Omaha Daily Bee
Only 1 DAY Fcr
Christmas Shopping
Only 1 DAY For
Christmas Shopping
VOL. XXXVII NO. 161.
OMAHA, MONDAY MOIININO, DECEMBER 23, 1907.
SINGLE COPy TWO CENTS.
The
BUSY WEEK ABROAD
Eolidaj Seaaon Findi Political In
terest Centered in Other " 4s. '
A-
ST0ES5LL TRIAL STIES
Count Witle'i Letter to Be FoL
by Other Sensalionti
JAPANESE DIET WILL
Emigration Question Expected to
Canse Sitter Partisan Debate.
GRAVE CRISIS IN PERSIA
Revolt im Tw , rrarlnce Mar Be
FoIUwtl T Depoattlaa of the
kak Fleet U Neartng
Trinidad.
WASHINGTON. Dec. a.-The holiday
season rcmovri from the week most of the
Hied source of new, placing congress In
iwm, lafgcly suspending conventions and
(gatherings of various organizations and
srene rally reducing the news events that
can be anticipated. The larger Interest,
therefore, will center on happenings abroad.
At W. Petersburg the trial of General
Stoessel will continue with promise of more
sensational disclosures concerning the de
fense of Port -Arthur and revelations of
administrative secret of the war with
Japan. Count Wltte action, In seeking the
press as a medium of reply to General
Bteessel's statements when he was refused
permission to testify at the trial Is looked
upon aa possibly the first of many develop
ment of a sensational character that will
result from the official stirring of he
muddy waters of Russian officialdom.
1 Trial Herr Harden.
! In Berlin the trial of Herr Harden, editor
ef Die Kukunft. on the charge of libelling
Count Kuno Von Moltke In his exposures
concerning the now famous "court scandal
will continue unless the efforts making to
bring about a private adjustment are suc
cessful." Although the proceedings cov-
r-J or th mfl.t .hrwklnr nnrtfon of the
:ewtlmony are being held In private, Berlin
dvlces Intimate that open court hearings
' will be resumed and that subsequent testi
mony may reveal, at least in part, the basis
of Herr Hardcn's charges Involving some
f the greatest names In the empire.
Japanese Diet Meets.
The Japanese Diet will assemble on
Wednesday for Its twentr-fourth session
ind the number of extremely grave ques
tions which will confront It promise to
make the session; one of unusual Import
ance. The opportlon Is said to be pre
pared to vigorously oppose the budget
formally decided upon by the Imperial
council a few days ago and which contem
plates large retrenchment In the public ex
penditures. The emigration question also
promises to be prolific of partisan debate.
The progressive party already has an
nounce! Wa determination to promote an
active campaign In the Diet against the
government's restrictive policy and to sup
port the Immigration companlea whose
business Is Imperilled by foreign Minister
Hayashl's action In exercising vigorous
control over their operations, particularly
the sending of laborers to this country and
Canada.
Untfe Otala la Tenia,
The altuation In Persia, arising from the
conflict between the throne and the con
stitutionalists, although now reported ss
being more reassuring. Is still regarded
as critical. For the present the danger
' of a clash acems to have been averted,
hut the attitude of the factions Is de
scribed as being one of alertness and
preparedness to resume the state of armed
menace . which for the last week threat
eneed bloodshed In Teheran. I .ate dis
patches picture a widespread unrest, from
which developments might occur that
would bring about the necessity of for
eign Intervention with Its attendant Eu
ropean complications. The national feel
ing against the shah is reported to be
spreading. Two provinces have declare
In favor of hit being deposed, and there
Is some likelihood that the disorder here
tofore confined to Teheran may spreid.
Should the shah refuse the demands which
the Parliament Is expected to make upon
him, his dethronement might follow and
an acute crisis be immediately precipi
tated, with' the nihilhood of grave In
ternal disorders.
fleet Kearlsg Trinidad.
On Christmas eve the battleship Meet
ill drop anchor In the Port of tpilu.
Trinidad, and Complete the first lrg of
the Impressive voyage to the Pacific. In
that ancient little port the 1S.000 officers
and men of the armada will Celcbrat
Chrlstmss with festivities and feaeti'ig
aboard ship for all and shore liberty for
the lucky ones. Tons of seasonable good
things were laid in before the fleet left
home waters, and all hands will enjoy
a break tn the customary rations of deep
ea voyaging. Five days the ships will
He at Kbit of Fpain, where the officials
and cltliens have arranged an elaborate
rrugarm.of entertainment. Three days
will be glvcrrtip to racing, base ball, polo
an.l other sports. A reception and ball
will be given at Government house and
numerous public and private functions
will be held In honor of the' visitors. On
Saturday the battleships wtll head south
ward for the long run down to Rio. where
they are scehduled to arrive on January
11 for a stay of ten days. After the
first day or two out from Trinidad Diob
ably no word will be had from the lleet
until It Is reported at Rio, aa the ship
will havs passed from the aone of the
wireless telegraph. The torpedo boat
flotilla, less fortunate than the big ships.
ui spena Christmas at sea, being
neuuiea 10 reach Para, Brail), on Thurs
day next.
