'he Omaha: Illustrated
Bee
'3
NUMBER 333.
Entered Second Class at Omaha Postoffiee Published Weekly by The Bee Publishing Co. Subscription, $2.50 Per Year.
NOVEMBER 5, 1903.
Visit of Qrover Cleveland to Help Unveil the Aorton Aonument
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Sidelights on the Notable Gathering at
Nebraska City Last Week to Honor the
Memory of the Sage of Arbor Lodge
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MONUMENT ERECTED TO THE MEMORY' OF J. STERLING
MORTON AT ARBOR LODGE. NEAR NEBRASKA CITY, NEB.
Photo Taken at Time of Unveiling by Our Staff Artist.
G ROVER CLEVELAND DELIVERINO HIS ADDRESS.
PAUL MORTON. MRS. G ROVER CLEVELAND.
GroTer Cleveland.' Afllal Bterengon.
Hilary A. Herbert. . David R. Francis.
DISTINGUISHED GROUP AT THE MORTON UNVEILING.
TUB unveiling of the Morton monument a week ago Saturday
wa brief and elniple. The three atalwart sons of J. Sterling
Morton, Paul, Joy and Mark, all splendid types of physical
manhood, stopped up beHlde the statue and bared their heads.
Beside them stood Sterling Morton, son of Joy, , the eldest grandson
living. He seized the cords which held the shroud and, as a band
played a dirge, he drew the cords and exposed to view the portralt
statuo of his illustrious grandfather. During this brief, ceremony;
President and Mrs. Cleveland and the remainder( of t the distinguished,
party stood, perhaps, fifty feet distant, beside a cedar tree,- the gentle-
men with bared heads. All eyes were fixed on the statue. , When the
shroud was removed the ex'-presldent, with his party, Joined the "Mor-.
ton family in a closer study of the masterly plece.-of art But' there .
was more than mere art in It, and Mr. Cleveland was one of the first
to give expression to this fact, for be pronounced,' it-almost charac
teristic and lifelike representation. Paul Morton voiced the Bontimenta
of the family in pronouncing it "simply fine.?, . : . ' ,
Tha'next afternoon, Boaday, Mr. Cleveland, his1 two former cabinet
officers, Messrs.. Trancla "nd Herbert,' and .'former VlJ;Presldent."
Rtevensqn, dug a hole in the ground near the monument and planted a,
tree planted it in recognition of the motto of, the man theyhad eome
to honor, "Plant Trees," and as a token to his great work and memory.,
The monument to J. Sterling Morton is of commanding appearance.
The figure itnolf is eight feet in height and shows the lute statesman in
a characteristic attitude.. He stands erect with a rough cane, such as,
he lined to carry. during the declining years of his life, In his left band
and bis hat swung at bis side, in his right He is gazing in front of
him. ne seems ;to , be, looking .toward a certain fixed goal off in the
distance. David R. Francis, In his eulogy, salcf Morton was a man
who looked far into the future, possessing a keen vision and a far
reaching discernment, which enabled him to Interpret events with a
facility of few men. The attitude Is decidedly aggressive, and in
this tin u ".!( Inmge is heroically true to life.
Description of the Statue
The ..tattie surmounts a granite base of greater height than the
figure. It cauie from Rhode Island, while the bronze- was cast In
Paris. The statue alone cost $15,000 and the remainder of the monu
ment cost about an equal amount. ,
The monument stands in the center of Morton park, a beautiful
wooded tract, donated to Nebraska City by Mr. Morton. This park
' adjoins the corporate limits of Nebraska City on the west and forms
the connecting link between the city and Arbor Lodge. The park
comprises some twenty acres. The monument stands amid the native
forest trees which the man It commemorates loved so well. The plot
of ground devoted to the monument is 100 by 85 feet in dimensions.
It is sodded and elevated and surrounded by a low brick wall, covered
with roses and Ivy. Three terraced lnpdings of brick and stono lead up
to the pedestal of the statue. The statue faces south, inclining slightly
toward the east. At the top of the pedestal is a bronze garland of
fruit and foliage, typifying the Arbor day sentiment. On the face of
the pedestal is this inscription: .-
to observe, the people of Nebraska needed not to be reminded-of these their efforts, and the passionate' desire to serve the best inter
virtues by others from afar in order to know and appreciate them. ' eats of his fellow countrymen."
