0
The Omaha Daily lira
E. ROSE WATER, "EDITOR." "
PUBLISHED EVERY MORNINO.
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Dally Bee (without Sunday), One Year. .!.)
pally lire and Sunday. One Year. ")
Illustrated H-e, One Year 2V
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twentieth Century Farmer, One Year... 1.0)
DELIVERED BY CARRIER.
Dally 3 (without Sunday), per copy.... Jo
Dally Bee (without Sunrtayi. per weea....l2c
Dally Bee (Int-lurim fcunuay), per week..lJo
BundHy Bee, per copy..' so
Evening M (without Sunday), per week. loo
Evening Bee (Including Sunday), per
week . loc
Complaint o( irregularities In delivery
should be addressed to City circulation De
partment. DFFICE&
Omahs-Tnn Bee Bunding.
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and M Streets.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
CommunlraOnnn relating to news and dl.
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Bee, Editorial Department.
BUSINESS LETTERS.
Business letters and remittances should be
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Omaha.
REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft, express or postal order,
payable to The Bee Publishing Company.
Only Z-cent stamps accepted In payment of
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THE BEE PUBLaSUINO COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
IState of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.: '
.George B. Tsschuck, secretary of The Bee
Publishing Company, being duly sworn,
aya that the actual number of full and
complete copies of The Dally, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during
the month of January, IMS, was as fol
lows; L..... 80,B0 it ao.iso
X 30.210 17 SO.IBO
I, 80.W90 18 80,880
.......80.110 1 BV,8
( , so.ins 30.100
C t.80,4l0 21 80.480
7 80,800 22 80,400
8 80.320 23 80,800
30,1 TO 24 30.130
10 80,130 26 80.000
11 SO.SOO 26 80.400
12 80,430 27 S1.1TO
IS..... 80,470 28 80.0B0
14 80.100 29 83.040
U SO.OTU SO SO8
U 30.IHM)
Total ..
041,005
Le?s unsold and returned copies.
Net total sales.
.........8a,OT
Net dally average ao.OOT
OEO. B. TZBCHUCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 1st day of February, A D.,
lUtt. M. B. HUNQATE.
(Seal.) Notary Public
This Is surely the winter of the In
surance man's discontent
At an effectual wrecker of banks the
borrowing bank officer remains In a class
by himself.
Frank James has protested against the
further production of the play which ex
ploits the doings of himself and brother.
That lfl certainly one act In his career
which the public will heartily endorse.
South Omaha councllmen have agreed
to disagree upon the site of the proposed
Carnegie library building. The natural
Inference Is that the men who own the
sites nave ioousmy orrerea tueir real es
tate below the wargbj. t , , . ',
The franchise! corporations .would
rather- not produce their books Xovx
amlnatlbn ln'pen court-rln that case
outsiders might know as much-el the
value of the special privileges they enjoy
a the managers themselves.
The Cook County Democracy while
making a tour of the south was com
pelled to put up over Sunday In a dry
town. People who remember the club's
visit to Omaha In 1808 can easily under
stand the intense suffering which this
condition entailed.
One, hundred thousand horses .' have
been sold and shipped out of Montana
within a year. " Even' the 'so-called min
ing states, It appears, do not depend
entirely upon their mineral resources for
their prosperity, but the farmer and
stockman play an important role.
It la said Sir Thomas Lipton has de
cided, to put an American crew on
Shamrock II when he tries out his new
yacht which Is to sail for the America's
cup. If the old boat should prove the
winner tne noartDurnings over tne last
defeat will be greater, than ever.
Iowa railroads will cheerfully forego
the privilege of supplying members of
the legislature and Iowa public officials,
their cousins and aunts, with passes,
providing . the Iowa legislature will
forego the privilege of revising the reve
nue laws so as to make the railroads
bear their Just proportion of the burden
Of taxation.'
Ex-Secretary Gage has been tendered
and accepted the position of president of
a big. trust company. rMen who have
held high places in the Treasury depart
ment do not aprar to have an diffi
culty In obtaining remunerative employ
ment upon retirement from office. The
man who can creditably fill any of these
important positions necessarily has abll
Ity of which privnte parties are only too
anxious to avail themselves.
The authorities of Wisconsin univer
sity, are called upon to decide one of
the most momeutous questions In the
history of the Institution. It Is whether
the university boarding houses shall be
permitted to serve hash aud pruues more
than once a day. Educational affairs
in this country have passed through
many and serious crises, but nothing ap
proaching this in Importance has here
tofore racked the university man's
brain.
The sparring mutch between members
of the Omaha Woman's club over the
woman's suffrage question Las come to
naught, all becuuse some women la Colo
rado and Wyoming are born With an im
pediment to their veracity. Oue set de
clares that suffrage has been a pbeuome
liai success lu those states, while the
other set declares it to be a tlUiuul fall
lire. As nobody tvuld tell which of
these people are afflicted with the 1m
pediment, the referee bad to call the
Cere word eucounter a draw.
