TIIE OMAHA DAILY BEE: "WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1906.
Tire Omaha Daily Der
E. ROSE WATER, EDITOR.
PUBLISHED EVERT MORNING.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Pslly Bee (without Sunday), on year..
Daily Be and Sunday, m year 0
Illustrated Bee. one vear. ........ -W
Sunday B, on year , j-W
Saturday Be, one year
DELIVERED BT CARRIER .
Dally Bee (Including Sunday) per week..tc
Dally Bee (without Sunday), per week..i:o
Evening Bee (without Sunday), per week. 6c
Evening Ilea (with Sunday), per week...lOo
Sunday Bee. per copy 5e
Addre cnmplalnta of irregularities In dt
Ilrery ta City Circulation Department
OFFICES.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
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itorial matter ahould be addressed: Omaha
Bee, Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
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THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
Stat -of Nebraska, Douglas County, as.:
C. C. Rosewatcr, secretary of Tb Dee
Publishing company, being uly sworn,
says that th actual numbr of full and
complete copies of The Dallv, Morning,
Evening and Sunday Bee prtntl during
Hi month of December, 1906, was as fol
lows:
1... 31,M0
i IT
(If.
'it..
?0
21
. 22
1 21.......
24..
Ji
26
27
a
29
30
U. ......
...no.oiio
...81.MU0
...81,770
...aj,220
...9aj,oao
...84, lOO
...a?, uso
...80,050
...S1.7S0
...8X210
...a-j.oio
... 32,000
...31,840
...ai.io
...SO.IBO
2 ,.,....IM,T40
i ,,..ao,oo
4 31.SSO
t
...... si.rw
......1,54H
7... .......... .aa.iso
I ....8 1,000
83.BWO
S0.1SO
;.si,4o
SI, THO
.si.nno
,.3J,S60
,.S1,T30
IS.
1
.83,710
Total S!i,B40
Less unsold copies 10,808
Net total sales , ..71.M
Daily average 31,349
C. C. R08EWATKR,
. Secretary.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before m this l day of December, UOi
(Seal) M. B. HUNGATB.
Notary Public
WHEN OIT OF TOWN,
tn'bserlbers leaving tb city tem
porarily ahoald have Th Bca
mailed to then. It la better than
at dally letter from home. Ad
dress wilt ho changed of tea aa
ran. nested- -
Uncle Saw still lias million- of acres
for the landless, but not an acre for the
land grabber.
Marshall Field's brave struggle with
(Unease showed one reason for his phe
nomenal success In business.
The New York Sun Is backing the In
fturgents and It Is a matter of notoriety
that the trusts are backing the Sun.
The county board should dispose of
the Jail feeding graft first. Other leaks
can be plugged up later. One thing at
a time.
Senator. .Bracken's, remark that the re
publican party must rid itself of rascals
Is not original with him, but It will bear
repetition. -
.Oregon is to elect senators for two
terms at' the next meeting of the legis
lature, giving the state two opportuni
ties to redeem its reputation.
One of the best signs of the advance
ment of tne American negro Is that one
prominent member of the race has de
clined a federal appointment. V
The Ware case has at least taught
those who want to acquire government
land in an irregular manner to employ
no agent who keeps a daybook.
Th real necessity for "confidence" in
business Is again demonstrated by the
ease with which' Mr. Prior of Cleveland
floated $3,000,000 of forged securities.
If the fuel supply ahonld run short In
Omaha, the heat generated for the
spring municipal campaign ought to
carry ns comfortably through 'the win
ter. In the light of the scores in recent
years It is not surprising that Harvard
should be the first university to place
tne ban on Intercollegiate foot ball "as
he it played."
Chief Collins advises all women not
to walk the streets of Chicago after
dusk alone in any part of the city. That
should be the course for all respectable
women to pursue In every city.
America, may be taking only a friendly
interest In the Moroccan conference, but
ft must gratify Ambassador White to see
the Stars and Stripe flying from a Yan
kee warship every time he looks out of
bis window.
.tutu tt haa been officially declared
that duelling is still necessary In Ger
many It may be inferred that there are
number of influential people in that
empire who dare not listen to the truth
about themselves...' C y .,"
There wouJd be less opposition to the
plan of binding the Missouri river within
Its banks were it not for the probability
that the confined current would make a
channel sufficient for the easy move
ment of steamboats.
The great organ of long-rauge reform
Jus tery properly pointed out that it
would be a great saving If all wagons
la Omalig had broader tires, but It has
Hot veil hinted why the couuty Jail
graft should be peretuated.
