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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1908)
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: MONDAY, DECEMP.EK. 14, 1D0A s; i i t Tite Omaha Daily Dee DUNDED BT EDWABD R08EWATER VICTOR ROSEWATF-n, EDITOR.. Entered at Omaha postofflce aa second class matter. TERM8 OF SUBSCRIPTION. Dally Ree (without Sunday), one year. $4 00 Daily Bee and Bnaday. one year 6.W DEUVKRED BY CARRIER. Pally Bee (including Sunday), per week.. 15c Dally Bee (without Sunday), per week..loc Kvenlng Bee (without 8unday. per week c Evening hae (with Sunday), pr week.inc Sunday Bee, one year IW Saturday w, one year 1-W Address all complaints of Irregularities In delivery to City Circulation department OFFlCKft. Omaha The Bee Building. South Omaha Twenty-fourth and N. Council Bluffs 15 flcott Street. Uncoln-618 Llfle Building. Chicago 1M Marquette Building. New York Rooma 1101-1102 No. 34 Wt Thirty-third Street. Waahtngton-725 Fourteenth Street, N. W. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news 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-onnt stampa received In payment of mall accounts. Personal checks, except on Omaha or eastern exchanges, not accepted. STATEMENT Or CIRCULATION. State of Nebraska, Douglas County, sa .? Oeorge B. Tsschuck. treasurer of The Bee Publishing company, being duly sworn, aaya that the actual number of full and complete copies of The Dally, Morning, Evening and Sunday Bee printed during the month of November, 1908, was as follows: 44,000 It 37.S60 , S 88,100 IT 37,190 I 45,860 IS 36,870 4 M.S0O II 38,890 1 4a.B80 20 37410 8S.490 11... 37,000 7 ..88,380 II 37,060 37,400 11 ...87,010 t 37.840 14 37,090 10 37,810 IS 37,070 11,.. 37,780 16 36,840 IS 8780 IT 37,140 Iff ....37,890 IS 36,890 14... 37,680 19 30,700 1 38,000 SO 37,810 Total 1,161,070 Las unsold and returned copies. 11,167 Net total 1,150.103 Dally average 38,338 OEORQ3 B, TZSCHUCK, Treasurer. Subscribed In my presence and aworn to before ma this 1st day of December, 1308. tSeal) M. P. WALKER. Notary Public WREN OUT Or TOWV. Sufcaerlh leaving the elty teas gtorarlly should ksr The Bee Mallea them. Addrees will he eaaae m eftea a requested. ThU U tb give and take season. Naturally, there la not much of a scramble for 10-cent eggs. I It la not too early to engage your seat on the water wagon. It is always a mistake to mix the Christmas spirit with the Christmas spirit. , Evidently the president does not be lieve it Is so Just' because he sees it In the New York Sun. , The Christmas shopping game is coming good, but it is still not too late to do your shopping early. v' It is a question whether Undo Sam needs ..four new - battleships, not whether he can' afford them. Better arrange with the alarm clock to aid you in getting into the list of near-early Christmas shoppers. A Chicago man named Cheese wants the court to change his name. It might be switched to Crackers. Lincoln Is to be Invaded by a demo cratic dally newspaper. This will cer tainly supply a long felt. want. It may be noticed that the. president did not stick to reformed spelling In his annual message to congress. The Christmas shopper would like a guaranty that his bank deposit will hold out for a couple more weeks. France asked Castro to move on .' until the French learned that he had , a fortune.' Then they invited him to , move In. Complaint is made about the head lights of automobiles. That Is less dangerous than light heads in auto mobiles. ' The base ball teams are anxious for the holidays to be over, so they can begin winning pennants around the office stove. Mr. Bryan will speak at the corn show on the last day, but that is no reason why you should defer your visit until that occasion. The secretary of war wants 600 more officers for the army. That looks like a promise of prosperity for the gold braid factories. A Pittsburg paper says that "one girl-can make 27.000 stogies a day." Stilt, that's one form of misdemeanor that should be prohibited. "The democratic party does not feel cast down," says Governor Johnson of Minnesota. Perhapa not,-but in most states It must feel cast out. Japan and ' the United States have demonstrated that they can pull off a little parlor show without having Hobaon appear as Interlocutor. The Indianapolis News celebrated Its fortieth birthday anniversary the other day and. the president thinks the paper la old enough to know better. Nat Goodwin saya he never told .his wife a He In bis lire, ir isat nas Deen telling the strict truth to his wives, it la no wonder so many of them have left hint. ' The University of Nebraska debaters put. away their Illinois competitors with neatness and dispatch, when it cornea to presenting arguments as well aa aubatanc Nebraska la always there. MR. TAFT OS DISFRANCHISEMENT. President-elect Taft has won the re spect of the southern people by talking very plainly to them in the discussion of certain political and social condi tions peculiar to the section south of Mason and Dixon's line. In his tour of the south before election he was bluntly frank In his suggestion that the southern people seek a divorce from the old question of race, preju dice and begin planning to vote In ac cordance with their Judgment and their best political Interests. He re peated this advice in an address at a reunion of North