FORMER OMAHA MAN ARRESTED
Ikoma O. Hayes, Employe af w ask.
Ksafcesalesaent.
WASHINGTON. D. C. Dec. a -Thomas
u. nayes. receiving teller of the American
National bank of thl city, was today ar
rested on a police warrant sworn to by
Robert N. Harper, president of the Insti
tution, charging the former with the em
beaslement of UM of the funds of the
bank. Hayes was released upon securing
bond In the amount of $j.io for his ap
pearance In the police court on Monday.
It la reported that there may be a short
age of between O.00U and H.uuo in the funds
of the bank, but President Harper says
that until the accounts are examined by
experts. It will be Impossible to determine
the Vxact amount of the shortage.
When seen at his apartment tonight
llayc protested hie Innocence. Hayea ha
been connected with th- bank for about
three and a I alf years, having com to
this city from the west. Hi parents
rwMt la Omaha. Neb.
CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
FOR.CAST FOR NKRRASKA Monday
fair.
Temperst uri lit Omaha yesterday:
6 a.
i a. m
a. tn
8 a. m
STARVING
Great BneTerlng Among; Papll of Pri
mary ftckools Oitiss to Indus
trial Inactivity.
BERLIN. Dec. 12. The municipality Is
face to face with a serious problem In
connection with the supply of foods to
thousands of virtually stsrving children
attending the primary . schools In Berlin,
whose numbers have been, greatly aug
mented this year In consequence of the
Industrial inactivity. Hithern the Chil
dren's Canteen society has been able to
cope with the task In a fairly satisfac
tory way by means of subscriptions from
private sources, but the calls on Its funds
are this year so great that It will be un
able to supply many of the children. In
the first. week of December, according to
official statistics, from 2b out of SS5
primary schools no fewer than 11.917 chil
dren attended school in most cases with
out breakfast and In all cases without
the prospect of obtaining a midday nvjal
at home. Of these 4.498 receive a simple
daily meal from the fourteen canteens
belonging to the aboTe mentioned society;
the other 7,444 are totally unprovided
for. '
The question of the city's responsibil
ity for the children lia now been raised
by the socialists In the municipal coun
cil, who propose that the council should
In the future undertake the task. The
society will be able this winter to dis
pose of the sum of $8,421.60. and this
will all be taken up by the provision of
a tneal a day to the 4.49S children al
ready on Its hobks. Altogether for the
feeding of the 12.000 starving little ones
during the winter $37,500 will be neces
sary, and the council Is to be asked to
vote (30.000 to make up the. amount re
quired and place it at the disposition of
the society for administration. This
course Is suggested In order to obviate
the loss- of civic rights entailed by the
children's parents should their offspring
be directly fed by the authorities.
Parent who do not send their children
to school are fined unless they can glye
medical authority for keeping them
home. Therefore poor parent aend their
children to school, even though food less
and miserably clad.
SIOUX FALLS MEN ARE BUSY
Iaaaraeat RepubliVnna Prepare te
fclve Battle ta Senatar
Klttredge.
SIOUX FALLS. 8. t.. Dec. K.-cSnecial.T-i
At a meeting held In IhlB city by Insurg
ent republicans from Sioux Falls and point
throughout Minnehaha county preliminary
arrangements were made for carrying on
the political campaign in this county next
year.
As this Is the home county of I'nlted
States Senator Klttredge, the leader of
the stalwart faction, who Is a candidate
for re-election, unusual Interest attaches
to the campaign In this county between
the two factions of republicans. '
At the meeting of Insurgent republicans
the work of selecting a chairman of the
republican county committee waa first
taken up. Candidates for the place were
H. M. Jones, J. W. Cone, T.'W. Dwlght.
Gilbert Thorson and J. T. Medin. H. M.
Jones, who Is a prominent Sioux Fulls
buHiness man, waa elected to the offloe of
chairman on the first ballot, and therefore
will direct the campaign In this county
next year In behalf of the insurgent re
publican. t
The following were elected members of
the executive committee: C. F. Bowles,
Dell Rapids; C. A. Berg, Colton; A. E.
Stephenson. Edison; I. C. Kingsbury, Hart
ford; T. W. Dwlght. C. E. Holmes. N. E.
Phillips and J. W. Cone. Bloux Falls: J. A.
Scott, Valley Springs; T. E. Bushnell,
Corson.
A resolution was adopted endorsing Coe
I. Crawford, governor of South Dakota
and leader of the Insurgent faction, for
ejection to the I'nlted State senate a the
successor of Senator Klttrsdge, and Hans
A. I'strud for re-election to the office of
state superintendent of public instruction.
Campaign headquarters will be opened
soon after the commenccme nt of tho new
year.
DURANG0 BANKS STAY CLOSED
Ksaanlaer Hays Institutions la Hands
af HerelTer Will Not Be .
Reape-aed.
DENVER, Colo., Dec. 2. Neither the
Colorado Slate bank of Durango and its
branch bank at Pagosa Springs, nor the
Smelter City 'State bank, also at Durango,
both of which closed their doors week
before last, will be able to reorganise and
reopen, according to H. M. Beatty, state
bank commisslonery'who returned from
Durango yesterday after placing the In
stitutions in the hand of receivers to
wind up their affairs.