Oreeu and Uaynor seem resolved to
get their case under every possible cap
tion of the law reports. A knowledge
of the rulings In this matter would be a
liberal education In national and Inter
national law"" AM tb end of the de
murrers bat not yet arrived. ,
ton AL'rt KCASAL.
The announcement that President (
Iloosevclt will send a message to con
gress f storing a lock canal Is conBrmn
(ory of previous reports that he regarded
this type of canal on the Isthmus as
the most desirable, cost In money and
In lime being the chief consideration.
The commission Is understood to favor
the lock, plan, which it is thought will
allow the great work to be completed in
about half the time which would be re
quired for the construction of a sea
level waterway and at a cost not very
mnch in excess of the present estimates.
According to the report the president's
view is that a lock-canal will meet the
demands of the present generation and
if posterity should require a different
type It can then be provided.
The question must, of course, be de
cided by congress and probably no ac
tion will be taken on it until the reports
of the consulting engineers are received,
which should be shortly., There has
been no Intimation as to what the senti
ment In congress is regarding the type
of canal, but very likely tills will be dis
closed after the president has made
known his views on the question. So
far as public opinion la concerned, the
probability is that it will be found favor
able to the plan which will be the more
economical in time and money. A lock
canal probably cannot be completed in
less than eight or ten years and wJH
cost perhaps quite $200,000,(XK. A sea
level canal cannot be constructed in less
time than from twelve to fifteen years
and its cost would be at least $100,000,
000 more than the lock plan. There Is
undoubtedly much to be said In behalf
of a sea-level waterway from the com
mercial point of view. The American
people, however, want the canal con
structed In the shortest time possible
and at no greater expenditure than is
necessary to have a waterway that will
adequately accommodate such part of
the world's commerce as Will make use
of it It is believed that a lock canal
will meet all requirements for perhaps
a century, which Is a long enough time
for this generation to make provision
for.
Another question connected with the
canal which is likely to receive the care
ful consideration of congress is whether
to continue the construction by the
present method, or to entrust to con
tractors the carrying through of the
work. Not much prominence has yet
been given to this phase of the matter,
but it is known that there is some senti
ment in congress favorable to having
the canal work done by contractors and
the question is certain to be brought
forward. Advocates of the contract plan
urge that a system of construction
which depends upon direct government
management is not likely to be very
successful. They say this is a fact that
has been demonstrated again and again
in widely divergent enterprises. On
the other hand. It is pointed out that
government enterprises performed upon
a contract basis are not usually carried
out economically or expeditiously.
What now appears to be assured Is
that there will be a lock canal and that
its construction will be pushed with all
possible vigor. As to other matters
connected with the vast enterprise no
confident prediction can now be made.
MARSHALL FIELD
The late Marshall Field had long been
recognized as the leading merchant of
the United States. That distinction he
had attained by his own industry, en
ergy aud enterprise. A native of Massa
chusetts, his boyhood was passed on a
farm, his first business experience being
at a dry goods clerk. This was the be
ginning of a life work in which by re
markable ability Mr. Field rose to the
highest position in the trade In which
he was engaged and amassed a great
fortune. The wholesale and retail dry
goods establishment of which he was
the head does a larger annual business
than any other similar establishment in
this country and perhaps In the world,
and its great success was attained
through legitimate and honorable meth
ods. The large fortune which the dead
merchant has left hat no taint upon it,
every dollar of it having been obtained
by means entirely creditable to its pos
sessor. Mr. Field was public spirited and
while not conspicuous among philan
thropists his benefactions were by no
meana small. lie undoubtedly gave a
great deal which did not come to public
notice, for he was not the kind of man
to seek publicity In this way. In pro
moting the commercial interests of Chi
cago Marshall Field was a great force
and Influence and his loss to that city
will be keenly felt. A man of unblem
ished private character and the highest
business Integrity, his example as citl
ten and merchant was of the, most ele
vated character.
SO CBASQt IN FISCAL POLICY.
The liberal successes in the British
elections thus far very conclusively
show that the people do not waut any
change in the fiscal policy of the coun
try. .The present liberal government is
unqualifiedly committed to the mainte
nance of the existing system. The ques
tion of a change, raised by Mr. Cham
berlain, was' made the leading issue In
the campaign and it it now unmistak
ably demonstrated that the appeals of
the advocates of a departure from the
polity which has been In operation for
more than half a century had very little
effect upon the voters. The prime ruin
lster and his adherents have, devoted
most of their attention to denouncing
the Chamberlain plun and the evidence
is that this has proved exceedingly ef
fective. Of course there are other reasons for
the liberal successes. There was a great
deal of popular dissatisfaction with the
Balfour ministry, conspicuously mani
fested In the defeat of Mr. . Balfour.
