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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1896)
TllE OMAHA DAILY UE.E : MONDAY , 'DISCIiftEUISK 7 , 18 ! ) . LABORER A THINKING MAN Doss Not Take His Opinions from Alleged Labor Loaders. STUDIES LIFE'S ' PROBLEMS FOR HIMSELF Olio of Tin-in 1'olnlM Out Wlit-rr the I.nliiir Volt * \Vfiit In tin * Late On in pi ) turn mill tlic UriiNfiiiM \VlilHi Aclmitoil IIIiu. OMAHA , Dec. C. To the Keillor of The Hoe : In the face of the overwhelming vote Elvon for McKlnlcy In every organized labor ctntcr In the United States , the contentlon- discredited Belt-ap Btlll urged by certain pointed mouthpieces of labor that "organ ized labor fltood for Ilryan" gives even lit v/ho runa anil reads that languid wuarlncsi that brings back the boyhood days when on a visit to my uncle's farm my carl } morning slumber waa disturbed by the vocal efforts of a most ambitious ass. While It Is true the campaign of 1SBG Is ended , nnd the grain has been pretty thoroughly thrcshei ! from the straw , there arc some lessons tc be learned by a retrospective glance at the results , and there In no fact that Is more Ir evidence than the location of the "laboi vote. " I was repeatedly astonished at the donee Ignorance of ROIIIC politicians as te the real worklngman. That Mark H'anna understood him Is shown by the Intelligent cfiort he made to reach him. Glittering generalities about the "dignity and rlghU of noble labor" have long slnco become stale , and when lie hears the orator atari In on that string your worklrigman begins to look for a "nigger In the woodpile. " The literature Issued by the republican national committee shows thatf the men at the helm understood this , and made their appeal tc the genuine article and not to the profes sional. . . . It Is amazing that newspapers 'glvo BC much space to the mouthlngs of men like Sovore-lgn. who rcpreficnts nothing but a frayed out remnant of what was once the Knights of Labor , but which Is now a skele ton , all the bones of which are decayed and crumbling. This man , who has nol done a day's work In years , to be net ur ns a mouthpiece of labor ! The mischief ol It Is that people hear his noise , and clas : him as a "worklngman , " and these good people In the hurry of llfo entirely ovcrlooli the great army of self-respecting , law-abid ing men and women who constitute the real tellers , and who would no more bo Influ enced by Sovereign than by any other crank , Nor would they permit him to speak foi them on any eiucstlon. however trivial. Other men there were who essayed to npcak for labor , and who threw their "Influ ence" and voice for Ilryan. The best known of these la Kugcno V. Debs , and the result of lib labors , and the amount of his "Influ ence" Is shown In the vote In Chicago. During the great railway Htrlko of ' 91 , Mr. Debs cut quite a figure In Chicago , and after his failure to win the strike and quiet wan restored , the real measure of the man could bo taken. He has been posing as n martyr to the law elnco then. A plank In the Chicago cage platform was practically given him It Is not necessary for me to pass Judgment on the gentleman , the worklngmon of Chicago cage , who know him best , have done that , and I merely record the fact that Mr. Debs , nnd the theories he rciireacntcd , were turned down by thousands of majority of the labor vote1. vote1.No greater blunder was over made by a political party than the Chicago convention committed by the Insertion of that plank. It was Intended to catch the worklngmcn , nnd It proves how little the platform makers know about him. Ho read between the lines of that mischievous plank and saw In It an Invitation to mwlcssncrs and anarchy , and ho bclloves In neither. It caught the toughs , the bums , the professional worklngmcn , "who work at nothing but the development ol their nerve , nnd who BOO In labor difficulties a chance to pull somebody's leg , or get a llttlo notoriety , but It repelled every thought ful wage-earner , who read It. He showed his opinion of It at the polls , and there IB no gainsaying that his vote was cast for law and crder. It Is amusing to note the explanations of causes that lead to llryan's defeat by 'cer tain publications styling themselves the "labor press. " Every cause Is alleged but tin ) right one , I. e. , the labor vote was cast almost solidly against him and them. It la humlllitlng to the gentlemen who have been talking for months about what labor would do to find out that they knew nothing about It , and it Is demanding too much of frail human nature , particularly that brand of human nature ordinarily represented by the editor of the average "labor paper , " to ex pect him to own the corn. I do not wish to hcllttlo the usefulness of real , genulnu labor papers , conducted on principles of com mon sense , confining themselves to their legitimate Held and conducted by men who understand the labor question , or rather , moro correctly speaking , labor's Interests. How much Influence the "labor press , " as at present constituted , has In politics , Is Bhown by the vote for president. Nearly , If not quite , all the so-called labor paper ; , which deal In politics supported Bryan. Nearly. If not qulto all , the laborers voted for McKlnlcy. Thcsn are the stubborn facts which no amount of "argoyment" can exPlain - Plain away Why. If It Is tryo that these labor edltorti strive to reflect.tho opinions of worklngraon were they so wholly nt sea regarding the de-slrcs of this tremendous ma jority of the tellers ? Causes there are In plenty , neither ob scure nor remote. First ot all the labor press ! opinion on economic questions Is gen erally e-xprrsscd by men who know as little of political economy as they do of earning a dollar by honest toll , and no ono knowa this better than the worktngman himself. The readers of