4
Tiie Omaha Daily Bee
FOUNDED BT EDWARD- ROSBJWATKR-
VICTOR ROBE WATER, EDITOR.
F.ntered at Omaha Fostofflce as second
class matter.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION:
Pally Be (without Sunday), one year.. $4 00
DallV Bo and Similar, one year t oo
Sunday Be, ona year.!.. t60
Saturday Boa, ona year
DELIVERED BT CARR130R:
Dally Bee (Includlnf Sunday), par week.lBo
Dally Bee (without Sunday). per week..lOo
Evening Bea (without Sunday ). pn week o
Evening Bea (with Funday). par week...luo
Address all complalnta of Irregularities
In delivery to City Circulation Department.
OFFICES.
Omaha The Bee Buirdlng.
Bnuth Omaha City Hall Building.
Council BluffsI Bcott Street.
ChlcagoKUO University Building.
Nfw York 1508 Home , Lit Insurance
Building. .
Washington 726 Fourteenth Street N. W.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Communication relating to newe and edl
torlal matter should be addressed, Oraaiia
Bee, Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft, express or poatal ordfr
payable to The Bea Publishing Company.
Only J-cent atainpa received In payment of
mall accounts. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or eastern exchange, not accepted.
STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
State of Nebraska, Douglas County, ss.:
Charles C. Rosewater, general manager
of The Bea Publishing Company, being
duly sworn, says that the actual number
of full and complete copies of The Dally,
Morning, Uvenlng and Sunday Bee printed
during the month of November, 1V7, was
as follows: u.
i T.000 I l
37,80 IT
S6.50O II f'"
M80 SO "-"I?
MN 1 J-'
1 srao it I-ff?
rr4o ti
87,090 14 8,100
1 8,00 II S7.B90
XI 87,MO 87.O90
It 37,730 17 S7.840
II..... 37,380 II SM40
14 S7,SM II SB,oS0
II 7,o00 10 (7,090
Total
.1,183,430
Less unsold and returned copies. 10,la
Nat Total WHIN
Daily average 7,108
CHARLES C ROSE WATER,
Oeneral Manager.
Subscribed In my presence and sworn to
before Die this Id jay of December, 19U7.
ROBERT HUNTER.
Notary Publlo.
WHER OUT Or TOWH.
Saneerlbora leaving the city t
ersrllr shoald aavo The
'mailed te theas. Aadxeaa will
aha mare d ao ( tea aa rang vested.
They ftre still wrangling over a
motto for the new xold coins. How
would "Abide With Me" doT
How popular the poultry show would
be If the hens would lay an egg for
each person who buys 4 ticket at the
door. ,
"I have a perfect right to play Ham
let," says Comedian Eddie Foy, who
apparently forgets the laws against
murder.
1
The editors of McClure's magazine
may be astonished to learn from cable
reports that the United States navy is
Still afloat.
London Punch is publishing a series
of articles on "How to Tell a Joke."
The safest way for those of the Punch
brand is to label It.
"The Suffrage laws of the south are
very satisfactory," says the Atlanta
Journal. Because they disfranchise
everybody but democrats?
"The clock of prosperity Is running
down," says an eastern paper. Oh, no,
It has just been wound up with a gold
key Imported from Europe.
Sir Thomas Lip ton says he Is going
to try again next summer to lift the
America cup. Sir .Thomas believes In
, persistency and advertising.
Still, those persons who Insist that
the new 20 gold pieces are not satis-
factory are not passing them along
to folks who are not so finicky.
Ten lawyers have been engaged in
a fight among ninety-six heirs for a
$10,000 estate In Cleveland. Puzzle
Find the future ten -owners of the
property.
A St. Louis specialist Insists that
Insanity may be cured by shopping,
The proposed remedy has often been
considered a cause rather than a cure
for Insanity. .- .
Members of the cabinet in Holland
resigned because their plans for a big
appropriation for the army were re
jected. The Hague peace conference
was held in Holland.
The year 1907 will be memorable
for breaking records in almost all the
activities or lite, but It is sure to be
behind 1908 in one thing, namely, the
number of leap year proposals.
It Is declared that Admiral Evans
has not been Informed what route he
Is to take on bis return from the
Pacific The admiral may not know
whero he Is going, but he Is on his
way.'
Cannon of Illinois and Fort of New
York are now proposed as a preel
dential ticket The anti-militarism vote
would be relied upon to go solidly
gainst Cannon and Fort.
It does not look as though Mr.
Bryan would have to deplete his bank
account beyond the price of a ticket
from Falrvlew to Denver In order to
secure the democratic nomination next
year.
Those Union Pacific tax agents have
their nerve In asking to have taxes
paid In Nebraska under protest re
turned to them. If by paying under
protest they could gel me money oacv
for the asking, we would see the per
formance repeated every. year by every
railroad that has property subject to
taxation la this state,
A BCLVa-KTS AT LOXO RANGE.
