1(9
TITE OMATIA DATIiY BEE: SUNT) AY, SEPTJTMH.KIt 1, 100Z.
Tie Omaiia Sunday Be&
E. ROdEWATER. EDITOR.
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X11U BEU PUBLldHlNti COMPAN X.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
Etate of Nebraska, Douglas County, sal
Oeorge B. Taschuck, secretary of The Bee
Publishing Company, being duly sworn,
cays that tho actual number of full and
complete copies of The Dally, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee printed during
the mouth of August, Muz, waa as follows:
1 a,Tt 16 ilM.tMW
t iij,T70 it jm.buio
t its,uits is ai.Hi
4 2O..U10 111 a,T7tl
t KH.UtiO 20 J0.30
t 8S,7UU
U8.7UO
a an,7Bo
JCS.WJO
10 u,7ro
11 8S.TSO
12 N,730
13 S8,t:iO
14 litt,U2
It Kts,7UO
21 80. IUO
22 it!,U0O
23 30,5 1
24 28, ":tf5
26 o,;:(o
26 ai,too
27 ao,3
ts ao.utin
29 SHI.WTU
HO 80,110
1 21MK0
Total D0H.44O
Im unsold and returned copies.... u,sT7
Net total tales.
MOti.DH.I
as.oai
Net dally average.
GEO. B. TZ9CHUOK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 1st day of September. A. D.
1D02. M. B. HliNGATC.
(Seat) Notary Publlo.
In the music of the cornslieller will
be found the popular ulr for Nebraska.
rrcstiuiulily tho annual stuuslilDg of
"the machine" has agulu boon duly
effected.
Anil society at Newtjort goes rlsht
along as oblivious us If It never read u
uewspaper.
', No one seems to have suggested to
(Speaker Henderson and his constituents
to arbitrate their differences.
An effort is on to get Coin Harvey
and General Coxey together in Arkansas
'and the effort is universally endorsed. .
! Already tho friends of ex-Governor
Boles are planning a presidential boom
for him. This is a little sooner than was
expected, but it was sure to come.
With tho colleges and universities
I again open for business at full blast,
the problem what to do with the young
man has at least temporary solution.
Manufacturers of fine paper are tak
ing steps to tighten up their trust. The
demand for new bonds, stocks, de
bentures, etc., has doubtless encouraged
them.
Although those new McKlnley postal
cards have not yet been called in, they
ought to be. A more ungainly product
of postal art was never Inflicted on the
public.
President Roosevelt says be believes
emphatically In organized labor. That
is another reason why the great corpora
tions do not believe implicitly in Presi
dent Roosevelt
Not only is the cost of living higher
than in democratic days, but living itself
is higher a fact not mentioned in the
democratic campaign book, but none the
less appreciated by the American people.
No tariff tinkering is needed to re
form the bicycle trust. Although or
ganized only two years ago, the mills
of the gods have already ground it up
Ivery fine, and a receiver has been ap
pointed to do the rest.
Colonel Bryan had hardly got out of
Missouri before Senator Cockrell, in
language similar to that of ex-Governor
Boles, characterized free silver as "a
dead issue." If this sort of thing goes
CU the Commoner will have to keep Its
epithets standing In type.
The building rule In Loudon is that no
Structure shall rise above the pavement
higher than the street In front of It
Is wide. Skyscraper tower buildings
are therefore unknown in lxindou. A
bulldlug rule like this lu our American
cities would, we believe, be useful with
out imposing any uudue restriction on
proiierty owners.
It will not hurt legitimate business
seriously if some of the speculative bub
bles Wall street has been blowing
should burst Such fakes are really det
rimental to the legitimate evneerns of
business. If some of the Inflated specu
lative enterprises should now collapse
It will prevent more people from putting
their good money Into them.
Attention of readers Is called to the
advertising columns of this number of
The lice, which eoutulu announcements
of a more than usuul number of repre
sentative business houses and proprie
tary articles. The pressure upou our
advertising space affords best evi
dence of the high standing of The Bee
as a medium of publicity, and lu turn
we can testify to the reputsblu and
responsible character of our advertising
patrons. Read the udveitlaemeuU it
jvlli pa J'OU. ,
x ti
MKPItH RMXOMINATIOX.
The silled corporations have lrnuizbt
alKut the renoinlnHlion of Iavld II.