't WOULD TRE LEGISLATURE ACT
i The - Omaha' Bee continues to think of
very important things that the legislature
might do for the stale If It was only called
together and glTa a cbaace. But a legis
lature that consumed sixty days, exclusive
of -Saturdays and 8undays and other odd
times, la as abortive attempt to perform
so simple a constitutional duty as to re
dlstrtct the stata according to the census
of 1900, so that there should be aa equitable
representation of the several counties la
the two bouses of the-legislature,-IS a
broken reed to lean upoa when Important
business is at the fore. A legislature
chosen by the people and not by senatorial
aspirants might turn the trick possibly.
At least the Journal hopes to see one com
petent for Its work la session next winter.
Lincoln Journal. . .
' This may sound very plausible to peo
ple not .conversant with the -history of
the last legislature. But everybody in
Nebraska who knows anything about
Nebraska legislatures knows 'that the
legislature of 1001 will stand comparison
with any previous legislature that has
made laws for this state.
Everybody In Nebraska who is fairly
Informed concerning the difficulties en
countered by .the last' legislature In com
ing to an agreement ou apportionment
bills', and "other legislation imperatively
demanded by the people knows that the
trouble was not with the candidates for
United States senator, but with the cor
porations that wanted to dictate candi
dates or, defeat candidates. Had these
corporation and their satellites kept
their hands off the legislature, its duty
to elect two United States senators
would have been discharged on the first
joint ballot. As It was, the bully-ragging,
wire-pulling and bulldoslng by
which the corporation lobby kept the
legislature In a ferment continued from
the beginning to the last day of. the
session.
It would be altogether different in a
special session. There would be no sen
ator to elect, no corporation bills to fight
over, no Jobs to give out and no trades
to negotiate. The legislature would
meet to transact the business embodied
lu the governor's call and with no dis
turbing factors it ' would easily get
through its work within twenty days.
To assume 'that the republican ma
jority of the legislature cannot be per
suaded to do its duty to the people when
convened for a specific purpose Is to as
sume that the republican party is unfit
to . govern Nebraska. The Bee la not
willing to make that admission.
LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY.
Ninety-three years ago Abraham Lin
coln was born. In several states this
anniversary of his birthday will be ob
served as a legal holiday, while at many
banquet tables In many states the
memory of that . great man next to
w asnington the most imposing and the
most revered character In American
history will be duly honored. While
has been pro Dosed to make
February 12 a national holiday and
this, may ; sooner or later be done,
the birthday of Lincoln doea not need
such recognition in order to insure its
observance by his countrymen. Every
recurrence of the anniversary finds its
observance . extended. . Appreciation of
the great qualities of Lincoln, admira
tion of his character and gratitude for
the mighty work he acompllshed. jrrow
with the passing years, and there Is no
danger that so long as the republic
stands, or so long as free institutions
are cherished, the memory of the eman
cipator of a race and the savior of his
country will fade from the minds of men
or cease to command their affection and
reverence. .
Abraham Lincoln met the highest
standard of patriotism. Ilia love of
country and devotion to . free institu
tions were prorouna and intense. : He
had also an unfailing faith in the
survival of republican institutions
and in . the grand destiny of his
country. An eminent American states
man, contemporary with Lincoln, said
there cannot be any'- exas-rerated
estimate of him. - No one will be dis
posed to question this who is familiar
with Lincoln's history. From its humble
beginning to the hour of martyrdom the
career or Abraham Lincoln proclaims
him one of the greatest, noblest and
most heroic characters the world has
known. . . . ,
JUDICIOUS BKCOMMENDATIOiiS.
The recommendations of the industrial
commission are generally so - wise and
Judicious that they must receive the
hearty approval of all men who have
given to the subjects considered intelli
gent and careful study. The com ml s-
slou during the two years of its Invest!
gatlon, has gone over a great deal of
ground and Its final report, of which the
public is being given installments, shows
that its. duty has been carefully and
faithfully performed.
. The views of the commission In re
gard to labor aud taxation are for the
most part eminently sound. It urges
that the states should by legislation es
tablish uniform hours of labor and that
In all public employment the working
day should bo eight hours. An excel
lent suggestion Is that railroads be pro
hibited from employing telegraph oper
utors under 18 years of age. Perhaps
this Is not-now geucrally done, but it
has been in the jt st and may. be again,
so that it is manifestly advisable to have
the matter regulated by law. If congress
has the authority, as the commission
atfii'iua, to do so. Other suggestions re
garding railroad employes are equally
good and while It is a fact that some
of these are already In practice on rail
roads it would be well to make them
a legal requirement. '
What the commission says in regard
to taxation presents a question of the
highest importance, as to which there is
great diversity of opinion, but in the
main we thluk the recommendations
judicious and certainly worthy of serl
ous consideration. In regard to imml
gi'kiioa tne commission appears to re
gard existing laws sufficient, except
that "it would Increase the head tax. It
does not suggest any additional restric
tive legislation, from which it Is reas
onably to be Inferred, that thj cwauala-
slon does not regard with favor the
Immigration bills that have been Intro
duced in congress. On the subject of
irrigation the - commission urges na
tional control of sources of water sup
ply, surveys of arid land and an esti
mate of the available water supply for
their reclamation, and the construction
of storage reservoirs and Irrigation
works. This clearly means that in the
Judgment of the commission irrigation
should be nationalized. It suggests that
the government should deal with this
most important task, In1 which the en
tire country has an interest, in a broad
and practical way, rather than In the
manner proposed In the bill prepared
by the representatives in congress from
the arid-land states. ' ' . !
