Nebraska Newspapers

    "T7TK OMAHA DAILY BEE: MONDAY. DECEMBER iM, 1907.
Tiie Omaiia Daily Dee.
FOUNDED BT EDWARD ROSEWATER.
VICTOR ROSEWATER, EDITOR.
Kntered at Omaha PostoflUe second
clan matter. .
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Dnilv Bee (without Sunday), one year.. $4.00
i Pally Bee and Sunday, one year 6n
' Sunday Bee, one year 2-5
Saturday Be, on year 1W
DELIVERED BY CARRIER:
Dully Bee (Including- Sunday), per week. 15c
Dnilv Kee (without Sunday), per week.,10o
Evening Bee (without Sunday), per week 60
Evening Bee (with Sunday), per week.. .ID
Adriresi all complaints of Irregularities
In delivery to City Circulation Department.
OFFICES.
Omaha The Bee Building.
South Omaha City Hall Building,
l ouncll Bluffs 16 Scott Street.
( 'hlrairo 1K40 University Building.
New York 1508 Home Life Insurance
Building.
Washington 7K Fourteenth Street N. W.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communications relating to newt and edi
torial matter should be addressed, Omaha
;, Bee, Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft, express or postal order
payable to The Bee Publishing Company.
Only 2-cent stamps received In payment of
j mall accounts. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or eastern exchange, not accepted.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska. Douglas County, ss.:
Charles C. Hoaewater, general manager
' of The Bee Publishing Company, being
duly sworn, says that the actual number
1 of full and complete copies of The Dally,
. Morning, Evening and Sunday Bee printed
I during the month of November, 1907, was
follows:
1.
. . 37,000
. . 37330
. . 88,500
.. 37,230
,. 37.430
.. 36,450
.. 38.180
.. 37,430
. . 37,090
I...
t...
4...
...
17..
II..
11..
39,680
20.
.' 39,680
T 37,310
t 37340
j! 36,970
22!! 37,300
j I 87,380
24.. 36,100
26 37,590
2 37,090
27 37,340
21 36,940
IV ,. 39,590
10 37,690
t.
37,890
35,900
10...
11. 37,530
11...
37,730
37,380
37,350
37,600
It..
14..
15..
Total
.1.123,430
Less unsold and returned copies. 10,166
Net Total . , . 1,113,350
Dally average 37,108
CHARLES C ROSEWATER,
General Manager.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before me this 2d day of December. 10U7.
ROBERT HUNTER.
Notary Public.
WIIKH OUT or TOWI.
Sahnerlbera leaving; the city tfSH
porarily ahoald bar The Be
mailed to them. Address Trill be
changed as often aa requested.
i "
Never too late to do Christmas shop
ping uatil Santa Clans Is actually here.
So far aa Mr. Taft is concerned, the
Missouri republicans admit that they
have been shown.
Admiral Dewey celebrated his 70th
birthday ahead of time. The admiral
has a habit of getting in ahead of
time.
A railroad train has been invented
that will run on one rail. The need
Hj for a railroad train that will, stick
to two rails.
It is neml-offloially announced that
Japan does not' want the Philippines.
Japan has been educated not to want
anything it cannot get. I
So far as the small boy is concerned,
tomorrow will be the longest day In
the year, regardless of what the calen
dar may have to offer on the subject.
Local republicans simply refuse to
become excited nine months ahead of
time over who IS to be their preferred
candidate for congress in this district
next (all.
Three children were poisoned at
Detroit by. eating samples given away
at a pure food show., Michigan's pure
food law cannot have been modeled
after that of Nebraska. '
If it is true, as now asserted, that
the Scotch dialect used by Barrle, Mac
laren and other modern Action writers,
Is never heard in Scotland the Scotch
are to be. congratulated.-
, Tom Johnson, Tom Watson and Tom
Law son have called recently at the
White House. As soon as Tom Tag
gart pays .his visit, the president will
have heard all the tomtoms. .
Mrs. Howard Gould has testified In
court that a $700 skirt Is one of the
necessaries of a womad's life. Still,
lots of good women, are doing pretty
wen niiuuut euvu uwceeaunea.
Senator Cullom has offered a bill
for a, constitutional amendment limit
ing the presidential term to six years.
This proposal stands Just as good show
of being adopted as It ever did.
The fleet etf route to the Pacific
has twenty-six pianolas distributed
among the different teasels. The sail
ors are to have all the discomforts of
home as nearly as they can be pro
vided.
John Sharp Williams has not been
mean- enough to suggest that he en
gaged In that fisticuff encounter Just
"by way of getting Into practice for his
coming career in the United States
senate. .;
In the last fiscal year, 1,285,349 im
migrants arrived in the United States,
bringing fif, 000,000 of real money
with them. An unnecessary amount
of fuss has been made over the recent
txodus. - ... .. ..-" ':. '
By the Judicious discrimination of
Police Judge Crawford some people
who supposed they were laboring on
Sunday are being convinced that they
bave been drawing wages under false
pretenses.' '-'"-'.
