,000,000,000 men.
Dottle of CUTICURA RESOL
VENT , greatest of humor-cures ,
i3 often sufficient to complete
n permanent cure of the most
torturing and disfiguring of
ctiin , scalp , and blood humors.
Br-Ecnr Cunr. TIIKATIJENT FOH n.t fluiN AND
Ituioii IluMoiif. Warm bMhi with Ci'TltUHA
H < ur , goutlu application * ! of ULTICUK.L ( olut.
mt-ut ) , tko girat iLIn cur > and mild do > of
( jLTici'iu KKJOUVEAT , gntc t of uuuicr curei.
Bold throurbaul tht vorld. Price , CL'TICVBA , CQe.i
S.nr. IV | KikoiTciT. Me. nit U 1'oirii l i-a
A II Ciitu. four . ! I'/opt , MMIOO.
fly * U < nr to Cure fcv ijr Uumor , " milled free.
BENJAMIN WHITE'S ' STORY
fty Cnuinln Jack Crawford , "The 1'oet Sconf
"tlenjamln White , " the court clerk called.
and "Henjamln White" again ,
When a man of apparently flfty rnme out ot
the prisoner's pen.
He leaned on ft cane ot hickory wood , nud
walked with n limping gait ,
And stood at the bar with determined fare ,
and there awaited his fate.
"Benjamin White , " his honor said , as tlir
crowd In the court grew mill ,
"Tho charge which I SOP against your name
Is assault with Intent to kill ;
How do you plead ? 'TIs a serious charge ,
with n heavy penalty ;
The court would advise that you ponder well
before you enter a plea. "
The old man slowly raised his head , and
looked 111 the Judge's face ,
And said : "It's true , w'at you tell me ,
Judge , t know It's a ecrlous rase.
1 ain't goln" to make no trouble for tbo
court and lawjers here.
Pur all the witnesses In the world , I guess ,
couldn't get me clear.
But If you will hear what I got to say , 1
won't take much of your time.
'Twill show you the power as urged mo to do
this most desperate- crime ,
By striking a human beln' with this cane
with my utmost might ,
A deadly weapon you call It , on' I reckon
that's nearly right.
'Wny back In ol' Indlauy , on Jolnln' farms
there wcro two
Young boys ns were constant playmates , an1
together they upward grew ;
In all o' their sports nnd pleasures , they
wcro llko two common pins ,
They stuck so closely together , the folks
ealled 'em Siamese twins.
One of 'em was uie , jour honor , nil * the
othsr leg o' the tongs.
AVas a tow-headed rascal , named Billy , a
son of ol' Simon. Oolong's.
Wo not In the school house together , an'
wo helped one another on sums ,
In .ill o' that deestrlclt I reckon there want
filch affectionate chums ,
Wo gtew up from boyhood to manhood , our
friendship Htlll solid an1 true ,
In fact It got brighter and brighter , and
stronger the older we grew.
Folks talked about Damon an' Pythias , some
chaps o' the long ago days ,
An' hinted as how me and Hilly was copyIng -
Ing arter their ways.
Wo's heard that a war was n comln , ' an'
one April day us two chums
Hitched up an' went Into the villagean'
there heard the fifes an' drums.
An1 Billy UeLong ho says : 'Charlie , them
drums Is fcr me an * fer you ,
Lets list an' go fight fur our country , ns
loyal men all ort to do.
Well , wo both enlisted your honor , au' was
ordered right off to the south
To do our duty as soldiers , e'en right at the
hot cannon's mouth.
An * In all o' the marches and alrgcs , In all
o' the desecrate fights ,
Us chums could bo found right together , an'
wo. bunked together o * nights.
Wo shared With each other our rations , we
shared all our sorrows an' Joys ,
Au' 1 reckon , your honor , wo acted Jus * like
wo did w'cn wo was boys.
Fur I tho't the hull world of Dllly , an'
Billy tho't likewise o' me ;
There wasn't two chums lu the army nioro
lovin' than we was , you see.
Ono day In the heat o' the battle , my chum
got a shot In the breast
An1 w'en I was kneelln' beside- him ho made
a most earnest request.
That I'd say goodbye here an' leave him , you
see we was beln' driven back ,
An' the robs was a whooplu' an" yellln' like
demons close on to our track.
