Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAIIA DAILY BEE? WEDNESDAY, .JANTARY (, 1000.
Tim Omaha Daily Bee
FOUNDED BT EDWARD ROBE WATER.
VICTOR ROJBWATER. EDITOR.
Entered at Omaha pjstoffice at second
class matter
TERM" OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Daily Bee (without Sunday), one year..W.05
Dally B e and Hunrlay. one yenr
DKLIVKRKD BT CARRIER.
Daily ( noluding Sunday), per t..k
Daily He (w th in 8un iM ). per week..l'K:
Kvsnlng B-e (without Huntlay), per week .
Kvenlng Bee (wltn Bunuay), per wcek.-lOo
Hundjy Be oin year -
Saturday Bee, one year 1W
Addreaa all complulnis of irregu arltles in
delivery to City circulation department.
orncEa
Omaha The Bee Building.
Snutti Omaha Twenty-fourth and N.
Council Bluff IS Bcolt Btreet.
Dlnculn i.s Little Hull. ling.
Chleag 't lo4 Marquette BiilHng.
New York-Rooms 1101-1102 No. 24 west
Thirty-third Btn-et. ,
Washington 75 Fourteenth Street, N. W.
CORKESPONDENCB.
r'nmmunlcatloiis relating to news and edi
torial mattf-r should be eddreesed: Omaha
Bee, Editorial Department.
n L'(1TT x Vf ir 4
Remit hv draft express or postal oraer
payable to The Bee Publishing Company
Only 2-cent atampa received in payment of
mall accounts. PeraonHl checks, except on
Omaha or eaatrn e.-.hanges, nut accepted.
statement OF CIRCULATION.
mate ot Nebianka, DougUa County, as.:
Oeorae B. Tcwhuck, treasurer oi I
Roe Publishing o mpany. be.ng duly sworn,
v that thn actual number of full ana
ffl'
month of uecemoer, iv a, wa unuw.
l
2
1
4
6
6
7
, .37,780
, .37,810
..37,370
, .37-090
, .37.S30
..37,350
..37,840
17..
It..
It..
20..
21. .
22..
23..
24..
25..
Zt..
27..
28..
29..
30..
31..
,.m,i9
.37,859
"oia
..37,oao
8 37,040
.37,000 I
10
n
12.
17
1
16....
18 '.
Total ...
.36.S10
.36,790
.fl,aao
.aaaeo
.37,100
.36,710
.37,480
.37,170
.36,930
.37,150
..36,630
laloo
, .49.650
1,17Jjj45
Leas unsold and returned copies.
Net total
iJallv average
1,163,895 I
Bubacrlbed in mv preaence and aworn to I
before me this 3ist dy of December, isos.
Notary Public
WHEN OUT OF TOWN.
Subscribers leaving the city tem
porarily should have The Bee
mailed to (hem. Addreaa wilt he
ekaaged aa oftea aa requested.
Tough on the ice crop failure rumor.
it transpires that Pool won the
speakership pool.
Don't complain about the weather.
It will be spring soon enough.
Cuba is "free and independent"
once more, on condition that It be
haves. It is more important to help the
living in Sicily just now than It is to
count the dead.
The city of Denver has hired a press
agent. A suppress agent would meet
the needs better.
The too late Mr. Richmond can tes-
uiy mat u repuunc. are
so are democrats. , I
Tl t A . na.,lf I... e train nn. I
aa nm.i,a .n r!rii p,llff.
.... , I
on the political map. I
asks the New York Mail.
Some of them are dizzy.
They're not.
Arizona and New Mexico want it
understood that they are united in
their fight for divided statehood.
The supreme court of the United
States has also done Its share toward
disposing of the Brownsville Incident,
Speaking of names, Miss Virginia
Reel of North Carolina has married
Mr. Sterling Bugg, and Is now a Reel
Bugg. Although designed for other pur-1
poses, the American navy will be given I
. . . ..1
an opportunity io mit a iuc-mmuj
record.
The mlnyneaTorNebraska's
last legislature is to be chief clerk of
Nebraska's present legislature. Is
this a promotion?
Senator Tillman la bitterly de-
nounclng the education of the negro,
Chautauqua managers
themselves accordingly.
will govern
It is said that Mr. Taft has not at
tended a theater performance for
twenty years. He has not missed as
much as you might think.
Recent developments in Sicily taust
tend to confirm the mythology story
about Vulcan having his workshop In
the sub-basement of Vesuvius.
Mayor Jim says Congressman Hitch
cock's objection to a mayor-appointed
police board Is Instigated by the brew
ers. Mayor Jim ought to know.
TA..lhlir Mr Rnilf fffaller Anlavad
..'..,. v. ' "
naylng vuai ao,av,vvv uuu uowun
be feared all along that the supreme
court might make him take It back.
rvi.irl.a eountv will this time fur.
nlsh neither the speaker of the house
nor the president pro t.m of the sen-
ate. Such modesty will claim other
reward.