Mercer for congress for a sixth term
throuzU the mat lilnery of the reiuilillcan
patty. It Is au open secret that the
triumph of Mercer In the primaries was
accomplished by the coercion of repub
lican wage workers by the railroads
and by employers who depend uiou the
railroads for forbidden favors, as well
as the lavlHh use of a large corruption
fund and hundreds of perjured affidavits
Issued promiscuously flow the city
cleik's office.
A nomination secured by such meth
ods would not be binding, even If Mer
cer had not forfeited the support of
honest Hiid self-respecting republicans
by his Indefensible treachery to the
party two years ago when the supreme
struggle involved the election of two
United .States senators. With full com
pit hensioii of all the conseijuences,
Mercer tirst eouuteuunced and encour
aged an organized effort to kuii'e and de
feat the republican legislative ticket
In Douglas county, which, if success
ful, would have sent two democrat
from Nebraska to the United States
senate, and when the legislature was in
session deserted his seat In congress to
importune republican members to vio
late their pledges to the people and
their obligations to the party to adjourn
without electing any senators unless he
was one of them. To ask the republicans
of this district te condone and reward
such disloyalty by a re-election caps the
climax of audacity.
Conceding Mercer's efficiency as an
npp. 'oprioUuu lotrroller and legislative
tiuder.The Bee cunnot and will not
stultify itself' by recommending Uni to
tint republicans of this district Mr.
Mercer hits long since forfeited his
right to represent this district by ceas
ing to reside here. Although elected
and re-elected for live successive terms,
he has taken no other Interest In the re
publican party of Nebraska and repub
lican candidates of city uud county than
the periodic effort he was obliged to
ninke to retain his own Beat in con
gross. His defensive and offensive alii
uuce with the railroad corporations
makes hiiu simply the candidate of those
corporations rather than of the repub
lican partv, and tho stolen republican
label gives him no claim upon the sup-
lsjrt of auy self-respecting republican.
PATIKO 1UF, PENALTY.
Some of the combinations that were
overcapitalized and were organized
; without much regard to sound economic
principles have recently been paying the
penalty, suggesting that drastic experi
ences may be in store for others of like
character. The bicycle corporation
made a great error when it was organ
ized and is now paying the penalty. A
tobacco trust organized in defiance of
sound economic law Is experiencing the
consequence of admitting an evil of the
kind into its primary organization. It
is bankrupt and a few days ago a re
ceiver was applied for. Not long ago
promoters established what was culled
a bread trust claiming that it had ma
chinery which would accomplish better
things In the way of bread making than
the most powerful and thorough knead
ing by human energy hud ever done.
Its promoters overcapitalized it and
when it was found thut the corporation
could not command the whole or even
any great share of the market, tho so
called trust went to pieces.
Many other Instances could be cited
of corporations, organized on the trust
plan, that have collapsed because they
violated sound economic principles, and
undoubtedly there are more to come.
Combinations that are greatly over
capitalized and which otherwise violate
Immutable financial and commercial
laws may go on for a time with appar
ent success and prosperity, but inevi
tably those laws sooner or later assert
themselves and the organization that
disregards or defies them pays the
penalty. The experience already hud
should at leant serve the purpose of
warning the public against investing in
the securities of corporations that are
known to .be overcapitalized, or as to the
organization of which there is not full
and satlaiaclory information.
me ROUMANIAN AOTf.
The appeal of our government to the
European powers for Just and humano
treatment of the Jews lu Roumania is
not without precedent. As stated in
the note, the United States in 187 J re
monstrated against the persecution of
the Jews under Turkish rule, a condi
tion which the Berlin treaty of 1878
was expected to remedy and to an ex
tent did remedy. Ten years ago Presi
dent Harrison drew the attention of the
Russian government to the effect on our
immigration of the persecution of the
Jews lu Ruhbia, it being then pointed
out that auy internal policy which
drove subjects abroad necessarily af
fected the countries these subjects
sought, however little desire the land
receiving these lmmiiiunts might have
to interfere in the domestic affairs of
another sovereignty. .
Ihe note or Secretary Hay takes a
like position in regard to the persecu
tion of the Jews in Roumania, ex.
pressed in somewhat stronger and more
direct terms. This appeal of our gov
erMuent which is in the interest of
humanity, will be very generally ap
proved by Americans. The facts in
regard to the persecution of the
Roumanian Jews show a most cruel and
Inhuman state of affairs. It is in the
power of the European governments
that are pottles to the Berlin treaty,
which gave Independence to Roumuulu,
to put au entt to the deplorable situation
by requiring the Roumaulau government
to respect the provision of the treaty
which says that the "difference of reli
gious creeds and confessions shall not be
alleged against any pcrsou" with refer
ence to civil and political rights," aud
there is reason to hope thut the ap-ul
of the Uulted States will Induce them
to take the neeeassry steps to have this
treaty provision regarded.
