TnE OMAHA DAILY REE: FRIDAY. .TANtTAKY 1. 100.
St
The Omaha" Daily Bee.
ii i.., . . , . i
E. ItOfENvATEn, EDITOR.
pl'ulishku eveby morning.
r TKRUi OF- SLUSCRIPTION
. ftK"'' M well ropnr careful stmly
illustrated i;ee, une year -j uy ail interested in tlie growtn ana wet
minaay n-e, uni iwr ---r
Ol'S ASfiVAL BTATlnTiCAL H&VltLW. more will be no reoeonny ior tms u
The llee in thin issno nr.-sonts Its an-1 Panama, in whose Interest and welfare
nual statistical review of the public nnd I everything In being done, will act lit the
nrlvnte I.uhIiiprii f.,r ti.a tiir w Honed, matter with a reasonable degree of lib-
It In made tip of an array of cold yeterfllltJ'
Imposing flfftirea, which tell their own
Buturuay Hn, one Year! 1M fare of Omaha. To summarize the sliow-
Twcmieth century Farmer, r-- -M ing here would be largely repetition, as
DELIVERED BY CARRIER. " , . , t
Dsl'y ! (without Sunday), per copy... Zc " uiui.b me au inuue up as iu v.,
Daily Bee (without Sunday), per week.. .120 wlth aggregates rather than details.
Dally Bee (Including Sunday), per week.. lie " "
Bunday life, per copy 60 On the whole, Omaha s business bal-
Kvenlng I'ee (without fmday). per week c , both aratlfrlna- and creditable.
livening e (including ungn, i . -
wk 11X5 I Ht nil thn vnriMtlcbs nsxl tn nifAmirp
Comt'lAlnts of irregularities ' In delivery I .... , , , , .
hmiuf ! addressed t" city circulation Da- industrial activity and municipal ad
vancement the city lias made substnn-
nartment
, OFFICES.
OtnahaTh Ben Building-.
tk.uth Omaha-4"lty Hall Building, Twen
ty-nrth and M Streets.
Council Bluffs 10 Pearl Street.
Chicago 140 Cnlty Building.
New York 2X Park Row Building.
Washington Ml Fourteenth Street.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to newi and, edi
torial matter should be addressed
lie,, Editorial Department.
mruiTTJNrEfl.
Remit by draft, express or postal order pected.
THM LKUlSLATirB MILLS.
The legislatures of many states will
begin their sessions in the coming
week. Most of them will organize next
Monday and it will not be many days
thereafter before the people will be
gin to bear of the dolDgs of their sup
posed servants. An eastern contempo
rary remarks that in late years it seems
as If the people had Very little to say
regarding matters of legislation, this
holnir lilmllv taken tint nt their hands
tial strides forward and will surely L a color,e polIt,clnn8 .who pre9Urae
stand favorably tn compurison with . . r.n tnr ..olp ,,..,,,,
other cities of similar size,' population,
resources and location. The year has
had some obstacles to encounter in the
path of progress, and the exhibit of new
oumha buildings and construction work la hot
all that could be wished or was ex-
The extension of our public
payable to The Bee Foolish ing j Lraipany. tr t improvements has also been
Only 2-cent stamps accepted In payment of " ...
mail accounta. I'eraonai checks, except on slower than It ought to have been, owing
thb BeTpubliShTno 'A'Ssf to Impending complications. The bank
clearings 'and the postomce receipts.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. inwir. refloH- honlthv pnnilltlona nnit
2 'J.. I I 1 i ....11...
Oenrse B. Tsschuck, secretary 01 ine neo 1 ntuuiuj uumuena toiuuic. aiiuiiiit
Publishing Company. be)ng duly sworn, t -,,. hnu hwn durlnir
ya that the actual numtm 01 11111 aim 1
copies or me iany, Muriiina. me year to complete umaiia unsur-
mil Hamriav Itee nrlnted during I . . . .
the month of December. 19(8, vm as foi- passed transportation facilities, ana a
lows:
1.. ftO,2W
t..i ao,oo
80,T0
... ao,MS
t 30,800
., ao.ato
7.... '....0,34O
,...m,tMK)
9..'. ;.8i,no
10 '...mtaio
Jl ,....W,4H
12...;
ar.oio
14 8U,MW
15. , .SO.T wO
.81.10O
Total.... MTlftS
Iess unsold and returned copies.... IOmi
Net total sales.... .8,t).t4
Net average tales 80,220
GBORQE B. TZSCHUCK.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
tie fore me this 31st day of uecemner, A. u.
