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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1902)
0 The omaiia Daily Bee , E. R08EWATEK, EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF BUB9CRIITION. Dally Bee (without Sunday), fine Year. 14 no fally Bee and Biind.iy. One Year.; " lluetrsted Hee. One Year 2.00 Sunday Bee, One Year -in Piturriay Kee. (me Yer I s" 1 went let h ( entury Karmer, One Year.. 1.U0 DELIVKKKI) BY CARRIER, pally Pee (without Sunday), per ropy... 2c pally Pee (without Bunilay). per weok...l2c Pally Hee (Including Sunday), per week. lie Sunday pee, per copy Evening Pee (.without Sunday), per week 8c Evening pee (Including Sunday), P" week ...... 10c Complaint of Irregularities In delivery Should be addressed to City Circulation De partment. OFFICES. Omaha The Bee Building. South Omaha City Hall Building, Twenty-fifth and M Street. Council Bluff 10 Pearl Street. Chicago 1640 Unity Building. New York 2XS Park Row Building. Washington Ml Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and edi torial matter ahould be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. BUSINESS LETTERS. Business letters snd remittances should be addressed: The Pee Publishing torn pany, Omaha. REMITTANCES. Remit by draft, express or postal order, payable to The Bee Publishing Company. Only 2-cent stumps accepted In payment of mall accounts. Personal checks, except on Omaha or eastern exchange, not accepted. THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY. STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. Ut cf Neb.-aska, Douglaa County, ss: George B. Txschuck, secretary of The Bee Publishing Company, being duly sworn, ays that the actual number of full and complete copies of The Dally, Morning, Evening and .Sunday Wee printed during the month of October, wo, was as iumw j ao.Too j ao,:io 31,11K 4 ao.oro B 29,8(10 81,2!)0 17 31.820 lg 31.4.-.0 1 80.4(H) 20 82,240 21 32,830 22 81,670 23 81,740 24 32,150 25 81,140 26 2W.255 27 81,070 28 31.UDO 2 31.0.(0 30 32,300 31 81,330 7 ... 10.... 11 12 13 . 14 15 16 Total ...80,010 ...31,070 ...31,M)0 .. .31,100 ...33,01)0 ...20,020 ...31,350 ...31,3.10 .. .81.010 ...32,700 9O9.01S Last unsold and returned copies 9,872 Net total sales ..000,743 Net average sales .'. 80,000 GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK. Subscribed In my presence and sworn to before mo this 31st dny of October, A. D. 1202. M. B. H UNGATE. (Seal.) Notary Public. , As a true musician Maweagnl ought Jjot to try to make luternutlonal discord. To fire or not to flro a platoon of fire men is the question that most bothers the fire and police commission just now. Governor Mickey promises a busl 'ness administration of the state's busi ness. That's a platform that will be universally endorsed. That New York hotel porter who pawned a $2,500 pearl necklace for $35 must have got his Hp as to its value from the owner's tar returns. . The question precipitated by the strike of the rubber workers In Chicago Is iwhether the difficulty will rebound "on the strikers or on their employers. The bankers do not seem to take kindly to Congressman Fowler's asset currency bllL They seem to have in mind Mark Uanna's motto, "Let well enough alone." Champ Clark, after maturely delib erating over the election returns of Mis souri, concludes that "the congressional term should be lengthened to three years." - - Members of the German Reichstag are rery brave In Instigating a tariff war with the United States. If it were a question of a real war of the old-fash-toned kind they would go at it much more slowly. The Thompson railroad pass contro versy forcibly emphasizes the popular demand for a stringent law that will prohibit the issue or acceptance of rail road passes by men In public office and men who aspire to public office. Veterans of Omaha's volunteer fire de partment would doubtless be In a quandary If they had to decide which gave them most pleasure fighting the original fires or fighting the old fires over again over the lis mulct table. The city comptroller seems to be a very Willing tool of the Broatch police com mission for the punose of bolstering up the false pretense of a deficit in the police fund requlrlug the arbitrary dis missal of sixteeu police officers without Charges or bearing. Ills fictitious Juggle of tho figures to manufacture a red-ink exhibit is characteristic of him. If the tie between Ixibeck and MePon aid Is not speedily untied Douglas county may have to get along with four county commissioners, Instead of five, and It Is a serious question whether the county will suffer very much by reason of the vacuum. Itouglaa county managed to get along with but three county conimls Blouera for more than thirty years. . When Traffic Manager Bird testified before the Interstate Commerce com mission that freight rates ought to go higher lie probably had In mind tho watered stocks that have lately been o profusely Issued. Of course If rail road capitalization is to he arbitrarily expanded the stocks will have to come 4owu or the rates to go up. This is one Of the things, however, that some of the court, as well as the people, are taking band in. An American International Archeolo- gtcal