That leader had shown remarkable
weakness In some respects and particu
larly in regard to the fiscal Issue, as to
which lift had no well-defined views or
convictions. But while hostility to the
former ministry and the popular desire
to rebuke It bag helped the liberals, the
fact remains that the paramount ques
tion, in the campaign Is that of fiscal
reform and the verdict so far Is over
whelmingly for continuance of the ex
isting policy. The next House of Com
mons will have a strong liberal major
ity and there will be an end, probably
for a long time, to the Chamberlain program.
WltATAR TBKr DR1T1SO ATI
On second sober thought it may dawn
upon members of the Civic Federation
that they have plunged Into deep water
when their attorney filed formal protests
with the police board against the grant
ing of licenses to 170 liquor dealers on
the ground that they had violated some
of the provisions of the Slocumb law
during the year 190.. Similar protests
could have been filed against every re
tlal liquor dealer doing business In
Omaha, each and every one of whom
has technically violated some provision
of the law.
If the object of the protest was to
prove that the Slocumb law has been
generally disregarded, there was no ne
cessity for protesting 170 licenses. Pro
tests against twelve or fifteen saloons
promiscuously located would have an
swered the same purpose. If the object
was to close tough Joints operated in
conjunction with disorderly resorts per
manently, the prosecutions should have
been directed specifically against this
class of saloons. Such a move would
have met the npproval of all classes of
reputable citizens and would have
created no embarrassment If, on the
other hand, the object of the federation
is to close 170 out of the 240 saloons
licensed In Omaha permanently, the fed
eration should have figured out the in
evitable consequences.
Judge Sutton's ruling that no licenses
should have been Issued by the police
board pending an appeal from its de
cision Is undoubtedly the correct version
of the law, but if the board is to re
verse Itself it must refund the $170,000
paid Into the treasury by the applicants
to whom It granted the licenses.
That would bring up the question
whether the city treasurer has any au
thority to refund the money after it has
been passed to the credit of the school
fund. Should the court order the treas
urer to refund the $170,000, it would be
up to the school board to devise some
way to meet the demands of its pay
roll to teachers, Janitors and employes,
as well as its current expenses. If the
money cannot be refunded it would be
come a question whether liquor dealers
could recover by an action against the
city for accepting their money and with
holding the privilege for which they
paid.
The most senseless thing of the whole
sale prosecution instituted by the Civic
Federation Is the request for 170 tran
scripts, which Involves over $3,000 of
expense that will have to be borne by
the taxpayers of Omaha, when the ends
of Justice could have been subserved
Just as well by fifteen or twenty tran
scripts, or half a dozen for that matter.
This, muddle is the natural sequence
of the disreputable practice that has
been countenanced during the last few
years of filing scores and even hundreds
of protests with the police board, either
for the purpose of downright blackmail
or for the purpose of forcing a compro
mise by which licenses which the board
had held up were to be granted on condi
tion that the protests would be with
drawn. From the political point of view the
entire proceeding looks very much like
a search after campaign ammunition for
the benefit of the preferred candidate
of the Civic Federation rather than an
attempt to suppress disreputable resortt
or to secure a rational enforcement of
the law relating to tho liquor traffic.
This view is fully borne out by the fact
that last year, when there was no mu
nicipal election in sight the wholesale
prosecutions were compromised by an
alleged agreement with the liquor deal
ers, regardless of their location or no
toriety, to observe the midnight closing
ordinance and the dismissal of all the
protests ngainst saloons that were op-
crated by the reform brewery of Walter
Molse Si Co.
Under the recent ruling of Judge
Munger the railroad tax agents will get
more relief for their corporations by
devoting their energies toward raising
the assessment of taxable property in
the various counties to Its full value
than by bully-ragging the State Board
of Equalization. If they can bring
about an honest return and equitable
assessment of all taxable property nnd
acquiesce in the assessment of railroad
property on the same lines they will
remove all ground for dissatisfaction.
Attorney General Hadley of Missouri,
who has returned to St. Louis from
New York, expresses himself confident
that he will be austaiued by the New
York court of appeals In his effort to
compel II. H. Rogers, the Standard Oil
magnate, to answer his questions. You
can sometimes lead a horse to water,
but you cannot always make him drink,
especially if he has been oiled down.