Carolinians In, New York the other night, when he clearly defined his attitude on the plans being tried in southern states to secure the disfranchisement of the negro. In the course of his address Mr. Taft said: In all the southern states It Is possible ty election laws proscribing proper quali fications for the suffrage which sqjare with tho flftenth amendment, and which shall bo equally administered as between he black and white races, to prevent en tirely the possibility of a domination of southern state, county or municipal gov crnmenta by an Ignorant electorate, white or black. The sooner such laws, when adopted, are applied with exact equality and Justice to the two races the hotter for the moral tone of state and community concerned. This is a clear recognition of the right of each state to fix its own qualifications for voters. On this proposition there is no room for ar gument,, but Mr. Taft makes It plain that he is not In favor of the repeal of the fifteenth amendment and la strongly opposed to discrimination against the negro solely because he Is a negro. If the south wants to keep the Illiterate negro from voting, it may do so by applying an educational test that would make ignorance, rather than color, a bar to the franchise privilege. The election laws now on the statute books of many of the southern states make a pretense of such a test now, but they are in variably framed to operate as a dis crimination In favor of the illiterate white voters, who are practically as numerous as illiterate negro voters In some of the southern states. Every state has the right to make laws that will proscribe the venal and the il literate, provided that all venal and illiterate are placed on the same foot ing. THE COLONIAL TRADE. Flgurea furnished the federal bureau of trade statistics show a marked and gratifying Increase in the trade be tween the United States and its colo nial possessions. The statistics are for the ten months of the present calendar year and Indicate a volume of business much larger than bad been expected or thought possible by students of trade conditions. When the Philippines came under the control of the United States ten years ago, it was predicted that it would be halt a century before the people of the islands were advanced sufficiently to have demands for any considerable amount of such goods as would be naturally expected to be Im ported from the United -States. The progress of the Filipinos has been demonstrated by the fact that, al though several years were required to restore order In the islands, the ex ports of that country now amount to almost $1,000,000 a month, being in excess of $8,000,000 for the ten months, and growing larger every month. Hawaii, while the smallest of the colonies, has been the most liberal buyer of American products, our ex ports for the ten months amounting to $40,500,000, as compared -with $22, 665,000 to Porto Rico, $10,500,000 to Alaska and $8,4 50,000 to the Philp- pines. The 'American exports to Hawaii comprised ljreadstuffs.'iron, steel, cot ton cloth, mineral oils and manufac tured wood and tobacco, in return for which we bought a alr share of the Hawaiian sugar '. crop. We bought sugar, tobacco and fruits from Porto R'ico and sent that country rice, pro visions, breadstuffs and manufactured Iron and steel. We Imported sugar and hemp from the Philippines and sold them iron, breadstuffs, cotton and mineral oil. Alaska sent salmon, copper and furs to the United States and bqught liberally of cottons, woolen goods, manufactured iron and steel, tobacco, breadstuffs, meats, liquors and wines. Altogether, the trade with our non contiguous territories is Increasing most rapidly and promises, with the development of those countries, to have a potent effect on the eommer-. cial Industrial enterprises of the United States. THE NEBRASKA BUDGET. Just at present the incoming admin istration is concerning itself very largely with the needs of the institu tions in Nebraska and is planning for the continuation of the careful man agement that has effected marked economies during the last two years. So far Governor-elect Shallenberger bas shown no disposition to interfere seriously with the control of the sev eral Institutions maintained at the state expense, and it is reasonable to presume that whatever step he takes In this direction will be carefully con sidered before it is made. Giving the governor and the leglblature credit in advance with a desire, at least, to di rect the affair of the state of Ne braska Jn such a way aa will aecure the maximum of effictency'wlth a min imum of expense, it may not be out of place to suggest some of the extraor dinary expenditures the incoming leg islature will be asked to provide for. The most important of these Is the step that must be taken to secure a more commodious and appropriate rap Itol building for Nebraska. The pres ent structure is little short of a dis grace. In appearance and accommoda tions It la not fit to house th govern- merit of a great and wealthy state, and while it may be possible to stow away the several departments of state gov ernment under its roof for another to years or four years, it Is equally cer tain that the new building must come. This will be the greatest duty, per haps, that will devolve on the new leg islature. Another extraordinary expense will be the