State Superintendent McBrien has
eminent precedent for refusing to con
sider a third term nomination and he
also has eminent precedent for ex
preeaing bis preference for a successor
If be so desires.
HIMED1E8 rvR it I UK tXPlOStOlfS.
The fourth terrible coal mine dis
aster in the month of December ac
centuates the discouraging aspects of
the official report Junt made by the
Geological Survey and emphasises the
need of additional measures for the
protection . of men who work ' under
the ground. According to the federal
report more than 7,000 persons have
been killed or Injured In . mine acci
dents during the year and the num
ber of these disasters caused by ex
plosion Is constantly Increasing. The
federal officials make the direct charge
that most of these horrors are due to
the fact that the mine operators have
not secured or used Information ob
tainable from other countries concern
ing the explosives used, the conditions
under which they may "safely be em
ployed In the presence of coa dust
or gas, and the general requirements
for health and safety in coal, mining
operations. In European countries the
number of fatalities in coal mining
accidents is- constantly decreasing,
while in the United States the constant
Increase la appalling. . ,
The more recent investigations tend
to show that the use of machinery' has
greatly Increased the - production of
dangerous coal dust and that electrical
propulsion furnishes the means of ex
ploding, it. Experts agree that this
coal dust contains high value as an
explosive, "nore valuable : even than
powder, and that It would amply re
pay the cost of collecting it, which
would at the same' time minimize, If
not entirely eliminate, the danger from
explosions. The difficulty of protect
ing miners may arise wholly from
natural conditions, yet the need of
more carefully safeguarding life and
limb cannot be disregarded. The
recommendations of the government
experts might be enforced if necessary
by federal and state laws. " The pro
posed remedy may cost something in
money Outlay but it fanr.ot ' cost as
much as the successive explosions.
A LUST EX AM PLX.
A recent address by former Con
gressman Lacey of Iowa on "The Per
sistent Influence of John Marshall,"
Calls attention to a good example set
by that great Jurist when presiding
over the highest Judicial tribunal of
the land which is in danger of being
altogether lost. Explaining one source
of Marshall's lasting strength, he says:
Marshall's Influence is greater than that
of any other man with the lawyers of this
union. Marshall, like our own great jus
tice, Samuel V. Miller, liked to go upon the
circuit and preside over the deliberations
of the United States courts in the circuit
In which he was assigned. This kept him
In touch with the local bar and with the
people and better fitted him for the per
formance of his great duties at Washing
ton. It Is a reasonably safe assumption
that a majority of the practicing law
yers in Nebraska or in Iowa could not
tell off-hand which member of the su
preme court of the United States is as
signed to supervision of the federal
Judicial circuit in which their state Is
embraced. When Justice Miller was
on the Buureme bench It was not un
common for him to make his appear
ance here In Omaha every year or two,
and to rub up against the rank and file,
of the profession by sitting beside the
circuit Judge and occasionally giving
a guiding hand to the machinery of the
lower courts. It has, however, been
years since a Judge of the supreme
court of the United States has visited
our city.
That this practice of circuit riding
generally pursued would help the su
preme court to a better understanding
of the great questions that come be
fore it, and especially of" the different
points of view from which they are re
garded In widely separated parts of
the country and . among different
classes of the community, goes with
out saying. The temptation to hold
themselves aloof from the lower courts
and to isolate themselves from the bar
ought to be resisted by our supreme
court judges, and the example of Mar
shall and of Miller kept alive by peri
odic imitation.
TUI PZNaLTT of delay.
The eastern railroads . allied with
the anthracite coal combine are ap
parently Just awakening to the fact
that on May 1, 1908, they will be
subject to the operation of a new law
which will require a complete aban
do anient of their methods of controll
ing the fuel supply. The federal rate
law, passed June 29, 1906, provides
that "from and after May 1, 1908, it
shall be unlawful for any railroad com
pany to transport from any state, ter
ritory or the District or Columbia. '.'to
any other state, territory or District
of Columbia or to any foreign country,
any article or commodity, other than
timber and the manufactured products
thereof, mined or produced by it. or
under ita authority, or which it may
own In whole or in part, or in which
it may have any interest, direct or in
direct, except such articles or com
modities as may be necessary and .In
tended for its use as a common car
rier." This prohibition was aimed directly
at the railroad companies which owned
or controlled practically all the hard
coal mines of the country and operated
them in a manner absolutely to bar
competition. After a year, and' six
months, the coal roads are holding con
ferences to consider what they are
going to do about It. The railroads
now assert that it would - be a dire
calamity to suspend the operation of
the mines and that any effort to trans
fer them to a holding company would
probably come In conflict with the
"direct or ludlrect" phrase of the law.