Every citizen who is interested in
these Important questions should give
thoughtful attention to the conclusions
and recommendations of the Industrial
commission, . a non-partisan body com
posed of uit n of a high order of ability,
who hove evldeut'y pursued their InveS'
tigatlons with conscientious fidelity and
have framed their opinions of what ex
isting conditions require with a purpose
single to the promotion of the general
welfare.
WRECKING A BA VINOS BANK.
The wrecking of the City Savings
bank of ' Detroit by Its vice president
in collusion with the cashier was some
what exceptional In the method adopted,
but It is none the less useful in the sug
gestion it presents of the difficulty, if
not Indeed the impossibility, of such in
stitutions providing absolute safeguards
against official dishonesty. There ap
pears to be no doubt that the wrecked
bank had been conducted on sound
business principles. It had been long
established aud enjoyed the confidence
of the community. A large amount of
public funds were deposited with it
No fault, it Is said, attaches to the di
rectors, who of course had Implicit con
fidence In the Integrity of the vice pres
ident and1 cashier of the institution.
Those officials probably did not delib
erately Intend to rob . the bank. . The
vice president doubtless hoped that the
tide of bis speculations would turn in
his favor and he could return the money
he took out of the Institution. But the
tide did. not torn and. the consequence is
disaster to himself and the bank.
It appears pertinent to remark in con
nection with this circumstance that
nothing of the kind would be likely to
happen In the, case of a postal savings
bank, but if such a government insti
tution should be robbed, which of course
would be possible, the depositors would
not suffer. Every person who bad a
deposit In- the bank would be certain
to get it on demand.' .'This is the strong
point In favor of the proposition to es
tablish postal savings banks, that the
money of depositors would be under any
and all circumstances absolutely secure.
This is the consideration of chief im
portance to the people who put their
savings 'in the savings, banks, the' ques
tion of interest on their deposits being
of minor consequence. It is these peo
ple who ought to be strongly In favor of
postal savings banks and such Incidents
as that at Detroit should have the ef
fect to increase popular sentiment favor
able to banks in connection with the
postal service.
so minority RULE. . ,
The principle of government by ma
jorities is embedded St the base of our
entire system of political party rule.
The right of the majority to select can
didates aud control party organizations
Is firmly established. The assent and
submission of the minority to the will
of the majority Is a moral obligation
vitiated only by fraud or corrupt manip
ulation. Majority rule through commit
tees and conventions necessarily implies
an 'equitable apportionment of repre
sentation that enubles majorities to voice
their wishes through their chosen dele
gates.
The right of majorities to rule, ignored
for years in Douglas county, was com
pletely overturned by the lust repub
lican county convention, which, under
pretense of smashing the machine,. re
pudiated and disfranchised the majority
of the republican voters by creating a
committee whose membership represents
a bare minority of the party lu this
county. It gave to the 9,000 republicans
of Omaha twenty -seven "members of the
governing committee and to the 2,800
republicans in South Omaha and the
country precincts thirty-four members
of the committee. This rank invasion of
the rights of the majority was further
emphasized by instructions to the com
mittee to perpetuate the rule of the mi
nority in the apportionment of delegates
in all future conventions., The natural
result of the vicious attempt to establish
minority rule was the defeat of the priu
clpal candidates on the county ticket
whose nomination - the minority had
sought to saddle upon the party.
And now It is given out that the fac
tion that perpetrated , this outrage, not
confident of its ability to maintain, its
supremacy with minority conventions,
proposes to extend minority rule through
the. Crawford county system in the se
lection of u republican candidate for
cougres in this district.' It goes with
out baying that the republicans of this
district Mill not tamely submit to such
a scheme.
.The fundamental priutlplo of the
Crawford county system is to glvu each
member of the party an equal aud di
rect voice' In the choice of caudldutes
lubtead of' through delegate representa
tion, which so often defeats tho choice
of tho majority by bargaiu nd sale.
This principle u sound and will meet
with the approval of the rank and file'
of the party if houeatly carried into ef
fect. In other words, the proposition to
let the republican voters name their can
didates for public office and their gov
erning committees by direct selection on
an Australian ballot will commend it
self to U tair-minded meu.