making of proper provision for the National Guard of Nebraska. The amount of money now expended by the state on its citizen soldiers is piti fully Inadequate. Only by the most strenuous effort and the greatest of personal sacrifices on the part of offi cers and men has the guard been main tained at a point where it would pass muBter and come' within the purview of the national law. In Omaha and Lincoln the work of keeping up the guard has been especially difficult, owing to the great expense for "main taining suitable quarters. Governor Sheldon has expressed himself ns being favorable to the erection of armory buildings throughout the state, but es pecially in the larger cities, where they are so greatly needed. These two items will constitute the most pressing needs aside from the requirements of the established institutions, and de serve the earnest consideration of Governor-elect Shallenberger and the leg islature. A'EIF STA1ES AND THE SENATE. The effort that will be made to pass a bill at the present session of con gress admitting New Mexico and Ari zona to statehood is scheduled for very considerable opposition, despite the fact that the party' is pledged by Its plat form to such legislation, that Presi dent Roosevelt has recommended it and that Mr. Tnft is strongly in favor of it. It is reported from Washing ton that if the statehood bills are not passed at this session, Mr. Taft will ask for statehood In the message he will send to extra session to convene in March. The opposition to the proposed legis lation is personal and political on the part of the senators from some of the New England Btates. It will mark their final stand against loss of their dominating part in senate affairs. For many years a coterie of New England and eastern senators has practically directed the work of that body. Their domination was largely responsible for the delay In the admission of Okla homa and Indian Territory and their final admission as one state, instead of two. This eastern, clique objected to the admission of the territories as separate states, as that would add four western senators to the body and in crease the power of the western mem bers who were fighting, against east ern opposition, for forest reserves, ir rigation and the advancement of in terests in which the west has a 'deep concern. It was this same spirit that, when the admission of Oklahoma and Indian Territory could no longer be denied, defeated the admission of New Mexico and Arizona by insisting that they come in as one state. The bill providing for such Joint statehood was passed by congress, but the territories both rejected it. It is hardly probable that the east ern members will be able to longer prevent the admission of New Mexico and Arizona. The combination has lost Its dominating control. The deaths of Senator Hoar and of Sena tor Piatt of Connecticut robbed the clique of two of Its strongest mem bers, and its force was further seri ously impaired by the retirement of Senator Spooner and the death of Senator Allison, both western men who worked with the "conservatives" from New England. The changes that have been made in the senate In the last five or six years have added greatly to the prestige and power of the west. The younger men have taken a more active part and the old leaders, from the eastern states, have not been replaced with forceful con servatives. On this account, while the admission of the two territories to statehood may be opposed, it cannot be long postponed. Politically, the ad mission of the territories would prob ably add two democrats and two re publicans to the senate, thus not dis turbing the political complexion of the body, but it would be of Importance to the west by adding four votes to the support of measures and policies of special Interest to the west. Secretary Mellor of the State Agri cultural society will be pardoned for the enthusiasm he Indulges In concern ing the corn exposition, for he is fa miliar with conditions In Nebraska and knows Just how wondrous the farm achievements of the Antelope state really are. The prospect for another year of building In Omaha Is more than en couraging. The buildings already pro vided for and certain to be constructed during the coming aeason are enough to constitute a boom in a less progres sive town. The World-Herald refuses to be comforted by President Roosevelt's message. That Is one thing that has really endeared the president to the American people. He has so far been unable to satisfy his democratic critics. It is more difficult than ever to understand why boys leave the farm and move to cities for the privilege of paying CO cents a dozen for near fresh eggs. "The south pays more attention to booze than it does to, literature," says a Kentucky paper. In other words, it la Interested more in best cellars than in best sellers. The Atlanta Georgian and the New Orleans Times-Democrat Insist that the "night-riding movement in the south bears no analngous relationship to the old Ku-Klux movement." Still, the Innocent planter who Is killed has no choice between a "Night Rider" and a member of the Ku-Klux clan. Congressman Slmms of Tennessee has introduced a bill making It un lawful to carry concealed weapons In the District bf Columbia. He wants to feel safer in Washington than he does in Tennessee. Judge Sullivan would have none of