commission made up of representa tivea of all the republics on this contl nent will endeavor to devise wars a means for preserving the ruins of the pre-hlstorlc cities uncovered by variou archeologlcul expeditious. Most of the American republics are too busy p pen-lug their modern cities from falll Hug Jnto ruins to devote much time to the preservation of ruius that have long Ince ceased their usefulness. TRt UtHltH DKHIAU I The formal answer of the Northern Pacific In the proceedings brought by the state of Washington before the Cnlled States supreme court creates an unfavorable Impression, and seems to be based on the maxim of the old legal practitioner to deny everything whether true or not. The very tenor of the de nials In the answer corroborate the point of the complainant state, that the essence of the combination between the Northern Pacific and the Great North ern, with their purchase of ' the Bur lington system, under the form of the Northern Securities company, Is in re straint of trade, and ' In derogation of the principles of the common law and of the express prohibitions of the anti trust and Interstate commerce acts.- While the answer technically denies such purpose ou behalf of those who In vented and seek legal approval of the consummation of the merger scheme, the facts demonstrating such purpose tower above the possibility of conceal ment. That the Northern Pacific and Great Northern, each In itself a mighty transportation system, and together ex clusively covering a vast zone from the great lakes to the Pacific, were In Inde pendent control inherently competing lines. Is a self-evident fact. The para mount interest of each was to get from the other the largest possible share of the total traffic beween those termini, and of all the business from intermedi ate points which had the option of using both lines. This was the condition w UK-li nothing but a union of both sys tems under a common control, whatever form it might assume, could get rid of. What earthly motive but the elimina tion of competition could there be, under the circumstances, for such a consolida tion or merger? When the Burlington system, covering the heart of the middle west and previously exchanging Its ton nage with other transcontinental lines. was purchased, its stock was equally di vided between the Northern Pacific and Great Northern, and reappeared, to gether with their own, In enormously in flated securities of the merger company. on which dividends must be paid by the shippers of the region made non-competitive by the merger by Increased taxes, that is to say, upon the total In dustrial energy of that region. If this had not been the object, the volume of capitalization would have been reduced Instead of so vastly and arbitrarily in creased, because the Increase is simply a tax on operation. The pretense that J. J. Hill, who con trols the Great Northern, does not know the purposes of 3. J. UUl who controls the Northern Pacific, the Burlington and the Northern Securities company, Is the Ultima Thule of nonsense. The hocus pocus that these several corporations have no official and technical knowledge of the purposes and doings of each and all of them ia equally preposterous. That It la seriously and elaborately set up as a legal defense will be taken by the American "people aa virtual con fession that the position held by this gigantic combination Is indefensible on legitimate grounds. ANOTHER SUGAR WAR. Another war between the beet and the cane sugar refiners seems Imminent The manufacturers of beet sugar have made shipments to the eastern markets, the immediate effect of which has been somewhat demoralizing to the trade. since no accurate Information is to be had as to how much beet sugar may be sent A. New York paper says there is. no doubt that by offering their prod ucts In the stronghold of the eastern refiners the beet sugar people have cre ated a genuine sensation. The Atlantic seaboard has thus far been the exclusive market for the eastern refiners. Last year the beet sugar people endeavored to secure exclusive sale for their prod uct in the territory contiguous to their factories, but the trust would not allqw them to do so. This year, therefore, the beet people have apparently turned the tables on the eastern refiners. , The San Francisco Chronicle says that nothing could be more opportune than the fight between the refiners of Im ported sugar and the manufacturers of American beet sugar. It will incident ally show that no trust can control a market which is profitable to other peo ple and the more profitable It is the surer to invite competition. But the main Importance of a contest at this time, in the opinion of that paper, lies in the fact that public attention will be so effectually directed to the sugar ques tlou that It will be considered on Its real merits. It Is not easy to see that in the end any really good result can come from a war of this kind, but in the meantime some little benefit may be realized by the consumer. DKALlNO WITH CUBA. The question of future commercial re lations with Cuba continues to perplex the administration. The expectation that the treaty negotiated at Washing ton would be satisfactory to