10. M. B. H UNGATE,
(Seal.) Notary Public.
.11 1 I .
ends. Jt Is too true that such Is the
case and has been for many "yeara, but
there is reason to at least hope that the
future will bring a change and that
the voice of the people will receive
more attention from those who are
chosen to represent them in the halls of
legislation.
The state legislatures are really
nearer to the people than Is congress,
as they have to do with the domestic
Interests and welfare of the individual
commonwealths, and It goes without
saying that the men elected to them
Bhould be thoroughly representative
and responsible, possessing both high
ability and character. In some of the
states these requirements are recog
nized, but it Is unfortunately true that
In a number of them men are elected
rlpHilpitltf tipttpr fppllnir nrpvnlla In pvprv
, . j
18 !"!!!!!!!!!!soto stratum of the business ' community.
SLoao This spirit of determined loyalty Is In
HT!! evidence In the support accorded pro-
B::::::::.::::wTq jert of pnwic Bemi-pubnc character to the leglalature that are tterly un
ZJ ...W.wru I AE-DUl-UCIl, llltj UHIJL't it'U KlnlU lUttf i - - a ' .
2 tho Auditorium and various other
a, aiaoo enterprises.
27 2e,uo With this record for 1903, the outlook
28..... 30.7BO
29 30J5WO
90...; 88,010
81 83,40
for lWi Is certainly promising and In
spiring to all engaged In promoting
Omaha's material foundation at home
and its prestige abroad. Omaha has a
right to look Into the new year with
courage and confidence. v
TBI CH1CAQO CALAMITY.
There Is nothing to be said regarding
the terrible calamity at Chicago that
has not come to the mind of everyone
who has read the graphic account of
the awful catastrophe. Language falls
to adequately describe its appalling
character and the Imagination Is incap
able of conceiving the terrors of that
For Emperor William's benefit it may fearful struggle of hundreds of DeoDle
be stated that West Indian coaling sta- to escape from the seething flames that
Happy New Year to you all.
Ring out the old, ring In the new.
tlons are. not oiv the market
At least it Is better to have the old
year die with a holocaust than to have
the new year, begin with one.
, Perhaps Japan and Jtussla do not real-
swept pver them. The story of this
calamity Is one of the most pathetic
and heartrending ever recorded . and
there is a universal feeliug of profound
sympathy for those who are bereaved.
The fire does not appear to have been
fitted for law makers and are not In
capable of being corrupted. This has
been so repeatedly shown and espe
cially during the post year as to war
rant a doubt whether It is possible to
secure a state legislature entirely free
from bosslsm and corrupting influences
and which will have In view only the
Interests and welfare of the people
rather than those of the politicians and
the corporations.
The Btate legislatures soon to con
vene will have Important matters to
consider relating to the interests of the
people that have chosen them and if
they shall address themselves wholly
to, these questions, ignoring political is
sues with which prpperly they have
nothing to do, good results are to be
expected from them, but the probability
is that most of them will pursue the
usual course and give more attention to
polities than to business. A serious
fault of state legislatures generally Is
n enacting laws ninny of which are
Impracticable and cannot be enforced.
Although this has been repeatedly
pointed out, it goes on from year to
slae of tha I'nlted States Steel corporation,
for the consolidating companies are only
two of quite a number at aimtlar con
stituent combinations In the corporation.
Walt and Watch,
t
w . Chicago Newa.
Omaha school tenchera are marrying off
faster than the board can discover new
ones. What will happen out there during
.Leap yearT 1
I.aoklnc at the Unattainable.
Washington Star.
The portrait of George Washington on the
postage stamp wears the expression of a
man who Is still hoping that all employes
of the Postofflce department will finally
attain his Ideals of veracity.