If congress does not want to In
crease the president's salary It might
help some by adopting the magazine
rate and paying him $1 a word for his
messages.
I
Washington is asking for more po-
ltcemen, although it is admitted that
the jails are too small to accommodate
the prisoners already under arrest,
The congestion might be relieved by
reducing th police force.
A POLITICAL TLAT.
The proposal endorsed by the dem
ocratic legislative caucus to contest
the Judicial appointments made by
Governor Rheldon Is plainly a political
clay. The around uDon which the
move Is sought to bo Justified la that
the canvass of the vote on the consti
tutional amendments should be made
by the legislature and not by the state
canvassing board, and that the ap
pointments to be made under the
trms of the amendment within ten
flays after the declaration of Its adop
tion should therefore be vested in the
Incoming governor rather than In the
outgoing governor.
That this beautiful explanation Is
simply an after-thought Is conclu
sively proved by the. course of the
democrats with reference to the
amendment. It Is claimed now that
before they gave a party endorsement
to the amendment
the democratic
bell wethers exacted from Governor
I C U 1 - ... , 1, , V, A
ouciuuu in nMumnvo uim
,ye favorablo consideration to dettlO-
cratlC appllcatltS for One Or more
piac(,B on tne bench. If Governor
Sheldon had no right to appoint, why
should the democratic campaign man-
,or- ,.,, r,na t tha trnnhla tn pa1t
o . ..."
this assurance aa the orlco of their en-
of the amendment?
nen uovernor ssneiaon came to
consider the Judicial appointments he
found himself beset by nearly as many
democrats as republicans in queBt of
Preferment. He found himself, fur-
thermore, supplied with a llBt contain-
in a ten names of democrats and renub
hi..., attVB maAa im Ktr tha RtatA Ttar
association, composed of attorneys of
both democratic and republican per
suasion. Had Governor Sheldon ao-
ceded to the demands of the democrats
for two of the four places his right to
make the appointments would never
have been questioned by a democratic
.o ,, tr,AnA hotro V,tiA Ilia ia.
markable spectacle of one eminent
democratic attorney publishing over
his signature a learned disquisition
arguing against the present governor's
right to appoint, and then within a
few weeks making a pilgrimage to the
(executive office, asking for the appoint
ment for himself.
It is not a question, then, of princi
ple, but of politics, that the democrats
are trying to raise. A few shifty poli
ticians think they can manufacture po
litical capital by embarrassing the su
preme judges through legal proceed-
ings involving the titles of their col
leagues on which tie judges would
have to paes. Such Bcrpentlne politics
arc characteristic of the democratic
leadership, hut can only disgust Intel-
ligent people.
FOR CONSULAR REFORM.
The senate committee on foreign
relations has made a favorable report
upon a bill which provides for a
marked reform in the consular service
and is calculated to make more effec-
tlve Bome of tne uang followed by
president Roosevelt and his secretary
of state for some vears. The measure.
I if smarted, wnulrl Incornnrate Into the)
. rMOnt nrmrt,no v wh.h
.lr.ble consular nosta are filled by
,, .n th
" "" It v.. u.u Hum "Vi"
sifted out by competitive examinations.
This proposed reform was Included
....
came a law in 1906. but was stricken
out by the senate and the competitive
examination required only for consular
appointments in the class that received
$2,000 or less per annum. Under the
system now in effect, the young man
who passes an examination and secures
Ian appointment as consul has assur
ance of promotion to the better paid
posts. President Roosevelt and Secre
tary Root have followed the promotion
plan very generally, In the absence of
a law requiring recognition or tne
merit system, and it Is the purpose of
the pending bill to make their example
hereafter obligatory.
Tha rnnanla ffenprnl ftprvlra an Sit
. hivM in .vn
mvinr . i.rv
viv., v ...
of 112,000 a year, and Including only
London and Paris, down to Class 7,
which is $3,000. In this
Brv mciuaeu iucu ciiicb a aiucui,
Copenhagen and Cbrlstiania. The con
suls are graded Into nine divisions, the
highest of which, at Dublin, pays
is.uuu a year, wnne me omers range
down to $2,000, with eighty-five post
tlons in the last named class. The
new bill proposes to place the service
entirely on the basis of demonstrated
ability.
Marked Improvement has been
1 shown In the consular service In the
last few years and the American con
sul Is now recognised abroad as a real
I business agent of the government In
Btead of a politician given a soft berth
In recognition of party work. The
proposed bill is designed further to
strengthen the service by making it
more attractive as a profession with
the prospect of advancement on merit
AO MtRQtB Or YELLOW PERILS.