But any scheme whereby a minority
can dictate nominations by plurality
voU .ViU tut meet' with. . popular ap
proval, nor will It be recognized as bind
ing on the majority. At the last election
nearly 15,000 votes were cast for the
republican candidate for congress In
Douglas county. Assume that 10,000 re
publicans could be mustered to cast their
ballots at a congressional primary, di
viding their votes among ten candidates,
and the highest of these should receive
1,100 votes, while the other nine should
receive 8,900; If plurality rule were
adopted the man with 1,100 votes would
claim the nomination, although 8,900 re
publicans - had expressed themselves
against hlin. Under the plurality rule
the 8,000 would be expected to submit
to the rule of the 1,100. In principle the
same injustice would be perpetrated if
the plurality nominee should receive
4,500 votes as against 6,500 for his op
ponents. '
Manifestly no minority candidate could
depend upon the undivided support of
his part. Such a nomination would
not be considered binding upon the party
ami would only . Invite defeat at the
polls. '
Our Dave never falls to encounter the
most awful obstacles to every measure
In the Interest of his constituents and
then by superhuman exertion he over
comes them before the curtain rings
down. . Iils response to the South Omaha
Improvement club with reference to the
appropriation for macadamizing Thir
teenth street from Omaha to Fort Crook
Is characteristic. "Congress," says our
Dave, "has-never macadamized a road
as I have asked for, but I hope I may
be able to establish a precedent, al
though it Is uphill work." It takes a
scholar and a statesman, as well as a
macadamiclan, to write such a letter,
but the quarrymen and stone breakers
bad better get ready before the snow
melts. Although congress has never
macadamized a road, except through
members -who have broken rock as a
penalty, we feel sure congress will this
time relent in order to demonstrate that
Dave can have anything in sight, or out
of sight '
The supervising architect of the treas
ury Is said to have been persuaded that
the money appropriated for the Omaha
federal building will cover the expense
of finishing the Seventeenth street-front
in conformity with the Sixteenth street
front With $500,000 appropriated by
the last congress for the west wing
there ought to have been at least a bal
ance of $100,000 on hand after the build
ing was completed. If It Is true, as re
ported, that over $90,000 of tho appro
priation for Omaha's federal building
has already been absorbed for architects'
fees and plans alone, the alleged insuffi
ciency of the appropriation may be in
part explained. ' .
If the enterprising Turkish newspaper
reporters could" only be persuaded to
keep away from1 the brigands that car
ried off Miss Stone' she would have long
ago been liberated on the ransom raised
by her American friends. ' Thlsat least,
Is the vers f on wlch comes to us all the
way from Constantinople through the
medium of a veracious. American mis
sionary. The next thing we expect to
hear Is that the Turkish newspaper rep
resentatives are playing brigands them
selves and have, raised the ante a little
higher.
The Judiciary committee of the Iowa
house of representatives has decided by
a vote of 9 to 8 to recommend the anti
pass bill. If the railroads had engaged
that bland and smooth legislative hyp
notist Mr. Ager, be could probably have
persuaded the ninth man to .change his
views on the pass question.
The bill aimed at anarchists, called a
measure to protect presidents, is being
pushed in congress. After legislation has
done ail It can the fact will remain that
with the. best human protection the
president must depend upon divine prov
idence to safeguard his health and life.
Keeplag the Pot Bollla.
Philadelphia Ledger.
With Mr. Schwab hobnobbing with King
Edward and Emperor William begging aa
American girl to sing In Berlin, American
stock keeps pretty well at par la Europe.
A Slander, IVGosk.
Washington Post
Wo fear Kansas is too healthy from a
ffnaaclal standpoint to encourage a new
political party. Why doesn't Mr. Caas
way (try Nebraska? Nebraska seems -to be
easy.
A 'Lamlaesi Asaeadaseat.
Baltimore American.
' Andrew Carnegie baa composed bis own
epitaph. It reads: "Here ilea a man who
knew how to get around him men much
cleverer than himself." Many a rich man
could copy this epitaph, leaving out the
"him."
Tws of m Klad. Paiala.
1 Chicago Tribune.
King Edward and President Schwab ap
pear to have had an agreeable Interview,
The king expressed his pleasure at meet
ing an American of whom he bad heard so
much, and Mr. Schwab acknowledged that
be bad heard of King Edward often and was
equally as glad to meet him.'
Refomla the Jary System.
New Tork Tribune.
Our jury system ought to be so amended
that the illnees of a single juror in a. mur
der trial which is exceptionally important
and expensive to tho taxpayers should not
delay the progress of the case. After the
Jury box has been filled eleven peers of
the accussed prisoner can safely be trusted
to treat Mm fairly, even If the twelfth jury
man la prostrate upon a sick bed. It is
time that reason and common sense should
take tbe place of technicalities and un
reasonable precedents in our criminal
courts. '
Oataha'a Delsllisa ef a -Load."
Minneapolis Times.