The liabilities of the Colorado State and
Its Pagosa branch are S330.UOO, which do
not Include a oapltal tock of 175,000. TS e
assets have a face value of S4SO.O0O, but
are of such character aa to fall very short
of meeting the Indebtedness.
The liabilities of the Smelter City State
are 1142.000; asset. 1172.000; capital stock,
$J0.0i41 The assets are also of such char
acter aa not g meet the Indebtedness of
the institution.
TAFT CONFERS WITH VORYS
Secretary af Mar aad His Political
Maaager Dlsrsu Reeeat
Developments.
WASHINGTON. Deo. 2 J. A conference
was held here today between Secretary of
War Taft and his campaign manager,
Arthur I. Vorys of Ohio. Beyond the
statement that he reviewed with Mr. Taft
generally what had transpired In the field
of politic since the seiretary' absence
on bis trip around the world. Mr. Vorys
declined to talk. He will return to Ohio
tomorrow, but in the meantime he ex
pects to talk over the Taft movement
with political leaders here. Secretary
Taft left Washington at 4 o'clock this
afternoon over the Baltimore A tJhlo ruad
for Cincinnati, whersr lie gu to qualify
a an executor of the estate of hi mother,
who tiled recently. The secretary will re
turn to Washington on luesday.
mm
,IT,4Sili Jra. m a-
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BERLIN CHILDREN
CATTLE MEN PUSll FIGHT
Some Restraint Needed on Railroads
that Raise Rates.
LAWYER COWAN AT WASHINGTON
Great Flood of Sew Bills Ha Bees
Iatrodaeed la Hons of Repre
sentative Pensions Far
TVebraskans.
(From a Staff Correspondent !
W ASHINGTON. D. C. Dec. I2.- Special.)
The cattle raisers of the west are deter
mined to use every effort within their
power to secure regulation which will en
sure better conditions than exist today. To
this end they are urging legislation which
will affect every shipper In the country.
Their attorney. Judge J. II. Cowan of Fort
Worth, speaking on this subject today,
said:
"There can be no doubt that fair play de
mands that the act to regulate commerce
should be so amended that a railroad rate,
made by the railroads and which has been
In effect for two years or more, shall not
be advanced except with the consent of the
Interstate Commerce commission, after
affording opportunity to interested parties
to be heard, and that the commission ba
given the power to prescribe the amount
of the advance If 1t finds that some ad
vance less than that proposed would be
reasonable. In no other wy can the
public have the real benefit of that pre
sumption which the courts and the com
mission have repeatedly affirmed, that a
rate fixed by the carriers and remaining
long in effect Is presumably high enough.
The shipper must complain and a hearing
must be had before he can get a rate re
duced. Why Bhould not the carriers be sub
ject to the same rule before they advance
a long standing rate?
"The country, is divided Into traffic dis
tricts In which the railroad traffic men
fix and change the rates, with the object,
of course, to make more money, and It Is
certain that they will be able to make
more advances than the shippers will ever
get reductions, because In most Instances
the shippers cannot afford to enter the
unequal contest, so the not of It will be
Just what has happened for the past "ten
years, a constant average Increase In actual
rates. The reduction, where It happens, of
per ton mile earnings indicates nothing as
that depends on the character of tonnage
and length of the haul.
People Paying More.
"Since the .enactment of the Hepburn
bill the receipts of the railroads In gross
and In net earning and In the average re
ceived for the units of traffic all show
that the people pay more per unit of traffic
than they did before, besides the vast In
crease In earnings from abolishing free ser
vice and rebates. The reduction made by
the Interstate Commerce commission have
been insignificant compared to the net ad
vantage of the law and advance made
by roads.
"The claim that there should be po
further regulation because the railroad
have, apfferw from regulations -is without
foundation In fact. Officials may have suf
fered ihe loss of opportunity which before
these laws were enacted were quite freely
Indulged, but the railroad corporation as
such have not suffered in the aggregate
any loss. The railroads are not worth
less money, but are worth more money, an!
this all of the officials ar? constantly
swearing to before the Interstate Com
merce commission In hearings cn rate cases.
If the price of stocks and bonds have fallen
It Is not due to reduced earnings, but to
some other, cause; neither Is It due to a
reduced value of the property. Why
should the law or the people be charged
with reducing these stocks and bonds so
that the amount they are sold for will
now net b or S per cent return, or be
credited with having advanced them to the
price of a year ago when they sold at fig
ures which would bring a return of about
S per cent? Neither the law nor the people
control It. and they have neither destroyed
the value of the property nor have Ihey
Injured It or the right to have a reason
able return thereon."
Flood af Bills la Hodse.
Although the house of representative has
been In actual session only about three days
since congress assembled the members suc
ceeded In Introducing not less than 10.0D0
bills, before the holiday recess. The pro
cess of starting an Idea on the road toarda
the statutes at large Is a simple one these
days. All that Is necessary Is to take a
copy of the bill, which failed of considera
tion In a previous congress, scratch out the
number of that congress Insert in lieu
thereof "'Brxtletli congress, first session"
and add the name .of the member. Then
throw the document Into a receptacle and
the bill Is "Introduced."