General Kuropatkln, who is attempt
tag to achieve a distinction in the
i . , ,
magaslnes which he failed to get on
the field of battle, is painting a gloomy
picture of the future, in which he sees
a v a? .ii L. .u a. a w
luo, ,or luo wur,u WUCI lu
Chinese and Japanese form an alliance
tor rul,D the eMt and tben turn thelr
""entlon t0 th we,t- The general
airecis aiieaiiuu 10 ion net iubi tun
Japanese have taken absolute posses
sion of Manchuria and declares that
the Chinese army Is now dominated by
Japanese. He predicts that Japan win
J" dominate me airairs oi
China and then, wun ininese aia ana
support, will be In position to control
all Asia. He mildly urges other na
I tlons to take cognizance of the sltua
tlon and to do whatever is possible to
prevent the merger of the yellow perils
of the orient.
I All this might cause alarm, particu
larly among those who love to antici
pate the greatness of China when the
leeplng dragon awakes, were It not
for another expert opinion on Chinese
affairs. Sir Robert Hart is unques
tionably the best Informed white man
concerning Chinese affairs. He Is an
English officer, but has spent nearly
fifty years In China, creating and man
aging the Chinese customs and having
power in the nation above that of
ny Individual, the emperor alone ex
cepted. Bir Robert sees nothing but
good to pbnie out of the awakening of
China. In a recent article on the sub
ject of the Chinese as a fighting possl
blllty, Sir Robert Hart says
China would turn round to the rest of
the world and say, "Gentlemen, there must
be no more fighting." They would throw
In the force of their arms with the country
that was attacked and agalnat the country
that made war, and he believed that In
that way the millennium would come.
Sir Robert's prediction Is In entire
keeping with the character of the Chi
nese people. They are opposed to w ar
and .fighting, although they have had
their insurrections and their conflicts,
ue largely to religious differences,
nd never to desire for territorial
aggrandizement or for mere conquest
Their teachings for 2,000 years have
been In the direction of peace and if
they ever organize an army of formld
able proportions it will be an army of
defense and not of offense. It would
a curious turn in world history
should the Chinese learn the art of
war only to practice it In forcing other
civilized" nations to abolish war
SCORE ANOTHER FOR STANDARD OIL.
The refusal of the supreme court of
the United States to review the case
against the Standard Oil company, in
which a fine of $29,240,000 was im
posed by Judge Landis in the federal
court at Chicago, does not finally dis
pose of the case, although It scores a
coveted victory for the Standard. The
result of the supreme court's ruling
will be a rehearing of the case under
the old Indictments or new proceed
ings along similar lines.
The findings of Judge Landis were
reversed by the circuit court of ap
peals on three grounds of error: (1)
That the prosecution should be re
quired to prove that the 'defendant
had knowledge of the published rate
on oil when it accepted a lesser rate
from the railroad company; (2) that
the test of the offense was not the
number of carloads of oil shipped, but
the number of transactions between
the railroad company and the oil com
pany; (3) that the fine was excessive.
The supreme court now restores the
case to its original statuB in the federal
court at Chicago, where It may be re
tried, subject to the restrictions con
tained in the findings of the circuit
court of appeals. The cardinal issue,
then, whether the oil company received
unlawful rebates from the railroad, is
still unsettled. The requirement of
the circuit court of appeals that the
prosecution furnish legal evidence of
guilty knowledge of the published rate
when the lower rate was accepted will
probably be the difficult task of the
government at the new trial. The
company employs a large corps of ex
pert traffic men whose business it is
to know the published and secret rates
of all of the transportation companies
with which the Standard has relations.
The fact that the rate was published
by a road that did a big carrying busi
ness for the Standard would ordinarily
be accepted, as Judge Landis held, as
a prima facie showing of the Stand'
ard's knowledge of the rate. The
proof of the contention by admissible
evidence may, however, be a more
difficult matter.
This case has been regarded as one
of the tnost Important brought by the
government in its efforts to break up
the system of rebating. Shippers and
the public generally will be glad to
know that the case Is still open for
final hearing and adjudication. Owing
to bitter Interchange of personalities
during the trial of the original case
and to Judge Groascup's criticisms of
Judge Landis and the Department of
Justice in reversing the findings of
the Chicago court, it is quite probable
that Judge Landis may send the retrial
to another federal judge, but no mat
ter what judge tries it, the public In
terest will continue until the closing
decree.
The Board of Fire and Police Commi
sloners should be compoaed of men of
character and ability. Such men are much
more likely to be secured through the open
election than through the secret Influences
which often control the appointing power
whether vested tn the Hands of governor
or mayor. World-Herald.
Is this Intended to mean that
Omaha's present Board of Fire and
Police Commissioners is not composed
"of men of character and ability?" Is
It Intended to mean that the personnel
of the board as it now stands would be
improved by making the commission
elective Instead of appointive? Or is
it simply Intended to charge subservi
ency to "secret influences" upon the
Incoming democratic governor and the
Incumbent democratic mayor?
The last session of the 'glslature
in Massachusetts passed a law which
begins:
Whoever operates an automobile or
motorcycle on any public way or private
way laid out under the authority of la
recklessly or while under the Influence of
Jiquor, or ao aa to endanger the lives or
safety of the public, etc.