'Go , Charlie , ' he said , 'an' God bless you ,
fall back with the roclmcnt , fur I
Must stay where I am , you can't move mo ,
an" perhaps hero I may die.
If you live till the conlllct Is over , on' back
to the ol' homo should go ,
Please tell them I fell like 'a soldier , that 1
fell with my face to the foe.1
I looked In his eyes for a moment , the eyes
I had long loved so well ,
An' Judge , If ol' GIneral Satan with all
o' the forces o' hell
An' all armed with blazln' hot sabers had
over that bloody Held come
A wagln' of cxternilnatipn , I'd a stayed
right there with my chum.
I knowcd all the horrors of capture , starva
tion in fllth-reekln' pen ,
The blows an' curses o' demons dressed up
In the semblance o' men ,
Exposures to storms and privations , an'
sufferln' no tongue could portray ;
But there was my chum layln' helpless , an'
right there by him I would stay.
They tuk us 'way down to Atlanta in cattle -
tlo cars all o" the way ;
I sot all crouched up In a corner , In my lap
poor old Billy's head lay.
I'd fixed up his wound as I could , sir , fur
all o * the surgeons behind ,
Was busy attending the wounded o' their
own confederate kind.
He kep' up a twistln' an' groanln' , fur the
pain nearly drove the boy wild ,
An' I kcp * a soothln' an' cheerin' Jus' like
ho was only a child ;
I sometimes tho't he was dyln' . and the
pain nearly drove the boy wild ,
Most as bad as poor Billy was suffering
from that off ul confederate shot.
W'en wo got to Atlanta they ordered me
out o' the car with the rest.
I told 'em of Billy's condition , of the great
gjpln' wound In Ills breast ,
An * axed If I couldn't stay with him , ap
pealed to their feelln's as men ;
But with blows an' with curses they rushed
mo Inside of a great prison pen.
An' ncx' day wo started fur Hlchmond , n
leavln' poor Billy behind ;
My heart an' my soul was In torture , an'
my eyes with hot tear drops wor blind.
My God , how I suffered , your honor , with
u most unendurable pain ,
W'cn the horrible thought kep' a comln'
I'd never bee Billy again ,
Three months on Belle Isle , nn' I reckon
your Honor knows well what that
means ,
Three months In that hell-halo o' Satan ,
amid the most horrlblu scones ;
But all my woo was forgotten , an' my heart
was Just crazy with Joy
W'en with a now lot of arrivals I saw the
dear face o * that bov.
From his wound ho had nearly recovered ,
an' Judge , you may laugh It you
chooso.
Hut -vo bugged nn' wo klsicd Jut * llko
women , an' danced In our old tololcss
shoes ,
Tilt the bay * must have thought wo were
craiy , but wo didn't kecr , not a pin ,
Kur Billy was llvln' an * klckln' , an' wo wai
together
Then wo formed a plan for escaping by tun-
nelln' under the line ,
An' tuck lu a regular soldier , a feller uaracit
Jonathan Stlne ;
An' week after week there wo labored till
freedom seemed drnwln' to hand ,
An' wo cherished the blessed rclleellon that
soon with our comrades wo'd stand.
The sun went down , the west was , declining
an' cro U again would appear ,
We felt that us three would bo sti-alln' to
ward our own colors so deaf ;
Hut nlas fur our ( and expectations , an' all
of our labor an * i < alns.
'Iho guard to our tent cum marehln' an' wo
found ourselves cavrylti' chains ,
That spawn o' the devil betrayed us , that
damnable regular cheat
Had told of our plot lo the rebels fur saki
of a mouthful to cat.
An' Billy an' mo made A promise If wo over
should strike on his trail ,
We'd break In his traitorous noggin , If wo
spent a hull lifetime In Jail.
I met him , Judge , right In this city an * all
o' the sulTerln' nn' pain
That Billy au' mo had encountered cum
rushln' back to me acaln.
An' right on that Instant I downed him as
I would any traitorous cur ,
An' I laughed fur to hear him beggln' when
I told hint Jus' what It was fur ,
They tell mo the blow nearly killed him ,
but that he's recoverln' now ,
An' wauls mo to rot In a prison fur sort o'
fulfilling my vow ;
But one boonln' thought MI sustain mo , that
If Billy loLung Isn't dead ,
He'll some day run Into the rascal an' follcr
my lead on his head.