the aupreme Judgeship at the hands of Governor Sheldbn, but there are oth ers. The present list of aspirants for the place is so formidable as to be really Impressing. Mr. Bryan protests against the elec tion of Mr. Root to the United States senate from New York. The members of the New York legislature will gov ern themselves accordingly. Foot Hall Fatalities. Boston Herald. The most consoling feature about the records of the casualties of the late foot ball season la that no two of them agree, either In their totals or In their particulars. This shows that they are largely guess work, with a leaning against the game. An Impressive Warning;. New York Tribune. Forty miles of trolley lines put out of commission and 10.000 men In danger of Idleness is the latest drouth news from western Pennsylvania. On the whole, Gov ernor Guild of Massachusetts is probably not a Ml too strenuous In his character ization of the worse than fatuous policy which has stubbornly Tefused to make pro, vision for forest reservations for the regu lation of streams and conservation of the water supply. In the Eye livery Time, New York Poet. The Smithsonian authorities know tht Mr. Roosevelt's collection will be worth miany thousand dollars, because he is sum to hit 'em In the eye every time, and so avoid mutilating the skins. Provoking; Publicity. Kansas City Times. President Roosevelt said some things In his message that congress doesn't like. A sure way to gain the widest possible publicity to these portions of the message is for congress to undertake to "expunge" them. Perjury la the Courts. Philadelphia Record. Whether the fading belief in a place of future torment be responsible for It or not, there Is a lamentable Increase of perjury according to the testimony of many trial Judges. Supreme Court Jus tice Hendrlck of New York sent the plaintiff In a slander case to jail In de fault of a bond for $1,000, saying: "I am convinced that Mobs has shamefully perjured himself. We must atop perjury in our courts." If men do not fear hell as their grandfathers did, there Is all the more necessity of making them fear the penitentiary.;. Profits ot Bounding; Business, Boston Transcript. Either the ' bonding business is ex tremely profitable or postal employes are more honesHhen' the average of mortals. The postmaster 'general's recent report showed that 'the average annual -collections from surely" companies and Indi vidual bondsmen' amount to less than 130,000, white-. He .believes, the premiums paid to surety companies by postal em ployes aggregate annually 1300,000. Buch a showing ought to reduce the rates, even If it does not Induce tho government to un dertake its own bonding. Another Ureat Hrpobllc. Washington Post. Basing his estimate upon the remark able progress made by Brazil since it became a republic, John Barrett, director of the Bureau of American Republics, predicts that before the end of the pres ent century Braxll will have a popula tion of 160,000,000 and will be one of the greatest sources of food supplies in the world. The -country Is larger than the United States, and Is wonderfully rich in natural resources. .With an Immense pop ulation, a stable' government and a high and varied civilisation, Brazil, even be fore the end of the century, will be close to the head In the rank of the great powers. It may mean the shifting of the balance of the world's political power to the two dominant republics of the two Americas. Selfish Knockers In Action, Boston Herald. Opposition to the postal savings bank, which la threatened in the senate, con tinues to stand on misrepresentation of the plan. The misstatements, whether due to Ignorance or intent, are Inexcusable. The smaller national banks and the savings banks are said to be opposed to the plan because they fear government competition. But the postal savings bank docs not dpi template competing for funds now de posited in existing banks. A low rate of Interest on deposits is provided fn order that competition . may be avoided. Tho postal savings bank would be auxiliary to the existing system, drawing on horded funds which are now given to any deposit ory. Such funds as it attracts will be turned into existing national banks, and will increase-to that extent the circulating currency. GENTLK.NKSS CO-Ul F.HS WORLD. Thoughts on the Season of Peace and Good Will. Collier's Weekly. All the old troublous questions of the origin and destination of tho Galilee Car penter have passed. All the medieval worrlment In discriminating between hu man and divine has gone, all the puxzlqd Inquiry Into the miraculous. No longer Is mankind stirred over the non-essential. Theories of Him fade away, dogmas on Ills nature lose their, charm. His gentle ness has conquered. His Influence con tinues and widens. Slowly brightening, the gleam that touched - Him spreads through the world. His spirit moves on the face of civilization and makes It kindlier every generation. The touch of His hand in on the grief-stricken. Nurse, physician and nun are the messengers of His teaching. The vestal fires burned out, but never the fires of His spirit, which answer each other from mountain top to mountain top across the conlf nents. And deep in the heart of the peo ple they make family life sweeter and ease the bitterness of failure and Ignor ance and all life's Incompleteness. That