An Omaha police Judge has defined drunk-
enneM as "a condition produced by drink
Ing vinous, spirituous or malt liquors which
shall be manifested by any deviation from
ordinary carriage or conduct." This does
not help matters. Tbe accused may com
pel the city prosecutor to prove "ordinary
conduct" to show that liquors bad been
absorbed, and, U extraordinary conduct Is
shown, to prove that the beverages caused
tt. That la the theory, but la practice Us
Judge will aiaplz s "Un dollars OS tea
OAJCW V-
Water-Logged Trusts
New Tork
Tho capitalisation of 183 concerns so-
called trusts, Is- placed at $5,000,000,000.
Does anyone realize what this enormous
amount actually means T It means that 18
concerns are capitalised with a. capital
amount of one-half the world's entire
stock of money. It mesne that the capital
isation of these concerns exceeds the total
stock of money of the United States by
two billion dollars; of Great Brlttan by
nearly $4,000,000,000; of Germany by about
$3,000,000,000, and ao forth. Tbe total capi
tal of these 183 concerns equals more than
the entire stock of money of the United
States, Great Britain and Germany com
bined.
Now, what is this capltl based on, and
what amount of security is offered to se
cure investors against loss in case these
concerns should fall? Let us start at the
largest, capitalised at about $1,300,000.
The actuel value of the entire plant of
this colossus is admitted to be $300,000,000,
and tbe balance of $1,000,000,000 la good will,
ordinarily railed "water." Another is cap
italised at $100,000,000, and the actual value
of tbe plant is about $30,000,000. Another Is
capitalized at $30,000,000 when the actual
value does not exceed $3,000,000, and so on
down the line.
The first thing which is done when such
a trust Is formed is to give the promoters
about 10 per cent of the stock for
services rendered, and the publto press is
fail of articles relating bow this man or
that man, famous in tho financial world.
holds so tnany millions of stock, but does
anyone ever think of the fact that that
prominent financier immediately proceeds
to rid himself of at least 90 per cent of
bis holdings, and unload it on the public
through the medium of tbe Stock ex
changes?
Tbe public buys these shares, and when
the trust actually gets down to work about
90 per cent of the entire capital stock Is
sued is scattered among Investors who have
probably only Invested because Jones or
Smith held so many millions of It. When
the thing goes up all these little holders
wonder why they are ruined, while the man
who had so much stands by, is cool and
smiles.
The flour-mlllng bubble is still fresh in
tbe people's minds.' The stock was Issued
on the first day on the 'Change at 60, ad
vanced to 60, so aa to give the public a
chance to bite, and thon gracefully declined
to sero. The promoters of that bubble
are rich today. Why?
And so it is with many Others. One espe
cially deserves mention; the stock of this
concern rates above par,' yet only a year
ago the so-called officers paid nearly
GOOUBY TO THE MILKMAN.
Prospective Passlasr of the Maa Who
. Rashes the Can.
Chicago Chronicle.
A Swedish scientist claims ho baa In
vented an apparatus by which milk can
be brouicht Into tbe form of powder, like
flour in appearance, and having all the I
qualities of milk in concentrated form
with the exception ot moisture. The milk
flour Is soluble in water. It does not fer
ment nor sour and Is not sensitive to
changes of weather, , It is said to be com
paratively - Inexpensive, the cost of pro
duction being about 27 cents per 106 quarts.
If what the Inventor claims Is true the
day of tho milkman will soon be over, so
far as -the cities are concerned. The old
jokes regarding tbe milkman and the town
pump will bo out of date. Kacn tamiiy win
dilute its milk flour according to taste
and produce more or less milk according
to means and need.. Perhaps the best as
pect ot it is that the quiet ot the early
morning hours will no longer be broken
by the sound of milk cans rustling over tbe
stony streets; that a Sabbathlike still
ness will prevail from $ to 6 instead of
tho noisy clatter of the milkman bent on
finishing his disagreeable round as early
in the day as possible.
Tbe more poetic aspects of the situation
need not pass away. The dairy maid may
still pursue her vocation and tbe rustic
swain still make love to her in the dewy
freshness of the morning. It Is tbe city
milkman, tbe purveyor of the liquid mix
ture, who will have to go. In his place
the grocer cornea, bringing barrels or bags
of milk flour which will keep the year
round without loss of flavor or substance.
Whether the change on the whole will
be a gain remains to be seen If Indeed the
invention is all It promises. Since savage
man first appropriated the milk ot ani
mals to his own use It has held Its own
In spite of so-called improvements. Milk
flour may become a convenience in an
emergency, but prove an unworthy sub
stitute for the original article in Its nat
ural form.
PERSONAL. NOTES.
The king of Slam has decided not to come
to this country this year, but there are so
many other royalties coming that no win
not be misted.
The Virginia constitutional convention Is
to recommend that city, like county, treas
urers should not be eligible to re-election
after two terms of tour years each.
It Is related of Samuel Alvln Sperry,. who
has Just died In Reno county, Kaaaaa, that
ho was one of a family of fourteen chil
dren, ail of whom lived to be more than
75 years old.
Ex-Senator Chandler says - President
Roosevelt has set a pace in his attention
to and transaction of public business , that
will kill any of his successors who may
attempt to keep it up.