these papers and chief patrons are the small-boro politicians , who really bcllovo the paper has Influence among the "masses. " among whom Us circulation Is extremely limited. The editor Is gen- cially n man who has made a failure at his oun trade or avocation , and blaming general conditions for his own Incompotency essays to reform the world to n plane where his mediocrity will be taken for genius. He deceives no ono but himself and like Incoin- pctt > ntB. Ho ntplrca to become a "leader , " always a position that requires superior ability , and nowhere moro than among wage-earners , who , having everything to loira In every move ment In case of failure , act cautiously and nlwayu on their own judgment. Your work lngman cannot bo "led. " Ho Is supccptlblo of logical rcaojtilng ; may be convinced by reasonable evidence , and unco KU Is lied of the road In which his IntcreHs He , will pursue It t < > the end. Ho ly a much closer rcasoner than ho Is generally given credit for , nnd Is very much disposed to look after "Mollle , I and tlio baby. " Ho Is by no means the Impulsive , sh.illow weathercock como pccplo who pretend to speak for M in would lead the * world to bcllovo. Hence ho Is not deceived by the glittering promlneo o vague theories Impotslblc of practical appllca tlon. . There Is another clement In his life nlmos wholly overlooked by everybody , and that li "Mollle. " The family relations , In the vcn nature of things , In among no claw of Amcrl can people so equal n partnership as between the wage earner and his wife. She Is generally orally the trcaturcr of the family. She prac tlccs tlioso llttlo economic ? that go to inaki the most of his wageit. There Is no under taking ho contemplates that she Is not tnkoi Into contmltatlon , and ho has more confident ! In her judgment than In all the "labor lead' ' crs" on earth. She knows the value of t dollar very much bettor than ho does , am ho appreciate. * that fact In a practical mail1 ner. He Is the bread winner , she keep ? ( hi house together. His time Is necessarily takci up with his work , nd tOo makes the famllj purcliafos , driving much better bargains tha : ho can. Shu la generally u firm trade : unionist , because she appreciates the value o organization to keep to ( to hlgheul posslbl point the earnings of her husband , and eh cheerfully acquiesces In the payment of th necowary dtioj to keep that union up. Hit sio don't believe In the "labor parcr" tha devotes Itself to calling her hucband a "wag slave , " Its columno tinctured alternately wll' ' socialism and anarchy , with blundering edl torlnlu on "ecnonmlcs ; " with long screed about Iho "greed of capital , " and the "servll tools of monopoly" that being the nun wh has a Job and Its boosts of men -\vhor chiefs claim to groatnces lies In the fac that they are too strong too work. It slangy expressions sicken her. She'll non of It , and right hero lies the wcret of th notoriously meager circulation of the poll tlco-labor press. For thirty-five years another potent fac tor In shaping the destiny of the sons an' ' daughters of toll has been dohig Its quie work the public school. To such a state of perfection has this system gone that , gc Into the shops where you will the words of the teller betray none of that wrctchet dropping of the final O and other murder of the king's English that used so to dc light the heart of the reporter when h wrote up an Interview with a worklngman Ho Is a patron of the public library , am his wife Is generally n woman of cducatlor as well. She frequently has some muslca training , and they have some eort of must cal Instrument In the home. Their line o reading Is not of the cheap , trashy , dc tectlvo story order , either , and they ar generally as well Informed an to their bcs Interests as his employer Is to his. Ho I not a "slave" to anybody or anything , ex ccpt It may be to the wife and little ones he loves , and he knowa It. He Is just at anxious to protect his cottage or hL'i "flat" by the rigid enforcement of the laws to the protection of property as the millionaire Is hl3 marslon , and In times of mob violence his strong arm nnd brave heart may be re lied on to put down the enemies of society * * You tell mo this worklngman Is not mucl In evidence ! He was very much In cvl donee on the 3d day of last November. He Is not to bo found much on the street cor nor.i fraternizing with men settling natlona problems without being able to manage thel own. Ho Is not to be found In the groggcr- Ics declaiming loudly "agin capital. " on If you look In the right place you will flm him , lots of him. Ho Is In the workshop lots of htm. Ho will be found In the unloi meetings , lots of him. Wherever human beings moot for a wise and useful purpose you will find this self-respecting husbam and father , whoso toll-hardened hands arc badges of honor. His wife , too , was very much In evidence last November. They had Jointly read the literature of this campaign of education , and when he cast his vote he registered their Joint Judgment , and lift did not vote to make the money ho received for hU toll buy one comfort less for the home. Depend upon It organized labor voted pretty solidly for McKlnlcy and sound money. Who , then , are the labor leaders ? His own Judgment. The man Is not born who can lead him else. He Is swayed by that thing which controls all men his own Interests If you convince him a thing Is wise and right , you need not fear the result. He Is not a fool , not a machine , to be voted at will , but a thoughtful , sensitive man , capa ble of great sacrifices for those he loves , or for what he conceives to bo fight. He suf fers moro from the wild-eyed agitators who class themselves "friends of downtrodden labor" than any other class , because thought less people will class htm with them ; but he Is no more of them than Jesus of