"I have not come to the surviving family of J. Sterling Morton It may.well be doubted if, in this state, aTniore representative body
and to those who were his intimate friends and neighbors for the pur- of Nebraskans ever assembled on one occasion than was this which had
pose of bringing from afar superfluous recital of bis virtues and mental gathered at the famous old homestead of J. Sterling Morton. Men from
endowments," said the former president "You, who within the sacred -the various walks of life, prominent In the affairs pf the state; democrat
preoincts of his home, knew the warmth of his love; you, "who daily - and republican, populist and prohibition, Catholic and Protestant, Jew
found cheer and delight In the sunlight of bis steady, constant friend- and Gentile, had come alike to pay their token of love and gratitude to
ship, and you, his Immediate fellow citizens, who have been stirred to the memory of a man who bad done imperishable good for their state
admiration and attachment of his unselfish and effective labor In be- and nation; men who differed and men who agreed with the lamented
half of those with whom his lot was cast, need no words of mine to Morton in many of bis public policies were there with their tribute;
arouse in your minds sentiments which befit this commemorative oo- the gray-haired pioneer, who, with 'him that was gone, had helped
casion." blaze the wav of nroxress in Nebraska, faltered in uncertain tread, and
the youth of the state, standing with sure footing upon the threshold
of vigorous manhood, stepped to the shaft and at Its foot laid their
laurel leaf of love. But in this large assembly of prominent men,
Orover Cleveland's Sentiments'
Yet of the thousands of admiring friends and fellow citizens
present none was tnere out reit nis love ana pnae swell-as he listened n,en of lowlyf bnt honorable station, stood, and, too, paid their debt
to these plaudits from men with whom the late statesman and bene-' BOmage and' gav their tota5ilflf:loT-.;-JBeiiul the governor and
factor had stood In the f ofef ronrMT hla nation' affair. ' '.Twua what" -pi,or, Venators and i-senator, representatives and ex-repre-they
knew; 'twas what they oft Had beard, but Uki lose old iwet mutatlv-and other men of distinction, and fame, wage earners and
no ii 5, mer . wan tea 10 near.iw
"told over again." Everyone felt
the truth and meaning of Mr,,
Cleveland's assertion that eu
logies at this time were not,
necessary to enthrone ' Morton;
in the affections and esteem of
his own people,' nor to secure
to his memory' the permanence'
of this exalted station. But
the former chief executive of
the nation gave, eloquently, the
significance of. the , occasion.
"But I am not here with- .
out a mission,", said be. "I'
would fain interpret this monu
ment's message to me, as It re
calls my close companionship,
and co-operation in the dis
charge of the highest publlo
duty, with the man we honor,
I am here to give evidence con
cerning the things he revealed
to me in the light of that com
panionship and co-operation.
This la but to testify to his
lofty civic righteousness, hia
simple and sure standards ot
public morality, his stern In
sistence on official honesty, hla
sturdy adherence to opinions
deliberately and conscientiously
adopted, his generous conces
sion to others of every result
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AT
PORTION OF THE CROWD LISTENING TO ADDRESSES
UMENT. Photo by . Staff Artist
UNVEILING OF-MORTON MON-
J. STERLING MORTON.
18321902.
AUTHOR OF ARBOR DAY.
To the rear of the monument Is an elliptical stone bench or palisade
some tifty feet across the segment it' describes. On this structure
are two pictorial bronze bas-reliefs, significant of Arbor day. Two in
scriptions run across the upright part of this bench: "Love of Home is
Primary Patriotism," "Other Holidays Repose Upon the Past, Arbor
Day Proposes for the Future."
The sculptor of the Arbor Day monument Is a young man of less
than 30 years, Rudulph Evans, of New York. He was born in Wash
ington, D. C, In 1ST8. He is a son of Frank L. Evans, disbursing
officer of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, over which
the famous man whose Image he has made, presided. He Is a friend
of Paul Morton, who. It Is said, has taken even a greater personal in
terest in him since his marked success In this undertaking. This
young sculptor bis bad the advantage of superior training in America
and Europe, having spent many years in Paris, where, in fact this
statue was carved. He has duue work for other famous people.
The monument stands as the result entirely of public spirit crystal
lised In the Morton Memorial Monument association, formed soon after
the death of Mr. Morton for the one purpose of securing a fund
through public donation for aud the erection of the monument John W.
Stetnhart was president of this association. It is a matter of pride
that Nebraska City gave more than any other city and Nebraska more
than any other state toward the monument fund.
Popular Character of Gathering
The people of Nebraska City did not fall to comprehend the full
significance of this notable event October 28. It really seemed as if
they bad entered into a concerted plan to do everything, individually
and collectively, in their power, for the fueoess of the day, aud then
had goue through regular rehearsals, for their method of handling the
affair was faultless. The day was about aa ill suited as could have
been. It was cold and dark and dreary, yet even this did not seem to
mar the seal or courage which characterized the affair.