An' I hope time has dealt more Indulgent
with him nn' ho's stronger than me ,
Hid muscles more solid and springy , Ills
sinews more active an' free ,
So's his stroke 'II be more satlsfyln' an * fall
with more power , fur then
The world 'II bo rid of a critter that ain't
fit to live 'lining men.
An' Judge , please your lionor , I reckon ns
how I can't : set any ball ,
An' Instead of the A. P. reunion , I gucsa I
must languish In Jail ,
Ye see , I have tended reunions almost slnco
the war right along ,
In hopea I might meet my old comrade , my
chum , dear ol' Billy DeLong.
An' at Burlington down In Vermont , sir ,
tomorrow the old boys will meet ;
1 was here on my way when I mot him anil
tackled the cuss on the street ,
An' If some loyal comrade would ball me ,
right back from Vermont I would
come ,
An' report to yer honor fur service , for ycr
see I might light on my chum. "
The Jndgo called the district attorney and
whispered some words In his ear ,
The lawyer seemed tilled with amazement ,
and to nil the court 11 was clear
That ho looked on the old man with favor ,
his story had struck the right place ,
For a tear and a look of compassion was
fixed on the old Judge's face.
Ho drew from his pocket n check book anil
filled In the blanks with a Jerk ,
With quick , nervous movement ho signed It
and handed It down to the clerk :
"Misdemeanor , the charge lias been put , sir ,
and guilty Is your plea , " then ho said ,
"Tho court puts the fine at ten dollars with
costs , and the fine has been paid. "
The court was adjourned and his honor came
down from his seat on the stand ,
Made his way through the lawyers and bail
iffs , and grasped the old man by the
hand ,
And hustled him out of the court room anil
Into a carriage near by ;
Each man in the crowd staring after with ,
wonderment fixed In his eye.
Then followed a rambling discussion , seine
blaming the Judge for liU net ,
While others with weighty opinions his ac
tions with eloquence backed.
But all were of Just ono opinion when a
bailiff cried out to the throng.
"You lose sight of the name of his honor ,
that check was signed William De-
Long. "
IH2ATJI FOLLOWS I'UACTICAL JOJC13.
Filial TrriitcilCo.ftN Two l.lvon nt
a lliinrilliiKT HoiiHe.
NEW OflLKANS. Sept. 26. A double
tragedy occurred In a Bourbon street board
ing house this morning. Harry Goldsmith ,
a solicitor for a debenture company , and
Joseph Goldstein , a clothing drummer ,
boarded In the house. Recently they have
been playing pranks on each other. This
morning they quarreled about a Joke that
Goldstein had perpetrated on Goldsmith.
The latter secured his revolver and asked
Goldstein to his room , and shot him twice
In the head , Inflicting mortal wounds. Gold
smith then turned the pistol to his own head
and blew out his 1) rains. Beth men were
young and unmarried.
Ifny I'oxl poll < Until After Hlcctlon.
ST. LOUIS , Sept. 20. It was announced
seine tlmo ago that the Carriage Builders
National association would call a conven
tion and exhibition in St. Louis , October 13 ,
14 and 15. Many eastern members of the
pssoclatlon claim that times are Inauspicious ;
there have been many business reverses , and
members feel unable to bear the expense
of a trip to Si. Louis. It was suggested
that the convention bo postponed until after
the November election , or else until next
year. A meeting of the executive committee
will bo held In Now York next week , or clao
a vote ns to whether the convention shall
beheld or not will bo taken.
Tetter , eczema and all similar akin
troubles are cured by the use of De-Witt's
Witch Hazel Salve. It soothes at once , and
restores the tissues to their natural con
dition , and never falls to euro piles ,
Slimy WiM'i'kN tin tinCuiint. .
LONDON , Sept. 20. Advices received here
from Spain , France and the west of Eng
land show that numerous wrecks'havo
occurred on the coasts , and ( hat the gain
has done much damage everywhere.
-You'll find it's ths
most perfect waterproof floor covering that's
durable , sanitary and artistic that is iJ ou
get it here in plain colors and a great variety
of artistic designs including the new inlaid pat
terns like inlaid wood nolsless and easily
cleaned six to twelve feet wide for kitchens
halls bath rooms. Let us price it to you ,
Orchard & Wilhelm Carpet Co. ,
Douglas Street.