The mines on Id be sold, they assert,
Ob ly at great financial sacrifice and
thy are accordingly planting to aak
congress for an extension of the time
beforo the law becomes effective.
The plea of the railroads might be
more favorably considered if they had
shown any disposition to prepare for
compliance with the law. They were
given a year and ten months to make
these, preparations and have allowed
neaVly a year &nd a half to pass with
out taking the first step. They have
not abandoned any of the obnoxious
practices against which the law was
aimed -and any embarrassmentthey
may be now experiencing in view of
the prospective enforcement of the pyo'
vislons of the measure Is o,f their own
making.
MAKE THIS MOST ItFTtlB OPPiJRTV S ITY.
It must be gratifying for Omaha
business men to know that throughout
the country Omaha Is regarded as In a
firmer position commercially and
financially than most of the industrial
centers of its class. It is said in all
well-informed circles that Omaha.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are the three
cities in the central west that have
been least affected by the recent panic
and consequent business depression.
While it is entirely unbecoming for
Omaha or any other city to add to the
burdens of its trade competitors, it is
nonetheless fully within our province
to take advantage in every legitimate
way of the superior position we. oc
cupy. Tributary territory that by
right belongs to Omaha has been in
vaded from time to time by rival cities
which have made more or less head
way through the use of special induce
ments which they cannot now continue.
It behooves our manufacturers, our
jobbers and our bankers to entrench
themselves under. these favorable con
ditions In all proper Omaha territory,
and to do so in such a way that it will
be hard later for outsiders to break in
and get any substantial part of this
business away from them.
Omaha has an opportunity to offset
possible trade losses at a distance by
closer cultivation of the nearby field,
which, after all. is the most desirable
and the most profitable, and we should
make the most of this opportunity.
The Omaha Water board has lost
out again before the United States su
preme court in the water rate case.
Even before this appeal was called for
hearing the attorneys for the Water
board publicly admitted that they had
no standing In court and that the ap
peal would be thrown out on a point
of jurisdiction. Yet, knowing thU, the
Water board attorneys persisted in
taking the case up and traveling to
Washington at the expense of the
Omaha taxpayers without the slightest
expectation of securing any advantage
to the city. The costs of the appeal
are simply money thrown away and an
excuse for the lawyers to bring in an
other bill for fat fees for professional
services.
Colonel Bryan'a latest pronounce
ment on his attitude Is as follows:'
I shall not volunteer as a democratic
presidential candidate, but If I am drafted
I will not desert.
Carrying the simile a little further,
Colonel Bryan wants it distinctly un
derstood that when he sees the draft
ing officer coming he will run out to
meet him instead of hiding behind the
door. ' i x
It Is suggested that Mr. Cleveland
be selected to head the New Jersey
delegation to the democratic national
convention at Denver. While no word
has ,come from Mr. Cleveland, it Is
generally understood that he has a
standing fishing engagement for every
day when Mr. Bryan is nominated for
the presidency.
Casual reading of the special issue
of the local magazine temporarily, ed
ited by Judge Sutton opens the way
for the inference that the Judge is get
ting ready to run for office again on
the Issue of protecting the child
against the evil influences of the home.
But, of course, that is far from Judge
Sutton's Intention.
That little fistic bout between John
Sharp Williams and Judge De Armond
qualifies them to aspire to membership
In Omaha's democratic city council un
der the administration of our cowboy
mayor, should any vacancies soon
occur.
President Roosevelt is not deterred
by high telegraph tolls from wiring his
mind fully from Washington to Gold
field. The governor of Nevada when
answering will be more likely to count
the number of words In his telegram.
Count Witte and other prominent
Russians are to take the stand In the
Stoessel court martial case to contra
dict Kouropatkin, who appears to be
the Senator Foraker of Russia. Every
body is anxious to contradict him.
Denver has a large building devoted
exclusively to pugilistic alairs. it
might prove a drawing card to arrange
for a finish bout between Williams and
De Armond, as a Bide attraction to the
democratic national convention.
Taking; en Madera Frills.
Indianapolis News.
It Isn't exactly clear at this distance
what the Persians are trying 46 do, but
the building of barricades looks as
though something unusually modern for
that country were going to happen.
Pessimists Disappointed.
Chicago News.
Chancellor Day and Justice Brewer will
be surprised to learn, that President Roose
velt waved good bye to the fleet with his
old reliable plug hat and not with a kingly
crown or even a Jewel-studded scepter.
Consolation for the Left.
Baltimore American,
So many presidential booms have been
star led that It ia only natural to beiieva.
that several gentlemen will be forced to
take cold comfort from the old adage that
"It Is better to be right than to be presi
dent." They will decidedly find It a much
easier Job.
Fomluar Oat of the Holes.
San Francisco Chronicle.
The country banks throughout the mid
dle west are beginning to seek Investments.
The most of them are already handling
all the desirable local papef offering Itself,
and the effect Is very noticeable In a re-,
vlval of Industry. It will not take long to
get things Into good shape when examples
of this kind become abundant, as they
certainly will when the hoarded cash
emerges from Its temporary hiding places.
