The Omaha Daily Bee
The Omaha dee
clean, reliable newspaper that It
admitted to each and every home.
WEATHER FORECAST.
For Nebraska Fair and warmer.
For Iowa Fair.
For weather report ee pngo 2 .
r
V
VOL. XXXIX NO. 152.
OMAHA, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 6, 1910 TWELVE PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
4-
INQUIRY INTO
LAND OFFICE
Resolutions for Joint Committee to
Investigate Secretary Ballinger's
Acts Are Introduced.
SIX MEN FROM EACH HOUSE
Resolutions Will Trobably Be Passed
Within Tew Days.
HOUSE PASSES THE MAUN BILL
Provides for Reorganisation of Canal
Zone Government.
INQUIRY INTO COST OF LIVING
rtrnnlndnns Arc 1 n f rod nrnl In (he
Senate hy Mcsir. Klklns anil
t Cranford for tin Inveoll.
Rilflon.
I
WASHINGTON. Ja;. G.-ltei' lotions l ok
Ing to the Investlmitlon of the gnrral
land office, and tho forest scric growing
out of the difference hft
falling)
JKor and Chief Forot r Pinplsot
need today In both house of con
fess, and, while neither wan acted upon.
-U In understood thev will lio tiirnt- v,
both house within the next few days, and
that the Inquiry will begin noon.
The house- devoted the entire day to
the discussion of Representative Mann's
bill, providing for a reorganization or tho
government pf tho I'nnama canal r.one and
tinaiiy passed it. The bill places the en
tire administration In tho hands of the
president and abollshts the present canal
commission.
Hicolutlons wre Introduced by Senators
Elklns and Crawford both looking toward
an Investigation of the high prices of Hy
ing. Resolutions Are Introduced.
Investigation of the Ballinger-Iinchot
controversy Is ordered by a Jolnt'iesolutlon
today introduced in the senate by Mr.
Jones, and In the house by Mr. Humphrey,
both of Washington. As heretofore an
nounced, the provision Is for the broadest
kind of public Inquiry, the resolution being
of the character requiring the signature
of the president, which gives to It all the
force of general law.
A committee of twelve Is to be appointed
to conduct the Investigation, six of whom
hall be designated by Vice President Sher
man and six by Speuker Cannon. Unques
tionably Senator Nelson, chairman of the
senate committee on public lands, will head
the list of senators, and this, doubtless,
will result in his selection as chairman of
the Joint commutes. The scope of the
Investigation la outlined as follows: .
"The committee la hereby empowered
and directed to mako a thorough and com
plete Investigation of the administration
and conduct of the Interior department,
its several bureaus, officers and employes,
and of the bureau of forestry In the Agri
cultural department, Its officers and em
ploye touching or relating to the reclama
tion, conservation, management and dis
posal of the public lands of the United
States, or any lands held In trust by the
United States for any purpose, Including
all the natural resources of such lands,
and said committee Is authorized and em
powered to make any further investigation
touching said department. Its bureaus, of
ficers or employes, and of said bureau of
forestry, its officers or employes, as it
may deem desirable."
Compel Attendance of Witnesses.
The authority to sit during sessions of
congress and In recesses, to rtqulre the
attendance of witnesses and the production
of papers, usual to congressional Inquiries,
is granted by the resolution. It Is provided
further that any person refusing to obey
the process of the committee or to answer
any question propounded shall be deemed
guilty pf contempt, and Jurisdiction is con
ferred upon the court of appeals of the
District of Columbia to try and, deter
mine any charges of contempt.
Employment of assistance, "legal or
otherwise," Is specifically authorised. This
provision is for the purpose of enabling
the committte to procure the services of
able attorneys to take charge of Uie prob
ing, so far as the directing of questions is
concerned. It is the Intention of President
Taft- to have the committee name somu
competent attorney to conduct the case, and
It.ls possible that both of the principals
1 Ao the controversy- may be represented by
t . unset.
jNlt was agreed by all persons who have
given close attention to the Kalllnger-Pln-ctvol'aquabble
that the. investigation should
be open to the public and thin Is ordered
by the resolution. One of the big rooms In
the new senate office building will be used
fur thla purpose.
Personnel of Committee.
Speculation Is rife as to the personnel of
the committee to be named to make the
investigation. Many names have been con
sidered, but no decision lias been reached.
The indications are the following will be
named;
Senators Nelson tMinn.), Koot (N. Y ),
Flint (t'ul.), Sutherland (Utah), republic
ans; l'aynter tKy.) and Clurk (Ark.) or
ltutthes (.Colo.), democrats.