Now is it any wonder that a Japanese
prince, or one of any other nation, for
that matter, wants to visit us? We are
getting a reputation as royal entertainers
that appeala to royalty.
Oeneral Joseph Wheeler told a boys'
brigade In Philadelphia the other night that
bla earnest hope is that we shall never
have another war, and he added that there
will never be any necessity for one "If all
persons will be good."
Harry E. Le, a hardware manufacturer
of Chicago, owns the largest and finest
private museum In the world. He has
hunted and fished In every state and terri
tory in this country, all over Canada and
Mexico and through tbe domain of Alaska.
A proboer meeting which was to have
been held in Boston has been called off
on the alleged ground that no suitable ball
could be found. The real reason Is said
to have been that Bourke Cockran, who
was to bo the leading speaker, refused to
appear on the same platform with Webster
Davis, another of ths advertised orators.
The eleventh Contlnentlal Congress of the
Daughters of the American Revolution la
to be held in Washington during tbe week
commencing February IT. The president
general, Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, will
preside at the opening meeting on Monday
and deliver the address of- welcome. The
new officers will be elected oa Thursday.
Former Lieutenant Diralson ot tbe French
army announces that be has now given full
satisfaction to ail persons offended by his
book. "Ua Marltlmea, and will now da
vote himself to tbe advertising ot bla work.
M. Dlratsos's five duels have boomed bla
book, of which 50,004 copies bavo been
sold "which," remarks a faoetlous
Paris correspondent, "Is st the rate of 10,
UQ ox aieifM4. bual&etsV
Financial Age.
$2,000,000 alone for the pleasure of 4olng
business, and then even went doiwa Into
their own pockets and paid more inaa
$3,000,000 In unearned dividends. These divi
dends were supposed to come out of a re
serve fund, but bow could there be a re
serve fund when there has been a propor
tionate loss every year? This reserve fund
has been mad up from the manipulation
of this stock on the exchange, and the
holders are blissfully Ignorant of the abyss
that is yawning beneath them. It the
head of this concern should die today' tho
stock would not be worth $10 per share.
- This so-called trust business - Is over
done. The profits do not admit ot paying
dividends oa a capital which consists ot
enough water to drown an entire popu
lace. Is it reasonable to suppose that any
man would sell a business which pays him
7 per cent on $2,000,000 tor $500,000, or is It
reasonable to think that anyone would sell
a business that pays him 7 per cent on
that $:00.000 for $500,000? Then how Is It
reasonable to suppose that you can buy
a business that pays P"r ce"t on $500,
000 under conservative management, and
make It pay 7 per eent oa $a,000.000 with
out enlarging it, or without any material
Improvement? . -
Why do trusts object to daylight la re
gard to their affairs, and why will they
spend millions to prevent such light being
shed upon their business? Why do they
object to legislation that ' will give the
publto more facta? , If everything Is above
suspicion why are they, so secretive?
Industrial combinations are a benefit to
our country; they advance commerce and
enhance values, but wbea It comes to a
question of over-capitaltiatlon to such an
enormous degree as is practiced bow it
becomes a menace to the country; and. In
fact,' the entire world. If. for example, a
few ot these large bubbles would burst,
the havoc wrought would be awful. Banks
and mercantile bouses alike would be
swallowed up in the flood that would fol
low, and it la safe to say that the pro
moters would be amply provided with life
preservers.
The Financial Ago Is not pessimistic,
only it advises caution where such dis
asters threaten. . Take tbe failure of the
Asphalt Trust which happened recently.
If this combine had had ton times more
capital its failure would have , been de
layed only, not prevented. This happened
on a small scale, and It will happen on a
large scale Just as sure as the sua shines.
No banking Institution has the right to
loan money on securities so flimsy as In
dustrial stocks, nor has an institution hand
ling public funds a right, to Invest these
funds In such a wsy.
. BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE. .
Etchings of People ssd Events at the
National Capital. '
The patent office reverses tbe customary
"dull season" In business and enjoys " a
"busy season" during the first throe months
of the year.' Few suppose there is a time
when inventors take a spurt, yet such . is
the fact, as the filings for patents show.
This peculiarity Is explained on the ground
that the winter season affords a great many
people, particularly farmers, the leisure to
employ their Inventive w&s, and the result
Is shown In Increased applications . for
patents during 1 the early months of the
year.
1 As a general thing, reports the -Washington
Post, the applications have a ' ten
dency to run to one thing, which invariably
has some bearing oa whatever happens to
be uppermost. -or occupying the attention
of the American people at the, time.- For
example,, nearly all the applications that
have been received since the beginning of
December have been for improvements on
voting machines and automobiles. The
chief clerk of the patent office states that
whenever a disastrous fire occurs in sny
city they are most certain to be flooded
with appllcatlona for patents on fire ex
tinguishers for a month or so afterward,
all of them from persons living around
and about tbe scene of the fire. Such also
is the case with boat explosions and other
accidents. ,
, A serious steamboat explosion that occurred-
several years ago brought forth a
dozen or more applications for patents on
a "non-explosive steamboat." It Is also a
singular fact that more applications have
been filed for patents cn car couplers than
for anything else. For some reason nearly
every maa has aa idea in his head that be
can invent a ear coupler, and an amusing
feature of this is the greater number of
such applications come from farmers,, who,
one would think, would turn their atten
tion to inventing agricultural devices In
stead of trying to solve problems of railroad
economy.