An Extraordinary Judgment.
Philadelphia Record.
A most extraordinary Judgment has Just
been given In Lincoln, Neb. A woman who
had been convicted of killing her husband
Iras won a Judgment against a fraternal
order for the amount of his life Insurance.
It Is true she Is at large, under a pardon
from the governor, but the conviction
stands; she killed her husband, and Is
now allowed to gather In the pecuniary re
ward. Considerations of public policy ought
to make such a result Impossible.
Home Rnle for Cities.
New York Press.
If the charter revision committee's tec
ommendatlons are heeded. New York Is
to make an experiment In homo rule.
With state control of municipal matters
eliminated. The movement to assert the
supremacy of the state and resist alleged
federal encroachment Is naturally fol
lowed by a similar movement en the part
of the city against the state, and the state
will find Its own arguments used against
itself. The movement Is a highly inter
esting one, as New York Is not the only
city hampered by the state.
A Dividend from Water.
Springfield Republican.
. The stock dividend declared by the West
ern Union Telegraph company ran find no
Justification in sound public policy, and.. It
is even a worse offense against Round
finance, for it is paid because the company
could not afford a cash dividend. Thus
the capitalization is Increased Just when
the old capitalization Is mnde to appear
too large for easy continuation of the old
dividend rate. Altogether It Is a pretty
cheeky performance on the part of a great
public service mone.poly.and will strengthen
the hands of those at .'Washington who
would bring the capitalization of all such
concerns under federal control.
Wastefulness the Heal Cnese.
""Wall Street 'Journal.
Manager Sherer of the New York Clear
ing house never said a truer word than In
hi address before the National Manufac
turers' association when he declared that
our present financial troubles are not due,
as Is often alleged, to the utterances of any
one man, but to the wastefulness of Jhe
many.' However mistaken may have been
some of the recent speeches, these could
not have caused such a panic aa the one
we have Just experienced. The primary
cause must be sought for deeper down In
the fundamentals of the situation, and the
tremendous wastes of war. fire and luxury
and crime are at the bottom of it all.
A Plea for the Canteen.
Springfield Republican.
General Frederick D. Graqt. in the courlfe
of aome remarks before a Civic federation
audience in New York recently. Bald that
although" he was himself a-total abstainer,
he favored the post canteen, at lest until
the civil authorities bait- abolished the
lquor dens outside of the military reserva
tions. The reports say there, was a laugh,
when he was proclaimed a total abstainer,
which caused him to repeat 'the declaration
with emphasis. This recall how uerstst
ently hi' father was misrepresented In the
matter of whisky "drinking and presumably
memoiies of General U. S. Grant's repu
tation along that line during the civil war
caused the laugh against the son's asser
tion of total abstinence.
LOW AT FALSE PROPHETS.
Restrictions on the Operations of
Notorious Imeostera.
Chicago Tribune.
The'clty council wishes to drive out of
business the alleged seers, prophets, for
tune tellers, seventh sons of seventh sons,
and other imposters who thrive upon the
superstition and Ignorance of Jhe com
munity. In making the attempt the alder
men have a Job on their hands. These
frauds have been doing business toe long
to be rooted out le a day.
They Inhabit alt .parts of the city. They
have customers among rich and poor.
They rob all who have dealings with them
the people who wish to recover stolen
property, the sick, the speculators, tbose
who. want their dreams Interpreted, and
the silly girls who wlsnto know about
future husbands. They live atf the weak
nesses' of others. One of their specialties
la finding buyers for mining stocks worth
nothing. The simpleton who consults them
about Investments Is told to lose no time,
but buy certain stocks. He Invests and
loses. The prophet Is the employe of the
men who wish to dispose of worthless
stocks.
The council ordinance makes It an of
fense to print the advertisements of these
impostors. That will not put a complete
top to their operations, but it will inter
fere seriously with their business. They
may keep their regular customers, but the
supply of new dupes will not be so large.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
British View of the Course It Will
Probably Tiki. ,
- London Spectator.
We believe that the extreme reluctance
to take any such step is due to a cause
Which la the origin of half the difficulties
In American politics the great Jealousy of
the power of the federal government
which has marked the entli l history of
the union, which is the source of the
partial opposition to Mr. Roosevelt's pol
icies, but which the people are slowly,
very slowly, being forced by their develop
ment to give up. They want their union
to be a great nation, and must consequently
Invest tiie federal government with the
powers International, military, and finan
cialwhich every other great nation pos
sesses. To do this completely they may be
compelled to revise the constitution; but
undoubtedly, as things' cannot be and not
be at one and the same time, they must in
tho end, however, reluctantly agree to that
reduction of local Independences. They did
it la tlte civil war whun they authorised
conscription; they will have to do It if
ever they limit the extent of Individual
fortunes or establish a graduated succes
sion duty, and they must do it whenever
In any emergency the nation la compelled
suddenly to put forth Its national atrength.