Will the Tarki Get Baayf
Chicago Reoord-Herald.
If England. France and Germany get
mixed up In the Aclatlc war the sultan will
hardly nrglect the opportunity to dispose
of the rest of the Christians that he hap
pens to have"avallable for mnssacrelng pur
poses. 1
Where la the Villain t
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
The western packers Indignantly deny
any knowledge of a combine to boost the
price of meat. Some audacious miscreant
must tyive started Jhls vile rumor with the
malicious Intent of casting odium tipon our
most benevolent trust.
Orders Promptly rilled.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
No sympathies or prejudices which we
may entertain In relation to the combat
ants will prevent us, of course, from sup
plying the nations involved In the Orlentnl
difficulty with such little commodities in
our line as they may require.
1
Concerning: Good Reaolntloas.
Chicago Chronicle.
Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst, preach
ing last Sunday In New York, ridiculed
and condemned In advance the new resolu
tions with which some' people 111 begin
the new year, on the ground that they
would be broken by January 15. But It Is
clearly better for a man to leave off his
bad habits for two weeks than not to leave
them off at all. Besides, there have been
people whose new year's vows were kept
to the end of their lives. Let us have
some good resolutions on Friday.
riaylnK on One String;.
Boston Transcript.
That Canada Is henceforth going to sup
ply France with more wheat than the
United States, as an eminent British au
thority has lately asserted, is not perhapa
nd unmixed evil for us. There are In
deed grounds for believing that the quickest
way to Impoverish a country Is to ship Its
fat soil away In er.dlep.s car loads tn ex
change for the products of the skill of
other lands; and that is about what wheat
cultivation and exportation amounts to.
Nations Ike France,- which export mainly
the creations of their wits, have their wits
left; but a land tnat exports the chemicals
f Its soil Is presently left with only an
impoverished earth.
fttlA 4ffc n Tl w mrAlaautinGfl T4- u.mmn that
lee that. this la the season for swearing .. ,'u , , year and .doubtless the legislatures of
. u, . . , . , ... it must bo classed with those mlsfor- , ,,, .
off ou lighting and other bad habjts. .m ... lllln,lln ,,,,,, Rt the present year will be no exception.
a thorough investigation will be made
by the authorities and If it bo found
that the calamity was due to careless
ness and the lack of proper precaution:
those responsible, should be held to the
raris green 1b ti trifle less , healthy strictest accountability.
The press' cnbles tell of a "temporary
lull" in Japan's activity. But Russia
Isn't taking anything for granted just
I
now.
than the Ingredients of cheap Candy,
but not much so why this fuss about
that Ithaca episode. '
Indeed it is hardly possible that there
will ever be any substantial reform
In thl$ respect, since nearly every mem
ber of . a legislature feels that he has
the only remedy for Ills In tho body
politic. It is to be hoped that the state
legislatures of 1904 will carefully de
vote their attention
as to patiso Colombia.
It is understood that one of the re
quests contained In the communication
At the fair ten years ago Germany of the special envoy of Colombia to our
learned ;of Uncle Sam in the science of government is that we shall pay dam
rapid transit.' Now the pupil is said to ages to that country for the loss of ter
be coming to tench the tutor. ritory, the amount to be fixed through
arbitration. The representative of the
Tending adjustment of the differences Uepublic of Tanama has stated that his
between ItUHSla and Japan, both the lennntrv la willing tn nnv hor r,v,.rtln.
ublime porte and the apostle senator ate share of the foreign debt of Colom- from thelr contracts hen difficulty In
to those, things
which are of primary concern' to the
people and eschew those matters which
are of a peculiarly political character.
If they will do this there may be leg
islation of a practical and useful kind.
The action of the Beatrice school board
in 'refusing to accept proffered resigna
tions of teachers or to release them
from Utah are securing a much needed
rest
The French Interests In the Tanama
canal ore , still wllTTug to take our.
money for conveyance of the propoi-ty to
Undo Sn-Ji. . IIov good of thoae c!ecr
Fieu'hmm.
bla, which would amount to about $t,-
000.000. It is Intimated that from the
outset it has been the view In Washing
ton that Colombia -should be paid some
sort of compensation or Indemnity and
that this should come out of the moiic.
wiiwu uie t.niteu Mates-, v'" "-iy
Fannnia for the canal concessions.