The old story about going away from
home to bear the news is again exem
plified In a communication by a "Ne
braskan." printed In the correspondence
column of Harper's Weekly, which
seems to hit the political bull's-eye at
ong range. Sizing up the presiden
tial outlook, with special reference to
Nebraska, this Is what the author of
the communication says:
Roosevelt says he will not take another
term. He means It. Ha knows that he
might spoil everything. He Is a wise man.
He knows when to stop, when he Is being
classed with Washington,' Lincoln and
McKlnley. He remembers Orant's second
term. He Is now getting a little too con
fident Several late moves are too radical
and too much In advance of the times. He
Is going too fast.
Taft Is a good man for the republicans.
He la endorsed by the president. Hughes
la good, but he Is holding his first political
office. Give him time to gain political ex
perience. There Is time enough for him
later.
On the democratic side, I think that
Bryan Is a dead dog. All his mistakes
free sliver, assaults on national banks.
government ownership of railroads will be
used against him. The republicans have
many hidden guns. They will bring them
out and Bryan would be defeated. Ha can
not carry Lincoln or Nebraska against
Taft. Governor Folk would carry a large
republican vote. He Is the best man for
the democrats. Can't they see ltT He
would be like Cleveland, and carry a large
vote on an anti-trust, tariff reform, anti
graft platform. Which party la ready to
regulate saloons, lay state rights- and fed
eral control? Here Is a chance for one
party or the other.
While the earmarks all sustain the
Inference that this contribution was
written by a democrat, it also bears
the imprint of political experience and
close observation. Particularly perti
nent is the prediction that Bryan could
not carry his own state against Taft.
Particularly short-sighted is the sug
gestion that Folk would have any bet
ter chance of carrying Nebraska.
THE NEXT IX POSITION.
The managers of the Alaska-Yukon-
Pacific exposition, scheduled for Seattle
In 1909, have been wisely discreet in
announcing that they will not ask any
appropriation from congress in aid of
their enterprise, except that they will
seek and expect congress to provide
for the construction of a government
building and the installation of a gov
ernment exhibit, such as has been a
more or less prominent feature of ex
positions and world's fairs since the
Philadelphia show in 1876. The pro
moters of the Pacific coast enterprise
appreciate the fact that the James
town fiasco put expositions in bad re
pute. They do not evoke such en
thusiasm as they formerly aroused
when expositions were more of a
novelty. Farces like Jamestown' have
resulted In souring congress and creat
ing hostility to appropriations and
guarantees and deficits paid by the
federal government.
Aside from any financial features in
which the government may have an
interest, there Is some excuse and rea
son for the proposed exposition at
Seattle. t will serve, as Intended, to
exploit the possibilities of a too little
known section of the United States
Bordering on the Pacific are half the
people of the world, althoueh the
world, whlcn has a habit of keeping
its eyes turned the other way, is hardly
aware of the fact. It Is the purpose
of the proposed exposition to bring
Alaska, .Australia, Asia and the west
ern portion of America closer together
and to make them better known. It
will, In other words, direct the atten
tlon of the world to the westward
course of the star of empire.
One of the needs of the west, a need
also felt 1d Nebraska, is personal In
spection and examination by eastern
ers. Any enterprise that will promote
such Investigation will do some good.
THE ROAST BtEF OF ENGLAND.
It has not been many years since
people living in England Joined in
riots and practically adopted mob law
rule to prevent American dealers from
sending live beef cattle to Great
Britain. The real Englishman is a
blind follower of precedence' and
custom and the national spirit was
aroused when American enterprise lo
cated feeding pens on his island and
stocked them with American cattle
which were fattened, killed and pre
pared for the English market. In the
long run, concessions were made and
it was finally agreed that American
beef tasted pretty good, but it must
be killed on English soil.
For some years this custom has pre
vailed, but now the American invasion
has taken a new form and American
packer; nra opening branch houses In
the big t-'tles of England find selling
American dressed beef, in competition
wltk the English slaughtered meat
Ten of the' biggest shopB in London
are owned by American packers and
mo.'o are being opened. As a result,
English dealers are appealing to the
patriotism of their consumers and ask
ing them to forswear American beef
The beefeaters. howeer, are patron
izing the American houses and insist
ing that they like not only the Ameri
can beef but the American prices.
In such an emergency, the staid and
conservative London Times has been
brave enough to warn Its readers that
they are on the wrong tack. The Times
declares that England cannot hope
ever again to be self sufficient for
food supplies and the only question
remaining Is where shall the supplies
be bought. On this account, the Times
urges Britons to eat American beef
and learn to like it, as trade links are
stronger than artificial friendships
formed through treaties. In other
words, according to the Times' logic
the United States will never quarrel
seriously with England so long as the
United States furnishes England wlih
its roast beef. Alliances with Japan,
friendship with France and neutrality
agreements with Germany may be
broken or violated in emergencies, but
no quarrel will be Invited with .the
source of food supply.