wonder-working personality was never so potent aa today so Insistent and ten derly sure. Under a thousand forms, creeds and names men serve Him. And however far we go in the conquest ot na ture, Identifying the north pole, climbing the sky, prying open electrical forces, mapping out the subliminal, diminishing sin, disease, war, poverty. Ignorance al ways in the advance will be that gracluui figure of the Sinless One, who sluved hved t Ian iur love as the rule of life. One Perfect ardent and gentle the race will tire of Hlnv rt'RRKXT POLITICAL COM M K T, Specimens of the Tart and Sound Judgment of the President-elect. "Washington I'ost (ind.). The bearing of the rrosldcnt-elect is win ning golden opinions from all claws and conditions of men. In bis private and pub lic utterances Mr. Taft Is displaying tact and sound Judgment. In his "eloquent flaslies of silence" his Judgment Is equally good. He seems to have a happy faculty for taking advanced ground and asserting himself without arousing antagonism. Al ready several questions of profound Im portance, affecting his forthcoming ad ministration, have come up for his con sideration, and he has disposed t them In such manunrr ns to reveal elements of strength which had not been disclosed dur ing the campaign. No one who knows Mr. Taft was in doubt as to his possession of this strength, but his easy exercise of mastery over situations as they arise Is a gratifying assurance that the next presi dent. Uko the rresent one, will be himself, solely, the president of tho United States. One of the little incidents showing Mr. Taft's spirit was his refusal to bo mode an honorary member of the Red Cross so ciety. Ho is an active member, and be Intends to remain active. He has accepted the. presidency of tho society, and doubt less he wjll find time to serve faithfully In that position to Its great advantage. It would have been ensy for tho president elect to shirk tho duty which he bad pre viously performed, and the press of greater duties would have been a sufficient ex cuse. But It was not In his nature to shirk a task once assumed, nor Is ho so dazzled by his honors as to becomo blind to humb ler things. Every day that brings Mr. Tnft nearer to th presidency serves to sharpen and solidify tho Impression he makes upon the publlo mind. The people are more and rgoro Impressed with the fact that here Is a real man, who Is to do great things In a great way. . And the people do not forget that President Roosevelt precelved tho true quality of Mr. Tnft long ago, and did his best to place him where he could serve his country tho best. Here after, when the account is reckoned up. It Is probable that the historian will note with amazement the fact that Theodore Roosevelt was criticised for preferring Wil liam II. Taft abova all others for his suc cessor. Peril In the Itnllot. Philadelphia Press (rep.). In Iowa, at the recent election, tho re publican elector-at-largo heading tho list received 8,852 more votes than the second elector-at-large, and the district electors showed a still further falling off, tho last elector being the greatest sufferer. The vote for the democratic electors was on a similar sliding scale, the first on the list receiving 0.246 more votes than the second candidate for elector. With a republican majority of 75,000 this made no difference in the result, but had the republican majority been only 6,000 for the' highest elector of that party, the reduction in the vote for the other electors would have let In one or more near the top of the list of tho democratic electors. The republican majority of 6,000, Imperfectly recorded under the complexities of the Aus tralian ballot, would not have been given full effect, because of badly marked ballots. This Is what happened in Maryland, and Taft loses six electoral votes there be cause the ballots were not marked so as to give tho republican majority Its full weight. It has caused the election of one republican elector to be challenged In Mis souri. His vote, though greater than the democratic elector for the samo district, is less than that counted for the highest democratlc-eleetor-at-large. , Tho question whether that vote shall ho counted for Taft or for Bryan will probably be carried to congress. If the result of t'ho election turned pn that ono vote the conditions would be present for an acrimonious and bitter controversy and a disputed succes sion to the presidency. The evil of tho present method Is fully demonstrated at a time and In a manner which makea Its cure possible without rais ing any partisan questions. The voting of both parties .Is confused and falsified by the present method. The majority does not rule when accurate marking and not plain intention determines the election. There Is danger In the present method, which elementary statesmanship and common prudence should cause to be removed. An Astonishing? Confession. New York World (dem.). Mr. Bryan in a Commoner editorial on "The Growth f Socialism" warns the re publicans that "they may boast of their victory," but that "just as the populist party grew until It compelled consideration of the abuses that led to Its organization, so the Socialist party will grow until it forces those at the head of the government to look into the wrongs that are done and to apply remedies." What an astonishing confession of demo