So easy Is this method as compared with
the old way that many members simply
look up all the old bills introduced by
themselves or their predecessors, secure
copies and throw them in without looking
Into the provisions which they father. For
the last three weeks the compositors in the
"bill room" of the government printing
office have been working day a4 night,
yet In spite of the vigorous and constant
work of the entire force less than a trtlrd
of the bills have been printed. It would
perhaps be a well If some plan could be
perfected for editing bills before printing
them. Such a plan would certainly mtae
for economy aa It frequently happen that
half a dosen member Introduce Identically
the same measures and what Is worse
scores of such measure have been offered
thl session which are already on the stat
ute books as laws.
('pvrlght on TaBBed" Masie.
Ol all legislation pending before congress,
the bill attracting probably the most atten
tion Is the copyright bill. Introduced in the
house by Mr. Currier and in the senate by
Mr. Smoot. These two bills are practically
Identical except that the senate bill la a
little more explicit with reference to the
use of mechanical or automatic musical
instruments. This element of the question
ha been the subject of the strongest possi
ble fight. Last winter the committees held
Joint hearings in the congressional library.
These hearings attracted great Interest and
speedily developed into a struggle for su
premacy between the music composer and
publisher on the one aide and the manu
facturers of musical instrument on the
other.. Specialist from all over the coun
try were brought here by both side and
the array of legal talent was very able and
brilliant. The manufacturers aeem to have
won. Both of the pending b'lla expressly
eliminate tha perforated paper roll and
similar mechanical devices from the realm
of copyright.
'-" A lint meat af Raama.
Fifty year ago, on December Is. the
bouse of representative moved Into It
present quarter in the nation's capitol.
At that time there was great complaint
over the dampness f the building and the
representatives of the country a half cen
tury ago complained bitterly over the un-
(CofUlnued oa Second Page-)
CUMMINS SPEAKS IN BROOKLYN
Kast Is et Rlakt aa AttMade nf West
Toward Rig Corpora
tions; NEW TORK. Dee. 25. -Governor Albert
B. Cummins of Iowa, the principal speaker
at the annual dinn4r of the New England
society in Brooklyn lat night declared that
the American fleet, now steaming to the
Pacific coast would be Welcomed by all
the great nations of the world before It
again anchored In New Tork harbor.
Governor Cummins, speaking of the atti
tude of legislatures towards corporations,
said:
"There Is a belief prevalent In soifie
places that the people of the country, and
especially the people of the west, have gone
mad In a crusade against railway Invest
ment. It Is not so.' On the contrary, there
I not a shadow of rancor or hostility in
the" course they have taken.
"The tendency toward monopoly, or sub
stantial monopoly Is ns swift as It is
natural. Within the limits consistent with
effective competition great corporation
should be encouraged, not denounced; but
the moment that one of them grows strong
enough to dominate the business In which
It Is engaged and to exclude all rival It
becomes as dangerous as the spirit of
anarchy.
"There are a few men who have fallen
Into thl unfortanate habit of denouncing
the msster spirits, who have accumulated
fortunes, but they have no constituency.
The man who wins tn the struggle for
supremacy. If he wins fairly. Is entitled
to the fruits of his victory, no matter what
may be the field of his endeavors, and
while he may excite envy he will always
extort admiration.- These are a few men
who see In every advocate of change and
progress a demagogue, but they do not
spesk for the people and their votces should
be drowned in the current of sober thought
and noble patriotism."
BOOST F0RSHIP SUBSIDY
Coaventioa Held la Cleveland to Vrare
Grants to Mall I earner Cos
arreasntan PoIlarA Speaks.
CLEVELAND, Xec. 22. United State
senators, congressmen, high government
officials and representatives of many busi
ness Interests gathered here today In the
Interest of a ship subsidy. The attendance
and enthusiasm shown by the delegates
from various parts of the country Indicated
that the general public was taking a
greater Interest In the subject of the mer
chant marine and a subsidy for sea going
craft.
The convention was In a degree the be
ginning of a campaign of education, but
the , effort of the league will be directed
against congress thl winter In the Interest
of the United Stales mall subsidy for
ocean steamer. This, the supporters of
the subsidy believe, will result In a subsidy
for general shipping Interests 'and build
up an American fleet of sailing vessels. It
la estimated that the government will have
to appropriate about 1700,000,000 to place
the merchant marine in a position success
fully to compete wit the merchant marine
of other nations where subsidy exist.
Tuft day-cai.jkrne -area concluded with
a banquet thi' eVentng. -whlrh was a gen
eral love feast over the' success of the
league in it work so far. The star attrac
tions at the banquet were Senator J. B.
Foraker of Ohio'' and Senator J. H. Gal
linger of New Hampshire.
At the aft.-rnoon session J. G. Butler, Jr.,
a Toungstown. O., Iron manufacturer, in
troduced Congressman Pollard of Nebraska,
Mr. Pollard touched upon the Interest the
farmers and people of the middle west
might have In ship subsidy and the benefits
they would derive.-.
MISSIONS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Annnal Report af Kplaeapal District
lnsard by Blskop Hare aad
Secretary Bell.