The argument is not without Its
significance' to Americans. We need
not care who calls or attends peace
conferences at The Hague, which
nation carries the most guns or owns
the biggest battleships, if we have a
guaranty of peaco with the world so
long as we can supply other nations
with their beef.
THE ATT RtOBTS AND HOB tAIT.
The protest of the Italian govern
ment against the hair-trigger habits of
Louisiana mobs serves again to' direct
attention to an apparently Inherent
weakness in our form of federal and
state government which foreign nations
have difficulty In understanding or ap
preciating. In the case In point two
Italian laborers were killed In a riot
n a Louisiana lumber camp because
the other laborers there objected to
their employment. While this appears
to be drawing the race question at a
new line, the real point at issue is the
action of Mr. Root, secretary of state,
In confessing federal impotency for
giving Italy the satisfaction demanded.
The State department offers the old-
time excuse that the killing of the
Italians Is a matter with which the
Louisiana state authorities must deal
and that the federal government has
nothing to do in the premises, except
to pay indemnity, If necessary, in satis
faction of Italy's claims.
The Louisiana incident is but a repe
tition of what has happened in Cali
fornia, when mobs assaulted Japanese
residents and destroyed their property.
The government at Washington in
sisted that the primary duty of punish
ing the offenders -devolved upon the
state and that the federal admlnistra
tlon was helpless until the state
authorities admitted that they were
unable to cope with the matter. This
confession of Impotency on the part of
the federal government came near In
volving the United States in serious
complications with Japan. Foreigners
generally fall to appreciate the divided
authority that exists In this country.
They make their treaties with the
United States and fall to understand
why the government authority is not
supreme in the states when a treaty
obligation Is violated.
As a result of the Louisiana inci
dent, It is announced from Washington
that the president and the secretary of
state will ask congress to pass a law
providing that where a crime has been
committed In any state against the
person or property of a foreigner, the
federal court may assume jurisdiction,
If the treaty rights are involved or
the foreigner Is not given exact jus
tice. The constitution provides that
treaties shall be the supreme law of
the land and this provision would seem
to carry with-it the power to enforce
it. If congress has authority to make
treaties, guaranteeing protection to the
lives and property of foreigners tem
porarily domiciled In this country. It
must have authority to enforce such
treaties. If it has not such power, It
will have quit making such treaties
or expect to be called on continuously
to pay for treaty Infractions It cannot
prevent.
The program for the annual meeting
of the Nebraska Editorial association
has been made public, beginning with
an address by the president, who edits
a democratic dally at Fremont, and
winding up with an address by Wil
liam Jennings Bryan, as the editor of
a democratic weekly at Lincoln. The
great majority of the members of the
association, however, are republicans
and they are all strong enough In the
faith to withstand any political on
slaught that may be attempted by this
democratic battery.
Sioux City is soon to hold a water
way convention with special reference
to the improvement of the Missouri
river, and it goes without saying that
Omaha's Interest in the development
of the Missouri calls for representa
tion there. More than that, If a dele
gation Is to be sent to Sioux City from
Omaha, it should be big enough and
representative enough to give this city
its proper voice In the work of the con
vention. The haste of the various municipal
departments to exhaust their appro
priations before the expiration of the
year is the natural result of the charter
provision requiring all unexpended bal
ances to go Into the sinking fund.
With such a prospect in view the "un
expended balance" is bound to be a
very smaH and rare bird.
Admiral Rlxey Insists that the hos
pital ship should be commanded by a
medical officer. By the same argument,
presumably, trained nurses .and not
police officers should drive the city
ambulances.
The first real election In this neck-of-woods
to be pulled off In 1908 will
be the city election in South Omaha.
South Omaha politicians are wisely de
ferring the scramble until the fight Is
nearer at hand.
Unless the Board of Fire and Police
Commissioners gets quickly down to
business New Year's day will see sev
eral more lids on In Omaha as a result
of failure of liquor dealers to secure
renewal of licenses.
Speaker Cannon says that immedi
ately after the holidays congress will
pass a currency bill that will be sound
and timely. He has not yet taken the
public Into his confidence as to what
the new measure will contain.
The Omaha Horse show has gotten a
bouquet from far away England. With
such world-wide renown the Omaha
Horse show will have to be continued
without interruption as long as the
horse show business has the call.
Senator Jeff Davis of Arkansas has
appointed one of his daughters to be
his private secretary and another to
be a clerk, thus adding 12,700 a year
to the family income. The senator Is
not as green as he pretends to be. .
Am Ianerelnlono Flalsk.
Cleveland Leader.
The growing practice of discredited bank
ers committing suicide Is borrowed from a
much mora noble custom of the seas where
masters have been expected to go down
with their ship.