Lei the people of Chicago Insist that 11 ia to be Inferred from tho statement
those good promises now being made of Panama's representative at Washlng-
by architects, electricians and theater ton tbat tne question of indemnity has
managers are redeemed when the ex- Dpen carefully considered, with the re"-
dtement hag subsided. ' BUIt noted, but it is very doubtful If this
will prove -satisfactory to Colombia.
Nebraska Is not the only state which While It must be admitted that that
is being diverted by teachers' conven- country has no valid claim upon fan
Uoua. Almost all the state associations nam. since none pf the debt contracted
are pulling off simultaneous programs of by It went to the benefit of that depart-
entertalnroent. Instruction and political I meat, still In the Interest of peace It is
wire pulling. ' manifestly expedient that a more liberal
disposition be shown toward the country
Here's hoping that the year 1004 will whose loss of territory is really a very
bring mankind less of disaster, crlm" serious matter for it. With Tanama
and misery than the year that has gone taken away from it Colombia can hope
before. May It measure up in human for no great advancement In the future,
happiness as blgh as it surely will lu The isthmus was Its great asset, out of
human achievement ' which it could have achieved, had the
opportnnlty been taken advantage of,
The 1003 figures of immigration into wealth, prosperity and power. In their
the United States break all previous blind greed the politicians of Colombia
records. But the 1903 population of the rejected the opportunity and they are
United States Is also greater than ever now bitterly regretting their folly. The
before, so that this percentage of new- brilliant promise that was held out to
comers la by no means alarming. I their country has gone and the outlook
glvs no assurance of advancement. On
la an interview Senator riatt em- the contrary. It U more than probnble
phatlcally states that all the repub that revolutions will arise and that other
Ilcan leaders of New York state are provinces or departments will secede,
for Itoosevelt'a renomlnatlou which Is until what Is now the state of Colombia
very embarrassing for those democratic will in the not remote future be broken
papers that proclaimed Piatt the leader into fragments and become the prey of
of all New York leaders at a time when neighboring republics.
they expected him to do differently. But in considering, what may be fair
and equitable we are not called unnn tn
If It were not for the overweighted think of future possibilities. The Re-
representation of the southern states in public of Tanama can well afford to be
the electoral college the democrats liberal with Colombia and as we have
would not even dream of the possibility heretofore urged the United States gov
securing successors threatens to lmpnlr
the efllclency of the schools will be
watched with Interest In and out of
school circles. ' As a rule, school boards
are only too anxious to accept resigna
tions In the teaching force, iu order to
accommodate the numerous applicants
clamoring for recognition, and the teach
er's contract ltself-is generally a Jug
handled affair, binding the school dis
trict to continue the employment sub
ject to a Judgment for unearned salary
in the event of unwarranted dismissal,
while the termination- of the contract by
the teacher seldom inflicts any penalty
What can the Beatrice school board do
if the teachers whose resignations have
been accepted refuse to maintain
their places In the school room? The
mandatory Injunction will hardly lie and
a suit for damages would be doubtful of
results. When it comes down to bard
pan, moral suasion ana tne teacher s
sense of duty to the children whose edu
cation she has assumed are the only ef
fective remedies at the command of the
school boards, and lt(ls extremely ques
tlonable whether even these can combat-successfully
with alluring prospects
of hlgfier salaries or- matrimonial en
gagements.
No danger that any litigant in a prl
vate law suit will haul the president of
the United States Jnto court as a witness
In any case. That has been decided
long ago, otherwise public business
would seldom secure proper attention
owing to the constant Interruption of
court subpoenas. The lawyer who pre
tends-he will enforce the attendance of
the president on the wltnesn stand is
either playing to the galleries or too
densely Ignorant to know what be is
doing.