An Impecunious ' representative from a
western state met five friends on the street.
"Come in and have a drink," he ssid.
They went Into the newest and moat elab
orate cafe of the city. ' Each of the five
friends took a Scotch high ball of the kind
that cost 25 cents each. The impecunious
representative took a glass ot beer.
"What's that you're drinking, Jim?"
asked one of the friends. -
"That,'' a&td the representative as he
nervously fingered the check calling for
$1.35 and held up the glass of beer so all
could see It, "is a lesson in deportment."
Major O. L. Pruden, assistant secretary to
the president has occupied his preseat po
sition for many years. As a result bis
friends . arc legion and moat of them f sol
under obligation to the -courtly 'gentleman
who carries Mr. Roosevelt s messages to
congress. Among his other distinguished
traits the major possesses a very bald head.
A little fringe' of hair comes down beneath
his hat, but if one looks under tbe - brim
at the back of the major's head one will see
the posterior portion ot his forehead. Be
cause of his many friends - be bad many
remembrances last Christmas. Moat of
these came to the White House, and Major
Pruden was overflowing with good nature
before be bad opened one-half the bundles
which tbe mail carriers and the express
men left at bla desk. After he had opened
a certain carefully wrapped package, bow
ever, the look ot pleasure died from his
face. - - .
"Now, wby In tbe world did that fool send
those things to me?" he asked of Assistant
Secretary lioeb. -. .
Major Pruden held up for Inspection as he
spoke ' a pair of handsome gold-mounted
military hair brushes.
Several orations In the Sioux language
were delivered a few mornings ago before
tbe senate committee cn Indian affairs, re
lates the Washington Poat. Tbe orators
were Thunder Hawk, a full-blooded Sioux,
and four other chiefs, who are la Wash
ington to protest against the leasing ot a
portion of their reservation.
Thunder Hawk and his brother chiefs
were participants la the Custer massacre.
After that tragic episode they lied to the
British dominions, where they remained
for six years, , finally returning to the
United States sad surrendering te the mili
tary authorities. Since then they have
lived upon their reservation la peace aad
quiet When, in tbe presence of the sen
ators on tbe Indian affairs committee,
Thunder Hawk was asked te state hie pro
test, the old warrior, sot la the least
abashed, aad with his leonine features as
aaiotloaloss m it mlitA 4a c& im
with his anna clasped. For almost a min
ute he stood In alienee, and then, la has
deep guttural voloe, he began' to apeak.
As he progressed he added appropriate
features to bis words, making a nalque
picture. When his speech was translated
It was found to be a logical and concise
presentation ot! tbe Indian's position, with
out any florid rbetorio. Tbe other chiefs
proved to be equally good aa speechmakers.
Durlsg one of the sessions of the congress
committee la charge of the Chinese exclu
sion bill. President Compere ot the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, protested because
Wu Tlngfang, tbe Chinese minister, had
spoken of labor "agitators."
"How odd I" said Mr. Wu." "See here."
He opened two dictionaries at the' word
"sand-lot." In each definition Dennis
Kearney Is spoken of as a laho "agitator. "
"What Is a poor foreigner to do in the
face of such high authority? naked Mr.
Wu blandly. "I am not a native. I must
fall back oa the dictionaries. Mr. Com
pere must revise the dlotlonartea before
be can come at me."
Then he winked a sly 'Oriental wink.
NO LESB MAJESTB LAW. '
Ohjeettoas te the Measare Drafted hy
the Hens t'eaasalttee.
Chicago Inter Ocean (rep.)
Congress Is Anally moving la the matter
of enrblng the anarchists. A special com
mittee ot the house Judiciary committee has
agreed upon a bill of which the mala pro
visions are as follows:
The death penalty is Imposed upon any
person killing or attempting te kill tbe
president or anyone in the line of the
presidential succession. Accessories be
fore the fact are declared equally guilty
with principals. Accessories after the
fact are subject to a fine and Imprison
ment, ss are persons who counsel, advise
or advocate the committing of such crimes.
Provision Is also made for tbe punishment
of those conspiring in tbts country to kill
the head of a foreign state. No alien
who advocates the overthrow of organised
government is to be sdmltted to tbts coun
try, and If found therein may be deported.
Such a law would at least prevent the
sort of scandal that would have followed the .
practical escape from punishment of Ciol- .
goss bad President McKtniey recovered.
In that case the extreme penalty would
have been Imprisonment for ten years, leas
the usual Commutation for good behavior.