A Piteous Spectacle.
Baltimore American.
"The poor man need not have any Jeal
ousies of the rich these days," nays Mr.
Stuyvesant Fish. We will shortly have the
piteous spectacle of the so-called million
aires of the country selling their steam
yachts and automobiles In a sad endeavor
to kep the wolf from the door.
Geod for Present Use.
Portland Oregonlan.
In the panic of 1867 Henry Ward Beecher
said to those who were hoarding their
money and curtailing their expenses In
very way: "Keep your carriages and
horses and coachmen; you have money
spend some of It. You can't take It with
you when you die, and If you did It would
melt,"
Time) to Poll Toarethcr.
Wall Street Journal.
When prosperity was rampant many
things had to be left undone because of
shortage In the labor supply. Much traffic
was unmoved because of car shortage. Now
the scarcest thing In the business world
Is cash, and the next In order la capital,
with credit running a close third. A team
of horses, each pulling regardless of Its
relation to the other, gets nowhere, even
though they all work themselves tired.
There's a time to pull together, and there
can bo no better time to begin than with
January 1, 190.
Great vmn oa Congress' Rolls.
Springfield Republican.
The entrance of William J. Bryan Into
the United States senate from Florida to
serve the balance of the late 8enator Mal
lory's term Introduces to the country an
entirely new and original William J. not
at all the peerless one from Nebraska, not
even his relative. Senator Bryan has youth,
being only SI, but he was born twenty
years before the Nebraskan became a
celebrity. We now have Congressman Wil
liam McKlnley of Illinois, Senator Jeff
Davis of Arkansaa and Senator William J.
Bryan of Florida. George Washington
may turn up again as a national figure In
duo season.
Diamonds on the Toboggan.
Springfield Republican.
That the market for diamonds should be
among the first to feel the effects of the
business depression will be readily recoff
nlxed, and there Is close relationship
therefore between the American panic and
the passing of the dividend of the De
Beers company of London and South Af
rica. That company controls the diamond
mining industry ofj the world and through
regulation of. the sutput It has been en
abled to advance prices considerably In
recent years. It Is believed that the com
pany is carrying a large unsold stock of
precious stones which would "swamp the
market" if they were thrown over.
Political Snaaja la Waterways.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
A congressional ordeal Is ahead for river
and harbor Improvement on a compre
herslve scale. It will come in the form of
schemes to fritter away the appropriations
by districts so that each congressman
shall get a local share, a system that
would be a shameful and wasteful mis
carriage of the whole undertaking. There
are members so selfish and purblind that
they would rather dump hundreds of
thousands of dollars Into some home
creek than provide an adequate amount
to push work on the main river of the
country. In a word, they are for a water
way prize distribution of cash from the
treasury, allotted by districts.
WHERE DID THE GOLD GOt
Effect of the Financial Flarry oa
Business of Banks.
Wall Street Journal.
Between the national bank calls of August
23 and December 3, about $70,000,000 of rold
was Imported into the United States, and
during the same pertod the United Statea
treasury increased Its deposits In the nt
tlonal banks by 180,000,000. A comparison
of the reports made by the national banks
to the comptroller of the currency under
these two calls shows that between August
22 and December t the national banks of the
United States lost about 16,800,000 of gold,
In other words, they held on December 8
I387.S00.0O0 of gold and gold certificates as
against $404,700,000 on August 22.
Thus, in spite of the Importation of
(70,000,000 of gold and the Increase of United
States deposits of $80,000,000. the national
banks have lost nearly $7,000,000 of gold. Of
this about $4,000,000 was lost by the national
banks of New York City. The question Is,
where has all the Imported gold gone? Has
It gone Into the reserves of state banks and
trust companies and Into the hoards of
scared Individual depositors?
Except for this Impressive fact, the na
tlonal bank statementa for December $
make an excellent showing. Indeed the
national banks hsve reason for congratula
tlon In the admirable exhibition of strength
which they have given during the financial
crisis of this year. On the whole, and ex
cepting some Individual Instances of de
linquency, the national banks of the United
States have performed well their function
of reserve Institutions. It la known that
mar.y of them have actually bought gold
charging the premium for the same to
profit and loss In order that they might
supply promptly the currency demands of
their customers. 1
Notwithstanding all the demands of the
panic period their percentage of legal re
serve to deposits on December $ was 21.31
as compared with 21.53 on August 22, so that
they were substantially as strong after ths
panic as they were before, and this not
withstanding the fact that they held on
December $ $40,000,000 less of specie and
legal tenders than on August 22. Their ac
tual percentage of cash to outstanding
loans on December I was 14.4 against 16.00
on August 22,
Between August 23 and December $ the
national banks of the Unltf States In
creased their loans $93,000,000. They lost In
specie, that Is to say, gold and sliver, $21
422.000. and of legal tenders $l.41.0u0. a
total loss In reserve money of $40,838,000.