MITCHELL, 8. D.. Dec. 2i-( Special. -The
annual report of the Missionary dis
trict of the Episcopal church of South
Dakota has Just been Issued In pamphlet
form, under' the direction of Bishop Hare
and Rev. A. W. Bell, the secretary. The
work among the Indian agencies Is one of
the large factors of Bishop Hare and As
sistant Bishop Johnson, and It Is surprising
Indeed what has been accomplished in a
religious Way among the Indians and the
determination with which they pursue a
religion when once converted. They are
close observants on church services and In
their financial obligations to the church
they are fidelity Itself. There are seventy
seven churches and ch a pels among the In
dian agencies, each of which la presided
over by an Indian rector or preacher, and
they are wry devout and conscientious In
all of their ministrations of the church's
rite. At the present time there are 4,370
confirmed Indians, and during the last year
661 confirmations resulted from the work of
those Indian ministers. Represented among
the Indian churches there are 2,571 families,
with a population of 11.M4. 1$.1&! of whom
have been baptised. Of the 4.370 who have
Iwn confirmed, but 916 were absent from
communion during the year, and over SO
per cent attend the services every Sunday
of the year.
APPEALS FR0M GOLDFIELD
President line Taken o Action on
Rraweata ta Allow Federal
Troops to Remain.
WASHINGTON. -Dec. 2,-It was ttated
at the White house tonight that tele
graphic appeals sent by civic bodies, mine
owner and individual of GoMfleld. Nev.,
to President Roosevelt urging upon him
the neceasity for retaining a portion of
the federal troops at Goldfleld indefinitely
had been received but that no action had
been decided on.
Adjutant General Alnsworth stated to
night that the order signed by Secretary
of War Taft yesterday directed to General
Funston for the withdrawal of the fed
eral troops at Cildfleld on December 30,
was forwarded today.
FIRE RECORD.
Fire In Coal Mine.
PITTSBURG. Dee. 2J. Flro started In
the Schoenberger mine, near Monongahla,
today and 1 still raging. The mine ho
been Idle for a month on account of a
strike. It waa at first reported that an
other mine explosion had occurred, but
Investigation shows that the fire start ?d
fnm crossed wires. The loss will be
heavy.
Farmer Saffera from Blaad Palsoalag.
BOONH. Ia., Deo. S Special Telegram.)
Henry Jacobaon, a farmer lllng north
west of the city, is suffering from blood
polsinlng. He had a slight scratch on his
forehead and was working In the stable
when a horse slobbered on hi hand.
Thoughllesaly Jacobaon ran the hand along
hi forehead, allowing the substance to
enter the scratch. A frightful case of
bloud poisoning resulted. Tii man ia la
a serious condition.
NEBRASKA POLITICS ASTIR
Talk Starting About State Represen
tation in National Conventions.
HOW DELEGATES ARE CHOSEN
Demaeratle Mat Committee Is Dead
Broke, Aeeardlast to F.dawr How
ard, Wka Han Scheme ta
Raise tbe Daaak.
The quirk succession of developements
in the field of national politics has started
talk of president making In Nebraska, al
though the actual work of arrang'ng the
preliminaries for selecting delegates Is yet
to be begun. The accepted custom of na
tional convent!6ns requires the selection of
delegates to be made not less than thirty
days before the date of the meeting, which
mans that for the populists convention at
St. Louis.' April 8 the time limit expires
March a for the' republicans, who will
nominate at Chicago 'June W the time
limit expires May 17, and for the democrat
who are to assemble at Denver July t the
latest day for the state convention Is June7.
With reference to the selection of dole
gates to the republican national convention,
Victor Rosewater of the Bee, who has re
turned from Washington where he at
tended the national committee meeting as
the proxy for Nstjonal Committeeman Mor
rill has this to say:
"The national committee, largely on my
representation, changed the form or its call
o as to permit state like Nebraska to
comply with the requirement of their new
primary legislation. Our state law provide
explicitly for the selection of both state
and district delegates in state and district
convention to be called by the state com
mittee. The candidates for congress are to
be nominated later by direct vote In Sep
tember. Previous call for republican na
tional convention stipulated that the dis
trict delegate should be selected In the
same manner a candidates for congress,
but this condition has now been stricken
out.
"My Idea is. and is has found favor with
all with whom I have talked on the subject,
that the state committee should provide for
seven conventions, six of them being dis
trict conventions whose members should
be finally assembled into a single conven
tion for the whole tate. The delegates
to the district conventions meeting at the
same time and place would thus choose
separately .the district delegates and alter
nates at large. Such procedure would save
much time and expense and the expense is
something to be taken Into consideration,
particularly for the distant counties whose
delegates have to travel far and foot their
own bills for railroad fare and hotel ex
pense. I look tot the selection of a higher
grade of delegates than 1 usually the case
to represent both the district and the state
at large, because the coming conventions
will bave no other duties to perform and
will have no nominations for congress or
for state offices to be used aa trading ma
terial: With the handsome republican ma
jority plied up at ous last election. Ne
braska, .republican, are in a position to
command attention af Ctucaga if they will
only send representative who have more
than mere local standing."