The reluctance u natural enough, for l.OuO,
tOO men have riled to preserve the constitu
tion as it Is; but Providence has passed no
law exempting Americans from the pres
sure of events or the operation of neces
sities. They will have to accept' them.
Willingly or unwillingly, and will gradually
find that the only affect of tho changes la
to make tlvair choice of a president and
therefore of his cabinet for cabinet minis
ter In America are legally only clerks
more and mora a matter of vital Impor
tance. Tha president of the United States
will In no long period of time be the great
est elective monarch blstnrv aver
known.
ON PRESIDENTIAL FIRING LINE.
Tho Squure Den Poller nnd Set-ret urr
,s Tnft's Candidacy.
Kansas City Star (Ind .
A corporation seeking only that which
ia its right has nothing to fear in the
ascendant candidacy of Secretary Taft.
On the contrary, officials of such a cor
poration may look with especial favor on
the prospect of Mr. Taft' nomination and
election. -The secretary of war Is a known
quantity. He has been a potential factor
In the Roosevelt administration. He ha
done more great things than any other
member of the Roosevelt cabinet, and he
has done them expeditiously, quietly and
effectively. His temperament is very dif
ferent from that of the president, but Ilka
Mr. Roosevelt, he thrives on work and
gets things done. He is Judicial In training
and habit of thought. Hevls far-seeing.
He weighs carefully. He Is eminently Just,
and he has a convincing way In . defining
Justice and an effective way in applying It.
So far a the presidential office affects
the business affairs of the nation, these
affairs would be particularly safe under the
direction, of such an executive as Mr. Taft
would make.
The attempts of those opposed to the
continuation of the Roosevelt policies to
belittle the political strength and official
record of Mr. Taft cannot make head
way against the country's knowledge of
his character, capacity and achievements.
It Is true that Mr. Taft bases his candidacy
primarily on the Roosevelt administration.
But why not?. Next to the president him
self he has been the most Important figure
In that administration. He does not seek
to make a distinctive position for himself.
He frankly relies on the country's approval
of the present administration and of hi
own record. Yet he Is by far the most dis
tinctive as well' as the most distinguished
candidate on the republican side. Officially
tie would make as strongly Individual a
president as Mr. Roosevelt himself.
Senator Foraker'a Bogus Bid.
Cleveland Plain Dealer idem.).
lAsido from the senator' bogus bid for
the presidential nomination and hi osten
sible renunciation of senatorial ambition,
hi letter contains points that show Foraker
at his best and worst. When he appeals
for a greater regard for the constitution,
as when he protests that seqators are re
sponsible to their constituents and to no
one else, he says well things that are well
worth saying; though he I not the man. to
say them.. On the other hand the letter
hows more than traces of his familiar
dlslngenuousness and malevolence. When
he tries to hold the president and the rate
law responsible for the currency famine,
as when he say Commercial freedom Is
being restricted by laws based on the
theory that all men are knaves, he talks
palpable folly or worse. Nor -Is he straight
forward In defending hi course on rate
regulation; for what Ohio people resented,
and still resent, was less his opposition to
the 'Hepburn bill or any other specific
measure, than his studied effort and evi
dent purpose to block any and all regula
tive legislation that promised a real rem
edy for a real and great evil.
Nest Year's Platform.
' Chicago Inter Ocean (rep.).
Southern democratic leaders in Washing
ton are Joining with northern conservative
democrat to frame "a national platform
for 1908. And thla platfprm to quote from
the press report "will repudiate govern
ment ownership of railway, the initiative
and referendum, and other radical policies
for which Mr. Bryan stands," forcing Mr.
Bryan either to' stand on this platform or
to refuse a nomination.
Antl-calamtty platforms and, candidates
will undoubtedly be In strong public de
mand next year. The American people are
becoming tired of being told how bad many
of them are and of being constantly urged
to sftspect one another. - By shaTp suffer
ing, which they fear may grow sharper,
they, are being taught what are the frutts
of such an attitude in policies and govern
ment. -
The republican party will undoubtedly
meet this demand with an antl-calamtty
platform and candidate. This 1 plain to
all discerning observers now, and will be
plain to everybody within a very few
months. Whatever of sanity there la left
in democratic leadership sees that the
democracy's only chance is to meet this
demand. ' .
Secretary Tnft'a Strength.
Chicago Record-Herald (lnd.).
There Is a great desire In the eaat
among persons unfriendly -to the pro
gressive republican policies to make It
appear that the Taft boom bo flattened
out. They even go so far as to speak
regretfully of the fact i that so nice a'
man should be Buffering o great a dis
appointment. And yet there hits not
been at any moment in the central west,
from which Taft indorsements have
hitherto dome, one single Indication of
any kind whatever that Taft has suf
fered the jsITghtest loss of strength. On
the contrary, the Indication all are that
lm I gaining strength every day.