the Cuban government has been disappointed and while our government is not officially advised as to the objections to the ar rangement, it is well understood that Cuba wants a much larger reduction of tariff duties on her products than Is proposed, it having been reported that President Palma will ask that the re duction be ftO lustead of 20 per cent. According to the latest Information the Cubun government Is somewhat Indif ferent la regard to reciprocity. In view of the Improved outlook for Its sugar product, and will insist on better terms than the United States has proposed It also appears that Cuba is not dis posed to make the tariff concessions on American products asked by our gov eminent On the assumption that the Cubans do not properly understand the matter, which la very probable, a com missioner has been sent to' confer with the Cuban officials and endeavor to en lighten them regarding the situation. It ia ncedlebs to say that Cub can- tut: omaita daily bee: Friday, November 14, mo2. not obtain a dO per cent reduction lu our tariff rates on her sugar aud tobacco and should that government Insist upon this It will end the effort for reciprocity which the administration is earnestly making. It is by no means certain, at present, that even a 20 per cent reduc tion can be secured, though perhaps the chances for this have Improved. Still It Is said that those who are opposed to Cuban reciprocity are preparing to renew the fight against it at the coming session with do less vigor and deter mination than they showed at tho last session. A Washington report states that the program as now contemplated Is a combination of the cane and beet sugar-growing Interests with votes in several of the northern states, the policy being to urge that If there is to be Cuban reciprocity the other reciprocity treaties pending before the senate must have priority of consideration. It is easy to understand that a movement of this kind might greatlyconipllcate the situation and probably defeat action on a Cuban treaty by the present congress. President Roosevelt Is as anxious as ever to effect closer commercial rela tions with Cuba, as shown by the fact that he has recently had conferences on the subject with Senator Spooner, Sena tor Piatt of Connecticut and others. It is obvious, however, that the present attitude of Cuba as it Is understood will, If maintained, make it entirely useless for the president to appeal to congress. If it shall be established that the Cuban government wants such concession as reported and 1b disposed to persist in the demand, the president may as well forego any further attempt to promote reciprocity with the island. As the situation is now presented Cuba Is playing into the hands of thoso who are opposed to granting her any tariff concessions. It is a most unwise posi tion for the new republic. SLIPSHOD WATS IN COUNTY BUSINESS. The public business of Douglas county has altogether too long been conducted In a slipshod manner that would not be tolerated for a day In any large mercan tile establishment. The result is that the money of the taxpayers is dissipated without adequate returns or systematic accounting. The time was when this haphazard way of doing business could be excused on the plea of an insuffi ciency of officers and clerical force to at tend to the work properly, but no such excuse now holds good. When the county clerk was required not only to keep the records of the board, but also to check up the accounts of all the other county offices. It was a matter of course that efficient control could not be counted on. In the last fow years, however, a separate audltlug department has been established with ample assist ance, so that no account should be paid without proper certification of the fact that the goods had been delivered, or the service rendered, In stipulated quantity and quality, as well as that no over charges were made. Yet It Is notorious that bills for favored claimants are fre quently allowed as a matter of accom modation without prior auditing by the comptroller, trusting to luck that they will check up right afterward. With reference to ordering work and passing on contractors' estimates for bridges and road making, the county business is still more loosely conducted. The county surveyor should have super vision of all the construction work of the county In the same manner that the city engineer has supervision of all the public lmprovementa in the city. There la no more reason why a county bridge contractor, for example, should be al lowed to make his own specifications and check up his own work than that a pav ing contractor in Omaha should be al lowed to do the same. No bridge or grading should be projected by the county board except on prior recommen dation of the county surveyor, setting forth the necessity of the Improvements, and no contract let until after the county surveyor has furnished the detailed specifications. Before estimates are al lowed the surveyor should again be re quired to Inspect the work and certify that it conforms to the specifications and conditions of the contract Failure to observe these simple rules of business in the past has unquestionably cost the taxpayers in Douglas