cratic Impotence under the Bryan leader ship! It is the democratic opposition that should compel the party In power "to look Into the wrongs that are done and to apply remedies." That Is what an opposition is for. Yet Mr. Bryan surrenders this func tion to the socialists, apparently convinced that the great democratic party is power less to do its own work. The socialists at leant do not support republican measures and pose as "heirs to my policies." They stick to their princi ples. When the democratic party begins to stick to its principles and nominate only democrats for office there will be no oc casion for Mr. Bryan or anybody else to glorify socialism as the effective opposi tion to republican mlsgovernment. The XfW Political South. Boston Herald (rep.). Mr. Taft believes in the new south poll tics as well as in the industrial activity. The incongruity of the commercial aspira tions of that section of the country and Its bondage to political prejudices is be coming more apparent each year of Its de velopment The purpose of the president elect to shape the policies of his adminis tration, bo far as they relate to the po litical situation in The south, to the end that sectional divisions may be eliminated is of more than partisan Interest. The passing ot the solid south will be a step toward national unity and welfare, the Impotepee of which will not be measured by the gain of .congressional seats or of electoral votes by any party. Just Enough Harmony. Springfield Republican (lnd.). The harmony conference between Mr. Taft and Speaker Cannon looks like the prelude to another of those amazing ex hibitions of "get together" which the re publican party has grown fat on, and which are the despair of the storm-tossed and distracted democracy. Harmony Just enough, but not too much has become the finest of the political fine arts, as practiced by the national republican party of our time. . Democracy's Condition. ' t Boston Transcript (Ind.). Governor Johnson's assertion that the democratic party's condition Is today bet ter than before the campaign will recall to the historically minded the declarations of the Richmond newspapers, In the early spring of 1M3. that Qeneral Lee had gut General Grant Just where he wanted him. COLD, t XFKELI0 PRRAC1IRR. He Would Abolish the Christinas Tree If He CouM. Baltimore Sun. "Abolish tho Christmas tree," advises Dr. Robert 8. MacArthur In an address to his parishioners. The reverend doctor ssys he has forbidden the use cf trees or ever greens In his church this holiday season, lie even goes so far as to denounce the ie of these as a beathen custom that ought to be discontinued. "How came we to adopt this custom, which Is one of the many taken from the heathen?" asked Dr. MacArthur. "We are deforesting many portions of our state and country. We ought to save ths trees to prevent floods and to give ths proper amount of shade. To do my share In the work, I have forbidden the purchase of evergreen trees by this church for the coming holidays." So the doctor In his reasoning works around from the heathen to the forest pres ervationabolish the Christmas trees and save the forests. This Is rather farfetched. For every treo that is cut down to make Christmas greens the ax of the lumberman slays a thousand. The holly with Its pretty berries, the cedar with Its rich green leaves, must, of course, be preserved to Rive pleas ure to the future generations aa thoy have to ours. But they are here for us to use and to enjoy and why shouldn't we use thi'm? The forces that are destroying our forests are not the Christmas tree hunters. They are the greedyi lumber speculators, who sweep a tract clean of big trees, and In place of the forest leave denuded lands that will wash away, and furnish a drain to feed the floods that carry destruction down the rivers. Perhaps more care should be exercised in cutting holly and cedar and mistletoe, in order that the growth may not be destroyed; but this Is so small a part of forest destruction that it does seem we might be allowed our evergreens for the holidays. Abolish the Christmas tree? Not while the houses hold troops of merry children that look forward with eager eyes to ths little tree in the parlor that, with its hun dred lights and gifts, looks like a bit of fairyland. Not while the oldest of us al most bear the stamping of tho reindeers and the jingle of tho sleighbells. Abolish tho Christmas tree? Not while It lights up the happy home with Its glowing tapers; not so long ns It Is the sign and sybol of the season of good cheer and merriment; not so long as bright-faced children stand around it with glowing faces, radiant with the happiness it brings Abolish the Christmas tree? You might as well stop the sleigh, unharness tho rein deers, confiscate the toys, shave off Santa Claus' beard, and send him back home to lead the lonely life of a crusty old bachelor, Parson, spare that tree; It would be well to pause before you fight the million friends of Mr. Santa Claus. AMRRICA.V TROOPS I CUBA. Plan of Gradual Withdrawal Con sidered a Wise One. Cleveland Plain Dealer. There will be general concurrence In the wisdom of the plan announced at Washing ton for the gradual, instead of instant, withdrawal of American troops from Cuba at the expiration of the American occupa tion. It had been known for some time that both