Nazareth waa of .tho thlevca between whom our Savior was crucified. It Is about time the American people understood this , and took the worklngman for what ho Is , a loyal ant law-abiding citizen , u good neighbor , a kind husband and father , a credit to man kind , nbovo whoso grave , when death , the grcati levclcr of all , ban claimed him for his own , might bo written In letters of truth "This was an honest man ! " * If , In the foregoing , I have done something to put the real worklngman In his true light. I am amply repaid. Myself a me chanic , as was my father before me , and as waa his father before him , I have been all my llfo associated with those who earned their bread In the sweat of their face , and am vain enough to believe I know the workIng - Ing people fairly well. Knowing them and loving and honoring them , as only ho who knows them well can , my Indignation bub bles over at the frequent outrageous cari catures sent Into the world and labeled "worklngraan. " ERNEST MEIISHON. co.\siniii incurs OF THIS OITV. Omaha's IiitcrcNt In ( lie AVnter IMniif I'll ! In . -tiiilrily. | . OMAHA , Dec. 6. To the Editor of The Ilee : The piopcsltlon to postpone until 1907 the city's right to purchase the watcr works plant Is Indeed ono that should bo most carefully considered before final action Is taken. Dy the proposed plan of settlement the water works company alms to secure a waiver of legal objections to Its BUCCCSHOT- shlp to the franchise of the old corporation and to obtain a franchise practically guar anteed against disturbance , for at least ten yea > s. To the new company the attainment of these objects Is of the utmcst of financial Importance. Without such concessions It will bo subject to a variety of very serious embarraEamcnts In carrying out Its scheme of organization and floating Its bonds. On the other hand our people are under no legal or moral obligation to grant these concessions. The question Is of a purely business nature. If our people are to con cede these great benefits to the water com pany , they havp a right to demand great benefits fop themselves In return. So far we are offered practically nothing. In pro posing to build another main from Florence and to "make such other needed Improve ments a may bo found necessary , " the new company Is simply agreeing to do wh.it Iho contract of the city with the old com- liaiiy , on which Iho now company stands , al ready requires. The proposal to locate at a nominal rental , 150 now flro hydrants , of which wo are In no present need , amounts to little. The concession which would bo an ade quate return for the benefits yielded to the Safety comes first , in washing. What is the use of making the work easy , as long as i t's risky or dangerous ? What does it matter howlittle a thing costs , or how many prizes you get with it , if it rots and ruins the clothes ? It can't be that you want to take any chances. Use Pearline. Nothing that has ever been used * * for washing or cleaning is more Absolutely harmless than Pearline. _ It gives you the easiest , the quickest , the most thoroughly economical work. w water company , rind which the city govern mcnt should demand Arc : ( I ) A royalty 01 the gross receipts of the company to bo pali Into the city treasury ; and (2) ( ) A nubatohtla reduction In the rates to private consumers The existing rates were fixed ! In 1SSO. The ; nro for the present day excessively high Following Is A list of some seventy cltlca li which the water works are lower than thosi of Omaha , with comparisons of rates PC 1,000 gallons for less than COO gallons pc day , and for 00 to 1,000 gallons per day. If space permitted the comparison of them cities might bo still further extended will the Bnmo result. These figures arc takci front reports on file In my ofllco , nnd whlcl are open to Inspection , They certainly shov that wo have just and reasonable cause t < demand substantial reductions from our present ent ratcei , and a part of this reduction mlgh properly take the form of a royalty as BUR gcsted heretofore. It Is In the power of our mayor and , coun ell to bring about the desired result , am their action In the matter will be awaltci with much Interest. Following are the comparative figures here tofore referred to : Per 1,000 gnl. , Per 1.000 gnl. , less tltnn WO from WK ) to 1,00s City. gill , per diiy. gnl. per day. Omaha $ . .Ti J .30 Denver 20 .IS .Minneapolis OS . < H Atlanta 10 .10 ' I.oulsvlllo ir .15 Rochester II .11 ' Plttsburg 20 .10 Imllntmpolla 2. > .21 Sioux City 23 . ! ! > .Mllwnillicu 20 .20 Cincinnati OS.CC .03.CG St. Paul in .10 = 4 SyrncUHO 22'4 .17'n Lowell 1 ! . ? ! .1S-4 Nashvlli- IT'.S .IB Grand Itaptds 20 " .1(1 ( Albany OS .OS Mllchmond 15 .1314 1'corla 10 .20 S.ilt iJike 2. . .2. ) New York 13',4 ' .1314 Chicago 10 .10 Hnlllmoro 0(5 ( .OS Clove-land O.V,4 .ffili Buffalo 01 .01 Detroit 05 % .022- ! Providence 20 .JO Columbus 20 .20 Toledo 10 .10 Now Haven r.O - .2"i Cambridge 20 .20 nayton OS .03 Heading' .23 .20 Camden IS .10 Lynn 20 .23 Boston U'i Hartford 30 ' ,2."i Kvnnsvlllo 10 \ .10 Portland. Ore 30 .2 , " . Springfield , Mass SO ' .2.1 Ullca 30 . .r. Hrles Ol ! .08 Louisville 1S % Kansas City , Kan 2r .20 Covlngton 1. .15 Tacoma 2."i .22 Holyoke 1. 7T > Blnglminplon 25 .2. " Augusta , Ga 10 .10' Young-Blown 20 .is Lancaster , Pa Q > ,0 > Topcka " 0 , sn Salem , Mass 20 .I'll Tcrre Haute 30 30 Canton. O Ofi , Ci ( Springfield. Ill 20 .20 Newport. Ky 10 .10 Ilockford 171S ' -l-li Jollet 10 .10 Merldcn 2T .20 Lexington , Ky 2o .2. New Albany , Ind 15 .1214 Xanrsvlllo OR .00 Spokane 20 .20 Orange. N. J 2.1 ,2. > Wnlthnin 21 .22 Sanduaky 13 .1:1 : Rlgln 2. ) .20 ICau Claire SO .2.