And, what Is more Important, the Indi
cations all are that the Taft strength
rests directly on a widespread popular
confidence In him as the best fitted leader
for progressive republicanism.
Governor Johnson's Boom.
Boston Transcript (rep.).
That there is a boom for Governor John
son of Minnesota yet remain to be seen,
but he la certainly in the limelight, and he
follows approved methods In visiting the
capital, where he may be seen of all dem
ocrats weary of the Bryan ascendancy.
Governor Johnson is very little known to
easterners, but' he ha - made a brilliant
debut in Washington as one of the most
striking of the orators at the Gridiron din
ner, Justifying Henry Watterson's declara
tion of his capabilities. It I perhaps more
than a coincidence that the movement in
hi support center at Baltimore, for the
democrat of Maryland are palpably restive
under the Bryan regime. Some of them are
booming Gray but the Baltimore News is
for Johnson, and all of them remember
that In 18M and in 1900 the state gave It
electoral votes for McKinley. In 1904
Parker got seven elector and Roosevelt
one. The Maryland democrats are con
servative, for Maryland Is. a business state
and seldom has taken kindly to a radical
democratic program.
Think It aver, Democrats.
Washington Post (Ind.).
Let George Gray be nominated by the
democrats for president of the United
States. That 1 the first obvious duty
of democrats. I yet William Jv Bryan be
nominated for vice president. That Is a
move suggested by. good politics and
oommon sense. Then let democrats of
all colors, classes, conditions and de
scription get together and see what
would happen. The arrogant and cock
sure republican party would come off
Its high horse In a Jiffy, and the United
States would sea a campaign the like of
which has never been seen In thla or any
other country.
Think It over, democrats!
Beun.net tor Bankers.
New York Outlook.
The great body of American banker are
men of tho highest honor. They can be
trusted. They ought to be protected against
the mlsdoed and dishonorable standard
of a few unscrupulous banker who regard
a bank aurplu a merely tbslr own per
sonal bJafia be tUswa jht 111
i
TWO PR OBI. HIM Or TAXATION.
Tho President' Reference to Iseinl
nnd lnherltnneo Tnses.
Baltimore American.
The recommendation In the president's
message of an income and Inheritance tax
Involves some perplexing aueattons of law.
An Income tax. for Instance, was levied
and actually enforced for a number of
year by the govnmment, wKh the ap
proval of the supreme court. It was ubse
quently abolished by act of congress and
relmposed by the Wilson bill during Mr.
Cleveland's last administration. It was
then decided by the narrow majority of
one vote In the supreme pourt to be un
constitutional. That such a tax when levied
directly Is unconstitutional will rrobably
be conceded by the majority of lawyers,
but there Is the dilemma presented above.
In one Instance the tax was Imposed and
enforced with the- approval of the court,
and In the other It wa throttled on the
threshold. t
There 1 a way, however, of Imposing this
tax, if It be necessary, which will surmount
the constitutional objections .urged by the
supreme court in Us latter decision. It
can be levied and apportioned among the
states. It would then become the duty of
the state to fix the amount of Individual
tax and collect It. This la a rather round
about way of doing things, and would prob.
ably be employed only In case of great
emergency. In theory, a constitutional
amendment could be adopted making a
direct Income tax legal, but In practice It
has been found almost Impossible to pass a
constitutional amendment for any purpose
whatever.
Abstractly, there can be little doubt of
the equity of an Income tax when fairly
enforced. It is the Justcst of all exaction
by the state, but under the construction
of the constitution by the supreme court
it Is a right which belong to the states,
and not to the general government. The
states have failed to make use of their
privileges In This regard, though quite a
number of them have adopted aa inheri
tance tax In one form or another, Maryland
being among the number. Here col
lateral Inheritances are taxed, while In
ome of the state of the union all Inherit
ances by descent or purchase are taxed
and a heavy Income derived therefrom.
It has been maintained that the rule ap
plied by the supreme court to an Income
tax would be' applicable likewise to an
Inheritance tax. Thi 1 not o clear. It
I not o certain tbat the court would
assume the latter to be a direct tax on
the citizen, because the citizen who owned
the property would be dead and the heirs
would not yet have 'come Into possession.
Whisky is taxed and beer is taxed, and
hundreds of other kinds of property bave
been taxed at different periods of the na
tion's history, and there 1 no apparent
reason why property which 1 In transit
from one owner to another, or other,
should not be likewise the subject of na
tional taxation. It all depends, however,
upon the need of surh taxation. It Is hot
necessary for the government to go afield
to find objects for taxation, if It has
enough already at Its disposal, and the
revenues appear to be and have been ample
for several years. Any kind of novel taxa
tion will Inevitably stir up opposition and
excite strife something that It la always
well to avoid; especially when the com
munity Is recovering Its equanimity after
a huge financial fright.