The courts have just held that an
automobillst can do as he pleases ao
long aa he Is on a road that had not
been "laid out under the Influence of
liquor." Apparently the law-makers
should be more careful about scatter
ing their commas.
Just to Ut the World-Herald down
easy, the democratic house caucus has
gently suggested to the speaker that
be consult with an advisory committee
as to the makeup of the house commit
tees. Members who want good com
mittee places, however, will see the
speaker and not waste time on tho ad
visory committee.
Lillian Russell promises to furnUh
a magazine with the love letters she
has received during her stare career.
Only the men who have married Lil-
an will feel comfortable over the an
nouncement. '
The Omaha Board of Education has
reorganized by supplanting one cream
ery man as presiding officer with an
other creamery man. That ought to
keep public school matters well
churned up.
The republican county commissioner
said to be figuring on turning the court
house over to the democrats by a tle-
p for some consideration persou.il to
himself will do well to look before he
leaps.
"What the American owes to the
Chinese?" Is the title of a magazine
rtfcle. - He is lucky If he owes any
thing, as the average Chinese Insists
on cash dealings with the 'Melican
man.
There were two births for every
death in New York in 1908. but the
reckless chauffeur will doubtless do
his share toward bringing the stork
and the undertaker nearer a parity.
Mr. Taft has asked that 'possum
and sweet po'atoes be Included In the
menu at all the banquets tendered to
him in the south. His capture of that
section is now assured.
At any rate, the case against one
Charles T. Stewart, whenever it may
be tried, Is assured In advance of front
page space in every live newspaper in
the country.
One of the big life Insurance com
panies moved from New York to Pitts-
urg New Year's eve. The company
will And an infinite variety of risks In-
Pittsburg.
Jto Blow Holes There.
Washington Herald.
Looking back over the last seven years,
one must admit that the battleship Roose-
elt la equipped with first-class and highly
effective armor-plate.
ClawlBar for liana1 Pile.
Chicago Record-Herald.
CI us Bpreckels came to this country a
poor boy and amassed a great fortune, but
he does not seem to have been able to die
without leaving a will contest.
A Pertlneat Tip.
Charleston News and Courier.
If the lawmakers would advocate the use
of water for bathing purposes as strenu
ously as they advocate It for drinking pur
poses, public morals would show more rapid
Improvement.
Victory Saeeeede Defeat.
8t. Douls Globe-Democrat.
The unexpected happens in politics also.
When Burton was defeated for mayor of
Cleveland last' year by Tom Johnson, no
one predicted it bat . Burton would succeed
Senator Foraker in 1909.
Geaeroalty lader Trast Direction.
Baltimore American.
Mr. Rockefeller thinks a benevolence
trust should be organised for the distribu
tion of charity. If It is managed as the
usual trust, with managers, officers and
diiectors, there Is small doubt that the
business end would be thoroughly systema
tised; but bow the poor would fare through
Us trust operations is quite another ques
tion.
Tangles of Title Hunting.
New York World.
The French court which awards the cue
tody of her three children to the Princess
de Saaan provides with, such curious minute
ness where they are to be educated and at
what times their father, Count Boni, shall
see them, that the arrangement amounts
almost to a dual guardianship. Such tangles
ensue when justice tries to keep pace with
divorce.
"Senator Burton" Looks Good.
Philadelphia Record.
The country at large, as well as Ohio in
particular. Is to be congratulated on the
prospective election of Theodore E. Bur
ton of the United States senate. Mr.
Burton has been a most painstaking and
efficient member of the lower house of
congress. He has earned the advance
ment his state has bestowed upon him, and
will no doubt further add to the prestige
of past service in the next six years. Mr,
Burton was 67 years old December 20, and
Is In the ripe fullness of his powers.
Need of Glvlas; talckly.
New Tork Tribune.
For weeks to come Italy's moat urgent
need will be food, clothing and shelter for
the homeless. If, as Is not improbable,
150.000 lives have been lost, the number of
survivors whose distress calls for prompt
relief must be twice or thrice aa creat.
Both In Sicily and Calabria there are un
doubtedly scores of small towns in which
the dwellings have been almost as com
pletely wrecked as those of Measlna said
Regglo. The mental anguish caused by the
lose of friends and property only time
can alleviate; but food and clothing can
be supplied by money, and money can be
transmitted by cable.
Southern Hospitality.
New York Sun.
All Georgia wants to heap the board at
the banquet to Mr. Taft at Atlanta, on
January It with roast. 'possum and sweet
potatoes, and Mr. Harry 8. Fisher of
Newman, who Is known as the 'possum
kliuf. rhapsodises:
"Give us a 'possum-loving president, and
the White House will ring with peace aad
prosperity and joy for years to come."