county thousands upou thousands of dollars. It Is certainly high time for the county board to do business In a business way. WATERED STOCK. OMAHA, Nov. 12. To the Editor et The Bee: At the lecture last evening on "Wealth and Want" at the First Congrega tlonal church one of Omaha's prominent bankers asked to be Informed of the mean ing of "watered stock." He said he had o often seen in the papers that the West ern Union Telegraph company had a Urge amount of watered stock that he had given tbe subject a great deal of study, but could not understand bow stocks paying 4 to ( per cent dividend could have any water in them. Will you give your opinion of what watered stock consists of? JAMES A. FARLEY. Watered stock Is another name for stock issued in excess of the value of the property capitalized. The stock of the Western Unn has been watered repeat edly by new issues for tbe purchase of competing lines at valuations largely in excess of actual value or earning ca pacity. For example. In ISO" the West, ern Union Issued $3,000,000 of stock to the promoters of the Russian-American Telegraph company, designed to connect Europe with America by way of Bering straits and Alaska, which had to Ih abandoned by reason of the successful completion of the Atlantic cable. The actual value of the property turned over to the Western Union did not exceed $100,000. Since then Western Union stock has been Inflated by many millions every time a bankrupt system was ab sented, but the enormous increase in business has enabled the company to par dividends on Its watered stock with out reference to the actual Investment represented 'it It ailtnli.atioii. The inforuiutiou thut the train bearing the president was run for several hours at the rate of over seventy miles an hour In order to make up for lost time will not be received with any degree of compla cency by the general public. It Is Im possible to run railway trains at such a high speed without Incurring unneces sary risk of accident. American people have had too many and too recent les sous to rest satisfied with unnecessary exposure of their chief executive to ac cident. It would be better for the men In charge of the president's train to take more time and avoid every extra risk when so great a responsibility Is upon them. A lot of eastern democratic news papers are moralizing on the need of the democratic party for a leader. The need is doubtless urgent but not more so than some other needs. The democ racy needs an Issue,' needs a better rec ord, needs votes, and, in fact, needs ubout everything that a political party ought to have in order to win the con fidence of the country. And what Is equally essential, there seems to be no prospect of supplying any of these great needs. Attention of legislators-elect Is called to the fact that although the county treasurer Is carrying upwards of $100, 000 of county money constantly on de posit in the banks, not a dollar of Inter est is credited up to the taxpayers. What Is true in this respect In Douglaa county is true in lesser degree in many other Nebraska counties. It Is not ra tional to presume that banks that pay interest on other deposits have free use of county money. The National Grange in passing reso lutions against the trans and railway mergers gives notice that it rejects the doctrines of Jim Hill, that railway con solidation is a benevolent Institution for the sole benefit of the farmers. But then Mr. Hill was not present at the meeting of the National Grange, or his persuasive eloquence might have in duced the delegates to behold him as a benighted philanthropist. It will take aoout $30,000 more to re build the state penitentiary and make it safe and commodious for man and beast. Aud after the $30,000 haa been planted in brick, mortar and atone It will not be many years before it will be dis covered that the penitentiary will have to be relocated In order to make it self- sustaining or anywhere near self-sus taining. After noting the foot ball games, scor ing so many victories for the Indians, we may be well prepared to believe all that the superintendent of the Haskell Indian Institute says in his annual re port to the Indian bureau' at Washing ton about the permanent good results of learning to the Indians enjoying the benefits of Uncle Sam'a educational In stitutions. Another question that may be pertinent If the electric lighting wires are all put under ground in the business district, why should not one or more of the points of discrimination against Omaha In basing fire insurance rates b re moved? An Awfsl ;Warnlna. Brooklyn Eagle. Tbe man who thinks that Hill Is loom ing is right enough, but he looms as a warning, not as a possibility. Prospective Sqneese 1st Bread. Philadelphia Record. A Flour trust of the millers of the Pa cltto coast, with a capital of $20,000,000, Is the Jatest exhibition of the monopolistic rage to control prices and supplies of the necessaries of living. Sticking; Qualities Below Par, Chicago Record-Herald. General Harrison's name appears as "Ben" Harrison on the new $5 bill. Still, even at that. It Isn't likely that a very large percentage of the population will get too familiar with It. Shontlas (or a Lift f Chicago