And the assassin might have been pardoned
sooner If any political chance had hap
pened to afflict New Tork with a governor
who sympathised with anarchy. That hap
pened la Illinois with aotne of tbe accessor
ies of the Haymarket anarchist murders. ,
Tbe proposed, bill Is encouraging as show
ing a disposition to take some action, but is,
nevertheless, fundamentally: objectionable.
It makes an attack upon the president and
several other officials a more serious crime
than a similar attack upoa a private citizen.
Of course, in one sense that Is a more
serious crime, but so to treat It is contrary
to the genius of our Institutions. The pro
posed bill attempts to create a sacrosanct
official clasa, and essays to foist the prin
ciple of less msjeate into the laws of a
republic. , .. ,y
The distinction should be made not in the
victim ot the crime, but in the criminal.
The military law furnishes a precedent and
shows the way. For a civilian to strike a
military officer, even In time of war, unless
in the actual theater of war .and after
martial law has been declared, Is merely
a-common assault. But for a soldier to
strike bis officer at any time la a felony.
Our .laws should set apart tbe anarchist
from the society against which he wages
war, as they set the soldier apart . from
tho mass of civilians. - The anarchist may bp
Justly thus set apart, for ha utterly defies
and denies the laws which civilized men
have made for tbelr own protection. . .
The only logical and efficient way to deal
with the anarchist is to treat him as tbe
pirate bas been-and is treated.. That-is
to declare him, as the pirate is declared,
aa enemy of the human race, wholly out
side the protection of the civil law, and turn
him over to the military law for restraint
and punishment. The attempt to distort
the civil law so ss to reach the-anarchist
is dangerous and likely to cause more
evila than it cures. We want no leee ma
Jest e law In this country. Let congress do
the logical thing and turn the anarchist
over to the military law.. That is the sate,
the simple, and the only way te deal with
him effectively.
BREEZY CHAFF.
Philadelphia Press: Willie Pa, i what
doea a "middle-aged person" mean? .'
Pa That depends upon the age of the
person who uses the expression. -
Chicago Tribune: "When they give that
ball In honor of Prince Henry,'T giggled
the Sweet Young Thing, "I wonder who
will lead the German." i
Boston Transcript: Mistress Margaret,
what did Mrs. Walker eay just now when
you told her I wae out?
Maid She didn't say nothing, marm, but
she looked sort of relieved like.
Chicago Poat: "Can you give no hope?
be aaked disconsolately.
' The tender-hearted girt wae truly sorry
for him. -
"Oh, yee," she replied ' cheerily, "t ean
give you lots of hope, If you will promise
not to expect to have your hopes realised."
Boston Transcript: Bobbins They ' say
Miss Brightmore has thrown you over.
Fred. - -
Noberts Nothing of the kind. Fact Is.
she haa thrown herself away on another
fellow. .
Chicago Tribune; "I offer you my love."
said the your man, with toltterness, "and
you offer me your friendship and good
wishes! No, Pulsatilla, there can be -no
such reciprocity as that between ua two!"
"So, then." said the young woman coldly,
"it's annexation or nothing. Is It?". .
Washington Star:' "Isn't your father kind
to take you riding on your newi sled?"
"Huh!" exclaimed the obtrusive child.
"Father has more fun than I have. You
ought to see him laugh when he bumps
me over a gutter and makes me holler.''
" Chicago Tribune: "But," argueT the poli
tician with the pompadour, "Isn't reclproo
lty the handmaid of protection?" . .
Handmaid T No, air!" fiercely replied the
politician from the- beet sugar belt,
''your kind of reciprocity Is .machine
made. . 1
Baltimore American! "James.' said the
woman, hie wife, "you do not send me
valentines like you used to before we were
married."
"No," answered the husband,, "hut I
didn't send you Easter bona eta before we
were married," -
Plttaburg Chronlclei "Well, 1 see another
company of brltlsh troops has been out to
pieces by a superior boar force."
..V.Th5S ,r Ww nr Boars
killed r
. "No, I believe they both got away."
i . ii i . .
TUB COLLAR BUTTON'S SOULOtJY.
Fred Shafnit In Kansas City fltar.
I am a collar button, a little eolWr button,
A simple collar button, nothing more,
I love to slip and elide, .
To skip about and hide.
And lose myself somewhere) around, the
floor.
I am a collar button, a little collar button.
But I'm meaner than a flea-bft yellow pup,
I maka nur owner swear.
And tear handfule from nts hair, ' '
While I'm a-rUUn' round av-outtln' up,.:
I am a collar button,' a Uttla oollaj button.
That fairly dotes on heart u shriek and
hollera;
Oh, I love to creep and erawl '
- And to hear my owner bawl.
There's nothing I hate more than holding
collars.
I am a collar button, a llttla collar button.
With a mlaaloa oo earth , that s simply
great '
While others vainly preach,
I Just hide and thus do teach ,
Jit niseoiliirssi t tUUoa Inaiilinala, V