What with brome turkeys from Rhode
Island, 'possums from Qeorgta and can
vasbacks from Maryland, not to speak of
the Immortal Virginia hams, Mr. Taft,
who is rapidly getting the reputation of
an epicure, will be killed with kindness If
he doesn't plead indigestion.
U errors Plied oa Horrors.
Philadelphia Record.
Cities destroyed by earthquakes have
rarely remained desolate wastes. Sooner
or later the sites have been repopulated
and new cities built on the ruins. Wes
slna may be one of the few exceptions
and become one vast tomb for 116,000 of
Its Isle Inhabitants. The bodies of moat
of them are irrecoverable, and there Is
little hope of rescuing those who may
still be alive and burled In the debris. It
Is proposed to pulverise the wreckage of
the city by cannon shot from the warships
and thus cover up the dead more com
pletely lest their festering corpses dis
seminate InrVction. On horrors piled on
hurrwrs this would set the crown.
ARMY CiOSSir IX WASHINGTON.
terreat Errata Gleaned from the
Army aad Navy Register.
A moat serious situation has bi-en pre
sented at Fort Meade. 8 . D by the tie
faulting of the contractor who was to
furnlah the watr supply for that post.
All the supply has been cut off, requiring
all drinking and cooking water to be l aul d
by wagon for abrut two miles and nmklng
It ncceaaary to pump very objectionable
water from a creek and lake below the
post Into the water system vf the p st f jr
flushing purposes. This cise was so serious
and the amount of water required for
an Independent supply was so large that
he secretary of war haa authorised a
peclal estimate to be Submitted to con
gress, a number of other cases, similar,
but requiring less funds, have recently
come to the War department.
Protests, individual for the most part,
are still being received by the War depart
ment from thoae army officers who find
objectionable the proposition t effect by
ItgUlatlon a rearrangement of the lineal
liec of the commissioned personnel of the
line. This Is the proposition wh'ch was
made by Genera! Bell at the close of the
first session of the sixtieth congress, and
thesj who wou'd bj adversely affected by
the readjustment have emphatically mtda
known to the War department the reaaons
why no change should be made at this
late day In the effort to correct the Injus
tice wrought by old time regimental pro
motion. It Is apprec ated at the cap.tol
that quite as much la to be said agaJnst,
as there has been said In favor, of the
proposed legislation. The War department
will, upon occasion, and when the military
committees want the information, send
these protests to the capltol. In the mean
time, there appeara no likelihood that the
subject will be taken up by congress.
The War department authorities will
make an effort at this session of congres
tj have increased the means for advertis
ing for recruits and the funds available
for the apprehension of deserters. It is the
intention to continue the activity In recruit
ing, to which end it is desired to Increase
the allotment for the Incidental expenses of
recruiting by about M.000. The expenses of
apprehending deserters has amounted dur
ing the last year to a little more than tS.COJ
per month. A resolute effort is being made
by the adjut nt generel to Increase the per
centage, of desiters apprehended, and the
Increase in expenditures for rewarJs Indi
cates that results are being obtained. To
meet th s Increase In expenditure, the esti
mate, Is $39,700 greater than the apportion
ment for the current fiscal year. This Is
money well spent, and as the certainty of
apprehension and punishment for desertion
is Increased, doubtless the number of de
sertions-will decrease, resulting In a reduc
tion of expenditures for reward and to the
good of the military service In general.
On February 15, 1908, the soldiers' station
at Morris, near Fort Yellowstone, Wyo.,
was destroyed by fire. Claims were filed
by three enlisted men for the amount of
damage sustained by them and a board of
army officers, having Investigated the loss,
found that the articles enumerated by the
enlisted men were lost and destroyed by
fire through no negligence or fault on their
part and, consequently, the treasury ac
counting officers in this city forwarded
warrants covering the amounts claimed.
Major Allen of the Eighth cavalry, com
manding Fort Yellowstone, returned the
warrants to the department with the state
ment that a subsequent Investigation had
led to the belief that two of the enlisted
men were directly responsible for the fire
and that the third had deserted, robbed
a ranch a few miles from the fort, and
was serving a penitentiary sentence for the
latter offense. Before the first two had
been found out their terms of enlistment
had expired and they were out of the ser
vice. As a result, the assistant comptrol
ler of the treasury has ordered the cancel
lation of the warrants.
The War department has approved the
plans which will finally equip Boise Bar
racks, Idaho, for the accomodation of the
headquarters and four troops of calvary.
Much of the work has already been ac
complished. The estimates to congress for
the fiscal year 1909 included the following
buildings for Boise Barracks, which were
In the original 1905 list: One colonel's quar
ters, four officers' quarters, one band bar
rack, three cavalry stables, one field staff
and band stable, one hay shed and one
granary. Also the following additional
buildings, which were not In the original
list: One additional cavalry atabu one
bakery, two stable guard buildings, one
quartermaster's storehouse, one coal shed.