Chronicle. From the frequency and fluency of Presi dent Eliot's observations respecting the Iniquity of labor unions we might be war ranted in surmising that Harvard has hopes of a substantial donation from Dea con Baer. War la Iscsr Camps. Philadelphia Record. The war of rates between the Sugar trust and the beet sugar men demonstrates the Importance of a home production. The trust is determined. If possible, to stamp out the growing beet sugar lndustrr. snd for that purpose sells sugar at M.ssourl river and other competing points much below tbe eastern rates. The beet sugar men are retaliating by sending beet sugar to New York by water from California. SOl'.NU PtBI.lO POLICY. Potated Decision on tho Liability of Express Companies. New York Tribune. The derision in tbe supreme court de claring that express companies may not arbitrarily limit their own responsibility for the goods entrusted to their care Is In accord with good sense and plain every day Justice. Tbe express companies are common carriers. They perform a semi- publlo duty and are well paid for the work they do. When they take a package and contract to deliver it they should not be allowed to say how far they will suffer for their own carelessness. They should be held to deliver tbe goods which they are paid to carry or forfeit their full equivalent In money value. It Is an old habit of corporations of this sort to make arbitrary rules which they force upon their patrons. In some states the courts have compelled railroad com panics to give transportation for which they have been paid regardless of the artificial limit of time which they put upon tickets, and in others It baa even been held that they cannot divest themselves of liability tor accidents by any form of agreement with patrons, even with the re clplenta of free transportation. These de cisions perhaps go too far In limiting rapacity to contract away rights for a fair consideration la the way of passes or re duced rates. Undoubtedly, however, the tendency to forbid contracts freeing a com pany of responsibilities Is In tbe direction of sound public policy. The corporations having practical monopolies of semi-publio bUHiness are in position to dictate tbelr owa terms of service to the people unless tbe law restrains them, not only in the matter of rates, but also In tbe matter of liability for failurs to do tbelr work prepsrly. WHAT'S TUB MATTER WITH KASSASf Baltimore American: There Is a remark able state of affairs In Kansas. Tbe gov ernor-alect, wbo promised. If elected, he would install a mistress for tbe new ex ecutive mansion, of which the stste is very proud, now ears he enn't find a wife. The voters, Intent on the double celebration of a wedding and an Inauguration, Insist on his keeping his pledge, snd In view of the female vote the situation Is serious. Chicago Record-Herald: Here Is a great opportunity for the comely maidens of the west who have not. been spoken for and who feel themselves fitted to take charge of the executive mansion at Topeka. Gov, ernor-elect Bailey Is 46 and Lieutenant Governor Hanna Is 35, both In the prime of a vigorous and sturdy manhood, and both of a kind and gentle disposition, with a great fondness for children. Sealed pro posals will be received at the executive mansion at Topeka until January 1. Each proposal should name the lieutenant gov ernor as "second choice," and each should be accompanied by a 2-cent stamp for reply. New York Sun: Kansas has an almost new "executive mansion." The legisla ture never meant that this building should be the gloomy fortress of a solitary, the prison of a misogynist. Mr. Bailey should be wise In time. Even now Nemesis may be heard clattering along those polished floors. Is she the housekeeper? Is rhe the cook? In the January morning what head is this, dishevelled, timorous, that peeps out of the bedclothes while a tre mendous summoning knock is heard on the door, a door whose double locks cannot bring courage to that Jumping heart? That would be Governor Bailey's head. If he wore one and that Is Nemesis who is shouting her shrill warning at the key hole. She goes, but another will come, governor. You will be bullied; your coffee will be dishwater, your beefsteak will be calcined, your linen and your temper frayed. With demon-laughter Nemesis shrieks and bangs the flatlron In the laun dry. Nemesis sweeps dust Into the gov ernor's ayes and burns up his papers i Nemesis merrily snips the buttons off his shirts, beards him to his face and demands a "character" and two weeks' wages when he Is sitting at the council board. The Kansas women may trust Nemesis. She Is a woman of great humor and hath un feeling Iteration. THREE OF A KIND. Springfield Republican I Tbe passing away of the man who made the Cardiff giant is a reminder of one of the greatest humbugs of a quarter of a century ago. Then Barnum declared than the people loved to be fooled, and the same might be said with as much truth today. The quack and tbe charlatan find It just as easy to make money nowadays as they did in the years when the world was younger. San Francisco Chronicle: The punish ment of Letson Balllet, the mine swindler, ' not adequate to his misdeeds, but it will do