They suffered a loss of deposits due other
banks and trust rompanles of $308,143,000.
Xbja loas Indicates the stupendous drain
made upon these banks v the demands of
other banking Instltutiss. The net loss
in Individual deposits amounted to 1142, 1M.
000, which Is $8,000,000 more than te com
blned decrease In loans and In cr
ARMY GOSSIP IN WASHINGTON.
Cerrent Events ft leaned from the
Army and Navy Rea-ister.
Chaplain Edward If. Fits-Gerald, Twenty-
second Infantry, on duty at Fort McDowell,
Cal., will be promoted to the rank of major
under the operation of the law which per
mits the promotion of chaplains on account
of service which Is unusual. Thsre Is on
record at the War department to the credit
of Chaplain Flts-Oerald reports of his
"most valuable and heroic services under
Are, and gallant, conspicuous and distin
guished service to sick and wounded on the
field and In. battle" at El Caney, in Cuba,
as well as reports of his valuable services
rendered in the operations about Lake
Lanao. in the Philippines, In 1904. Chap
lain Flts-Oerald was appointed to ths
army as a post chaplain In 1897, and was
assigned to the Twenty-second Infantry In
February, 1901.
There Is being sent out from the quar
termaster general's office this week the
Spanish war medals, of which $.500 have
been recieved from the United Statea mint
In Philadelphia. This will suffice to fur
nish all ths officers and men who were In
the army on January 11, 1906, with these
emblems which now become a part of the
regular uniform. The officers will buy
them at cost price, which Is 45 cents, in
cluding the extra bars and two-sections
of ribbon. The medals will be furnished
gratuitously to the enlisted men who are
entitled to receive them under the pro
visions of the law and the requirements
O. O. 4, Jsnuary 11, 1905. The first distri
bution will be to the commissioned officers
who are on duty at Washington, the Issue
being according to rank. This will be fol
lowed by sending out the medals to of
ficers who are not on duty here. The dis
tribution of these medals and the others
which are to follow as soon as the mint
can produce them will undoubtedly serve
to revive the suggestion that the existing
restrictions upon the Issue of the emblems
shall be removed.
The army quartermasters who have to do
with the purchase of fuel and forage for
the military service now find there Is no
such difficulty in obtaining that material
as has existed during the last year or
two. This favorable condition Is due to
tho stringency In the money market and
the fact that the government Is a steady
and reliable cash paying customer. The
situation has not disclosed an appreciable
reduction In prices, which are maintained
With considerable firmness, especially for
forage. There are, however, evidences
that there will be lower prices for fuel.
It has been decided to abandon the ham.
boo staff which has been used as the sup
port of the army signal flags. It was be
lieved that this staff would bo lighter,
easier of manipulation, and better suited
for transportation than a heavier ma
terial. It Is found that the bamboo
cracks when kent In drv air aiich
when stored In a room where there Is
artificial heat. It has been decided to re
turn to a very light hard wood, the ta(T
being made in sections for convenience In
carrying, as was the case with the bam
boo staff. The latter material was fnnnit
expensive, because those who furnished It
nac to purchase a large quantity of the
bamboo In order to get the pieces of re
quired dimensions. It not being possible to
reduce the slxe by machinery, as in the
case of hardwood.
Borne Idea of the cost attending the use
of the automobile In the military service
is furnished this week by the offer of sale
by public auction by the depot quarter
master at Washington of an automobile
wblch was purchased two or three years
ago and which has recently been In use
in Cuba. It was found that the vehicle
required a new mechanism and that the
manufacturers would replace this for
$1,000. This was considered too much
money to spend on the automobile and It
Is offered for sale as condemned material.
The great cost of repairing machines of
this type Is a very good Indication of the
expense which attends the use of the au
tomobile In the army. Those who are In
terested In such a mode of transportation
are more than ever convinced that the
military motor car, either for freight or
passenger service, has not been tjurnlshed.
Such a vehicle must be confined strictly
to the lines of utility without decoration
or tho luxuries which embellish the mo
tor cars now on the market. It Is, of
course, appreciated by those who have to
do with the subject that the automobile Is
in a stage of development and that one of
the easiest problems connected with Its
adjustment to military use will be the
sacrifice of the needless fixtures which con
tribute merely to appearance and add the
quality of luxury.
PERSONAL NOTES.
The anti-rent agitation In Manhattan Is
not so strange as la the fact that people
should care to live on the Island at all.
Eleven sellers of bogus mine stock have
been convicted In Colorado and fined and
imprisoned. Their dupes pay the fines, but
the Jail stunt, fortunately, has to be their
own.
"I don't believe a word that you have told
me," remarks a New York Judge after
hearing the evidence of a policeman, thus
accentuating the accepted statement that
a policeman's lot Is not a happy one.