. It is not the policy of this government
to Interfere in European affairs, btif its
light In this Instance to remonstrate is
strongly set forth by Secretary Hay.
After reciting the treatment to which
the Jews are subjected by the Rouman
ian government the note says: "Whether
cousclously and of purpose or not, these
helpless people, spurned by their native
laud, are forced by the sovereign power
of Itoumania upon the charity of the
United States. This government cannot
lie u tacit party to such an International
wrong. It Is constrained to protest
against the treatment to which the
Jews of RoumaniA are subjected, not
alone because it has unimpeachable
ground to remonstrate against the re
sultant iujury to Itself, but in the name
of humanity." The European response
to this appeal will be aw ated with
much interest and there can be no
doubt that It will at least recognize the
sincerity and the justice of its purpose.
UAILHOAU TAXATION A CAMPAMA
The people of Nebraska who hud
looked to the supreme court for relief
from rullroud tax shirking have reason
to feel sadly disappointed over the re
fusal of thut tribunal to issue its man
date to conitiel the reassessment of the
railroad property by the state board.
To men not yersed in legal hair splitting
the conclusions of the court are unin
telligible and inexplicable.
In grunting the prayer of the Omaha
Real Estate exchange to compel the
Board of Equalization to reassess the
properties of the local frauchised cor
porations on the basis of their value
measured by the market price of their
stocks and bonds and proportionate to
the assessment ratio of other taxable
city property, tho court established a
precedent in line with decisions rendered
by supreme courts of other states and
by the United states supreme court It
was natural to presume that the priucl
pies laid down in the decision in the
Uniuha tax cuses would apply in all es
sential respects to the railroad tax case
instituted by the editor of The Bee.
How the same court could consistently
hold against the Umaha street railway
and Omaha water, gas and electric light
ing companies in the month of April
and hold lu favor of the railroads in a
case Involving identically the same issue
in September is a mystery we confess
we cannot fathom.
In the Omaha tax case the court over
ruled the findings of a referee who had
taken testimony on the facts. In the
railroad tax case the judges of the su
preme court heard the testimony In pep
son, but Ignored it although in the
higher court of public opinion that tes
timony conclusively established the fact
thut the rullroud franchises had not
been assessed and that even the tangible
property of the railroads had been
grossly undervalued. "
Two of the three members of the state
board admitted on the stand that they
had made no effort co appraise the road
way, improvements or rolling stock
separately or that they had made any
rational inquiry into the value of these
assets or sought to arrive at any ra
tlonal basis of assessment by the earn
lugs of each system, as is done in every
other state. They admitted that they
arrived at their conclusion concerning
the value of the roads by the assess
ments of previous years and utterly
regardless of tho new improvements,
additions to rolling stock and enormous
Increase in earnings and market value
of their securities. Evep If the tangi
ble property had been assessed cor
rectly, the admission of Auditor Weston
and Treasurer Stuefer thut they did not
attempt to assess franchises beca-use
they believed they, had no legal light to
do so Is brushed aside in the ruling of
the court which says in so many words
that in its judgment the members of the
boardr did assess the franchises, although
they did not know they were assessing
them and thought they had no right to
do so, and made no effort to ascertain
what the franchises were worth.
Advocates and friends of tax reform
will not be content to drop the issue be
cause the court has refused to come to
their assistance. The taxpuylug citi
zens of Nebraska will not tamely submit
to in Uu ted tax rates on their properly
for the benefit of the railroads, whose
property is assessed this year at $V
5lX,000, when it should by rights be as
sessed at uiofe than o0,00U,000 and was
assessed at nearly $30,000,000 ten years
ago with a mileage 000 miles less than
now.
Having relegated the whole question
of railroad taxation to the people, the
issue must be met squarely at the bal
lot box, not on party lines but on broud
lines of justice and equity.
AUKRICAS HAVAL POSITION.
American pride In our navy will not
be affected by the official stutemeut
that It ranks fifth in the number of
ships, though doubtless much stronger
lu the mutter of efficiency. Great
Britain is still mistress of the seas,
France is a poor second and Germany
aud Russia are about on even terms.
The United States is behind these na
tions in naval strength, but a com
parison of work being done shows that
this nation will be at least on even
terms with Oermany and Russia six
years hence. All the naval powers are
energetically adding to their sea power
and in this we are not much behind
any other country.