UNCLE SAMUEL'S OWN PROPERTY
A Row .of Twelve Figure for Ita Kif
nresslon.
New York Sun.,
Official figures show the total wealth of
the United States as 107.0(.000,00e for the
year 1804. The following years added some
what to that stupendous um, but the
shrinkage of recent month make us re
luctant even to estimate the probable
wealth of today. Perhaps there 1 enough
left to require a row of twelve figure for
It expression.
The point is perhaps a matter of curios
ity rather than of Importance, but a spe
cial inquiry elicits tha information that
while hi agents report the total wealth
of the country, our Uncle Samuel ha no
record of the value of his own particular
properties. He is the proprietor f vast
areas of land, of extensive forests, the
owner of many buildings, much machinery,
warships, military equipment, and an as
sorted lot of property that ha cost mil
lions upon mil'tcna of dollar. It appear
that .the institution known as Our Govern-
ment ha no Inventory of It various po-
aessions and no knowledge or the aggre
gate value of It property,
be made up would probably be obtainable
by a prolonged search In the varlou de
partment at Washington. The Interior
department haa charge of land, tho Treas
ury of public buildings, and other depart
ments have charge of other properties.
Whether uch a compilation of value Is
merely neglected or whether it is deliber
ately avoided w do not hnow. At any
rate the country I rich enough to' be In
different about the matter, and It la more
than likely that If the figure were known
a blithesome group of financial tueorltts
would insUt that th property be made th
basis of a huge lasue of national asset
currency.
There I more gold and silver in the na
tional treasury than would be needed to
pay the national debt, and "there are ne
mortgages on Uncle Sam real estate. His
2 per cent bond sell at a premium, and
outside of th bonds held a ecurlty for
deposit and note circulation he ha only
a little more than 150.000.006 of outstanding
obligation available for Investor. Whether
hi wealth 1 known or unknown, hi credit
Is unexcelled.
WARNING FROM EX PER I EN CB.
New England Hint to Iowa Cltle on
Heating Plauts.
Snringfield (Mass.) Republican.
The question of establishing In the Iowa
eltv of Des Moines central beating plant
preferably to be owned by the municipal
ity, aa a mean of overcoming the smoke
nuisance and relieving people from me
"care of their own heating plant, 1 being
discussed and finding advocates. It Is de
clared In De Molne that the central
heating system plant Is being successfully
used in Detroit, for example, and that the
cost of heat I much reduced there, not
to speak of the relief 'of caring for Indi
vidual furnaces. It Is also stated that a
number at small Iowa) town and elite
have these system and that they are
working well. All of which will nerve to
remind Springfield people of the fact that
this thing was tried out In thla city and
finally abandoned. It will be remembered
that the local ga light company for
year maintained a large heating plant,
and that the result wa not desirable, ao
far a the streets were concerned. Not
only waa tbe snow quickly melted, off In
winter, but there waa Involved a constant
and moit annoying digging op of the sur
face of tbe streets. The nuisance of it
all anally became ao great that the ga
light company abandoned thla field of It
operation, much to tbe general satisfac
tion. trothtnar tho Saddlo Tt.
Baltimore American.
The president plan to extend hi saddle
test to member of the engineer eorp of
the army. It would seem mora consistent,
a well a prior up to date, to eliminate
th horse in th testa, given these gentle
men and Introduce the automobile. There
1 more mechanical training required la
in ".B.TJut ef tA autsr-;
COAL MINK SACRIFICES.
Fearful Price Paid to tho Motors of
Fuel.
Pittiburg Dispatch.
The theory of a cyclo In fatalities which
cause Industrial calamities to occur In
groups at various Intervals of time will get
a fresh stimulus by the promptness with
which the exposition In the Falrmount
Coal company's mines it Monongah. WV
Va.. follow that In the Naomi mine. There
had not been a destructive mlna explosion
In thla aectlon for a, long time. But the
Naomi disaster broke that fortunate ex
emption and calamity seems to emphasise
It with more terrible slattghter. According
to the full superstition., a .third must tel.
lew sooner or later beforo tbe tale ia
made up. . .
Of course. It would be irrational to be
lieve that an Inscrutable Providence de
cree at certain Interval that a foreor
dained succession of mine disaster mast
take place. But there Is enough In tho
facts to suggest at least this foundation
for the theory. While the memory of rrf
vlous disasters Is fresh all' are -watchful
and alert against the cause that may pro
duce such disasters. Owners and superin
tendents are earnest for ventilating and
shutting off gaseous part of th mlnea;
Inspector and fire bowses ara vigilant
against all signs of tho fatal element an.;
the miners themselvee are careful against
the perilous combination of ga and tiaket
lamp. But the memory becomes cold. Th
absenc ot new disaster engender a false
security. One or another relaxes the con
stant watchfulness, until finally new dis
aster coma to enforce the lesson that
never-sleeping care I th price of Safety
In mining and even then doe not alwaya
secure it.