An International department store
that would keep warships, military
tnvAo Aimniuiltlnn anil emilnmpnt for
" "U""U1 '' w Ps.- ernmeni snouia use its good offices to In- qulck delivery to nations aelsed with
" " iuciuuib uie new rvuuime to aaont a pen-1 .1... .,.. mto.i, nrnvo . na.inr in
.... ..1,1 . , . I 7 - " " cr. wB" j-.v.w -
V
..ll.l n-1 A 11 1 ii y .a- I . .x V. I m.
nv"u ""u" .....u me iiuuiutT erous course. 1 ne proffer Of Uie Sum ....t nr ann, f nnr twpntlMh
i or votes mai ueiong 10. tnem that named by the representative of Pnnamn century multi-millionaire syndicates.
uruimni; lunuufcca iu Bin uu ma limp I 1 uui I11MTB1. 1 ne BeW republic SDOUld
11 ail. I DO Willing to Day at least three ttmpa Tt turn, nut that tho um of nirentt
that amount Our government has Pmwcntur Folk's name in connection
Not since Mount IVlee's terrible death- shown a generous disposition In dealinir with the JaeVsonian club blowout was
dealing t ruption nas mere oeen carnea with it and Tanama ought to be wllllnir fP .drertistnir nurnoses only. The iren
on in one itu woo sucn a mass vi to give liberally for the preservation of Ural public has long suspected tbat the
imiui-i-iii uuiuiiuujr am vj iu iuici ieace. Knowing that In the event of war
frightful Chicago theater calamity, the burden would necessarily fall unon
' When men die In battle, they court the United States aud that this coifutry
aeatn, wmo tney ran victims to na- might be required to snend many tima
ture's upheavals or( tinslgnaled accl- what It is to pay Tanama for the canal
dents, thej. have no chance to avoid the I concessions. -
Wow. , Man's utter helplessness to con- It has been suggested that our own on"atlo, ot ,h American Sheet Buei
tro. bis own destln.es can never be more government should pay something to tSlLS wfflTjKS
forcttfuliy impressed upon hiia- . .Colombia aa ."couaolatiou Indemnity." aivea on a faint idea of tha treiuendoua
organization does most of its busluess
on fictitious capital.
' Springfield Republican.
Beventy-ona plants are Included in the
WHAT A HEAL l.EADKK CAW DO.
Calming a Threatening Mob Around
the Council Blnffa Jail.
Chlcago 'lnter Ocean. '--
Two respectable women of Council
Bluffs, la., were brutally assaulted on
Christmas night. Two negroes were ar
rested, were Identified, on Monday by the
victims and were put .In Jail to await the
action of the gr'aiitf Jury next week. There
was no delay of JuitfJce and no prospect of
the escape of the. accused from legal pun
ishment. .
Nevertheless, owmg to the Intense ln-
ignatlon that the crime naturally aroused
late Monday night a mob gathered about
the Jail.. The city police were unable to
disperse the mob, which had begun to
break Into the Jail. The troops had been
summoned and there was every prospect of
either an unlawful execution or a bloody
conflict.
Then waiter I. Smith, for eight years
circuit Judge and now congressman of the
district, mounted' the court house steps,
aced the mob and showed what a real
leader of men can do.
First he Induced the husband of ene of
the victims to go home and let the law
take its course. Then he pleaded with the
mob to follow the example set by a man
moat vitally Interested in the proper pun
ishment of the crime and urged that
nothing be done to bring disgrace upon
the city and state, i .
Congressman Smith ia known as a worker
rather than a talker In public life, but,
Judged by results, few men have talked
more effectively than he did In that win
try midnight hour. It -was one - man
agalnat an angry thousand ana the one
man 'prevailed.
Council Bluffs, the state of Iowa and all
right-thinking men throughout the nation
owe a debt of gratitude to the Hon
Walter I. Smith. Against great odds and
In the face of the natural Impulse to sum
mary vengeance which such a crime In
spires In every decent man he upheld sue
ceasfully those orderly processes of the
law which are tha corner stone of civil
lsatlon
STRAKGK DOIIGS I JOOJI.
The bite of a mosquito sent a Chicago
man to the cemetery In a regulation hearse.
A woman In Worcester, Mass., reached
the age of -K without the aid of whisky
or tobacco. '
Believing that two heads were better
than one, Ed Cabbage of Carthage, Mo.,
took unto himself a wife. '
A Syracuse (N. T.) woman who brooded
over tho age of Ann became as craty as
the author of the conundrum.