Members of the House Dulzell tPa.). Mc
Call t.M.uss ). Stephens (Minn ), Martin
(8. D.), republicans; Howard (Ga.), Moon
(Tenn.), or Shirley tKy.), democrats.
There Is some doubt about the appoint
ment of Senator Flint, but it Is reasonably
certain the other republican members
named will be chostn. Senator Nelson will
be chairman.
In the house the resolution was referred
to the committee on rules, but the senate
action was postponed until tomorrow.
Mr. Jones asked that the measure be
referred to the committee on public lands,
but Senator Lodge requested a postpone
ment because of its independence, and the
request was accepted to.
Jones Addressee Houae.
In presenting the resolution Mr. Jones
said:
"The various departments and bureaus
of the government are organised to do lis
business In the interests of the people.
Every official Is but the servant and agent
of the people to act for them' under and
within the limits of the law. The effi
ciency of public service depends much
upon the cot fidence of the people In tue
honesty and Integrity of their servants
and agents.
"It Is a sad commentary upon the state
of public oplr.lun that the moment a man
accepts a public office he becomes a scoun
drel In the eyes of many of our people
and his previous life of honesty and recti
tude U no warrant of official integrity.
(Continued on Second Page.)
Rumor of Friction
Among Owners of
the Rock Island
Enormous Blocks of Stock Thrown
on Market and Sharp Break
in Price Follows.
Ni:V VOItK, Jan. 6 Ueports of friction
umoriK the leaning Interests of the Hock
l.'lmid comimny. rumors that Daniel O.
Keld whs to ko abroad and that he would
r.'ilrc from the board of directors of the
t'nited States Steel corporation caused a
lite, k of 7! points In the common stock
of the road tod.iy and a decline of more
t!ia:i three p'tnts In the preferred stock.
Tho financial district had h"nrd a great
deal anent Hock Inland slure the sensa
tional movement In the stock a fortnight
3". when It Jumped from 50 to SI and
buck agiln almost In a flash, nnd the mat
ter Is now the subject of Investigation hy
tlio Stock exchange authorities. More re
cent operations In that and allied securi
ties have not served to allay the alarm
then created.
Today's rumors had it that very serloim
differences had broken out among those
who control the property and an open
breach was hinted at. These were denied
In responsible quarters, but the ennrmout
volume of Hock Island stock traded In
230,000 Rb ares at steadily decreasing val
ues, caused many misgivings, the more so
since much of the selling seemed to ema
nate from Hock Island brokers. Another
factor was the failure of the directors to
ret on the preferred stock dividend at
their meeting yesterday. This stock has
paid no dividends In several years.
Reports that Mr. Held, one of the most
prominent of the Hock Island group, con
templated an earlv departure for Europe
were denied at his office, but no other de
tails concerning Mr. Held's plans were
vouchsafed.
Disciplinary measures for those respon
sible for that sensational movement were
the subject of many rumors today. It was
the conjecture of the speculative elements
on the floor of the Stock exchange for
liquidation going on was the result of
these measurea.
Court Allows
Burnes Injunction
Decision Overthrows Lunacy Charge
Against Heiress of Famous
Estate.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 5. The Injunction pro
cured by Mrs. Frances B. Humes and other
heirs of the famous Burnes estate, which
controls much valuable property here and
In St. Joseph, against James A. Glbron and
othes. who had brought lunacy proceed
ings in tho state courts against one of the
heir,- ws sustained in the Unlud S ate?
court 'of appeals here yesterday.
James A. Gibson, who was public ad
ministrator at ft. JnnenM Joseph W. Boyd.
Fielding Mason, a cousin, and others were
named as defendants In the proceedings
brought by Mrs. Frances Burnes In the
lower court. She" alleged that they hid
entered Into a conspiracy to defraud the
legal heirs of the estate by Instituting pro
ceedings In the state to have Mary V.
Burnes, one of the heirs, 81udgd Insane
and a guardian appointed to care for her
property.
The effect of thlB decision will give Mary
V. Burnes the right to manage her own
estate.
; 1
Mark Twain is
Broken in Health
Leaves for Bermuda Suffering from
What He Asserts is Indi
gestion. NEW YORK, Jan. 6. In far from good
health and grlef-strlcken at the recent
sudden death of Ms daughter Jean, Samuel
J. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain,
sailed for Bermuda today. Mr. Clemens
said the ailment of which he complained
on his arrival from Bermuda two weeks
ago had returned. He attributed the pain
in his left breast, however, to Indigestion,
"and that Is not the sort of ailment that
causes people to die," he added.
He expects to stay at least a month, the
time of his return dependlnfupon the im
provement of his health.