Frof. Paul M. Mllukoff, leader of the
Constitutional democrats In the Russian
Duma, left St. Petersburg on Thursday for
the United Slates. He plans to take the
steamer Carmanla from Liverpool, Jan
uary 4. While In America he will speak on
political matters.
Mrs. Thomas P. Gore, wife of the blind
senator from Oklahoma, accompanies her
hufband to each session of the senate, and
watches every gesture of the man In
whose election she contributed more than
anyone else. The senator himself calls
her "his eyes and right hand." and says
she knows more about parliamentary law
and politics than any other woman In the
country.
An Important historical discovery in
Mexico has resulted from the efforts of
Dr. Herbert B. Bolton, ths American his
torian, who Is in Mexico City, engaged In
research work under the direction of the
C'arneglo Institute of Washington. The
discovery consists In the unearthing of
eighteen of twenty-two documents taken
from the person of Lieutenant Zebulon M.
Pike, of the United States army, by Span
ish soldiers In 1806.
A Moneyless Cantpalsn.
New York Times.
The prospects are that the coming elec
tion will be less influenced by the use of
money thsn any In a long Urns. The Inter
ests that In the past are believed to have
supplied the sinews of wsr In the largest
amount are not likely to open their check
books very wide for either of the two
chief parties. Indeed, the men who have
been most famous for alleged liberality
are now Inclined to regard the Issue as
foregone, and that Is not an opinion which
would Induce them to pay out hard cash.
Why Wo Polal With Pride.
Chicago Kecord-IIcrald.
Our navy certainly is a wonder. Ona
hundred men from each of the battleships
which paused at the Islsnd of Trinidad
were given shore leave and there were no
brawls. Can other nations blame us for
pointing with pride T
RAILROAD BUILDING OF THAR.
Record f New M Hence, Bettenaeata
and Kalaaeat.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
Beyond all question 1907 would have been
the banner year for railway construction
In the United Statea but for the panic and
the unsettled conditions preceding It.
Because of an unparalleled volume of
trafno and the demands from all parts
of tho country for additional transporta
tion facilities during 1C0 and the early
part of this year the railroads undertook
almost countless construction projects. On
last March 1 contracts were In effect for
the building of over 10,000 miles of new
track, while plans were practically adopted
for as many mora,
Since that date, however, contracts have
been awarded tor less than 1.000 miles of
track. Except In cases where the work
was so far advanced that it would cost
more to stop It than complete It, railway
construction throughout the country
stopped on September 1 for an Indefinite
period.
In view of the conditions which made it
practically Impossible for the railroads to
sell new securities to defray construction
expenses, the high prices of material, and
the scarcity of labor at the beginning of
the year, it Is remarkable that In the
year now ending $.874 miles of new rail
road were built, making the total mileage
in the United States 22S.Sno miles.
The new mileage of 1907 Is only S3t miles
less than that of I", which was surpassed
only by that of 1888, when the high record
of 7.108 miles was established.
Louisiana leads all other states In new
mileage this year, having to Its credit
423 miles, while South Dakota and Texas
are second and third with 388 and IS1
miles. In Florida 820 miles were built. In
Washington $11 miles. In Mississippi 263
miles. In California 253 miles, In Minne
sota 217 miles and In Virginia 208 miles.
In the nine states named there were built
t,7S miles, or nearly half of the new
track laid In ths entire country.
By groups of statea the new mileage
Is as follows: New England statea, $8
mites; Middle Atlantic states, 2tS; Central
Northern, 419; South Atlantic 1.008; Oulf
and Mississippi Valley states, $70; South
western states. 988; Northwestern states,
1,170; Pacific states, 1,038.
The biggest construction project which
Is being carried out Is ths extension to
the Pacific coast of the Chicago, Mil
waukee St St Paul system. The longest
stretch of single line built during the year
was from Kenewlck to Vancouver, a Joint
line for the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific.
The effect upon the railroads of the
panic and adverse legislation, national and
state, Is even more strikingly shown by
the decrease in orders for'equlpment than
by the falling off In construction. In 1807
only 3,482 locomotives were ordered by the
railroads, while (.842 were ordered in 1908.
The freight car orders for 1908 amounted
to $10.31$ cars, while In 107 less than half
as many, or 151,711, cars were purchased.
In 1908 the railways bought $.403 passenger
cars, and in 1907 only 1,791.
Rigid retrenchment Is the order of the
day on every" railroad In the country,
chiefly because of the financial conditions
and prospects.
LIFE IN THE FAR NORTH.
Plata MTlngr and Hlh Thlnklaa- of
Stnrdy Natives of Iceland
National Geographical Mags sine.