The public may sympathize with
President Mitchell's position, but its
tyinpathy will be tempered by the recol
lection that an increase of 10 cents a ton
In the wages of miners once produced
an Increase of twice that much In the
price of coal to the consumer.
Omaha stands better In business cir
cles In the east today than ever before
In Its history, and Omaha la on the map
ef every big business bouse that seks
trade west of the Mississippi river. Our
merchants must realize fully the high
reputation Omaha bears in the commer
cial world and protect It Jealouily
against Impairment from whatever quarter.
lp In Wisconsin they .got around the
refusal of the railroads to pay their
taxes by passing a law making a show
ing of all taxes paid prerequisite to a
standing In court to contest their va
lidity. Judge Mnnger, however, has
made it unnecessary for the Nebraska
legislature to copy the Wisconsin law.
Governor Mickey declares thnt the
next problem for the republicans of Ne
braska to solve is the freight rate ques
tion, which must be met Why did not
the governor call the legislature In spe
cial session instead of indefinitely post
poning the issue.
It is not within the proprieties of pub
lic life for the Chicago city council to
hold Mayor Dunne responsible for re
marks made at. Denver, as Colorado air
is said to have peculiar effect not only
upon the Imagination but upon the vocal
powers.
The action of Secretary Metcalf In re
calling Chinamen who were deported
after an order of court barring the de
barkation had been issued proves that
a court order follows the flag as far as
Honolulu at least.
Rlml Exhllernnts.
Washington Post.
The Winnebago Indians In Iowa have
Invented a new and powerful Intoxicant,
which they make from the muscatel
beans. Still, we are willing to wager that
tt is not more deadly than the Iowa drug
store cordials.
Plata to Be Seen.
Washington Post.
The Red Men have captured Mr. Roose
velt, and Mr. Bryan has been mad a
datto. It Is also understood that the voters
made Mr. Bryan a Buffalo and the senate
Is trying to put Mr. Roosevelt In the same
order.
An Effective Reform.
Brooklyn Eagle.
Cuba Is considering a bill to abolish the
death penalty. "As It never hindered crime
there," Its reformers say "it might better
be abolished, and the criminal set at work
to support the family he has bereaved."
Nevertheless no man killed by law for
murder aver murdered anyone else!
The Way of the Profession.
New York Tribune.
The Chicago Inventor and mechanician
who says he will start from that city at
o'clock, April a, and In the evening de
liver Into the hands of President Roosevelt
a message from Mayor Dunne talks Inter
estingly and plausibly of his proposed fly
ing machine.' They all talk that way.
Shrinking: Modesty.
Indianapolis News.
It Is all explained now. Mr. Rogers
couldn't answer those questions by ad
vice of counsel because there were so
many reporters and artiBts In the room.
The heartlessness with which th press
Ignores capitalistic diffidence la constantly
shocking the finer feelings of th captains
of industry.
Dangerous Spirit of Insnbordlnatloa.
i - Baltimore American.
Hostility to the government and disregard
of the obligations of an oath are serious
charges to nVake1 against the midshipmen
at Annapolis even more serious than the
hazing accusations. If there is any such
dangerous spirit of practical Insubordina
tion at the national academy a condition
confronts the authorities to be drastically
dealt with. It should also warn congress
men and others not to Interfere with a
badly needed discipline by Ul-advlsed ef
forts at protection and defense, which sim
ply encourage the young men In their atti
tude of defiance an attitude highly detri
mental, to say the least, to the national
service.
Saloon Keeper Hit Hard.
Chicago Chronicle.
A Jury In Judge Tuthlll's court has re
turned a verdict of $17,500 In favor of the
five children of John Hedlund against three
saloonkeepers who sold him tho liquors
which made him a drunken loafer and lost
him an Income of 11, MO a year. Whatever
may be said as an brlglnal proposition, of
making liquor sellers pay damages because
their customers drink to excess, It is cer
tainly according to law in this state. And
really th saloonkeepers hav no good rea
son to complain, for they can not be mad
to pay damages unless It is shown that
they sell to men whom they know to be
habitual drunkards. In this case It ap
pears that the saloonkeepers knew what
they were doing and warnings and en
treaties had not moved them to desist.
Railroad Domination la Nebraska.
Kansas City Star.