None of these buildings was Included in
the approved project for construction for
the fiscal year 1909, because sufficient
funds were not available for all the work
under consideration and the buildings at
other posts were considered necessary at
that time. The project now contemplated
will provide for the buildings necessary for
the accommodation of the four cavalry
troops, with a view to making use of two
of the old barracks that are considered
serviceable.
Bids have been received for tha Tlenxlr
construction proposed at Fort D. A. Rut
sell. Wyo., with a view to converting that
station Into a brigade post. The proposals
have been forwarded to the quartermaster
general and they are regarded as accept
able, being within the est mate of coat.
This contract will represent about $700,000
worth of bUlldlnar. Minor contracts awanterf
by the quartermaster sreneral this weeb In.
eluded the construction of a quartermaster,
storehouse and cavalry stable at Fort
Meade, B. D., to the extent of about $70,000.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Congressman Burton of Ohio la now prob
ably more reconciled than ever to his de
feat for mayor of Cleveland.
hot Angeles Is carrying a load of debt
now close to $40,000,000, and an unfeeling lo
cal paper Is discussing the coming "pay
day." Governor-elect Stubbs of Kansas, has
given It out that no female clerks, stenog
raphers or typewriters shall have Jobs in
his Immediate office.
J. J. Hill Is going Into the ranch business,
and as a starter has secured 7,000,000 acres.
By buying out a neighbor occasionally he
may ultimately have a sizable farm.
A New York man was arrested while
beating a lamppost with his cane, and Is
regarded as eccentric. Had he merely em
braced the post In an exuberance of affec
tion doubtless he would havo been con
sidered normal.
MIhs Sasha Kropotkln, daughter of Prince
Kronotkln, has Inherited many of her
father's ideas upon the subject of govern
ment. She Is a student of University col
lege In London, and does not ask for suf
frage, she says, because she does not be
lieve in any form of parliamentary govern
ment. A movement la on In Kansas to give
Frank D. Coburn, commissioner of agri
culture, a vacation or a year and a trip to
Europe, with salary and expenses, so that
be might Investigate farming In the old
world and return to the bleeding common
wealth refreshed and trained to sing the
praises ef Kansas In all the old tongues
of fcurope. The idea is well worth try
ing and Coburn needs a few more new-old
notes to diversify bis melodious repertory.
LINCOLN'S ANCESTOR.
Efforts of Genealogist Trodace aa
lanpoelag Family Tree.
New York World.
Two genealogists, one American and the
other English, have compiled "The An
cestry of Abraham Uncoln," which pro
fesses to trace the family back for ten gen
erations and to follow Lincoln's English an
cestry "four generations further back than
it has ever been carried before.
Perhsps the work was worth doing, al
though we doubt If Lincoln himself would
have been greatly Impressed by It. He
never manifested a very keen Interest as to
his antecedents.
In a llttlo biography written In his own
hand for Jesao W. Fell tn 1859 Lincoln said
his parents were of "undistinguished per
haps I should say second families," his
mother coming "of a family of the name of
Hanks." When John Locke Scrlpps went to
him In 1880 for materials for a campaign
life, Lincoln replied. "Why, Scrlpps, It Is a
great piece of folly to attempt to make
anything out of me or my early life. It
can all be condensed In a single sentence,
andthat aentence you will find In Gray's
tiegy
The short and simple annals of the
poor.
"That's my life, and that's all you or
any one else ran make of It!"
He also communicated certain informa
tion to Scrlpps which was riot to be used
at that time, and which was never used or
alluded to. Scrlpps regarded It sa wholly
confidential, and left no memorandum of It
among his papers.
Lincoln, however, once expressed the
opinion to Herndon that his ability came to
him through his mother and not through
his father, a theory which people who
knew Thomas Lincoln seem to have bad
no difficulty in accepting.
Various biographers have undertaken to
give Lincoln an Imposing family tree, trac
ing a relationship between the Rockingham
county Lincoln and the Pennsylvania and
Massachusetts Lincoln, and making much
of a not over-striking similarity of bap
tismal names. Whatever the actual facts
may be, no genealogical researches will
ever explain Abraham Lincoln, or account
for his transcendent genius. Like Napoleon,
he was "his own ancestors."
A MODERN KNIGHT-ERRANT.
The Apostle of Pare Food,
the
Knocker of Fakirs.
Philadelphia North American.
First and last, then and now, against
the odds of ridicule, money and political
influence. Dr. Harvey W. Wiley has been
the crusader for honesty and health.
Neither the Beef trust nor tho canners
could overthrow him. It seems probable
now that the liquor men not the makers
of pure whisky, but of poisonous and fraud
ulent compounds and Imitations may suc
ceed. For the bensoate of soda contro
versy Is only a pretense and It will be a
victory of the rectifiers If Wiley falls.
But If rebuke and retirement be his por
tion through a presidential blunder, he will
have, at least, the rewsrd of the esteem
and admiration of millions of his country
men. We know from personal experience that
whenever our local laws against food adul
teration broke down there always has been
one man to whom we could look for coun
sel and efficient aid.