Two such mine calamities coming close
together call for thorough and searching
Investigation. Every aspect of the case
should be fearlessly probed, and If there Is
negligence anywhere It should receive ex
emplary punishment. For If human life
has been sacrificed to negligence or cu
pidity the manslaughter cannot be stopped
unless thoie responsible for It are made td
suffer an adequate penalty.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Chancellor Day' book Is being ill
trlbuted gratis to member of congress.
Santa Clau Is going to remember only
the good boy this year. However, boy
of the other kind are hard to find just be
fore Christmas.
While Interested In the Harrlman-Plsh.
squabble, the country Is willing to take for
granted that the two gentlemen ' do not
hold each other In high esteem.
Diamond Importations are reported
smaller In New Yoik than at any time
within the last ten years. The point at
which people begin to economize! .
In their war upon ticket speculators, New
York theater managers do not seem 1 to
have thought of the simple 'plan ot not
selling tickets to the speculators.
Vera Fedorovna Kommlsarjewkaya, a
Russian actress. Is coming to thla country
next spring, Just about the time dramatla
critics are getting that tired feeling any
way. Ninety-four out of 100 young men desiring;
to enlist In the navy were rejected because
of weak hearts, ascribed to cigarettes. In
this brief announcement there is tho sub
stance of a long sermon.
Chief Justice Fuller is defendant In a
suit by the building department of Chicago,
where ha owns a hotel, which. It is alleged,
does not conform to law. The case will
probably not be carried to the supreme
court.' is - ' ' i. '.'- '" '
Senator Borah' of Idaho ' Is a ' masstva
man, with a massive face. His hat would
fall down upon the shoulder of the aver
age man. He ha a deep, musical voles
and a whimsical way of expressing him
self that at once makes the stranger feel
perfectly at home In his company. He'a
never In too big a hurry to be friendly,
and he replies directly to any question.
SUNNY REFLECTIONS.
"Your husband would make any sacrifice
for you, wouldn't he?"
"Indeed he would; since he read how
man was poisoned In New York from hand
ling money he has not permitted, me to
handle a bit." Houston Post-
"This subserviency to wealth 1 simply
disgusting.' Here Scrlbbell, the society poet,
has written verses to Miss Mtllyuni' 'fairy
1 fee, . anJ they're as big as ajl outdoors.
Can you Imagine how he could get up any
sentiment about them?"
"Certainly; such a subject should be all
sole." Baltimore American.
"George must love you."
. "WhyT"
"Keeps coming fo see you with Christ
mas looming up." x.
"Yes; but he's getting very quarrel
some." Washington Herald.
Customer You ask a good deal for your
candies, it seems to me. I can get these
thing at that place around the corner for
much less than your prlcea."
Proprietor Quite likely. That' a candy
kitchen. Thla I a confectionery parlor.
Chicago Tribune.
"In spile, of all de valuables he ha to
distribute," aald Uncle YJben. "Old Santir
Claus never ylt wa accused of graft! n .
An' dal's one thing dat makes me susperk
dar aln' no seen person." Washington
Star. j
"I like man with an open countenance."
"Then you ought to meet my fciend
Stretcher."
"Why so?"
"He always yawnlng'-i-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
"I he one of those men who uffor In
Hence?" .
"No, he' married." Houston Post.
Th original tempest had broken out la
the. original teapot. . ... , ...
"1 lifted the lid, anyhow," chuckled th
original tempest.
. The tempest subsided, but the ' phras
Tvent thundering down the ages Chicago
Tribune. 1 .
SUSPICIOUS CHEEH IN ESS.
St. Ixnil Republic.
Everybody's good to me -Just
now;
Just aa good aa good can be
Just now;
Wife I gentle, kind and aweet.
Get JuBt what I want tft. eat.
Murmur things I wont repeat
Just now; . w
Office boy Is most polite i
Just now;
Wants to stay and work at night .
Just now;
Postman has a cheery hail
When he comes .In with tho mail,
Brings each package without fail
Just now; .
Cook Is meeting every wish
Just now;
Always get each longgd-for, dish
Just now: ,
Children iver make a noise ''
. "Qulot papa most enjoys!"
They are splendid girl and -tooya
Just now;
.
Friends are dropping in te call
Just now;
Mighty pleasant, one and ail
Just now; ,
Telling an It's fin to see
Such a cheerful chap aa me,
full of fun and Jollity-,
Just now;
Elevator boy wear smiles
Just now;
Walter ply their deepeat wile
Just now;
Grocer doe the bent ho ran, -Butoher'
hoy and laundry man
For my con. fort aeetn to plan
Just now;
Oh, hew An it la to live
Just now!
I've all the Joy that llf can give
' Just now; .
What a difr.-re.iioa thare'll be
After ChriMUiiaa But, yot ft,
khvivtvajf' ed to. lite
JL