Down In Lincoln, Charle O. Whedon has
been publishing aome of his correspondence
with members of the republican state com
mittee, over his demand for a direct pri
mary on presidential preferences for use
a a guide Tor the national convention del
egates. The committeemen who have an
swered his circular letters of Inquiry for
the most nart quote the Nebraska law,
which provides for the selection of dele
gate by convention, and In no way pro
vides for expressions of preference for
president or vice president or any officer
whose election does not depend exclusively
upon the favor of Nebraska voter, it
Is to be read between the lines of these
letters that if a straw vote, on presidential
preferences in advance of nominating con
vention had been part of the direct pri
mary idea, the legislature could easily have
incorporated into the law a provision to
thla effect. Mr. Wheron' counter argu
ment la that notwithstanding the failure
of tha lawmakers to provide for the pro
posed election and the lack of funds to
defray the expenses. It I the duty of the
state committee to improvise such a pri
mary as a token of confidence ia the voters
From Washington comes the authenti
cated information that Senator Norrls
Brown and Senator E. J. Burkett would
both like to be Included In the big four
who are to constitute the delegates at
large to Chicago.
The Dally Drift man In the Lincoln Jour
nal undertakes to recall the politics of
four years ago. when Nebraska republi
cana were being naked to rally around a
vice presidential candidate In the person of
John L. .Webster of Omaha. He Insfsts
that Webster must be still in the running
and give assurance that "we will stick
to him like a porous plaster, until fie wins
or throws the race." A If this were not
enough, he lapses into poetry which can
only be appreciated In the original, which
Is as follows:
Speak of any man you may,
I'm for Webster;
It the people have their say,
I'm for Webster;
Though the mob In every town
Howls for Burkett or for Brown,
l'ou may safely put It down
I'm for Webster.
When our hosts get in the game,
I'm for Webster;
When Chicago Is aflame,
I'm for Webster;
W'hen to carry out their plan
They have named some other man,
Lt them do the worst they can.
I'm for Webster.
Though they swamp him in the flood
I'm for Webster;
Though hi name be written mud
I m for Webeter;
Though he reach the high degree.
Or receive the snickersnee.
It is all the same to me,
, I'm tor Webster.
The announcement that the democrats
are arranging to entertain the Cook
county excursionists to the democratic
pow-wow at Denver, who will stop In
Omaha for part of the Fourth of July,
suggests that Omaha will be the gateway
for a great many prominent men headed
for the different national conventions next
summer. For the democratic convention,
Omaha will catah moat of the eastern
delegations, many of whom might bo In
duced to break the trip with a stop-over
here. For the republican convention at
Chicago. Omaha will be on tha direct, path
way for the delegate from most of th
mountain and Pacific coast states and
these, too, might be glad to take a rest
her either going or coming, or both ways.
Tbe only really gloomy note In the po
litical atmosphere of Nebraska come from
Edgar Howard, who vouches for the abso
lute truth of the startling statement that
"the Nebraska state democratic committee
Is dead broke." Judge Howard admit that
(Coctlnue,1 on Second Pag.)
SUNDAY LAW IN KANSAS CITY
Jadae wallare Keys Only Tkree Pool
llnlle and Theater lefy
Officers.
KANSAS CITT. Mo. Dec. 22. Judre
William H. Wallace of the Jarkson cnui.tv
criminal court, who has been credited
with having sti'ited the Sumlsy observ
ance movement' that now ha become
widespread, has iucd a significant state
ment to the Associated Pres on his In
terpretation of the Missouri law that be
Is seeking to enforce. He also arraigns
those w hom he says lolate the law for
pecuniary gain and dwells upon what he
says Is a crying need of one day of rest
cut of every seven.
As a result of Judge Wallace's cam
paign, the county grand Jury has. since
September 20 lant. returned 1.101 Indi. t
ments against violators of the Sunday
Isw; forced hundreds of shopkeepers to
close their places of buslne on that
day. and, within the lust three Weeka,
has placed over BOO Sunday-working
actors, a treses, theatrical managers and
their employes and others under bond
for hearing ister:. That Jury Is still
In session and the Jude says he will not
cease his efforts until the law is ie
spected to the letter.
Judge Wallace liu for many years been
one of the foremost lawyers In the state
and has always fought for law enforce
ment. He was appointed to his present
position by Governor Joseph W. Folk, who
has accomplished what no other Mtxsourl
executive has ever done, namely, the clos
ing of the saloons on Sunday.
Judge Wallace's statement concludes:
"Answering your inquiry as to the prog
ress of Sunday closing. I can only state
the facts as to Kansas City. When the
grand Jury was convened here In Sep
tember last over 600 retail groceries were
open on Sundsy. No wthey are clos.nl.
Every barber shop In the city Is closed.
Retail merchants have closed, except a
very few, who observe some other day
aa Sunday as permitted by our statutes.
The 200 place where cigars and tobacco
were formerly sold are obeying the law,
excepting now and then a clandestine
sale. Only three pool halls and theaters
defy the law and two of the latter have
recently closed. The credit for this je
eult Is due largely to a grand Jury com
posed of fearless, magnificent 1 men."