We know that the good work of all the
boards of health of the different states
would have been Impossible but for tho
high standards set by Wiley and the ever
ready co-operation of the federal author
ities. We know that since power was given to
him poisoners for the first time feared to
disregard state restrictions. Because for
the first time they knew that an appeal to
federal authority would subject them to a
still more rigid insistence upon right
dealing.
Thoae are the reasons why the fight has
been made against Wiley, who la needed
more than ever by the government at this
time, when the reactionaries are about to
make their last stand In all matters of na
tional moment, of which pure food unques
tionably Is one.
ARMY RETIREMENTS IN 10O0.
A Few Civil War Veterans Must Giro
Up Active Daty.
Boston Transcript.
Every officer of the army must go on
tho retired list on attaining the age of C4.
Officers under that age may be re
tired on their own request after over thirty
years' service, or for disabilities Incurred
In line of duty. In the navy 62 Is the
sge limit. From all these causes there
will be numerous chenges In the person
nel of the two services during 1909, and of
ficers with whose names the public has
long been familiar will enjoy the com-
ftrtabls well-paid seclusion the retired list
grants. Of the fifteen army officers who
will leave active sen Ice under the age
limit, the best known Is Lieutenant Gen
eral MacArthur, who will be 64 June 2,
ond whose record Includes gallant service
In the civil war. He "came In from the
volunteers." His first commission of any
kind dates back to August 4, 1862, when
he was commissioned first lieutenant and
adjutant of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin
Infantry, the regiment of which he sub
sequently became lieutenant colonel. His
first commission In the regulars was
dated February $3, 18S6, so It will be seen
that he will have on his retirement mere
than forty-six years' service as an officer
to his credit. Major General Weston, who
also goes on the retired list, Is likewise
a civil war veteran. The naval officers
booked for retirement on account of age
number twenty-two, among them being
I Admirals Sperry and Goodrich. Such re
tirements make more room at tne top
the Juniors all taking a step upward.
In time of peace the younger men Inch
along, and second lieutenants solace them
selves with the reflection that If they live
and behave themselves they may retire
aa colonels, while ensigns look forward to
at least captaincies.
WHY TUB EARTHQUAKE?
nBsamununuBI
Hitherto Fatlle Attempts to Solve the
Mystery.
Baltimore American.
It seems to be now conclusively deter
mined that the earthquake disaster that
has overwhelmed the Calabrlan district of
Italy and the Ionian coast of Blclly Is the
most disastrous of such calamities that
has occurred during times of which history
has preserved ary record. There were
greater upheavals undoubtedly when the
earth was younger. There are signs to be
read In every mountain range and along
every rock-walled coast that are almost
as plain In their meaning as the pages of a
printed book which speak of enormous nat
ural forces engaged In a work of throe and
upheaval that was vastly constructive aa
well as destructive. But that turbulent
era. we are led to believe, was before the
beginning of man. As to the causes of the
quake at this stage of the earth's history,
geologists are not In agreement. Of theo
ries concerning the causes of earthquakes
there Is a very large variety.- But abso
lutely demonstrated fact there Is none as
to the cause of any one of the overwhelm
ing disturbances that has brought death
and ruin to some spot on the globe, one
selsmio expert will assure us that there
are faults or crevices beneath the earth's
crust, walled on one side by rocks, and
that earthquakes are caused by the sliding
of these subterranean rocks to a lower
level. Another explanation Is that through
cracks In the earth's surface wster n v ;
the seething furnaces far Mown, Is ir.u-g
formed Into steam and causes an expl.i , )
which results In the surface npliriu l.
Some theorists contend that rarthqn.tkcs
are always of voKanlo origin, while n i
hold to the opinion that they are en.
disconnected with volcanic action.
The French astronomer and sclim ,t.
Flommarlon, declares that there m. - ,
many different causes of earthquakes! ilu
each occurrence must be studied si-pai n.v
and by sn Investigation of lis purlieu!, ,r
phenomena. He believes the Caiulo a i
and Sicilian earthquake to be of vol, nni
origin. He bases his opinion chiefly up,
the fact that the wholo district ln hnl, t
In the catastrophe Is dominated by A, ln,
Stromboll and Vesuvius and Is of rs,-n.
tlally volcanic constitution. It has been i
region of earthquake disasters from thi
earliest hlctorlo period.
It Is certain that the luteal Biclllan up.
heaval will be studied by seismic stiiilenti
with a closeness of research that wl',1 lonv,.
no bit of evidence unconsidered. FiMhap
from a piecing together of the auggontloi -i
to be gathered from wreck, and ruin that
has been made the entire problem Involv
ing the cause or the chain of causes m,i
eventually be worked out.
MIRTHFUL REMARKS.