From not only the address of Mr. Cleveland, but that of every other
orator on this n table occaslen, the conviction could not be escaped
that the keynote to Mr. Morton's whole life was sincerity of purpose
and integrity of character -
And yet, as Mr. Cleveland paused on the threshold of his oration
Rapidly Increasing Wealth of the United States
THIS Is the story of national progress In material things, told by France , 50,000,000,000
J. C Mouaghan, statistician of the Department of Commerce " Germany '. . 48,000,000,000
, . , ah... Russia 85,000,000,000 '
v ,.v. .... . c . Austro-Hungary 80,000,000,000
Half a century ago the wealth of the United States was Iuly 18,000,000,000
estimated at a little more than 17,000,000,000. At the present time it Spain V.V..V.V.V.V.V. ..".!'...' .V.'.'. laioooioooioOO
is placed at 110.-00,000,000. " During this half century the population "Now, while these .phenomenal figures are for the United States,
of tho couutry multiplied by less than three snd one-half, while the onemust not forget that vast wealth is awaiting workmen in Canada,
wealth multiplied by a little more than thirteen. During this period' Mexico, Central and South America. How vast it all Is can hardly be
every persju'a ahare in the total wealth was multiplied by four. conjectured. To say that it is fully four or five times that of the
The census ot fifty years ago showed that the United States in United States is to paint the possibilities of the continent In safe if
point of wealth stood below half a dozen nations of the old world, not modest colors.
Today all thoss nations nave been entirely outdistanced. "Long before the discovery of gold in California Europe, particu-
C. M. Harvey gives some startling figures. ' He says: "Although' larly Spain, bad received billions in ullion gold and silver from the
the United States comprised only 5 per cent of the world's population, mines of South and Central America. Estimates put the amouut for
it produced, according to the last census, 22 per cent of the world's Spain alone at from two to three billions. The gold mines of Call
wheat 'M per rent of its gold, 32 per cent of its coal, 33 per cent of its fornla surpass anything in the history of mining till the gold deposits
silver, 31 pr cent of Its manufactures, 35 per cent of its iron, 39 per of Australia, South Africa aud Alaska were discovered. But all these,
cent of Its cattle, 50 per cent of its petroleum, 54 per cent of its rich as they are, are Incomparably inferior to the wonderful wealth of
copper, 75 per cent of ita cotton, and 84 per cent of Its corn. the western world's Iron, .coal and copper. . ,
"Though the United States has only a twentieth of the world's In-- "Whereas, we were long dependent on Europe for the capital nec-
liabitants, It Las a fifth of the world's stock of money and a fourth of essary to exploit our mines, our farms and factories, we are rapidly
its gold coin ind bullion. The United States has two-thirds 414,000.- reaching out luto other countries with our own capital. The Rocke-
usuiOO of the world's banking power capital, surplus, deposits and fellers, Ryans. Morgans, Carnegles and Westinghouses are the wonder
circulation. Between 181)0 and 1904 the banking strength of the world workers In the financial world. Page after page would have to be
grew 105 ptr cent and that of New York City 100 per cent written before it would be possible to tell the financial story of the
"The f aimers and planters of the country received last year more ,a8t Afty years. It reads like romance. In and out of the golden
tthau $0,000,000,000 for their products. This equals the wealth of the etes of trade our merchants, manufacturers and financiers have been
entire country in 1845. The product of the country's mines for 1904 Kobig. scattering around them streams of gold and silver more bouutl
amounted to 1,500,000,000. The United States has a third of all the than ever were conjured up by Aladdin's lanip, or In the dreams of
money deposited In the savings banks of the world. At the beginning Midas. "Reich wle eln Anierlkaner" (rich as an American), is a
of 1905 thic were in th'e United States 212,000 miles of railroad, as proverb in Germany, and Germany is the bow of the Rothschild's, and
compared with 300,000 miles for the entire world outside. The rail- Bleichroeders, and Ladeaburgs. "We have more than $500,000,000 In
road tarucd $2,000,000,000 in 1904, and have in their employ 1,300.000 vested la Mexico; mere than $250,000,000. In Canada. I have seen estl-Persons-
. mates of our Investment in Europe that ran as high as $1,000,000,000.
"Compared with the principal countries of the world the United u7 own extends beyond those figures. By aud by we will have
States ranks high, nere are the relative positions: a better basis on which to rely for facts and figures. In the east we
Uuited States $110,000,000,000 . , .1 , bave millions. Even South Africa and Australia art not beyond the
United !Ungdn.,..vv.v.?ii, 6500,000,000. Influeac 9t ov fmaaul6rs.Hw '
farmers and small business men, of other spheres, stood in large num
bers and mingled with their more noted neighbors their meed of praise.
Women and children largely helped to swell the concourse.