What appears to be the greatest need
of the American navy is more officers.
This matter, manifestly of great lui
portauce, is discussed In a magazine
article by Lieutenant Commander
Smith, who points out (hut even with
the iucrease in the uumber of midship
men at Annapolis due to conferring ap
pointments ou senators, the naval
academy does not annually graduate
enough men to make good the natural
decrease lu the commissioned ranks of
the service. lie suggests a large in
crease in the number of midshipmen, for
the increase of appointments due to the
larger membership of the house of rep
resentatives, which does not go into
effect until next year, will, with five
additional allowed the president, carry
the Annapolis battalion tip to only 405,
reckoning the contributions of the sens
tors. Commander Smith would have
for ten years every senator and repre
sentative make an appointment to An
napolis every year or even oftener, in
stead of as now every four years. Such
a system would mean a battalion at the
Naval academy of about 2.000, but Com
mander Smith can see no other way of
providing the more than 3,000 graduates
the navy will need In the next eleven
years, assuming that merely the present
rate of Increase in ships Is maintained.
Commander Smith considers the prob
lem of officers as far more serious than
the question of men. The latter may
be secured at short notice, If It be Im
possible to secure them otherwise, and
they may be sent to sea with a minimum
of training, but It takes time to make a
capable officer. The remedy for the
situation pointed out by Comma uder
Smith must of course come from con
gress and that liody has been slow to
li'iiiu that ships alone do not make a
navy. The attention of congress has
been repeatedly called to the need of
making provision for an adequate num
ber of officers aud meu. This was
urged by President Roosevelt in his
first message, which said: "To provide
battleships and cruisers and then lay
them up, with the expectation of leaving
them unmanned until they are needed
in actual war, would be worse than
folly; It would be a crime against the
nation." He stated that 4,000 adul-
tional seamen aud 1,000 additional mur
ines should be provided, uud an increase
in the officers should be provided by
making a large addition to the classes
at Annapolis. let congress but par
tially met this recommendation. Per
haps It will make the needed provision
at the next session.
IMC BOARD OF THAD OKCiSIOX
The decision of the Illinois district
court In the Chicago Board of Trade
case, wherein It is held that neither that
body nor any other set of arbitrators
representing it can fix a settliug price In
speculative operations materially above
the legitimate figure, strikes a blow at
schemes for running speculative "cor
ners." If the decision shall be upheld
by the supreme court, It will be prac
tically impossible to squeeze the losing
side In such operations as has been the
immemorial practice. There has been
all the time abundant remedy at law
against such arbitrary confiscations, If
the subject could have been got Into the
courts, but the Board of Trade, which
is an exclusive and close corporation, bus
heretofore contrived to cut its members
off from legal remedy. By an elaborate
and cunning system of regulations,
ruthlessly enforced, the victims of cor
ners who were Injured aud undertook
to protest were cut off from the priv
ileges of the board. The lower court
at one stroke goes to the heart of the
question by declaring that such regula
tions, although they may be buttressed
by contracts, are against public policy,
It holds that the only basis of settle
ments which such an organization as the
Board of Trade may lawfully enforce is
the normal value of grain or other sub
Ject of speculation as indicated by the
various markets of the country, the fair
average level of prices, and not the
artificial price arbitrarily dictated by
overreaching and unscrupulous specu
tutors in a local market such a price, in
short as a court of luw would sanction
in a dispute submitted to its adjudl
cation. The decision is sweeping and
far-reaching. . if nothing more were
involved than the wrangles of two sets
of mere gambling Board of Trade oper
ators, there would be less occasion for
public interest in the case, but many of
tiie recurrent corners involve operations
of gigantic magnitude and profoundly
disturb general business. If the props
are to be effectually knocked from undor
the fictitious superstructure which the
Chicago Board of Trade has built up, a
lou btep will be taken toward keeping
the operations of the general business
public within normal bounds aud on a
healthy toundutiou. But It will ma
teriully reuuee the sphere and the profits
of the Board of Trade clique and will
be resisted uy them to the uttermost
The necessity for an elastic currency
Is not to be compared with the necessity
for au elastic banquet table to accom
modate the lengthening list of guests
for the dinner to be tendered 1 'resident
vclt by Ak-Sar-Beu.
Utah Moor ot ltHTA.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
Anetber year of unexampled prosperity is
faat drawing to a close, i The only things
that have not soored distinct suooesses are
luu airauios aud tue strike conferences.
Hkna late Shu Flnoauss.
i
Phllatlolphla Record.