Provisional Governor Magoon and President-elect Gomes thought it wise that some of the troops should remain on the Island after the new government assumed control, but each for obvious reasons hes itated to mako the overt suggestion. Now the authorities at Washington have acted In accordance with their opinion. Conditions on the Island appear at tho present time tranquil 'and without definite suggestion of hidden dangers, yet enough is known of the Cuban character to make' this seeming quiet no adequate Indication of what might transpire within a few weeks If the American soldiers were withdrawn from the island when the new president assumes office. Gomez has reason to sus pect the loyalty of some of his more prom inent followers, even of some of those who for the sake of policy went upon his ticket and were carried Into office with him. A brand new revolution following the inaugu ration of the new government would be regrettable from every worthy standpoint and If the continued presence of the Amer ican soldiers will discourage such an un happy development the precaution would be well worth while. In the adoption of the new policy of with drawing the troops President Roosevelt recedes from his former position of Insist ing that the work of the United States on tbe Island should be completed before he leaves office In March. When he first an nounced his Intention of thus withdrawing completely from Cuba before the end of his term . objections were raised that the time was too short. It was supposed, how ever, that he would persist. , WHAT CAl'sES CHIME. Supposed Wise Men Conjure Vp a Variety. Brooklyn Times. That wily purveyor to the whims nnd humors of the times, Minister Wu Ting fang, originally of China, but at present of all creation, says that meat causes crime. The governor of this state la assured that It is horse racing that makes the trouble. Defeated Candidate Swallow will have It that demon rum is the author and finisher of most improved brands of crime. Dr. Parkhurst places crime upon a feminine foundation, and Commodore Oerry finds youth full of opportunity. Anthony Cora stock holds all nature as a crime and hu man nature as the crimest crime of the lot. Every man to his own choice, although It appears that Minister Wu, with his simple declarative, meat. Is perhaps nearer the fundamentality of crime In tho abstract than any of the American specialists. Meat may cause crime. But it is lament ably on record that the lack of meat causes crime also. Not a great deal of crime Is committed on a full stomach, and when prices are high, prosperity low, soup kitchens are plentiful and honest work scarce we usually enjoy what the pseudo therapetlstlo psychologists call a "crime wave." Personally we Incline to the opinion that more than anything else, opportunity causes crime. The South and the Party, Charleston News and Courier (dem.). Has It occurred to our friends in the south who are making such a stir about the failure of the democratic party In recent years how much they have had to do In fact with this failure? Take the last four presidential elections, for example. Is the southern democracy less responsible for tns failures which have attended the party con tests than their northern confederates? It seems to us that the first thing the south ought to try to do is to save Itself from Itself. We would have been In a sorry con dition. Indeed, during all the years of our material uplift If It had, not been for our political friends en the ether side of the old sectional line.1 ' Reaaaurlng; Compliments. Baltimore American. . All the other powers are lining up to say how much they are pleased with the agreement between the United States and Japan. This Is reassuring, as ''uder any circumstances they would be pleased In the same way the philosophical old lady was resigned to die because they have to be. SCPPRR9SRD rATRT. Amendment of Present l.arr la the Interest of Progress. Pittsburg Dispatch. Since the United States supreme court has decided that under our patent laws a valuable Invention may be suppressed by thA owner of the patent an amend ment of the law would be In order. The ease In which the decision wss rendered was an action to restrain Infringement. The defendants pleaded willingness to pay a proper royalty on production of the patent article, but contended It was con trary to good publlo policy to have the use of a valuable patent withheld from the public. While the supreme court did not pass upon the public policy of such suppres sion It ruled that It wss the obvious pur pose of congress to confer that power. In support of this reasoning It cited the clause of the original lew since re pealedrequiring the prompt develop ment of foreign patents. In the opinion of the court If such development of do mestic patents had been desired It would have been as specifically enacted. The point now Is that If the American people desire development. Instead of suppression of valuable Improvements, they must demand of congress the en actment of a provision similar to that of the original law affecting foreign patents. There Is ample reason, now, why there should be such provision. Great corporations have arisen which monopolize certain fields. They buy new patents merely to prevent better device from superseding those In which they deal. It Is an abuse of the broad princi ple