- Columbus , Ga 20 .20 Plttsllcld 13 In tha foregoing list those cities having municipal ownership of the water works plants nro marked with a star. It will be well for our citizens to note the low prlcoe under municipal ownership and ask them selves whether they wish the right of our own city to such ownership bartered away as Is at present proposed. Yours truly , W. S. POPPLETON. WHY nUTJKU TUB OI.T ) IIICUOMS Patriotic OIiJt-PtlollH CoiiiiiiilHorj liftlruiiiont from tlic Army. SOUTH OMAHA , Dec. C. To the Editor of The Bco : 1 want to express a few thoughto upon a subject that I have pondered over many times In the past year , yet have never advanced It In a public manner , hardly knowing how It would take with the general public. The subject that I wish to advance Is that of the forcible retirement of army ofllccra from their positions In the United States army upcn the attainment of the ago of Gt. I have no relatives or ft lends or even many acquaintances In the army , eo feel that I am writing as a wholly disinterested citizen of thla great republic. I do not object to the retirement of men who have not served their country upon the field of battle very much , but the question that cornea up Is , Why should men who have stocd upon the field of battle and faced storms of shot and s-hcll be retired and placed In a position of obscurity for purely arbitrary reasons ? It any men should be honored with the highest honors within the government and under Its control It should bo the heroes who won fame and renown as defenders of tlio government In her days of distress and need. Wo should revere them as the people of old reveled their valorous troofs when coming home from fighting with foea from wltnln and from without , laden with the trophies of hard-fought battles and victories won. The union veterans when they came to their homes In the year 1S05 did not come burdened with spoils that they had forcibly taken from their brothers of the south , but they came homo with the consciousness that they had freed millions of human beluga from the thralldom of slavery , having struck down their shackles and at the same time having preserved the gre&tcst free nation from destruction that the sun of heaven has eve'r shown upon. Instead of bringing home the spoils of the battles and pillage they came with the broken shackles of slavery , followed by the blessings of a human race made free by the force of arms. If the policy of forcible retirement Is fol lowed out It will not bo many > ; curs until the last battle-scarred old hero will bu In retirement and the people who have grown up since the days of the war may not think or remember of what these men have done to uvacrvo the national union. In the recent political campaign the tourney of the- old crippled soldiers was one Lilazo of glory from start to finish. Many liad forgotten that the old-time Intrepid leaders still existed among men , and many of the youi.gei generation , who know naught of war except by tradition and history , be came thoroughly Imbued with patriotic love if country and the old flag. The meetings icld by the brave leader. General Sickles , jy the one-armed patriot , General Howard , > y the legless Tanner , by Iho knightly Algcr , jy the brilliant orator , Stewart , and the rest of the party of veterar.a , will bo held is sacred history by tliu millions of people ivho saw and heard them , Tlmlr mcctlnga ivoro not In the nature of political rallies , tmt rather of the gathering together of those who love the country far above party , and the Impress of these gatherings has taken Icep root , that they will not lese their iu- luenco for many years to come. Now generations have sprung up since the var , and as the people of old forgot their led , no many of the younger generation have lot only foigottcn , but they know naught o ; ho deep anguish , of the- days of sacrifice , of jloodshcd , of anxious longing and waiting imoug t lie-so upon the fields of the south uul In the homes of the north left far be- ilnd. Many of them , not realizing what md been dona by the old generals who made heir recent tour of the country , spoke of hem In terms of disparagement and obloquy. If the government uliould each > car ECO fit o send these sumo old heroes out among hu people to teach lessons of patriotism aa earned by them In the baptisms of flro n the years when the gicat liberator , Lln- oln , presided over the destinies of our laml , nd so long as thcbo old leaders of men are hie to travel and so long as they are n tiling o make the sacrifice , It would be of lasting oo.l to the nation , even though the veteran- , dl not make many addresses ; for their up- learancc among the people would recall hu memories of the past to those of older cam , while It would cause the younger generations to read the history of this im- Ion of which the old eoldlera are a part. Though thu old fen era Is who recently trav- Icd through the country are but phjulcal vrccks. yet what remains of thorn ls wor- hlpprd by their former troops with thb ame fervor and Idolatry that Iho Scotch vorchlpped Sir William Wallace and llobcrt Iruce. Their old troops , even though thuli- anks have been uadly thinned by death , and VPII though most of thoio utlll alive are Iccrt'plt and erlzzleJ with BCO , would light for their old IpadtrattodAy an fought th Scotch at the historic battle of Dun nock burn when the fat > of-'Scottlsh liberty him In the balance , vrhrro' ' the prtBcnco of th remains of the devui tWnllnco wcro surflclcn Inspiration to cansoi-tho sturdy Scotch t fight with redoubled' courage , resulting I ono of the greatcitv victories known to his tory. The old votrrans of Iho union arm who fought at Shlloh , At Chlckamauga , a Antletam nnd at laettysburg were Just n valorous on those historic fields as wcro th Scotch In the ages long past who fought fo their llluyiics from mouiuln height an from > ? ! fV. u It Is jiVoplnlan , after personal contac with tntN'ofViho fanoouth , that If the lav should b < } ao cVnngod Hint the men who nr still