Perhaps In no other state huve the rail
roads had a stronger hold on the state
government than In Nebraska. But there
seems to, ba only one public sentiment In
that state with reference to the proposed
regulation of rates through the medium
of a new act of congress. In various coun
ties meetings have been held and resolu
tions adopted upholding the president. In
some Instances declarations of opposition
to candidates In any way related to railway
corporations have been made, to be effec
tive regardless of party considerations. But
the most slgnlncant thing of all Is that
Senator Millard has been called upon to
take his stand with the president or re
sign his office. Similar action Is likely to
be taken by other conventions. The peo
ple are beginning to see that they must
take a direct Interest In the conduct of
their representatives at Washington, and
that they must manifest this Interest In
n unmistakable way. And no senator or
representative can fool his constituency on
the railroad question.
Lincoln nnd Franklin.
Harper's Weekly.
There is nothing in human beings that la
quite so Interesting to other human beings
as their humanity. Franklin and Lincoln
were both chock full of humanity. They
both had. for bne thing, first-rate bodies.
Franklin's powers as a swimmer will be
recalled and Lincoln's reputation as a
wrestler. In their youth they were both
athletes and built to endur great toils,
physical and mental, and to carry heavy
responsibilities. Each of them began Ufa
for himself with a meager preliminary edu
cation and no advantages of position or
opportunity. Both of them had th praclous
gift of humor and both of them employed
It as an aid to persuasion and to facilitate
transactions of momentous Importance.
Both of them were untiring friends of
peace and ready to mak xtrem conces
sions to avoid, war. Both war man of
profound resolution, untiring to prosecute
so unavoidable war once undertaken. They
ar heroes of romance and of Utters, thea
two, a well as of history. Writers will
delight to write about them as long as th
triumph of genius over ircumstancea con
tinues to b an engaging them.
BITS Or WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incident Sketched
on the Spot.
To peopl familiar with th practical
operation of prohibition, of which Kansas
Is a shining light. It will not be surprising
to learn that the whisky Interests repre
sented by a strong lobby In Washington
I working In harmony with th Women's
Christian Temperance union In favor of
th provision In the Indian Territory state
hood bill prohibiting the sale of liquor In
the proposed state.
The brewery Interest Is fighting this
provision, and the breach between the
brewers and the whisky men Is widening
rapidly.
The reason for this division of pinion
Is not far away. Under any form of pro
hibition It would be very difficult for the
brewers to get their goods Into the new
state, on account of their hulktness.
Whisky, on the other hand, being smaller
In bulk, and therefore more easily han
dled, would suffer greatly tinder a pro
hibition law. This has been proved In the
recent history of Iowa, th Dakotas and
Kansas. Moreover, the "bootleg" busi
ness, which would assume large propor
tions among a population largely Indian,
would flourish more under prohibition than
without tt.
Since the break has come, the brewers
are considering whether they have not suf
fered In reputation during the past years
by their close association with the whisky
Interest. Beer contains only a small per
centage of alcohol, from 4 to S per cent,
and of itself alone has never been re
garded as a deadly enemy to society. It
Isn't beer that brings 75.000 men In this
country every yar to drunkards graves.
There ar certain tonic and food properties
In beer, and the makers are not backward
about letting the public know of them.
Th brewers are coming to the conclusion
that their business Is not a menace to
the American home or to American charac
ter, and that the charges that ar brought
with so much force against whisky cannot
be made to stick, In any large way, against
their product. So from this tlm on they
will go it alone.
Before he could get tlm in which to
make his maiden speech In the senate Sen
ator Rayner found It necessary to deal
with his colleague and factional enemy.
Senator Gorman. Rayner did not hesitate,
but took the bull by the horns and went
to Qorman. not as the senator from Mary
land, but as the leader of his party In the
senate. Gorman granted him fifty min
utes. When Rayner had concluded Gorman
Joined the procession of those who came
to congratulate the man who beat all other
new senators In th matter of making a
speech before his seat was warm. Gor
man extended the tips of his fingers to
his colleague, who held out his hand. Their
fingers touched for the smallest fraction
of a second, after which the old relation
of political' enemies was resumed. The re
lations between Spooner and LaFollette
are tropical in warmth In comparison with
those existing between the Maryland lead
ers. Representative Reeder of Kansas has not
only achieved new fame, but has been
compelled to meet the charge of attempt
ing to steal democratic thunder. The other
day the story was printed that Reeder had
Introduced a resolution calling for an In
vestigation of the relations between the
Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake & Ohio and
the Baltimore ft Ohio Railroad companies.
The resolution recited newspaper charges
alleging that a merger had been formed
which waa a monopoly clearly In restraint
of trade. Reeder had Introduced the same
day a pension bill and Qildersleeve of Texas
had presented the railroad resolution. Th
Texas congressman had neglected to attach
his ' name to his resolution,' and a clerk
turned to Reeder, and, holding up the bill,
asked, "Is this your bill?" The covers of
the two proposed enactments were Identical.