Nowheri Is the contrast between .mail
and his surroundings so glaring as In Ice
land. Burled In snow in darkness, de
prived of every comfort, living on rancid
butter and fried fish, drinking sour whey
and milk, dressed like his servant's, seek
ing In a little boat his food, yet a cultured
mind, possessing an Intimate knowledge
not only of the history of his own country
but of Greece and Rome; a poet fond of
throwing off satires, Intellectually and
morally the equal of his European guest,
considering himself your equal and re
fusing to be ordered about by a rich Eng
lishman, owner of several square miles of
land and hundreds of sheep, with a pedi
gree going further back than that of his
visitor; a Jack of all trades, a blacksmith
In his smithy, boat Builder and carpenter,
an artist In filigree work, a ' carver In
wood, an eager reader In books, he has
universal education up to the degree to
which It Is useful for a man.
There are , no schools In Iceland, yet
every child at 12 can read, according to
the pariah statistics. In no country In
Europe are so many books printed and
sold in proportion to the population. A
population of only 78,000, scattered In many
hamlets, has twelve printing presses, the
earliest being established as far back as
1530; about 100 books annually, fourteen
newspapers and 'eight periodicals are pro
duced to satisfy the literary needs of this
little nation.
Yet this literary people still live In a
pastoral and Homeric civilisation, which
Is a modern lesson of the healthfulness of
human life lived In close contact with the
free, wild life of nature, such as would
have delighted the heart of Rosseau or
Thoreau. Aa a proof that thla life Is
healthy, I give the example of a clergy
man who died four years ago 11$ years
old, having managed to live all his days
healthy and happy on $160 a year, ths
average stipend in ' the Icelandic church.
The sheep yield food and clothing. Their
wool Is pulled off in the spring, carded,
spun, woven In hand looms and worn un
dyed. You make shoes of their skin and
spoons of their hems. Every opportunity
Is seised for the telling of stories and re
citing of poems. Only the milk ewes are
kept at home In the summer to be milked.
The rest of the sheep are gathered In from
the mountains In autumn, notice being
given at church from the pulpit.
The autumn gatherings, with people sit
ting on the walls of the stons Inclosure
telling stories, are quite Homeric. The
winter evenings are spent with each mem
ber of the family busy at work In the
same room; the men on their knees shav
ing the wool off the sheep skins, making
ropes and nets of hair; the women ualng
spindle and distaff, embroidering, etc., af
ford a still better opportunity for stories
and puns.
There are even wandering minstrels who
gain their livelihood by reciting prose or
poetry, which they know by heart, at
various farmhouses till they exhaust their
stock.
Merriment Makes Hlsa Sad.
NEW TORK, Dec $0.-Joseph B. Ford of
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, left a children's
Christmas party at the bouse of a friend
last night, walked out on the veranda, and
shot himself. He died within a taw' min
utes. Ford took a number of- boxes of
candy to the party and smed to enjoy
himself. Just before ne went out of the
house he told his friends that the merri
ment of the children mads him sad because
It reminded him of his wife who died
several years ago and of the home that
ber death caused to bo broken up.
THERE IS A. CHARM ABOUT
EifflA
BEAUTIFULLY CLEAN, HOT A!ID LASTING $7.50
VICTOR WHITE COAL CO., 1214 Firnim. TeL Cuj. 127
AS IT WAS. IS AND SUA Lb
Spirit of tho Tlneeo Not a New
Phenomena.
New York Tribune.
There are those who see awful portents'
In the signs of the tlmos. to whom th
world, and perhars especially this nation;
seems going along the paths of covetous
ness, luxury, profligacy and dissipation to
Irretrievable ruin, and who- bitterly lament
the passing away of tho good old days
of soberness. Industry and thrift
Yet 129 years ago today. In the time of
the primitive and sturdy virtues of our
ancestors, so Judlcloua an observer oa
George Washington wrote to his friend
Benjamin Harrison: "If I wss to bo called
"upon to draw a picture of the times and
"of men, from what I have seen and heard
"and in part known. I should In ono word
"say that Idleness, dissipation and x-
"travagance seems to have laid hold of most
"of them: that speculation, peculation and
"an insatiable thirst for riches seems to
"have got the better of every other con
sideration and almost every order of
"man. I need not repeat to you that 1 1
"am alarmed and wish to see my ooun-
.( 1,1(11 IVUIIU.
Of a truth Solomon ths son of David
was right when he said: "Say not thou,
" 'What Is the cause that tho former days
" 'were better than these ?' for thou dost
r.ot Inquire wisely concerning this.4
PASSING PLBASANTRIBS.
"Thst millionaire takes great pride In say.
Ing that he Is a self-made man."
"Ah I That accounts for his manner
not being finished.'" Bsltlmore American.
Clarice I think Mr. Gunaon Is dreadfully
stingy.
Clarence Stingy? , Why, that . man
wouldn't even tell a story at his own ex
pense! Harper's Weekly,
"Yep," said the neighbor, "my boy's
pretty smart. 1 reckon he'll be In con.
gress one o' these days. I'vs got 'lm it
training for It."