The mine owners declare that they are
certain to win, and with equal emphasis the
striking miners assert that their winning is
Just as certain, la this conflict of opinion
nothing ia more certain than that the con
suming public has been tho loser from the
outs tart.
"Trath Straaaer 1'haa Klelios."
Chicago Chronicle.
The Ingenious Mr. Zola has written many
stories dealing with the secret life some
times led by eminent respectability, but be
has never portrayed anything mors strange
and shocking than the spectacle of a man
ot advanced years, a man of eminence, tb
Inheritor ot a great name, the recipient of
trust and honor at the hands of his coun
try, slain In a low saloon quarrel over
woman. Imagination never has been able
to rival the queer turn of facts.
Choice f Life toaltloae.
Boston Qlobe.
Mas O'Rell. who has been asking ques
tlons of everyone he meets, re-ports that
be has found an enormous majority of
women whfr would elect to be men and only
a very small minority of men who would
elect to be women. Conclusion: Mm
reople would elect to be men. He adds
however: "I would elect to be a beautiful
woman from 20 to 30, a brilliant officer
from SO to 40, a celebrated painter from 40
to 60, a famous poet or novelist from 60
to tO. prime minister of England or presl
dent of the L'Bitarf Btalee from 64 to 70
and a cardinal for the rest ot my life
Who wouldn't! . .
HI.AftTS FROM HAM'S HORM.
Fashion may hide the scars, but tt cannot
heal the disease of sin.
The wolves always applaud whea the
shepherd whips the ahep.
Whea preacher tries to be pops bs is
more dangerous than the priest.
A man's thinking powers will be ia in
verse ratio to hla drinking powers.
The delights of heaven nay be fashioned
out of the disappointments of earth.
They who will not be their brothers'
keepers are willing to be their executors.
The men who skim the milk of human
kindness curdle the cream with their hands.
It Is easier to be eloquent over the faults
ot others than to be penitent over our own.
The devil is willing that you should be
called the driver so long as he holds the
reins.
The warmth of the winter's revival does
not depend on the frigidity of the summer
church.
One difference between the true preacher
and the talking machine is that the lat
ter can be purchasd.
It is safer to trust your eyes than your
ears when a man argues religion while
his wife carries In the water.
I'KHSOSiAl, A.D OTtlEHWISU.
President Baer of tbr coal combine reso
lutely refuses to Join a "Don't Worry
club.
Colonel Watterson would never do as a
reporter of Newport functions. He talks
too much.
Truly the people of St. Louis are entitled
to large gobs of sympathy. Besides being
looted at the city hall they have been given
handout of painted ssusae.
After solemnly deliberating for several
months tho naval medical board intimates
thai Captain Hobsen Is not sick enough
to quit the navy and enter politics.
High class music is not as popular with
Us backers In Chicago since they were
obliged to go down into their jeans for
$30,000 to make up the last season's
deficit.
President Koosevelt s pump handle mo
tion was not seriously disarranged by shak
ing the digits of 8,000 neighbors. This puts
him In prime condition for the western
Shake, pard."
J. Pierpont Morgan gave $1 to a newsboy
the other day and the Incident was con
sidered worthy of a spneiat dispatch. Per
haps the incident is an incipient symptom
of heart enlargement.
Hustling women of a Michigan town got
busy one day rccertly. They built a mile
of sidewalk, cut all the weeds and tidied
up the alleys. While all this waa going j
on the men folks kept In the shade and
looked wise.
A Sioux City woman asks for a divorce
on the ground that her husband wears the
same shirt three weeks and goes to bed
with his socks on The shirt proposition
Is a pretty strong one in itself. As to the
socks the most humane of men are often
obliged to protect themselves against coid
feet. Sentiment and romance take wings
when the cold pedal Is worked on neigh
boring shins.
Another telephone girl has won a prize
In the matrimonial lottery, this time at
Muscatine, Ia. The prlze.ls a rich banker.
who was so charmed by the musical
voice, the merry laughs which tickled his
ear, that he sought out and' won the owner.
Bachelor bankers are very susceptible to
sweet telephone voices which reach recep
tive ears In tones entrancing. This is no
tably true ot Omaha telephone voices. The
only reason they do not win a like prize
is that Omaha's bachelor bankers are tin
able to choose one flower from the bunch.
vo5r balanced are their vocal charms.
INFANTS IN SCHOOL.
Protest Aaatnst Forced Mental
Ef.
forts In Primary Grades.
Philadelphia Record.