Reeder answered yes, and his name was
accordingly signed to Gildersleeve's bill.
Letters of commendation hav poured In on
Reeder from all points of the compass for
his bold defiance of the octopus.
Ever since the trials of the postofflce
boodlers have been on here in Washington,
Mr. Robert J. Wynne, now consul general
to London, former postmaster general, has
been a familiar figure about the New Wll
lard hotel. He haa been waiting to testify
In the remaining cases before he returns to
London. He Is going to return to London,
too. That Is as certain as the reten
tion of his place as chief executive is cer
tain for Theodore Roosevelt, for one de
pends upon the other, and nothing more or
less. There have been some tales printed
about th "carryings on" of Mr. Wynn
while In London. They were printed at
length In Kansas City paper and brought
to Wynne's attention.
"Never mind that," said the consul gen
eral in a philosophical mood. "It's no
mor than could be expected. When I was
In th Postoffloe department I upset the
calculations of more than one daily paper
which enjoyed special privileges In con
nection with the rural free delivery. I don't
mind It. That Is their way of fighting
back, and I suppose I would do the same
thing If I had a chance under the same
circumstances. But there Is nothing to the
tales. I need only tell you that I have
never been a guest at such a dinner aa Is
described, and I have, unfortunately, never
been presented at court."
The other day there was a new reporter
on one of the local papers who bumped up
against Wynne, noted hjs mature and dig
nified look and his tall silk tile, and mildly
Inquired:
"I beg your pardon, sir, but what can
you tell m of child labor?"
"Well," said the consul general. "I can
tell you everything about child labor. What
do you want to know?"
"You are a delegate to the child labor con
vention being held upstair In th banquet
room, are you not?"
"No," said Wynne, "I am not."
"Well, I beg your pardon, I thought you
were. Why did you aay you could tell m
all about child labor?"
"I had a right to say that," said Wynn
with his usual twinkling eye. "for I hav
eleven children of my own and I don't be
long to th Race Suicide club."
There are three member of th national
house of representatives who resemble each
other very much. They ar Representatives
Huff of Pennsylvania, Haskins of Vermont
and Connor of New York. On of the new
members of the press gallery who Is con
sumed with a deslr to know the faces of
all the members the older ones don't car
about th men who never do anything saw
Haskjns and declared that h was th man
to whom he had been Introduced the day
before and mad believe that he wa Colonel
Huff. After much argument he was per
suaded that h was In error. "Well. Huff
certainly does look like Haskins," b de
dared to ease his conscience.
"You mean Haskins looks Ilk Huff," said
his friend. "Huff has $,10,000,000 and Haskins
about M cents."
Boasting th Dividend.
New York Trlbun.
Reports are coming In of the vast sums
which railroads are gaining by th abolition
of th fr pans system. W hav not yet
heard, however, that thos gain ar to be
applied to the reduction of rates to those
who pay for tickets, or to tb increase of
wages to employes.
BF.!t FRANKLIN.
Bicentenary of th Philosopher'
Birth to Be Observed.
Minneapolis Journal.
Two hundred years ago this Wednesday
Benjamin Franklin was born In Boston.
His bicentenary Is being generally observed
and. though no holidays have been declared
on his birthday, It Is worth remembering
as much as that of any other American of
the Revolution. The farther w reced
from the birth of the republic th brighter
does the name of Franklin shin. Every
Incident of his career serves to sharpen
our appreciation of the man who, after
the laps of two 'centuries. Is more firmly
Intrenched In th position of "typical
American" which history has awarded him.
Franklin covered more fields of thought
and adorned more differing stations In life
than any man of our nation. He waa
philosopher, diplomat, scientist, tradesman.
The honored companion of scholars and th
advisor of kings, he never lost his essential
character of the homely, wis cltlsen, th
"reliable man" of his community. Such a
many-sided man Is hard to treat In a brief
review, but to sum up Franklin is not diffi
cult. He was the embodiment of common
sens and common industry. He never lost
sight of the "do-able" in his missions for
his country and his successes are attribu
table to energy and adaptability aa much as
to brilliancy. '
In studying anew his life and times th
American people may get a better view of
th origin of th American nation than they
will from the lives of soldiers or patriots.
Franklin was th master of all th facta
and all th tendencies of his times. He
had been through every phase of experi
ence. He knew the Inner sentiments of
statesmen Ilk Chatham and of kings Ilk
George III. He knew how many difficulties
lay in the way of the establishment of a re
publican America and how far the people
might be trusted to set up one on a broad
and enduring basis. By going back to the
life and writings of Franklin we get the
best view of the revolutionary period.