"Whereabouts Is he tralnln'T" ak4
Farmer Corntossel, "In a library or 8
gymnasium?" Washington Btar, n
According to Ernest Thompson Seton,
mospultoes do not bite frogs.
It takes a grand, sweet truth of this
kind to arouse In the calloused heart a de
sire for a closer contact with nature.
Cleveland Flalndeater.
Oklahoma offered Bryan a senatorshlp 11
he would move over there.
"Thank you," responded the Nebraskan,
"but my habit of running for something
every four years Is fixed.
However, they elected another blind man
Philadelphia Ledger.
"Thla Is so sudden."
"But, my darling, I feel I cannot wait
much longer."
"But I couldn't think of marrying any
body, till next year." Baltimore American.
"Pa," complained the boy, "so long as 1
go to the same school with Tommy Tuff I
can't be a Christian Scientist."
"What?" cried the pillar of tho new
church; "why can't you?"
" 'Cause It's hsrd to believe thst a punch
In the Jaw Is all nry Imagination." Cath
olic Standard and Times.
"Did yo' 'Joy yo' Christmas tuckey,
Bruddah Rooshlgh?"
"fclhuokal Doan' yp' knew somebody
done stole that tuckey?"
"Co'se I does! But did yo' 'Joy It?"
Browning's Magaslne.
"In love with that penniless young scamp,
are you?", said old Roxley. ,TWell, I pro
pose to cure you of that."
"You can't," retorted the wilful young
girl. "I'm determined to marry him."
"That's it exactly. I propose to let you
do It" Philadelphia Press.
Raynor Had a big family dinner at your
house the other day, had you? Any poor
relations?
Bhync Lots of "em. Every fellow thst
tried to tell a (rood story made a failure of
It Chicago Tribune.
"I see where that mute appeal Is to be
heeded of the poor trousered eagle on the
gold pieces."
"Yes; apparently, a cafe of the eagle
pants for reform." Baltimore American.
"You didn't happen to run across Jinn
while you were out In your auto, did
you?"
Nope; he dodged at Just the right ttme."
Houston Post.
"Old Hunks Is on the wrong side of tht
market, Isn't he?"
"1 don't see any evidence of It."
"You don't? He's taking a 10 cent lunch
eon of coffee and sinkers."
"That's a certain indication that the mar
ket. Is going his way. When he's losing h
orders canvasback duck and champagne.
You don't know old Hunks."
"She's rather plain, Isn't she?"
"She may be plain, but her father wst
clever enough to come out of the flurry
a million to the good. 'Cleveland i'luln
Dealer. . ; ,
Intimate Friend They suspended you .
from the Hot Sports' club? What had you
Victim (choking with wrath) Not a blank
thing! All they could prove against me wsi '
thst I had trimmed a sucker and got hie
wad, Just as you or any other man would
have done. Chicago Tribune.
"I wish you'd tell me what alls this
watch." said the caller, passing it over the
showcase.
The Jeweler took ' the timepiece and
looked at It
wnere aia you gei iw no nu.,
"At en auction store." '
That's til that alls It,"- said the Jew
eler, handing W back. Chicago Tribune.
"What!" exclaimed the husband. "You
drew your savings from the bank, went to
a broker's office, and bought Z., X., and
Y., stock at 14, when it has been dropping
like a rock?"
"But, my dear," argued the wife. It
was such a bargain. Why, during tha short
time I was In the office I saw a man
mark It down to 14 from 45!" Success
Magaalne.
PROGRESS.
S. W. Olllllan in Bucces.
Near the town of Up-against-lt la
land of Root-or-dle,
We have found our very finest Inspiration,
you and I. ...
Tolling up the hill called Have-to, with
Compulsion for a guide,
We have made the sort of effort that was
never yet denied. .... ...
In the way were Can't and Couldn t, with
their brother. What's-ths-use.
While our dearest foe. Horn-weary, seized
with Joy each poor excuse,
Yet behind us, unrelenting, drove our
heartless master, Must. .
And our feet essayed no lagging, spite ol
hill or heat or dust
It was there we grew the sinews Tor ths
strugge you and I
Near the town of L'p-agalnst-lt, in the land
of Root-or-dle.
Near that village, l'p-agalnst-lt in ths
land of Root-or-dle. .
We discovered possibilities undreamed of
you and I.
Were there heartaches In that Journey?
Little, then, our master cared.
As along that stony highway under whta
and spur we fared.
Bread-and-butter trudged beside us, wttk
a keen and ruthless goad.
That should quicken halting footsteps tl
we loitered on tho road.
Pride and Spunk, two comely sisters, lured
us on with myriad wl lee
All the master's welts were painless at
we feasted on their smiles.
So our hearts grew strong to conquer, at
ws plodded you and I
Past the hamlet, l'p-agalnst-lt. In the lent
of Root-or-dle. i
UJ
cJ5
L-3
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