MANY NOMINATIONS WAITING
Senate Acts I m Bat Few Appoint
ments Before Taking Holiday
R eeeii,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22. The senate ad
journed for the holidays with a number
of executive appointments unconfirmed.
The president ha sent to the senate prac
tically al! of his appointments made during
the summer recess of congress, and the
larger part of these have been acted upon
by the proper committees and confirmed
In .executive seaaion by the senate. These
Included postmasters, consular appoint
ments, land office appointments, certain
Judicial nominations and a list of over
LOOO promotions in the army and navy.
Of the nominations reported favorably
by committees to tha senate for confirma
tion hut ona -acjuaias .la be acted upon,
that 'of John a. Caper to be commis
sioner of Internal revenue. An attempt
waa made to secure the confirmation of
Capers a few days ago, but objection waa
made, and It went over until after the
holidays. No definite charges against him
have been madu, but the nomination was
simply passed over at the suggestion of
one senator who had conferred with others
before he took the action.
The nomination of Silaa 1L Reed of Okla
homa to be Judge of the district court of
Alaska, in the place of Judge AVlckersham,
recently resigned. Is also held up in Wie
Judiciary committee. It Is understood fnat
there wtll be some protest from Alaslra
against his appointment.
There are also some nominations still
pending In the finance committee. Senator
Clay has held up the confirmation of one
or two Georgia post masterships where men
are to succeed women.
The committee on territories has refused
a favorable report for the present nomina
tion of Governor Curry to be governor
of New Mexico, but has seen no reason tor
holding up the appointment of David J.
Leahy ti be United States attorney for
that territory.
FIRE TRUCK HITS STREET CAR
Horse Killed aad Driver Carr
Receives severe Bat Not Dan
gerous Injarles.
While responding to a false alarm about
:10 Saturday evening Driver Ed Carr of
hook and ladder company No. 1 wai thrown
from his seat and severely Injured and
one of the three-horse team killed a a
result of a collision with a street car at
Sixteenth and Dodge streets.
in swinging out to avoid a small wagon,
'.he front trucks of the big hook and ladder
went one way while the rear truck went
another, causing a collision with a south
bound Park avenue car, killing "Old Nick."
one of the trio of horses, and throwing
Driver Carr from the seat onto the pave
ment, fsom which fall he suffered two
lacerations of the scalp, a lacerated shoul
der and a long cut In the right leg.
The police ambulance waa called and Carr
removed to the police station, where his
wounds were dressed by Police Surgeon
Fltzglbbbons and he waa later taken to his
home. Eighteenth and California street. In
the emergency rig. The front of the street
car was badly Indented, but fortunately
none of the occupants was Injured, which
was die to the fact that Carr released the
brake o' the trucks and allowed the Im
pact to swing the truck around.
SICKNESS PREVENTS REUNION
Cearsre Helmrod aad Family Will Mat
Meet Here oa Aeeoant af
Farmer' Illaeaa.
George Helmrod. consul to Samoa, and
his family were to have held a family
reunion In Omaha Christmas, but Mr.
Hetmrod's sickness In New York prevents
earning out the plans. He and hi daugh
ter went to New York on a visit with
his son, George Helmrod, Jr., and he be
came sick. Miss Helmrod returnod to
Omaha and her mother went to New York
to be with her husband, who Is at a hos
pital. .
Hangnrtan Dael I Bloodies.
BUDAPEST, Dec. 23. Dr. Wekerle, th
Hungarian premier, and Former Minister
of Justice Polony! fought a duel today
with swords, a a result of an allegation
of political dishonesty made against the
premier by th ex-minister at a sitting
of Parliament a few days ago. The meet
ing took place at noon and waa a blood
ies one. Neither man wa In any way
Injured and the two became reconciled.
feel Mill Han for Holidays.
JOMET. III. Dec. 22 Practically the
entire force of the steel mills here will
have a vacation during holiday week
nearly all department closing until Jan
uary 1. Reouniptton at that date Is
Froirised- Nearly 1.000 men wUi b af-tcted.
SUNDAY LAW IS OLD
Sabbath Closing- Statute Dates Back to
Territorial Days.
BILL INTRODUCED FIRST IN 1854
Only Criminal Code on the Books fci
Some Time.
C0JTES FROM OTHER STATES' ACTS
Pm'rit Tint Trat kA in T1Aa1nr-n m
' as m w m. aa m v V VV AA ayVVAIV Uf
Laid Down by Moses.
NEBRASKA CLINGS TO MOUNT SINAJ
lr. (iekrae I,. Miller and A. J. Pop.
plrtoa Were Members af Karly
Lealsfatare tbal f.rnpplrd
wltk Problem.
The Sunday closing law, which is new
receiving such serious attention In Omaha,
is by no means a new statute. In facV
with the exception of a very few ctttTen,
It antedates the oldest Inhabitant. But ex
cept for spasmodic pretenses of reform
tion. It has never been enforced with thl
severity now proposed, because, presun
aVly, It was Intended to he a dead letter.