His bicentenary la a good tlm to begin
anew a systematic study of th beginnings
of our country.
HOW IT LOOKS TO THE COUNTRY.
Tricks of Special Privilege to Block
the Sqnare Deal.
Kansas City Star.
Those members of congress who are or
ganising against the administration; who
are taking exceptions to the statehood bill;
who are opposing the Philippines tariff bill;
who are criticising the canal commission;
who are quibbling about the Santo Domingo
affair, and who are otherwise manifesting a
disposition to create trouble, may think
they are playing a, wis political gam. They
may think that they will impress th people
with their courageous Independence. Per
haps the monster of "bosslsm," which they
conjured up and tried to give form and sub
stance, looks like something to them. But
to the country at large, where the president
Is trusted, and where his policies ar ear
nestly Indorsed, the situation at Washington
has a different aspect.
The character of the "Insurgent" leader
ship and the obvious motives that animate
many of the recruits, strongly suggest to
the people that congress Is now engaged In
a "blind skirmish" designed by those who
are forcing It to conceal the real movement
a movement to defeat rate legislation by
organising a revolt against the president on
other Issues. There Is a strong suspicion
that Rockefeller and his lieutenants have a
good deal to do with this game. At least it
must be manifest to even the dullest Intel
lect that the "Interests" are much pleased
with the present situation. Washington Is
packed with the sugar lobby and the to
bacco lobby. The Standard OH lobby and
the railroad lobby are not so evident to the
publlo eye, because their principals have
seats In the senate and the house.
But with the president stand the people.
On the side of the square deal as against
special privileges are the popular sover
eigns, the voters, who create congresses,
and who; In spite of the Influence and power
of organised capital, can unmak con
grasses. PERSONAL. NOTES.
About once in so often Secretary Shaw
has to raise his right hand and declare
fealty to his Job.
The New Yorkers who advertised their
ability to raise the dead had som difficulty
later in raising a bond.
Dona Francesca O'Reilly d Camera,
hereditary butcher of Havana, can't be a
beef trust any' longer. With a name like
that why does she want to? The millinery
business and the stage are yawning for her.
John Bigelow, LL. D., who waa American
civil war consul and minister In Paris,
passed his 88th birthday recently. He wrote
a great Franklin biography, a life of Samuel
J. Tllden and a life of William Cullen
Bryant. He was Tilden's executor and
trustee and president of the library foun
dation, and he helped to found the Century
club.
John Brlsben -Walker was the pioneer In
the steam automobile business and at one
time the factory of the Mobile Company of
America at Klngsland-Polnt-on-the-Hudson
employed nearly 1.000 men. Mr. Walker was
warned that the gasoline motor would take
the lead In automobiles, but persisted In his
devotion to steam, with the result that he
soon found himself loaded with losses ex
ceeding tl, 700,000. Mr. Walker personally
assumed the indebtedness of the Mobile
Company of America and not only paid It
off In full, but returned to every stock
holder the amount of his Investment, with
Interest. This action required the sale of
the Cosmopolitan Magatlne, Klngsland
point and other properties.
It Quiets
the Cough
This is one reason why Ayer's Cherry
Pectoral is so valuable in consumption:
it stops the wear and tear of useless
coughing. But it does more it con
trols the inflammation, quiets the fever,
soothes, heals. Ask your doctor about
it, then do just as he says.
i
We have no secrets We publish
the formulas of all our medicines.
Mae kjr ths I. O. Ayes Oe.. Lewell, tf us.
. Ala MeauButwers t i
ATBB't BAIB TIOOg-Foc tse hair. ATBS'S PIUS-For soastlpatiea.
AYBR'S SAktAMsaXA-yr th hleod. AIKK'i AOUt COKSVet materia aad sgM.
let rnr. battle begin., ,
Demand for Yctton hy Congress on
Rnte Regulation.
Washington Post,
In a fascinating historical romance writ,
ten by a popular Irishman we have sn ac
count ef a great battle fought In rrusma
In the year 18M. The beginning was desul
tory, now fierce, .now languid. A youthful
staff officer who had never been under ftre
before was Impatient and disappointed, and
petulantly exclaimed that he did not think
It was going to be much of a fight, or words
of that Import. An old sergeant major who ,
had been with BonSparte In Italy. In Egypt,
at Marengo, at Vim, and at Austerllts. an
swered! "Be of good cheer; 1 hav been In
many battles, and 1 never saw one opii
like this that there was not bldody work for
all before it was over." He was rlght-the
field was Jena.