'I've noticed," remarked I'mio Allen
Sparks, "that the fellow who really swears
off from his bad habits doean't go aroinul
advertising It beforehand." Chicago Tri
bune. "That large, brunette actress alfl
keeps her hair down her back when slm
does mad scenes."
"Of course ahe docs. Thoiw are hor
raving tresses." Baltimoro American.
Maude Mr. Hardcaah called on me last
evening. He's the moat engaging talker t
ever listened to.
Clara Indeed! What did he say 7
Maude Ha asked me to marry .him.
Chicago News.
"Brother, what's a featherweight
fighter?"
"Ain't you ashamed, fIs. to be so Igarr
ent. A featherweight fighter is n gani'j
rooster, of course." Indianapolis News.
"Don't you wish you were a boy again?''
"Yes," answered Mr. Slrius Uarker. "I
see a lot of people that make me wixli
my dignity did not prevent me from lay
ing for them with a few dosen enow
balls." WashlngtonStar.
"I wonder why they put the successful
pugilist's picture at' the bottom of the paite
In this paper?"
"Why not at the bottom?"
"Because it would have more of a deli
cate compliment to his skill to have mailo
It an upper cut.'' Baltimore American.
"Sir," said the undesirable suitor, ns
he sought the stern parent of his lMlove,l.
"I havo come to put to you only one
question."
"And this," replied the stern parent,
as he lifted his foot, and the undesiralilt!
floated gracefully dowtf the front siepf,
"is my sole reply." Baltimore American.
THE BAFFLED CHAMPIOX.
W D. Nesblt in Harper's Maguiiin.
I could be champeen of our town
I've licked about a dozen:
I 'started In on Alfred Hiovrn
An' Alfred's city cousin;
I've licked 'em all execptin' 'to
There's nothln' that. I'd rutliei
Be doln' than to ret 1t flone-
But Pudge Is Rosy 's brotlu i.
Pudge Jones is twlcet as big at ine.
But Just the same I'd whip hint.
I'd lead niv left, then bend my k
An' whirl my foot an' trip him:
But when Pudge double-diirca nn I-
I always haf to mosey
I sometimes wish I'd never knew
That he was kin to Rosy.
Aw" no! She ain't my glii nt uii!
1 see her at tlx parties.
Them other fellers has their g:..
Tii' trusy bunch o' smailli s!
You bet I've licked 'em every in,-!
My left swing Is s twister.
An' Ions; ago Id made Pudge run.
Hut Husy a. Ills siMiev.
Aw, pshaw! Doggone It. now: 1 a.n ie
1 ain't at all her feller.
Th' last boy told me I hat,, he g,,t
A whack right on th' sniellct '!
I've whipped lots bigger liovs n me
Some run an' told my mot her.
An' 1 can whip Pudge Jones but lie
Well, he Is Rosy' brother.
The Piano Stock
From the Branch Store at
York, Neb., is Selling f ast
At Hosp3's,l5l3 Douglas St.
All the Pianos and Organs ship
ped in to Omaha from he York
store last week have b?en repol
Ished and refinished. They aro
brand new goods, as none of them
are to exceed four months in
stock, others only four weeks. The
finest mokes of good pianos up
right, cublnet grands and parlor
and baby grands, as well as cabi
net and chapel organs comprlso
the stock.
Many in rich mahogany rasca,
others in quartered oak, antique,
colonial and the latetst Boston full
boartl and duet music dcuk de
signs. All large full size parlor
pianos.
Beautiful pianos selling regu
larly at $250, f275, $300, $325.
$350 and up are put in this sale
at half price. Some at one-third
off, others for less.
For Instance, brand new ma
hogany finish, full size case,
handsome design, duet music desk,
Boston fall board, fully guaran
teed piano, for the little price of
129. You pay $10 cash and $6
per month. Nothing better or
cheaper known at the price.
Think of it. This elegant piano
stock contains Kimball pianos,
King pianos, Conway pianos, W ett
er Bros, pianos, Melville Clark
pianos, Chlckering pianos, Ken
sington pianos, Imperial pianos
and many others fifty Instru
ments. In addition fifteen par
lor and cabinet organs, running at
the low prices of $20, $27, $32,
139' and up, on payments of SOc
?er week.
Parlor grand and baby grand
pianos in this lot represent the
world's best Kranlch & Bach pi
anos the Krakauer pianos, the
Kimball pianos, the Bush ft Lane,
Cable-Nelson, Victor and others.
$1,000 grands at $575; $1,200
grands at $650, etc.
On easy payment plan makes It
a comparatively light matter to
own and use good pianos and pay
but little every month until paid
for.
We must sell this Tork store
stock at once, for It crowds the
space In which the alterations are
being made and we intend to have
them moved before January 10th,
so make haste and get first choice.
Every Instrument fully guaran
teed for from five to twenty years.
$10 takes one home.
A. Hospo Co.
1313 Douglas Street.
jrjsjBaBaBsSBMHssBBBBsHBVDsasMri