In the rnnKs cf the standing army wh In former years battled for the preservatloi of national life In battle array should bo re tamed on thj > roll of tha army so long a they live , tlyft none wouf bo moro strong ; In favor of u ch a change of the law thai the brave troopa of the confederate legloni who uro still nllip. They were mcst of then brave and chlv4rouD foes and always gladlj recognize honj lfc..t nro paid to tliolr en cmlci of thyB5'vyiiey the ! year chowci that the rr jr vA , * 'Of ' the > days of the wn are over , wiu-litctn of thousands of then caw their loynl nnd hearty support to the'l old-time foe whoso bravery was tested litho the flro of battle on many a gory field , Majo William McKlnley. Nothing would tend moro to teach love o country and love of the stars and stripe than to retain on the roll cf honor , IM loni an ho may live , the great fighter , Genera Miles , who won fame and n'ory ' not only li battling with the civilized hcots ot the soul ! but with the wild and untutored ravages o the wcytern mountains and wlde-spreadlni plains ; or of General Copplnger , the son-ln law of the Illustrious Jamc3 0. Ulalnc , or th ctlicro of lesser rank who are ellll with th' ' nrmy , who In their younger years fought fo the nation when storms of bullets wen rained upon them and amid the rattle o mui'kctry nnd the cannon's roar fivon shouM these old lendero grow old li tlio scrvlco , gboven should another wa como upon ul ffniit they are old and unabl to longer stand the fatigues of war on tcntci fields or on the surging waters of lake o ocean , other Grants , Sherldans , Shermanc Porters , Knrraguts , Logans would spring ti tlio breach , who would fight Just at' bravo ! ; as any of the liorccs of the past. Let General oral Miles and the rest of the wartime vet crans who yet rcniiln with the army , sta ; where they arc , so long as they may live , &i that each succeeding generation may be toll nnd retold of their luminous past and of thi events that brought them to the distinguish reicignltlon given them In their rclontloi with the troopa of younger years. Let then stay with the troops of this age , so tha they may Inculcate In them a stronger levi of the Hag for which so many of the bcs young men of our country fought and died Keep tha old army officers In the ranks where they will bo conspicuous to the who.li world DO long as they may live. Old General Wlnfleld Scott remained will the United States army until after ho hai pawed the 75th milestone of his life , afto having been with the nrmy more than flftj thrco years. Hnd an nttempt to forcibly n. move him from the ranks of the nrmy bcci made when he had attained the age of G there would have bsen a , great hue and crj of opposition , for he had at that ngc Jus1 completed hla part of the work of conqucrln : the Mexicans nnd In milling vast domain te our country. Younger men In the army can afford It wait a few years longer , for the hcrces whe fought and shed their blood on fields ol honor will soon mil bo gone , ns they are passing nway at nn Increasing rate ns the year * ' roll along. ' The hardships of the flelei nnd camp In the years gene by told heavll > on thorn and thclnavcrage age does ? not equal that of those who remained behind In the peaceful walks ofllfo. ! Those thoughts arc advanced from purely patriotic motives'and.lt Is my opinion that should the Ideas advanced be carried out that tbo nation v.111 be made the stronger by such action and tha country will not again bo endangered by disloyal teachings of dis loyal men. We are a reunited nation , with ono flag and ono destiny and every move ment should be encouraged that will tend to strengthen our free Institutions , to that thle uatlcnt may Bland lor untold generations to camo. By such action wo 'would ' provo more strongly than ever -that republics are nol ungrateful to their brave defenders ) who rally lo their standards In times of need. P. A. AQNEW. Past Colonel Kansas Division Sons of Veter ans. ' AX.U.Y/.KS WATKIl AVOUKS I1BAI. . \ MV FrniiotilHU mill the Mollvi-H tliat I'm in | i I IM ! KM ( iraiitliiif. OMAHA , Dec.I. . To the Editor of The Bee : The city has been paralyzed by learn ing that tin mayor and council have con cluded a new contract for electric llghto without giving any publicity to the matter , or clunco for discussion. A matter of still greater concern was also proposed. I re lates to a new water works contract. Al though the original contract was made twenty year/ ; ago , when Omaha was small , fixing high prices for water rates and ex cessive rentals for hydrants ; although the fire protection they contracted to give has failed us ; although MOO hydrants at an annual rental of $89,000 have been put In ; the now proposal docs not 'contain the least cuggcstlon of relief against tbo extortion ; It proposes to extend It. Hero Is this now company that bought this plant for $1,000,000 In bomlj that contained a larger pei cent of water than any beet ever grown does of sugar , and which the city attorney Informs us Is without any right whatever In our streets , knocking at the door of the city and asking an enormous grant , and our agents are not Insisting upon a slnglo concession In favor of the public ! They are not asking any reduction In the number of hydrants , or the rental thereof , or In the water rates , or other absolutely necessary limitations. It has been publicly reported by Mr. Vcnner that this new company proposes to Issue upon this plant $7,000,000 of bonds and $3,500,000 of stock. At present the con cern Is at the mercy of the city. Its pred ecessor In the past has driven a hard bar gain with us and oppressed us under the outstanding franchise , and now the new company , with thcKO millions at stake , Is asking our public servants to put them In a poslllon where they can float their moneymaking - making scheme. Moro