This Fifty-ninth congress Is opening
pretty much like the battle that laid Prus
sia prostrate at Napoleon's feet. The de
bates have been fierce, languid, desultory
and of wide scope. Th president's policy
has been under fire, and everything has
been scrutinised except one thing--w have
had tariff. Insurance, Monroe dootrlne, the
canal, and some other things, all discussed
with great ability and fervid oratory.
But the big question la not yet on th
field of battle the railroad ret question.
When that shall challenge the logic, the
eloquence, the statesmanship and the patri
otism of the Fifty-ninth congress, then th
killed and crippled will be evidenced that
there Is a fight on hand, and a big one a
Jena; perhaps a Waterloo.
There Is going to be a rate bill. There
Is no sort of doubt of that. Will It be such
a bill as the radicals demand, or merely a
bill that the railroads are willing to con
cede? Here Is the fight. There will be 1
measures, and out of them congress will
evolve something. We can all hope that a
section of the bill will be virile enough to
destroy rebate, and that ought to be easy
enough, for the railroads are evidently sin
cere In their protestations that they never
practice rebate because they want to, but
because they have to. '
Whatever congress does, tt ought to
make a law that will take the railroad
question out of politics, to the end that the
political campaign this year may be fought
without either party getting delirious. We
have not had any lucid politics In this coun
try since 1892. It would be a novel experi
ence If we should hav a san campaign In
UW6.
POINTED PLEASANTRIES.
"It seems . Galley
and his family hav
skipped town,
their dlsannoa
;Inwl town. Wn
at was responsible for
their disappearance, do you know?
"Trying to keep up appearances, I be
lieve." Philadelphia Press.
"Your father thinks you'd make an en
gineer, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"Know aaythlng about bridge work?"
"Yes. sir. I won $7 at It last night."
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"Obviously," said the lecturer, "what we
need is a more elastic currency, for the
reason"
"Not me," Interrupted the shabby man In
the front row. "what I need Is a mor
adhesive currency." . !
Whereat there was loud applause.
It appeared there were others. Chicago
Tribune.
"What Is It," demanded the preacber.
"that brings th most comfort to a man In
tlm of trial?"
"An acquittal," grunted Judge Grubbs,
waking up suddenly. Cleveland Leader.
Lawson BJones always thinks beore he
speaks, doesn't he?
Dawson Yea, but then he doesn't always
say what he thinks. Somervllle Journal
Theo. Riser A baby In the house Is a
perennial spring of Joy.
Ben. Edict That's Just It It never dries
up. Cleveland Leader.
"Don't you ever have moments when you
feel like doing something absolutely ridiculous?"-
"Oh, ye. . For., instance, when you pro
posed to me the other day there vs a
minute when I had an Insane Impulse to
accept you." Cleveland Leader. ,
"You wouldn't think of watering your
milk?"
"No," answered Farmer Corntossel. "The
best I can do now is to capitalise mv dalrv
business an' water the stock." Washington
Star.
"What's the matter, dear." asked the
doctor's wife, "are you worried about Mr.
Poorley s case?"
"Yes," replied the doctor, despondentlv.
"And Is there no hope?"
"Very little. Ho says he doesn't expect
to leave enough to pay mora than one-third
of my bill." Philadelphia Press. ,
The new teacher who had been engaged to
take charge of the school In township No.
16 was consulting with the directors.
"With your permission, gentlemen," he
said. "I should like to teach the children
the metric system."
"Ef that's the system Tom Lawsons
flghtln', spoke up Director Horneypsugli,
loudly and emphatically. "I'm agin It, by
gum!" Chicago Tribune. ,
NOBODY WORKS BIT FATHER.
New York Bun.
The family wished to ornament
Their high and cultured station.
And every one save Pa professed
A thirst for education.
Jack went to Pigskin Institute,
The other teams all licking,
But somehow when it came to bills
'Twas Pa who did the kicking.
Clorlnda went to rooking school
Compounded grub amaslng,
But somehow when It came to dough
'Twas Pa who did the raising.
Tom to a business college went.
Financial ways divining.
But somehow when It came to checks
'Twas Pa who did the signing.
Kate took a high-toned boarding school
Sharp angles to diminish,
But somehow after she came out
"Twas Pa who saw his finish.
' s'
And Pa? He's plodding right along
And hasn't got much knowledge,
In fact his standing Is hut this
A senior In life's college.