of the encouragement of Inventive genius by patent protection. I'KHSONAL 3SOTK. A Des Moines man wrote farewell letteri to a pair of wives, saying: "This Is all tlx reparation I can make," and turned on the gas. Then he was rescued in time to spjll the reparation, J. J. HUl views with alarm the prospect that the nation may starve, but be wants the fact understood that the evil day would be made remote by judicious Investment In the lands of the northwest. Mrs. Kate Stannard of Casper, Wyo., has been elected county superintendent of schools. She ran on the independent ticket and got a large majority over both the democratic and republican candidates. In a talk before a Baptist club In Boston the secretary of the Rhode Island Statu Board of Health said: "Kissing la all right if Indulged In with Judgment." This should relieve much apprehension on the banks ol the Charles. Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin spent 1106.000 to secure renomiiuKlon at the pri maries. If he lives to serve out the term nnd draw the six years' salary he will get $46,000 of it back, and ftll.OUO will be for the honor of being a United States senator. Tho old conundrum, how old Is Ann? is now superseded by how old Is Andrew Carnegie? It is recorded In the records of the parish of Dunfermline where he first saw the light, that h? was brrn In 1S37, and his biographies accord with this statement. And yet Mr. Carnrgln says these records are wrong, and that he was born In 1835. How old is Andy? Sir Wilfred Laurler, whoae twelve year of continuous power in Canada has now received a further extension. Is generally considered to be the thinnest of prima ministers. And yet a big, burly con servative M. P. was once maladroit enough to charge him with "fattening at tho expense of the poor, . deluded people of this country." Sir Wilfred genially rv torted: "I ask the House to look lit the honorable gentleman opposite aiul then look at me and say which of us Is moBt exposed to the charge of getting ful." Newspapers have trebled In Constanti nople, since the young Turks tank hold of the empire and tho editors are Indulg ing In a liberty of expression as has not appeared In print In that locality for cen turies. They are telling tho sultan he Is a back number, a dead one, an old fogy who lacks the courage to go out of sight and loso himself. One of the reasons sug gested for Abdul's continuance In office by the liberal regime is the belief that he has hypothecated large sums of public money. To trace this emergency fortune. It Is expedient to retain the sultan In tho spotlight while the search proceeds be hind the scenes. LAIUII1!V( LI.MKS. "It has always seemed to me." snid Uncle Allen Sparks, "that It's unjust to call 'em 'Ananias clubs.' It isn't quite fair to Ananias. He didn't actually utter anv lies: he only lied by implication. He wasn't really ellglbln himself to membership in un Ananias club." Chicago TriOune. v "Does your wife ever tell you she has nothing to wear?" "Worse than that." "What could be worse than that?" "She tells me she hasn't enough clothes In which to do a Salome dance." Houston Post. "You have eliminated competition!"' said the student of economics. "Nothing of the sort!" rejoined Mr. Dustm Stax; "when we effected our latest merger you ought to have seen the com petition to get situations in our office!" Washington Star. Sculptor's Wife Mv dear, you should not have axked Mr. Billyuna if )ie did not pre fer a bust. Sculptor Why not? Sculptor's Wife Didn't it occur to you that anything of the kind would be in the nature of a trust bust? Baltimore Ameri can. Algy Myrtle, what are your objections to marrying me? Myrtle I have only one objection, Algy. Id have to live with yoii Chicugo Tri bune, "Wonat rnBkp" the tattooed man look so .,V .a1" ,he albino of the ossified party. Ho s worried because Christinas la (lin ing. ' But he gets good money and hasn't many friends." "That's true; but he Is sweet on the three-legged girl, and she told him tins morning she was going to hung up Uvr stockings." Judge. WORRIES JK Till:; KAHLY SHOPPER J. M. Lewis, in Houston I'ast. '. I took this shopping curly hunch , To heart this year, and went From street to street, and store to store Till all mycasli was spent; I bought two dolls, two bLggles, too, Two phonographs to sing On, 1 am wixe, 1 have learned to Buy two of everything! I had a splnerola, and A gyroscopic top Thai spun and spun and spun and sutUa, As if 'twould never stop; I had a large projectoscopa, I had a four-wheeled cart, I wus the goods, was the wise guy, The big noise! I was smart! And then I started home with them In pockets, arms and paws, I would have shamed a Christmas tree. Or frightened Santa Claus; Four blocks from horns a thought cam Blng!" Into the mind of me, I'd got to sneak that load Inside The babies mustn't seel If they should run to meet their dad What would their daddy dot I fairly tiptoed from there on. And slow my foostepa grew. And far my eyes bulged out to see. And geel but I was glad To sneak those things safely inside) Darn this year's "shop now!" fad! For now I've got the things' at home-. Stacked full are all the shelves Whenever the baits looks around We scarce can fiold ourselves, For fear she may espy some thing From Its concealment poke I Oh, we have got our shopping dons. But life now Is no Jok '