amazing than all this If that were possible wo find the following at the foot of their proposal , a copy of which Is be fore mo ; It provides that thu right of the : lty to purchase Khali bo postponed seven l-eai-B , "to wit , from July 20 , 1900 , to July , 1907 , so that the right of said city to make men purchase shall be at any time after the ixplratlon of twentl'-soven years from the late of said contract with said Sidney E. Lock ( I. e. , July 20 , 1SSO ) . But if tho. said : lly shall not elect' to purchase said watcr- ivorks In the year commencing July 20 , 1907 , lien It shall have tha right to purchase any Ifth year thereafter , but not during any ntCrvenlng year. " Keeping In mind * that the city's right of mrchaso matures In 1000 , and that the con- ract was for \\cnty-ilvo years from the com- iletlon of the work , eald to bo In 1SS3 , hence ixpliing In I90S , I nsk you to read over the ast sentence quoted , three or four times. The ordlt-anco thd committee of the city council rccoinmcudn Is an amendment of ectloa 11 of the original ordinance , which jlvea thV rlght of purchase "at any time" ifter thc ftujrattaniiof twenty yeara ( from luno 11 , i l''lLrZif appraised valua- lon ; " the uTavMurucDt now recommended ihangcs the limit to twenty-seven years , and uldu : "Anil also at 'Iho expiration of stated icrlods tiaiflvc years 'hereafter" upon glv- ng lx myths' Hcud this language over again. Pin | t n your head. What U the deslirn ? What Is the hidden iurio | o ? What Is Ihe effect ? Under the iretey * i postponing tllu city's rlg.ht of iuro'iS" . acvcn years , the main contract , hat _ P ? vres not later than 1908 , Is to bo In- lcfliur4Lcontlnucd , for years with a right if purcliW.it' ( so easily blocked and evaded ) very live yeans after 1U07. Is the same nonopoly to go on , with high water ratcn , ilgh h > drunt rentals , etc. , everlastingly ? f thti ! Is EO , then the now water works oinpany should bond and stock It , not for 11.500,000. but for $23.000,000 ! They're too nodcst. They are not up with the times ! An examination of Iho original ordinance nd contract , found In Council's complla- ion of 1890 , at page 590 and following , tils- lotin a moat remarkable state of facto ; too umarkablo to bo overlooked longer and too omarkHblo to go longer without remedy. low IH our tlnio. Not HOIIIO other tlmo , hut ! ow ; now when wo have the power In our wn hands to exact a fair and equitable con- ract Instead of falling wore hopelessly than ovef Into the hnmla of a wator-ouppl : monopoly ! What Is this most rcmarkabl etnlo of facts ? The original ordinance ( No.423) ) grant to any company constructing the \vatc works , what purports to bo an unlimited pcrpetUAl grant of right of wn ; In And under alt public streets alleys and public places for tin purpose of placing mains , pipes and fix turea , to mipply both the city and citizen ! nnd Inhabitants with water for "domestic mechanical , public and flro purposes , " thn li. for all private , as well as public , uses The twenty-five year contract provided fo ( being the only coniracl ) Is to furnish wntci for "flro protection and the public use. ' Nolo the difference. This contract Is foi public supply only. Tl.cro Is no tlmo llml ( by grc ovcrelghl ) to the right of the com pany to use the streets to supply prlvati coniuimors an unlimited monopoly ; Iho onlj limit In the twenty-five year contract foi public water by which It can bo ended before - fore 190S , Is through our right to purchase In I POO. Now , then , by postponing the tlmo to pur chnso till 1907 on nix months' notice , am' llxlng It no that It will revive every flv ( years thereafter on six numths' notice , thai Is In 1912 , 1917 , 1923 , 1929 , 1931 , clc. , we have what nppeara to bo an effort , In this clan destine manner , to prolong the contract foi public water to go along with the monopolj to furnish water to private consumers foi an Indefinite time , unless cut off by pur chase by Iho city. The clly cannot pur chase without the action of the mayor am ! council In getting bonds voted In a large amount. How easy at each of these re curring periods for ho monopoly to defeat Iho city's effort to purchase by defeatlnp aclloti by Iho mayor or council , or by de feating bonds at the polls , etc. According to the clly attorney's view thlc new company hits no rights In our streets , Why recognize It by granting It most ex traordinary concessions , additional to what the old ordlrpnco contemplates ? Why give It a monopoly In Omaha of both private anil public water supply. In this year of grace 1S90 , for an unlimited tlmo ? Why Ignore all business prudence ! Let us use our power wisely and fairly. Let us protect ourselves. Among othei things , the rein pany should he required tc furnish water within reasonable limitations , not Just where they want to , but Just where they ought to , as well. Many on unneedeil hydrant hai been located at the request ol property owners who could not get wntei supply without It. 1 myself was put ott by the company In such a case with the di rection to go and get the council to locate a hydrant where none was needed. But 1 would not bo a party to their scheme. The right of the city lo purchase Ihe waler works in 1900 should not bo post poned at all not even as long as It took tc run that electric light contract through , lo wit , sixteen minutes. If Omaha never does another thing , It should own these works. It should lay the foundation for II at onco. One-half the present receipts will pay Interest on the needed bonds and pro vide a sinking fund lo pay Iho purchase prlco In twenty years. Wo now pay annually $89,000 for hydrant rentals , nnd get no adequate flro protection ! This alone will pay Intcrcal on $2,225.000 of 4 per cent twenty-year bonds ; this Is more : than enough to pay for the plant. What private consumers pay over and above the expense account , would supply anolher largo amount for a sinking fund to pay Iho principal. The bondholders' committee of the Omaha Water works , under date of June 9 , 1890 , report Ihe following Inlercsllng facls : That the receipts of the company from February 12. 