One of the very first laws passed by Hit
very first legislature, of the territory ol
Nebraska provldod fur the proper observ
ance of the Sabbath along lines similar to
the present law, though not quite so
stringent. This first law was brought to
Nebraska territory from Iowa, it being
at that time a part of the criminal code
of that state. Two years later, however,
James R. Allen, who represented the
counties of Washington, Burt, Cuming and
the southern district of Douglas, Intro
duced a bill for a separate act more
stringent than the Iowa act. Dr. George
L. Miller of Omaha was a member of the
legislature which enacted this law and A.
J. Poppleton was a member of the legisla
ture which adopted the Iowa Sunday law.
Mose Aatkar of tka Law.
The Sunday closing law has stuck closer
to the Nebraska statute than a brother.
There has been a time In the history of
Nebraska when it wa no crime against
the laws of the state to commit murder or
steal a horse, but since that flrrt session
there never has been a time when a man
could legally transact business on Sunday
except In certain cases. Nebraska has
tenaciously held to that old Mosaic doc
trine, "Six day shalt thai labor and do
all thy work, but the seventh day 1 the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God; tn It thou
shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son,
nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor
thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy
stranger that Is within thy gate." Front
this commandment came originally tha
Sunday closing law.
Friday... February Si. ISoS, H P- Bennett,
representing the ewumy ot,. Pierce, Intro
duced a Joint resolution In th council '
which provided for the observance of the
Sabbath by the adoption of the code of
Iowa for the government of Nebraska
Insofar a It was applicable. Four day
later Governor Ixard In a special message
to the legislature recommended the adop
tion of the code of one of the neighboring
states, preferably Iowa. March . Chair
man Brown of the committee on printing,
reported that his committee recommended
the adoption of portions of the Iowa code
and he Introduced C. B. No. 6. the criminal
code of Iowa. The bill was resd a first
and second lme on that day and on
March 9 a substitute bill was reported back
from the Judiciary committee to which It
had been referred. It was read a first,
second and third time, passed, and th
title agreed to that day. It was signed by
Governor Ixard Friday, March 14, tha
numerous Fridays probably causing it to
be such a "Jonah" law now to ome. ,
Reference to gaaday Obnervaace.'
The coda made this reference to Sunday
observance: v
Section 1H. Uwi of Nebraska IKS If
any person wilfully disturbes or dis
quiets any assembly of persons met
for religious worship by profane dis
courstt or rude snd Indecent behavior,
or by making a noiae either within
the place of worship or near as to
disturb the order and solemnity of the as
sembly, he shall be punished by Imprison
ment lti the county Jail not more than thirty
days or by fine nut exceeding thn.
Section 1R5 If any person within one mil
from the place where any religious society
Is collected together for religious worship
in any field or woodland, expose to sal
or gilt any spirituous or other liquor or
any article of merchandise or any provis
ions or other article of traffic, h shall b
punished by fine of not exceeding .'.
Section 1;6 If any person wiUiin one inU
not apply to tavern or grocery keepers ex
ercising their calling or business la tha
place mentioned In their licenses (if they
ha vu auchK nor to any distillers or man
ufacturers or others In the prosecution
of their ordinary calling or business so aa
to prevent them from vending or exposing
to sale the articles above prohibited at
tlieir place of residence; nor to any person
who has a written permit from the peraoa,
having the charge of such religious society
to sell any of such prohibited articles oa
complying with the regulations of suck
reliKlous assembly and with the law ol Uta
territory.
Allea Mast Have Seen It All.
From the records of the legislature ol
those early days. It is evident the Sunday
closing law waa not sufficiently "closing'4
or that Mr. Allen, the representative men
tioned, had an idea of what was coming,
for he introduced the following bill In th
house January 19, 1K7, two year after Ui
adoption of the Iowa code, which was ap
proved February 11. 1817:
Section 1 Be It enacted by the council and
house of representatives of th territory of
Nebraska, That it shall be unlawful for
any person or persons to keep opcti hi,
her or their shop, store, grocery,
trading house or saloon, to be present at.
any dancing, .public diversion, show or
oilier public entertainment, to take part
in any sport, game or play on the first day
of the week, commonly called th Christian
Sabbath. It shall be unlawful for any
person or perkons to perform any manner
of work, labor or bunlnea, except only
work of necessity or charity, on said day,
and every penton so offending shall be pun
ished by a tine not exceeding 110 for cava
and every offense.
Section I No person who does not con
scientiously believe me obrvance of th
first day of tha week to be a Christian day
tdutyl shall be liable to any fine or pun
Uhuient for performing any secular work
or productive labor thn aaid first day of th
week, provided he or she disturb mo othnr
person.
section 3 If any person shall 'on th
Sabbath or first day of the week, or at
any other time, by rude or Inr'etent be- .
bavlor or In any other way inttntionally
disturb or Interrupt an assembly of th
people met for the worship of God, wlthiir
tne plaea of such meeting or, out of It, '
shall on conviction thereof Before any
Jwttlca of the peace be punished by ltn
prlsonmer.t In the county Jail not more
than thirty days or by line nut exceeding
r.
Section 4 For th purpose of the pro
vikkons of this act. the id first day of
the week shall be underatoud to iiiiud
all tiie time betw.-en the midnight pm
cedlug and the midnight following the
said day; and no pipecutlon for any
fine or penalty luvunsd umlr uf of