The Jarksnnlnn club of Omaha tendered
llded haloa to those- of Its members who
tied the can on the canine In 1S06.
A resident of Princeton, N. J., Insisted
that he would rather fish with regulation
bnlt than cut pie In the White JHouse.
An Omaha woman who persisted In talk
ing at her husband during the short hours
f morning was enjoined by the courts.
A scientist of local repute discovered
that the Industrial . atmosphere of South
Omaha waa a genuine flesh producer.
A Detroit man who looted a bank for
$1,400,000 served sixteen months of a fifteen-
year sentence, equl to a net earning of
fST.OGO a month. -
An eastern court decided that to eat tn
modern quick lunch restaurant with one's
hat on did not Imperil the dignity of Amer
ican institutions.
A Chicago, school teacher, male, charged
with the Inability to smile, confounded his
accusers by taking the Jury around the
corner and smiling with them.
An eastern woman asked for a divorce
on the ground that the persistent refusal
of her husband to "talk back" was "the
refinement of cruelty."
A St. Louis man obtained a divorce from
his wife in a St. Louis court and the first
one to congratulate him on his good for
tune was the woman from whom he was
divorced.
A bill was Introduced In the Nebraska
legislature making It unlawful for members
to flirt with female clerks of committees
without first showing their annual passes
on the railroads.
A Chicago professor announced that the
bathtub was a menace to the health and
happiness of mankind, and warned his
hearers aginst taking water, even In small
doses.
A Kansas man was tried on the charge of
using knockout drops In whisky. The Jury
returned a verdict of acquittal on the
ground that knockout drops impugned tha
fftcacy of the' fluid.
A millionaire In Indiana left $500,000 to
be used In prosecuting to a finish the in
ventor of the pianola on the constitutional
charge of "cruel and unusual punishment"
Inflicted on mankind.
A St. Louis woman, fearing her stocking
would not be proof against a court Judg
ment, placed tho money In a mysterious
Insldo pocket and successfully defied the
minions of the law to do their worst.
During the high wind in Omaha on
Christmas day a jug rusher dropped his
Jug and dashed after his hat, which the
wind whisked a block or two. Returning,
he found the Jug unbroken and contents
undiminished. v
An Omaha woman, to fulfil a wager, on
Christmas day disposed of a dish of loe
cream1 In the usual way out on the family
lawn, the wind blowing forty miles an
hour and the mercury hugging the sero
mark.
A small buqch of MlssourlaiiS, whose
consciences were stirred In some mysteri
ous way, paid into the city treasury of
St. Louis sums aggregating $2,000, a fraction
of the millions for which the city was
worked. ,
A distinguished vendor of various kinds
of oil drew a quarterly dividend of $4.4S0.000,
boosted the price of the article and deliv
ered an eloquent address on "He that doeth
the poor glveth to the Lord," Illustrated by
himself.
Mayor Collins of Boston refused a per
mit for a convention of roosters and hens
tn Faneull hall. The cradle of Liberty is
now a market house and odors of beef,
bologna, Bauer kraut and cheese IS the limit
for Boston's nostrils.
A Washington society woman, while ex
amining Christmas cards, asked the dealer
why he didn't get some with up-to-date
mottoes "something catchy or a little
risque, if you like," she explained. "These
are all stale hackneyed, In fact." The
card she discarded bore this motto: "Glory
to God In the highest, and on earth peace.
good will to men."
THtltKI ARE DI B TUB FARMERS.
The
the
Year's Contribution ' to
Wealth of the Country.
Chicago Tribune.
The farm valua of the crops of corn
wheat, rye, oats, hay, barley, potatoes,
flax seed, buckwheat, and tobacco raised
this year is estimated at $2,600,000,000 by
the bureau of statistics of the Department
of Agriculture. To that great sura may
properly be added about $700,000,000 for the
value of the cotton crop. This Is an amas
Ing aggregation of "quick assets," which
can be turned Into money whenever It la
needed. It Is a gigantic pile of commodities
which are needed . abroad as well as a
home. If America Is still In. debt to Eu
rope the means with which to pay the debt
are at hand, thanks to a generous soli
and to unwearied cultivators.