1S90 , lo May 1 , 1S90 , amounted to $1.540.- 051.01. They also say that their engineer esllmates that the net earnings , that Is to say , not grots earnings , for the next flvo observe thai these are not earnings and not gross earnings. The company estimated Us earnings for 1895 at $360,000. What should Iho mayor and council now do ? Do business on business principles. In- vesllgalo ; find out what is fair and what protection should bo Insisted on. Seek In formation from all sources. Let the people answer and take hold ; let us get togclher and meel our public servants. Lei us have public meetings , if need be. JOHN D. HOWE. WOOD WOIIKIXR MACIIIXK THUST. All the I.rmlliitr "Mmiiifiu-dircru of tlic Country In the Dt-iil. CINCINNATI , Dec. C. At n secret meetIng - Ing here last night all the wood working machine manufacturers of the United States were consolidated , but no terms can bo learned. About $20.000,000 Is Involved. The live gentlemen who conducted the negotia tions are Ncteon J. Wattenbury and Henry Nelson of New York ; Thomas P. Egan of the Fay & Egan company of thla city , and George Pallcnburg and Henry B. Morchead representing a large number of other wood working machinery concerns In the country. It Is understbod that all of the leading manu facturers In this line have already consented to go Into the consolidation , and that the deal , while many details are yet to be ar ranged , Is a go. iiN firnlii Cnno NM. TOPEKA. Kan. , Dec. C.-The Kansas State Board of Hallway Commissioners has handed down a decision In the grain rate enst. llloel by the Kansas City. Kan. . Boare : or iraelo ami 1,1 15 citizens of Kansas ngalnsl the railroads of Kansaa ioldlng that It hail no power to promulgate an enforcablo ordei under Iho law under which thet case would bo brpus-ht anil dismissed It. The case was ! lc ! < 1 . . Juno r ° r the purpose of compelling the railroads to reduc-o tbo freight rules on Brain from points In Kansas to Kansas City Petitions wore secured In each county iii Iho stale asking- the board lo enforce tlic maximum rule order maelo by tlio populist board in 1S91 , which has never been enforced since Its promulgation. "I.iici-u" "l.orcn. " These nro the names ot the sleeping cars now running between Omaha nnd Chicago on thes Burllnglon's "Vestlbuled Flyer. " They arc Just out of the Pullman company's shops , where , .during the last three months , they have undergone a thorough overhaul ing. They have been refurnished , revar- nlshed , rcuphalstcrcd , recarpclcd. Their vestibules have been widened. They have been improved In a dozen ways. Today they are as bright as new pins as dainty ns a lady's boudoir as luxurious ns any cars on earth. They leave Omaha at 5 p. m. dally. Berths may bo reserved and tickets secured - cured at 1B02 Farnam street. 00 .SOUTH Vln tlic AVnliiiHh Hulli-oiid. WINTER TOUHIST tickets now on sale. HOMESEEKEUS' TICKETS on sale No- vembcr 17 , December 1 and 15. THB WAIIASH Is the short line and quick- cst route to St. Louis and points south. For tickets or further Information call at Wahash ofllce , 1415 Farnara street , ( Paxton Hotel block ) or write , Q. N. CLAYTON , Agent. A Per pi ex I n i ; I'rolilnii. Whether 10 take "Northwestern Lino" No 2 at1M5 p. rn. or No. C at :30 : p. m. . Chi- cagoward. "No. 2" arrives at Chicago 7M5 a. m. and "No. C" at 9:30 : a. m. Both trains are models of modern ait. skill nnd luxury. NO EXTRA CHARGE ON EITHER ONE. Call at the City Offlco , HOI Farnam street , and talk It over. J. A. KUHN , General Agent. G. F. WEST , C. P. T. A , CnniliiL'teil ICxcurxf OIIH Leave Omaha every Friday via the Union Pacific. No change of cars to Ogden , San Francisco or Los Angelas. Tourist elccpcru dally to San Francisco , Special attention paid to ladles traveling alone. A. C. DUNN , City PasM. nnd Tkt. Agent , 1302 Farnam St. Sl\-Tlilrly I' . M. Trnlu. of tha CHICAGO. MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RY. Bfit service , ELECTRIC LIGHTS. Dlnlnc car. City office : 1501 Farnam , if..MO to I'liix-nlx , Arlx. , mill Ili'liini December 10 to 13 via the Burlington Route. Stopovers allowed , Tickets at 1502 Farnam struct. ( V. u ( flit Tito HIIIIIIM n.v lln > 'H. Jou Hklllcn and lil.i brother Hobcrt , two boys who run away from thi'lr homo near KaiiHaH City several wpokx ngo and t > ainu to thin city In n xplrlt of adventure , were lo- c'utcd and arriHteil by thn police Inst nlxht near Tenth and Howard atrects. Thq lice , Ucc. 7 , ISO * INVOICE NO. 4 Popularity wins , Truth wins , Reliability wins , Merit wins. About two months ago we introduced a new self-lined overcoat for men at $9.50. It was a novelty. It was a hand some coat and it was a good coat. It was a self-lined Korscy coat with full satin lined back and we announced it as being equal to any coat offered in other stores for $16.00. Th's ' was true , Its truth was attested by the fact that the first invoice of these superb coats lasted only four days and a second and third invoice disappeared like snow before a summer sun. This week we will have on sale the fourth and last invoice of these overcoats for this season and in quantities large enough to last all week. These coats arc all wool Kersey , lined with sixteen inches of the same goods on each side and with fall satin back. They are the bast coats ever seen in Omaha for the price and will equal any of the current offerings at $15.00 to $18.00. See them. See them soon. Sec them before your size has been sold. 