A superintendent of schools Is quoted to
the effect that four hours In school a day la
enough for children 6 years of age and un
der. Four hours a day In school Is a great
deal more than Is good for children of that
age. In the primary departments of (he
publlo schools the Instruction Is not alter
the manner, of the kindergartens. "ine
children are required to make a distinct
mental effort in circumstances which are
unfavorable to their mental growth. Dln-
clDline even in the primary department con
tlnues to be a fetich, and the Ideal teacner
Is one who can prevent the restless little
ones from moving in their seats, whisper
ing and allowing their attention to wander.
A child ot 6 is still a good deal oi an in
fant, and has the Infant's impatience ot
restraint.
Even when the primary pupil is Inter
ested in the Instruction (which is rarely
the case In the public schools) four hours
of confinement, including the brie! and
too infrequent recesses, is enough to dwarf
it intellect. When it la necessary to
force Its attention to the lessons, which are
forbidden In the manner of teaching, the
four-hour session is equal to eight boors of
severe mental application by an adult.
That is, it is exnausung. rersons who
have made a stuay oi cunarai ieu w i
Idea that their tender crams are ui
served by very brief perioas ot mnrucno.
with Ions intervals ot piay. ids
little
brain Is usually busy enough in acquiring
the education of circumstances or in ap-
nroDrlating the Information which it meets
In Its every waking moment. Many of the
children of ( years are sent to school slm-
nly to be 'got rid of snd since the state
permits this the teacher would best servs
humanity by assuming the rols of nurse
rather than that of a teacher oi certain
aerloua studies.
Kunerintendent Skinner of New Tora
state, has affirmed that the young sre con
stantly overtaxed in the schools, and that
the uaual course of study is enough to ac
count for the cases of ill health and of
mental debility. It is the declaration or
Prof. Bain, who speaks with authority snd
after practical experiment, that every
minute spent In study beyond a certain
limit is worse than wasted; that for a
time the fresh brain is In a receptive
mndltlon. but when the child ceases to
take a lively pleasure In study it is mis
chievous to sttempt to teach It further.
Superintendent Skinner has said that
much of what is included in the present
exacting courses of study "Is In no wsy
essential to a thorough groundwork tor a
child's education," and that in every
grade, from the lowest to the highest,
there sre too many studies. It Is espec
ially dangerous to the future of mere ba
bies of years to force their attention to
text book matters and to compel them to
silence during four consecutive hours each
school day.
Unfortunately, the protests of srhool
superintendents, which are Ignored by
school boards, do not fall into the hands
of parents. It is strange that the mem
bers of school boards usually believe that
the only limit to the acquisition of knowl
edge by the child Is the time habit that
It can learn things as long as It may be
compelled to atudy. Therefore their op
position to fewer school hours a day and
to further holidays. Every brain worker
knows that by frequent rests he can ac
complish more than by an uninterrupted
aDDllcatlon of his mlod to sny work. It
Is only by arousing parents to the dan
gers of over-study that the Intelligent
teachers can bring s wholeaome influence
to bear on the school board.
WAKE OK THR NATIVE BOB.
Slrwtflpawre er the Dlastalshe Birth
Rate la the Vwlte-a fttatee.
Boston Transcript
The general decline of the birth rate dur
ing the last half cestury has often been !
commented uoon. The nhenomenon Is ,
most noticeable In the case of the peoples
that stand highest In the scale ef clvlllra
tlon. The perslatence of this tendency Is
a matter of grave concern, for It raises
the question whether the most highly de- '
reloped nationalities will be able to hold 1
their own against the more rapidly Increas- I
lng Inferior stocks. To be sure, the effect
of the falling birth rate has been largely
offset hitherto by the reduction of the'
death rate. But if the ratio of births con
tinues to drop a point will be reached
sooner or later when the native popula
tion In the great civilized states will be
come stationary or retrogressive. Indeed,
this condition has already arrived In
France, as the death rate In that country
.. . ,. ,, .. . . ,V .
land and the I nlted States It seems to be
not far distant.
The recent census returns for England
show a birth rate of only 31.57 per thou
sand, as compared with 28 per thousand
thirty years sro. Another noteworthy fact
In the population statistics of England h.ts
been the decline of Immigration during the
last decade. The excess of emigration
over immigration amounted to only 70.000
In the ten years, 1890 to 1900, wheress dur
ing the preceding decade tt bad been 600.
000. Instead of aVnding large numbers of
native Immigrants to other countries Eng
land ts now receiving large annual addi
tions to Its population from southern and
eastern Europe.