as a starter. One year In Jail and a fine of $1,000 is a light sentence for this ac complished rascal, who secured $180,000 from credulous people. No offense la meaner than that of tbe man who adver tises large gains from a mining scheme when he knows that his mine is worthless. There 'are other Indictments against Bal llet, and when he emerges from jail he should be prosecuted again and kept behind bars for the rest of his natural life. New York Tribune: Paris Is enjoying a swindle now not comparable with the Hum bert affair, but still with some unusual features. A pretending canon, an un frocked priest, named Rosenberg, of Jew, Ish origin, a financier named Mallevai and soma others plucked a wealthy widow, Mme. Civet. Mallevai la an interesting character. His lively youth resulted in his being disinherited. He decided to marry money, and did it. And then on the day of his wedding he went out with his wife. took a cab, went to a certain gambling club on the Boulevard, and told her to wait outside. That was, it appears. In the afternoon, and at o'clock in the morning the bride was still waiting. When he finally arrived, the bridegroom Informed her that he had lost the whole of her "dot" at play. According to tbe Parts papers that was but a typical incident of his careerl ACCIDKT9 OX Ol'R RAILROADS. Room for Improvement In the Mortu ary Record. Chicago Post. The report of the Interstate Commerce commission on the subject of accidents on the American railroads contains food for the most serious thought. Especially Im pressive are the revelations when con trasted with conditions In Great Britain. The bulletin of the Interstate Commerce commission covers the year ended June 30, 1902, and reports casualties as follows: Employes killed 2.516 Employes Injured 33.711 Passengers killed 3K3 Passengers injured 6,0rc Thus during one year 2,819 persons were killed and 39,800 Injured in railroad acci dents in the United States. During the same period not one life was lost on the railroads of Great Britain. No wonder the English railroad com missioner who recently visited the t'nited States to Investigate the matter of safety appliances on American roads reported upon his return that "human life appears to be of considerably less Importance in the States tban in England!" His conclu sion after inspection was that "American roads have nothing to boast of in the safety either of passengers or employes." The figures of the Interstate Commerce commission's bulletin bear him out. There were during the year ending June, 1803, 6,042 collisions, of which 774 were caused by the separating of trains, and therefore, perhaps, could hardly be ob viated altogether. But In tbe report on twenty-six of the most costly catastrophes In April, May and June there is ample evi dence that a proper care for safety and a stricter management with that end in view would have prevented the accidents. One case was that of a night collision caused by the release of cars from a sidetrack. It developed that the man whose duty It was to place these cars on the siding bad had one day's experience in railroading! The report also emphasizes the fact that too frequent accidents are the direct result of the men's having been on duty too long. "It is a fair question," says tbe report, "whether very long working hours, com bined with the Irregularity which often is Inseparable from tbe freight train service, do not Introduce a serious element of dan ger by leading to, If not encouraging, the taking of rest at times when the duty Is to keep awake." The whole question rests not upon any special set of definite mismanagements It is not the result of any conscious dis regard for human life, nor any mistaken policy of economy In outputtlng and pro viding safety appliances. It is merely an other aspect of our national fault of baste. We are disposed to be careless of detail, and precautionary measures are detail. We are Inclined to the "rough and ready" method, efficient In one direction, perhaps productive of results certainly, but some. times Involving serious consequence tbe cause snd extent of which we are too busy to realize. Tbe safety of passengers and employe alike Is worthy of more careful considers tton than it seems to be receiving. Tbe report of the Interstate Commerce commis sion ought to awaken interest and perhaps even Induce some further regulstlon. Addi tional regulation la clearly desirable. RtRSIG WORD" OtTLAWED. An Aathorltatlve Explanation of lb Reform Movement at Bertha. Web. Rome days ago a dispatch to The. Bee outlined the prospectus of a society for the suppression of swearing organized at Bertha, Neb. By wsy of frills the dis patch Intimated that the society wss com posed exclusively of females, and that the next step In the reform movement would be to ostrsrlie socially boys and men sd dlcted to the shocking hsblt. Naturally the males whose liberties were Jeopardized threw a few hot expletives Into tbe vil lage gossip, declaring the members of the organization had pledged themselves never to marry a man who swears, and declaring In tones of Indignation: "The girls hould wait until they are asked." In this way envious and malicious spirits sought to array the sexes against