'FORBID A FOOL A THING AND THAT HE WILL DO. " DON'T USEi You remember the tempting uotlco which the dealer placed ovar his 37-cent shirts : "THEY WONT LASTS LONG AT THIS PRICE. " You think of this when you eeo some of the glucd-uni Sideboards marked with sensational figures in the ) atoro of the bargain dealer. Ono wonders whether Ihcy will reach Ihclr destination bcforo they brcalc apart at some point. It Is all the more pitiable that such Sideboards can bo sold when ono recalls the fact that reliable furnl- auro Is now eo low In cost. Here , for example. Is a Sideboard which will last for a quarter of a century , ministering In countlcsa ways to elally convenience anil adorning the house with Its classic beauty ; yet It coals only a few dollars moro than the cheap patterns wo have mentioned. Selected white oak , quartered and hand carved ; ser pentine front and sides ; .IC-lnch plato mirror ; Ihrco shcvlos nbovo Iho board ; immense plalo closets ; four outside drawers ; splendidly constructed throughout. GHAB. SHIVE1R.IOK & GO. Special Prices on All Holiday Furniture. 12th and Douglas , GBWTS. LADIES. Humlrcile of remedies aiu put up cuarau' . Icetl lo curelosi mnnhuod , bill they don't tlul Do nol trine with stopped . ° ! , Hciui U. TurJUh Lout Mnnliooil CMiisiiloa 1 iiiuiiBlruRllun but $1 wnrrantvil amlmonoy rultiniPil Ioro\cr.v caftQ I anil for box Turk lull Taimy ' ' to It docH not cm n of YYraU Mcinorj , Luul ilrsln I I'onnyroyul I'lllB-uuro ' , . Mnnliood , KmlBBlon'.l . l'OY < : r. Ix > Rl Nlcht llin Sold only by ( lay. . . - . ' ' . We.iUnenb of Itepruiluoltru oiv.-ini. canard I HA UN'S 1'llAKMAOr. ami tMrnait Slreota , by youthfuloriorn. lilvcnynu nuw llfo. boiJ I ISIIi ) ' ' . Iblli anil I'ar- HAHN'31'lIAUMAUy. - only by Onialia , : < ub. Uy mall. . . . . nani StH. , Omaha , Nub. $1.1)0 box by mall. mother of thn boys tins been notified nm t'hey will bo kept at the station until wore in received from her as to what shall bi done with them. DKPAUTKI ) I''OR JMMi PAHADISIO Old Ike "VVI11 ( iro\vl nt .Vi Mori I'olluciueii. "Old Ike" nobody's dog a Iramp am vag , but a kindly , noble soul withal It dead. Ho died at the residence of Luciei Slephcns on St. Mary's avenue Friday after noon atI o'clock. Every man , woman and child In this clly seemed lo know and love Ihls strange dog , and the news of his death will carry with It the same sadness that would accompany tbo tidings of the demise of a near relative or dear friend. "Old Ike" was a peculiar fellow , strong In his likes and dislikes , yet as full of noble qualities as could bo found In any ot his kind. In Intel ligence ho was almost human , and while nobody's property , he was claimed and cared for by every one , and woe unto him whc dared affront or offer Injury to his canine hlgbiiees. Ike was a character of Ihe streets. He had a kindly glance of his brown eye nnd a wag of his bushy tall for every passerby , save a policeman. Ike hated the bobbles like the devil hales holy water , and ho had a spite ful curl of tlic lip and an ominous display of 'vlry Incisors every time ono happened In his proximity. But this haired was no ; reciprocated. There Is not a man on tl- force , nor has Ihcro been for a decade past , but who would defend old Ike or lend him a helping hand when ono waa needed. Old Ike was fond of crowds and was always lo be found at the base ball games or other outdoor gatherings , around the theaters anil not Infrequently at church. Fires were his weakness. The clang of the alarm bell , the clatter of the horses on the cobble ( Hones was Iho signal for Ike to be up and off , and with hU well known bark ringing on the air ho was generally among thu first on the ground. lie was a luxuriant and gastronome - nome In habit , and dally took his luncheon and hla dinner cither at thn home of gome of our best knowu families or at Iho flrnl class restaurants. The story of the waif's origin Is somewhat obscure. He first made Ilia appearance hero some ten or twelve years ago , and was sup posed to have bccoino separated from hla friends a party of English tourists enrontc for the mountainous west at the Union depot In this city. He was a Scotch collie and a handsome dog , with an Intellectual countenance , symmetrical curves and a vel vet coat of long , rusty , red halt. In his last nlckncfis ho was treated by Dr. Young of the Nebraska Humane society , who did all that mortal man could do to save and prolong his life. But his efforts wcro futile and he has gone. Always a wanderer , may ho not etlll bo wandering somewhere In the everlasting - lasting canlno Psyche hunt , and In the hurly-burly of life's winds and waters may wo.not , If we listen , catch Income faint way the quavering reverberation of that cheery bark we all knew so well ? Se rles & Searles , SPECIALISTS IN Nervous , Clironlo 11 nil Private Diseases. SEXUALLY. I'rlvnto IlNoa e and Dliordcrsof M a , Treatment hy mill -Consultation frc0. SYPHILIS Cured for Ufa and tlio poison tliorciup'ita cleansed from the system. I'IMSS. FISTULA,1 , and IlKCTAL , ULCHflS , HYDHOGKLEB and VAUICOCELK permanently and suc cessfully cured. Method new nnd unfailing STRICTURE AND Dy now method without pain or cutting. Call on or address with stamp , Di.8earles.&SearIcs , Oijc ThoUsarjtl lor Oija ( Trade Mark. ) ACCIDENT TICKETS. THE Ciir.ualty Company oloiv York. givns THHEE MONTHS' insurance , $1,000 for $1.00 , to men or woman , netwcea IS and CO ycni or ntec , mcnlnat fata ) Htrect Accidents a-foot. ur on lllcyclcs , Hones , WiiKons , Hone Cars , Hallroad cum , Klevuted , IlrldRc , Trolley anil Coble cam , Ktcutiiililii * . tiUninbonlH and Kten in n-rrlex. 1100,000 Oopuvltcil nlth Ilir Innurnnce Ucwirlimnt of the ntnto ol Nerr York for tlie rccnrlty ot tha Insured. Tor Snlo by Chas.Kfinfiiinim , 1302 Hired. fialo anil mini rrllrT. nertrlall , otlicrt rpinllHlMii. | | Atnllilmgeliti , \\rllou.1 IIVtnau'16'.r/rji.iiirfl . WlMOX lit LI. C1NC CO , , 'Mbu , KJgUUllit.i i'WUJi. , i'a.