' The photographs presented here show something, but not all, of
the crowds that gathered. But the best artist could not give to hla
picture the one element which would make it more interesting. A
large platform from which the orations were delivered held seats for
as many prominent men and women as could be accommodated, but it
was worthy of notice that a much larger number of prominent men
and women had to take seats elsewhere. Out in front of the speak
ers' stand there were many long rows of low wooden seats, provided
for the occasion. In the front rows of these could be seen men whose
names are far more than state-wide. There sat the youthful looking
James H. Eckels of Chicago, who was comptroller of the currency
under President Cleveland; E. Benjamin Andrews, chancellor of the
University of Nebraska; Elmer 3. Burkett, United States senator from
Nebraska, and James E. Boyd, the "only democrat ever elected gov
ernor o Nebraska."- i- - . , - . - r - -
What the Photographs Show
But several thousand people did not sit at all; they stood, for the
simple reason that seats could not have been so arranged as to have
brouxht them in hearing of the speakers voices.
A good view of the speakers' stand is given. Mr. Cleveland can
be distinguished in the group, sitting with his hat and overcoat on
md his hands thrust in his pockets that was the place for hands that s
day, for It was keenly cold. Mr. Cleveland appeared to enjoy every
speech to which he listened. He was a very attentive auditor and not
as undemonstrative as one might suppose, Judging from his unemo
tional character. During the course of Governor Mickey's address the
former president led more than once In the applause, and while former
Vice -Trelsdent Stevenson and former Secretaries Francis aud Herbert
were relating Incidents of the old associations at Washington, he dls-
played keeu interest and often amusement When there waB occasion
for laughter he Joined heartily In the merriment He seemed par
ticularly amused when former Secretary of the Navj Herbert told of
some of Mr. Morton's Jokes and repartee at cabinet meetings. i
"A cabinet meeting, at least during Mr. Cleveland's last adminis
tration, was delightfully informal, more informal than that of a con
gressional committee," said Mr. Herbert "There was no formal call
to order, never that I now remember, even a rap while business was
proceeding."
Here Mr. Cleveland smiled broadly and his eyes twinkled as they
met those of Mr. Herbert
"Usually if business was not pressing the first ten or twenty min
utes were devoted to a general conversation. All participated in the
talk around the table, and in this no one who was present can fall to
remember Mr. Morton's bright sallies, his overflowing humor, apposite
anecdotes and his wit that never failed to hit the mark. Usually his
wit was genial, but sometimes It was pungent even peppery, fer witij
all bis soul he buteo. shnros, above all, political shams. Into these be
penetrated with an insight that never failed and be was always 'ready
to puncture them." (
The former president exhibited a deep feeling of tender sympathy '
with the reminiscent words of Dr.xGeorge L. Miller, who bad been an
Intimate friend of Mr. Morton for over forty years, and who paid him
a most magnificent tribute. The history of the Morton Memorial
Monument association, as related by John W. Steinhart of Nebraska
City, president of the association and chairman of the day, appeared to
be particularly Interesting to Mr. Cleveland.
Humorous Side of the Unveiling
During the course of the day many Jocular remarks were made
. in reference to the well known sentiments of M. Cleveland on the
. woman question the place for a woman and ber proper sphere. Mr.
Cleveland, as people who read know pretty well, thinks a woman may
. attain her highest state of usefulness at borne minding her own busi
ness, In this, of course, being forced to take Issue with some other
Americans of similar prominence, though dissimilar sex. Possibly
some of those at Arbor lodge that day really were serious In wondering
if some apostle of the anti-Cleveland doctrine might not approach the
cx-presldent on this popular subject But she didn't The ex-president
was not once molested, nor was there the slightest evidence at any
stage of the proceedings that an eruption might occur, despite the fact
fact is all theee women seemed to bear a most cordial feeling for the
fact is al Ithese women seemed to bear a most cordial feeling for the
distinguished sage of Princeton, and those who bad the opportunity to
sliake bis hand and exchange a word with blm, apparently did so with
couslderable eagerness. So that for the time being at least, Mr. .
Clevelaud and the women those women, anyway were on peaceable
terras.
iKiubtless there was more truth thau fiction, though, in the asser
tion, frequently beard, that after all Mr. Clevelund was not near the
magnet that was bis beautiful and popular wife. With the men
no less than the women, Mrs. Cleveland was the cynosure for all eyes.
One might easily have believed her still enthroned- lu the White House
as the "first lady of the laud," for she seemed to have lost none of that
charm of beauty or character which made her beloved of the American
people as few other women have been or perhaps ever will be. The
photograph showing Mrs. Cleveland, with Mr. Paul Morton, standing
upon one of the broad verandas of the maguiflceut old Arbor Lodge
Is typical Indeed. She had come out In the penetrating air at ths r
quest ot tee photographers a,ad stood for two picturw