each other In a community where peace and harmony, hearth fires of Joyous union, hitherto reigned. Newspspers were made uncon scious vehicles of magnified gossip piled about a solitary fact. It la a source of gratification to be able to revesl that fact and restore, In part at least, the union which has made Bertha tbe envy and despair of rival villages. In a letter to the editor of The Bee Charles W. Gates of Craig aays the Antl Profanlty league has a membership of eleven boys and men and fourteen girls and women. With members of both sexes united for a common purpose, the Intima tions of village gossips regarding sex ex cluslveness and antl-marrlage pledges are cruel inventions of profane enemies. "The motive of the society." writes Mr. Gates, "Is not to snub those who swear. It Is not to degrade society and trample under foot the feelings of those who so lightly use the name of the One we love. It is not to shun tbe society of the one who swears. It is an organization to show him the uselessness of his habit; that be gains nothing by It; that he corrupts good manners, and that he offends Christian people who hear him. It Is an organiza tion gotten up as an interdenominational movement in order to better preserve the name of our Lord and Master and the more effectually to co-operate with alt the branches of the churches In advancing the kingdom of God among men. "We wish to call the attention of our friends who swear to the following faot: The children look to them for an examplo; we look to them to respect our feelings; God looks to them to obey His command ment. Had you better not look to your self and stop swearing? Our pledge Is a simple one. Here it is: " 'I solemnly promise to refrain from all profanity as defined In the scriptures (Exodus xx, 7; Matthew v, 84-37; James v, 12); or If not personally guilty of the habit, I will, by such means as shall seem to me wise, endeavor to restrain others from Its use.' "Does that look like boycotting anyone? "The young women are criticised for belonging to this society. They are to be honored for It. You had far better take your hat off to them for It. One of the greatest books of our day ('Pilgrims' Prog ress") waa written by a man who was addicted to tbe use of profanity and who was converted, and whose thoughts were turned to the things of God by reason of a personal rebuke by a woman. God speed the day when such organizations may im plant themselves In every county In this and every other state. This society Is one that every Christian should Join. No man was ever made the richer, wiser or better by profanity." . PERSONAL NOTES. Major General Corbln was married the first time when he was young. Count Bonl de Castellane refuses to go back and alt down. He proposes to do It all over again. Litigation in connection with the Samuel Tllden estate ia ended because all those Interested are dead. In Introducing an antl-duellng bill In the French Parliament It seems that the Frenchmen are taking their duel rather seriously. Tom Johnson's son lost $5,000 betting on his father. If he desires to capitalize the author of bis being be had better take out a life Insurance policy on htm. The youngest mayor in Ohio Is V. E. Bradbury of Galllpolls, who Is just 24 years old. Mayor Bradbury Is very popular In his section of the Buckeye state. Aston Webb, president of the Royal In stitute of British Architects, who recently visited this country, told his associates that Americans are laying out their cities with great monumental dignity. The monument to General Joslah Porter, erected by the National Guard association, will be unveiled in Van Courtland Park, Brooklyn, next Saturday, by Mrs. Robinson, a daughter of General Porter. There is a saying that large ears are a sign of honesty. If this Is true, then Gov ernor Crane of Massachusetts Is the very incarnation of that noble quality. His auricles stand out from the side of hla head like spinnakers and are the most im posing features of his physiognomical land scape. Jeremiah Curtln, best known as the translater of 8lenklewlci and other Polish authors. Is also a tireless traveler. A year ago he returned from a Journey around tbe world and he Is now exploring tbe northwest. He is said to know sixty lan guages and to be a human encyclopedia when It cornea to the habits of strange people In out of the way corners ef the world. IS HUNGRY FEED IT If your hair is turning gray or falling out, it Is starving. There isn't life enough in the roots. The remedy is simple : Feed your hair. Feed it with i Ayer's Hair Vigor. It will not do impossible things, but it often does wonderful things. It always restores color, stops falling, cures dan druff, and prevents splitting at the ends. iZ&'ZZ: "My hair was threa parts gray before I used Ayer's H sir Vigor. Now there isn't a rrty hair to be seen. I nave many friends who have bad the same experience with it." Henry Coleman, New York City, N. Y. TROJtf riOI.n Ol TUB WET. President Roosevelt's Popularity (fin. aplenon In the nrtirns. Kansss City Star. Although Treslrtent Koosevelt'a views of the results of the recent election Is that the country has merely given the repub lican party "a chance to make good," plac ing '.o