The mills and factories are not so busy
aa they were a year ago. The regret
which that occasions Is tempered by 'the
reflection that the farmers have been ac
tlve to such excellent purpose. The United
State Is fortunate in that It has more than
one string to its bow. ' It has managed to
secure diversity of Industries. It is not de
pendent on agriculture alone, as it was
century ago. It does not have to rely on
manufactures alone for prosperity, as Great
Britain doee. It la more nearly self-sufficing
than any other country under the sun.
When the resources of Its tropical posses
alons are fully developed It will be In
still better position to dictate commercial
terms to nations which must have some
pf Its surplus products.
One would like to know about how much
it cost to raise the farm products of this
year. The manufacturer can figure out his
profits closely. He has to, so he may know
where he stands. ."The average farmer does
not imitate the manufacturer In this re
spect, or If he does bis balance sheet is no
made public. If one can Judge from the
prosperity prevailing in the agricultural
districts of the west, where the farmers
are depositing In local banks more money
than the banks can find employment for
at home, the agricultural producers have
been richly repaid for their labor and ex
pendlturea In 1903. They have done ex
tremely well fur themfcelves and fur ttv
country.
JOH L. WEBSTER'S CANDIDACY.
Its Relation to the Nomination of
"President Roosevelt.
Lincoln Star (rep.).
The friends of Hon. John L. Webster ot
Omaha are taking special steps on his
behalf as an aspirant for the vice presi
dency, and to order in the most favorable
way the preliminaries for presenting him
to the attention of tha republican party at
the coming national convention.'
The republican state convention last
summer by formal resolution endorsed Mr.
Webster. No other aspirant for the same
office has up to this time been certified
In this manner. In newspaper discussion
many publlo men have been considered or
mentioned, but Mr. Webster was the first
to have his name proposed in a 'formal way
and he is today practically the only one
so proposed.
While the second place on the ticket is
of great importance, It must be clear to
all that so long as the first place Is the
subject of rumor and discussion, the vice
presidency wJl be pushed pack to a sub
sldlary place In the publlo Interest. The
constant exploitation of newspaper theories
of possible opposition and plots agalns1
Roosevelt has tended to enforce this re
sult. But the friends of Mr. Webster can
assume this as a fact that In Nebraska,
aa In other western states, whether the
conventions be held early or late, the
dominant point of republican Interest will
be to make absolutely sure of the attitude
i-of the delegates as to President Roose
velt's nomination. It will certainly com
mend itself to Mr. ebster s friends as
wise to adjust themselves to this fact be
yond a peradventure.
It la a familiar fact that for three
quarters of a century and more the selec
tlon of a vice presidential candidate has
been almost entirely a matter of practical
expediency, to be disposed of In confer
ences largely after the national conven
tion has met, and almost invariably after
the first place on! the ticket has been in
fact or virtually decided. There Is no
reason to anticipate that 1904 wjll be an
exception to this rule.
An aspirant will of course desire to be
presented to the party's attention in the
most favorable light by his state or sec
tion, but it is expedient that Insistence
and manner ot presentation should be
measured with a view to all the conditions,
one of the chief of which is, aa already
indicated, that the vice presidency wi:i be
decided In quiet and serious conferences
after sweeping the whole political borlson
from the standpoint of Chicago on or about
June 21. If any future event Is certain It
is that the central thought of Nebnu-ka
will be to stand with the forces -that are
for President Roosevelt, without variable
ness or shadow of turning, and foreclosing
any possibility of any slip In its delegation.
It was oa that basts that the last Ne
braska convention certified Mr. Webster
for association with tha preildent oa the
ticket In 1904. It may be assumed that It
Is on the same basis that his friends will
bow shape their plans with reference to
the coming convention which will choose
delegates to the national convention.
A Happy New Year
Not only for you today but for your loved
ones who ivitl live after you.
It can be accomplished by taking out
a policy in the ' . .
Equitable Life Assurance Society
of the United States. ,
Do It Today
II. D. NEELY, Manager,
Merchants National Bank Bnlldlnf.