The birth rate In the- United States la
lower than that of England. In 1900, ac
cording to the census report on vital sta-
tistlcs. it was 27.2 per thousand. This
was slightly higher than the rate for 1890.
which was 2t.9 The death rate fell mean-
while from 19.8 in 1890 to 17.8 In 1900. It
should be observed, however, that the fig- j are unduly monopolized and that the All
ures for births given In the census returns i clpline to sternly maintained Is not quite
are baaed on very imperfect data and are
not to be regarded as trustworthy. The
actual birth rate In the United States Is
doubtless considerably higher than the
figure given In the census volume. But,
while the birth rate for the country at
large has probably not declined during re
cent years and the death rate has bees
lowered several points, the growth of pop-
ulation has been much greater In the for
elgn than In the native stock. The census
tatlstlcs show that the average annual
Increase of population through excess ot
births over deaths In the decade, 1890-1900.
was 34.5 per thousand for the clsss born of j
foreign white parents and only 19.5 per
thousand for the class born of native white
parents. In the northeasters group ot
states the disproportion between the two
classes was even more striking; the rate
of Increase for the foreign class was 89.
and that of the native class 8 8. In the
New England states It appears that the
native stock Is actually declining. Its death
rate exceeding its birth rate by 1.6 per
tfcot!- while In the fnrelrn population
the .i rate exceeded the death rate by
44.5 per thousand. The situation revealed
by these figures Is truly alarming. The old
New England stock is rapidly being sup
planted by a polyethnlc amalgam ot as
sorted foreign elements.
It is generally recognized that the cause
of the decline of the. .birth rate Is more
psychological than physiological that is,
It results rather from a growing disinclina
tion to raise large families than from sn
increasing incapacity for child-bearing on
the part of the modern woman. The rise
in the standard of living which has taken
place during the last , half century has
operated to check the growth of population.
to an extent never dreamed of by Malthua
The lncrea8lng coet of Bupporting a family
has developed a high degree ot prudence in
regard to the marriage relation. Within
reasonable limits this tendency Is a desir
able one, but it has been carried too far.
Aside from the advance In the standard
of living there are other powerful factors
that have combined to diminish the birth
rate by absorbing the energies of women
in various activities outside the home. On
the one hand social ambitions and on the
other hand intellectual or phllanthroplo in
terests fill the lives of many women to
such an extent that little strength, time or
Inclination la left for the rearing of chil
dren. The club movement among w'bmen is
undoubtedly responsible In no small meas
ure for the diminution In the size of the
average family. The "emancipation" ot
woman, beneficent as It is In the main,
seems to have been somewhat overdone in
this country. There is need at the present
time of a reaction against the ultra-strenu
ous feminine life and a revival of the old
fashioned domestio ideal.
Cost of Lrvtna.
Portland Oregonlan.
Hers is a little calculation said to have
been made la Commissioner Wright's re
port on the eoal strike: "A bill ot gro
ceries and provisions which cost $13.12 in
1895 could not be bought la ltoO for less
K.n t1R ftS TTia Punnsvlvlnla worklnv
maB ,B lg98 WM re,urei to work nine and
tnPee.tenths dsys to pay this little grocery
b,Ui wn,u ,n im h, nad to work ten and
nve-tenthB days to pay the same bill.
,f a part of th, jnformal comments'
of tn0 nvortm
Here Is Your Chance
To get an open canopy or extension top Barry at abso
lute cost. We have Columbus Buggy Co., Watertown Car
riage Co., Racine Wagon and Carriage Co., Moon Bros, and
the best "B" special made. We also have three fine jobs
uwed less than one year. We also have three good second
hand Concord buggies, one Columbus, one Troy and one
Moyer, all full leather tops and bargains. Everything elso
in the vehicle list will be cut loose from now on. Bemem
ber there is three of the pleasantest months in the year yet
for driving to come. Get a carriage now and save money.
We have just received a full stock of September records
and have always on hand all the leading phonographs and
talking machines.
We are the leaders in bicycles and headquarters for
gasoline, steam and electric automobiles. We carry the
largest stock in the middle west in all the above lines.
II. E. FREDMOKSOfUStliani Capitol A
Omaha. Nebraska.
SECVUAR SHOTS AT THE Pt WIT.
Chicago Record-Herald: That Oyster Par
preacher reemt to be very much In need ot
the srrvloes of a blue pencil expert.
Brooklyn Eagle: Those who talk of th
waning Influence of churches should ponder
the fact that In Shamokln the pastor asked
for coal and the miners Immediately went
to work and put eighteen tone of anthracite
in the church cellar. Morgan could do no
more.