blind faith In the continued suc cess of the party unless success Is earned by the rarty In congressional legislation, It Is not strange that he le especially pleased by the showing msd In the west ern states. In the esst the big reductions made In republican pluralities were pre vented from being bigger, and several states were saved to tho party through the last appeal of the campaign managers to the voters the appeal to stand by the president and his policies. This plea came directly from those persons who had been most active In opposing the presi dent's policies in the Inst session of con gress. It was made because It was found highly1 expedient, if not absolutely neces sary, to the success of the party. It was equivalent to a formal notice from the beneficiaries of high tartfT and trust license that they were ready to accede to the president's demand for reform. It re. mains to be seen, of course., whether he Implied promise will be "made good," but in the- meantime tbe people have fixed things so that the party will be wholly responsible for the sots of congress for a considerable time responsible for the sup port that the president receives or falls to receive at the hands of the senator and representatives. But while this appeal may have helped some la the western states It waa really not necessary In this section. The people of the west have liked Mr. Roosevelt from the first. They take to his kind of states manship. They have faith In hla purposes and ability. He appeals to their vital tem perament. His honesty attracts them. Ills genuine democracy suits them. These are the causes behind the big gains of tbe re publican party in the west, even admitting that the utter repudiation of Bryan and Bryanlsm by the progress of events as well aa the verdict of the polls has tended toward a return to old political lines in the former "silver states." It ia certainly In cumbent on the western republican repre sentatives In congress to stand by tbe president. If they seek to aland by their constituents. LINES TO A SMILE. Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Who Is that aristocratic person over there?" "That? Why. that's the lucky fellow who Invented the wormless chestnut" Washington Star: "You admire that musician?" "Very much," answered Mr. Oumrox. "For hla compositions or for his perform ances?" "Neither. For his nerve In charging $5 a seat." Chicago Post: "Sweet mj-e the usee of adversity," quoted the philosophical friend. "Perhaps.'r admitted the prosaic man. "but I'm not hankering for that kind of sweetness." Philadelphia Press: "Of course." said Nurltch, self-complacently, "it's eomnthlng to be a self-made man, but then lt'a got Its drawbacks." "That's so," replied Peppery. "You can't blame it on anybody else, for Instance." Yonkers Statesman: "There Is one very suspicious thing 1 have noticed about the man who says 'I told you so,' " remarked the Observer of Events and Thlnav. "lie never seems to come out with a new hat. after election." Detroit Free Press: Leading Tvfim I be lieve money can be made If you will let me do Hamlet. Business Manager I don't care who you do, Just ao you leave me alone. Chicago Tribune: "Now," said Baldwin, aa they emerged from the saloon with the ornate front and he resumed the considers. Uon of the subject they had been talking about previously, "In the next place" "All right," interrupted Hamlin, tlndtng they were In front of another one, "let's go in." Philadelphia Press: "What a peculiarly shaped table," said the prospective boarder. ."I never saw a dining table with all those concave curves before." "No," said the boarding house keeper, "but you see unless the table wu rut out in that fashion they couldn't get near enough to it; our boarders, 1 mean. They become so stout." LITTLE JACK'S CdllOSITY. James Barton Adams in Denver Post. My ma Is actln' awful strange! She's eewln' every day, An' every time she hears a noise she'll hide the things away, The curlouaext little things, all Jes' aa white as snow. With fancy work around the edge on top an down below. It ain't embroidery, the same aa all the women do. Or whm the door bell rings she wouldn't chuck It out o' view Jes' like It was agin the law, an' Ilka she honest thought A officer might happen In to 'rest her on the spot. Sometimes when neighbor wtmmen, call she'll whisper to 'em so That I can't hear the secret words, an' then they all 'II go Into her room an' ehet the door an' I kin hear 'em there A half way whlsperin' 'bout that mysteri ous alTalr. I heerd one say, "Oh, ain't It sweetr" an' tellln' ma how she Jes' envied her sich happlnesa, whatever it might be. An' eayin' she waa sorry no sich luck could come to her. An' asked when some occurrence was ex pected to occur, I got a good square look at It the other mornln' when I made a sneak behind her while she was a sewln', tnen 1 tol" her I had caught her allck an' asked her plump an' plain If she waa goln' to buy a doll fur little sister Jane. Her face got bliwhy aa a girl's while tellln me to stir My Htumpa an' hike away an' play er I would hear from her! An' I could see I hadn't guessed what she was hldln' so. I wonder what the thing kin be? By Jinks! I'd like to know! art