"STRONGEST I IN THE WORlV
r J
LAST YEAR'S LAUGHS.
Mrs. Gaddle Mrs. De Tronn wasn't In
vited to Mrs. Swcllman'a tea at all, but
she came. When she entered tha room
tho silence was positively painful.
Mr. uattuie .Naturally. (Silence, is always
painful among women, Philadelphia Press.
Teacher You notice thst hoy who stands
at the foot of the class? Well, last summer
he was the brightest boy In the school.
Committeeman Ho Is now. l notice tne
foot of the cIusb Is the nearest the stove!
Pack.
Doggerel The editor was good enough to
glance over my poem, so I hastened to as
sure him It was entirely original.
t nena Ann wnat aid ne say 7
Doaaerel He said he knew that at once.
He didn't suppose I had ever seen It In
print anywhere. Chicago News. ,
"It would be funny If, as the poet sug
gests, we could 'see ourselves as others
see us.' "
tes. but It wouldn t seem at all funny
If we knew as much about ourselves as
some of our neighbors know about us."
Detroit Free Press.- , -.
"He alves her lots of tln money, f under
stand."
Yes. but lies careful to sea that she
doesn't spend It foolishly. He makes her
account for every cent of It."
"O, then you might call It 'safety-pin
money,' ehT" Chicago Tribune.
Father So you took dinner at Willie
Stout's house today. I hope when it came
to extra helpings you had manners enough
to say "No."
Tommy Oh, yes, sir, I said "No" several
times.
Father You did, ehT ,
Tommy Yes, sir; Mrs. Stout kept askln'
me If I had enough. Philadelphia Presa. -
Dear girl, she's ten feet tall, t guess, -
Her waist six Inches round:
A shoe about one and a half.
Supports her on the ground. '
Her winter hat must weigh a toa
Her throat. I calculate,
Won't measure quite three Inches, but
She's Just a fashion plate.
Indianapolis Journal.
TUB NBW .YEAR. '
Last night a stranger cam Jnto my doof,
All dressed In while, a crown upon his
head.
His locks were silk, a shining golden red;
His hand was hid beneath the cloak he
wore.
We had not met In all this world before.
And vet he came with gifts to tne, he
said,
Then handed me a parcel overspread
With many wrappings and with cords ga
lore. ' ' ' ' ' " . ,
So busllv I labored to untie N . -
The thresds which held ' my -glff away
from me, : i
That he was gone, unnoticed by my eye.
This way or that I wholly failed to sea.
And when Unbound I saw the casket He
I could but weep, for he had kept the keyl
. 1BAUJU ltHJMB.1.
January 1, 1904.
To My Many Friends in Omaha: A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Yours Sincerely, ?. W. FOSTER.
A LIFE ANNUITY
Is the Best Protection for Your Wife or Child. The -
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. Furnishes It.
Read the following from Mr. I. W. Carpenter, of Omaha:
Carpenter Paper Company, Omaha, Neb., December 1903.
F. W. Foster, Special Agent, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co..
122 Be Building. City.
Dear Sir: Referring to the "Continuous Life Annuity Policy," whloh I took
of you recently, I will say: I felt by taking this policy of you, and providing
my wife with a regular Income to be pal annually during her Ufa-time, I
might be rendering her more protection than by any other investment which
had been brought to my attention. Thanking you, again for calling my atten
tion to It, I am youra truly, " I. W. CARPENTER.'."
The best business men recognize this as the best possible protection. Yon
had better write me, or 'phone me today, and I will send propqsltion to you.
F. W. FOSTER,
522 Bee Building. Phones: 1817 and F-3205
The Store of the Town
Extends greeting and a Happy New Year to their many
patrons who have helped them to one of the most pros
perous year's business of their half century of making and
selling the finest clothing in the world.
"NO CLOTHINQ FITS LIKE OURS."
groWrii2-King
. R. S. WILCOX, Manager
Store closed all day New' Years.
r ASSgS
Stress W.lcoa WT
n
1
i
Decatur Lasts are original fitting men's
feet as men's feet should be fitted.
From Maker to You. ' '
FarnaM
assssttsasL
i
$3.50 and $5
L