Boston Transcript: Some of the devices
resorted to by pastors who wish to increase
the attendance at their churches remind
one of the story ot the preacher who In a
' similar effort-
When, all Ms prayers were said
8 1 Id aentlv down the pulpit stairs
And stood upon bis head.
Kanssa City Star: Some allowance must
be made for Rev. Dr. Waahburn, who made
' such a bad break in the sermon which he
delivered yesterdsy at Oyster Bay In the
. u OmhmawaI alnn If mav hjk
" . .v.l .'. .1Z11.. Z'V.m . ...r-h
lapses of discretion they would not be per
i . .,
petually guilty ot them.
Chicago Chronicle: The worshipers ia
a church at Auburn, N. T., found It diffi
cult to extricate themselves from the newly
varnished pews. It is not an uncommon
thing. If we may believe the veracious re
porters, for people to be glued to their
seats by the eloquence of the person ad
dressing them, but In the present Instance
the controlling cause appears to have been
a case of matter rather than of mind.
New York Times: That the Salvation
army has been and still Uf properly de
scribed as a "great institution" and that
it has dene and Is still capable of doing a
vast amount of practical good will not bo
denied, even by those to whom its peculiar
form of emotionality is most offensive, but
there is a general impression that, however
: disinterested its privates and inferior ol-
fleers mar be. the highest ranss or tne
army have come to be almost as business.
like as pious, that both money and glory
always exercised for ends wholly admirable,
even whea matters of taste are left aside.
DOMESTIC PLEASANTRIES.
Detroit Free Press: Summer Girl The
man 1 marry must be handsome and clever.
Summer Man How fortunate we have
met.
Brooklyn life.: He-I think that In order
to make a good husband a man should
practice self-donlal.
She Yes, but not preach It.
Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Yes. she threw
away the sugar because one of her guests
picked up a lump with her lingers."
"Dear me, 1 wonder what she docs with
the dour knobs?"
Philadelphia Press: "I should be
ashamed, said mamma, severely, "to be
caught by your own mother kissing a young
man." , ,, ...
"But It wasn't my fault at all, sobbed
! the culprit, "1 told Willi to hurry, out no
IS BO IOW.
Chicago News: Me The prettiest girls
always marry tho blugest fools, you know.
Eho Am I to cont'ier thut in the nature
ot a proposal?
Philadelphia Record: Gabble I tell you
a fellow's got to be mighty brave to be a
fireman. ,
Henpeck Oh, I don't know. The bravest
man f ever saw wa an Iceman.
Gabble That so? What did he do?
Henpeck He sassed my wife.
Philadelphia Catholic Standard: Tom
How are yoj and Mabel getting along?
Dick Oh, I don't see her as much as I
did.
Tom Really? I heard you wero engaged.
Dick That's Just it. The light's turned
out In the parlor when I call now.
Washington Star: "If you please, ma'am,"
exclaimed the nusemaid in great excite
ment, "I can't keep the baby from going to
the scuttle. and trying to eat coal."
"Dear me1." exclaimed Mrs. LangulJ.
"That child is going to take- after his father
for extravagance.
Detroit Free Press: "Helen has improved
her game wonderfully since she has been
playing with Jack."
"How do you know?"
"Why, she's gotten so now that she plays
entirely without a caddie."
Chicago Poet: The maiden was more than
ordinarily wise and cautious.
"But are you sure you can support a
wife?" she asked when he proposed.
"Oh, well," he answered in an offhand
way, "I don't Imagine your father would
be mean and stingy enough to stand by and
see his daughter suffer."
AK-SAR-BEN.
(Written for The Bee.)
Enthroned In majesty, he sits
'Neath braided corn husk canopy,
Serenely munching hom'ny grits.
And gently stroking beard of hay.
The rich, white blood of Indian maize
Majestic coursed through his veins; .
Alfalfa crowns the prairie's -bays-Benign
and cloudlnsa brow; and strains
Of huskers' merry songs vibrate
The cool September air and cheer.
Ills promise to anticipate.
When deigns in state be to appear.
Hla countless subjects bow to him.
When enters his metropolis
Our gracious, well beloved king
In loyalty not one remiss.
From nation's thief to workingman,
All hither haste our king to greet
His progress In, 'mid brilliant van
Ana following, on Farnam street.
The close observer then will note
Th tnorrv wlnlc he alves some man.
Now right, now left, each knowing goat
Interprets:
Mv how drv I am.
-ALFRED MARSCHNER.