GORDON- TAKES THE OATH
Former Confederate Leader Ilecoiues
Member of the National
Senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. Colonel James
Gordon, ex-confederate leader, appointed
by Governor Noel as the successor of Sen
ator McLaurtn of Mississippi, was today
made a member of the United States sen
ate. Senator Money accompanied his col
league to the desk of the vice president,
who administered the oath of office.
When is an Egg Freshr
County Court is Asked
When Is an egg fresh? was the question
before Judse Leslie in county court.
The prosecution went on there of Anton
Dwpruk, a Benson grocer, on the charge of
having sold a case of none too recent eggs.
Mr. Dworak was fought by three
women, Mrs. Harriet MacMurphy, the
state food and drug Inspector; Mrs. Mary
O'Boyle and Mrs. Ellen O'Boyle.
"1 called Mr. Dworak up on the 'phone,"
testified Mrs. Mary O'Boyle, "told him
the eggj were bad unJ asked htm to take
them back. He refused.
" 'Then.' said I, 'we'll have to do some
thing else.'
"He sjtd, 'Go and do it.' He wasn't very
nice about it, either," added the witness
plaintively.
Mrs. Helen O'Boyle and J. W. Cooper,
Dworak attorney, had several clashes.
"Did not Dworak refuse you credit
onceT" asked the lawyer.
"He told me he did a cash buslneis and
would not trust President Taft nor his
own grandmother."
'That made you angry?"
"No, I didn't get a bit sore."
"Did not the eggs fry all right V asked
the lawyer, now on a new tack.
FREIGHT TRAFFIC
IS ABANDONED
Railroads Throughout Iowa M-
f mm? Efforts to Mo vine: . t'
senger Trains.
SNOW IS TWO FEET DEEP
Passenger Trains from Five . to Nine
Hours Late.
STATE COMMISSION TAKES HAND
Iowa Central is Ordered to Replace
Coal for Soldiers' Home.
FUEL FAMINE IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Investigation Conducted by CJov
rruor Shows Home Towns En
tirely Oat, Others Have
Two Weeks' Snupl).
DF.S MOINES, la., Jan. 6. When It be
came apparent Tuesday night that the
snowfall would continue Indefinitely, orders
were Issued by railroads throughout Iowa
to suspend freight traffic. Kfforts have
been made, however, to continue passenger
traffic although trains on all lines are
from five to nine hours late. At Marshall
town, where two feet of snow fell, even
passenger service has been annulled.
The Stale Railroad commission today took
a hand In the fight for coal and upon com
plaint of the State Board of Control gave
orders for the Iowa Central to supply the
soldiers' home with coul to take the place
of several, carloads taken by the company.
The board was on the point of being com
pelled to close the home, which would have
resulted In great suffering, and the report
was that the company had taken the coal
belonging to the state and left the home
without fuel. The state university, so It
was reported, had to shut down In part be
cause of lack of coal. The danger of coal
shortage was relieved here by the clear
weather.
From all parts of Iowa reports state that
there is a scarcity of coal, and a fuel
famine Is staring Iowa In the face as a
result.
On account of the snow, railroads have
been able to afford little relief. ,
Dakota Coal Shortage.
HURON. S. D., Jan. 6. (Special Tele
gramsThere Is only a limited supply of
hard coal In the hands of dealers here.
There is little at Wessington, Hitchcock,
Cavour and Alpena, none at Wolsey,
Broadland and Virgil and these points
have but little soft coal or other fuel.
Dealers here are filling small orders and
consumers are practicing rigid economy.
Eighteen inches of snow covers the entire
Jim river valley and should the, snow drift
railroading will be seriously interrupted
and a fuel famine will result. Reasons
assigned for existing conditions are the
switchmen' strike, the failure of whole
sale dealers to fill orders promptly and In
sufficient railway motive power. 4
Governor Investigates.
PIERRE. S. D., Jan. 5. (Special Tele
gramsAn Investigation of the situation
In regard to coal supply In the central
and western part of this state today made
by the governor on Inquiry of local deal
ers and on the part of railway company
Indicates a light supply, but only two small
points to the west are out of coal. This
city has about two weeks' supply and
Fort Pierre practically the same. Most of
the towns west have from one to two
weeks' supply. Railways claim to be rush
ing In every car which reaches their ter
minals and have no fear of acute shortage,
but claim dealers are responsible in large
extent for the situation, as cars are moved
as fast as secured.
FREMONT. Neb., Jan. B.-(Speclal.)
About six inches of snow fell here yester
day. The mercury In the morning marked
4 below aero and kept close to the zero
point all day. Fortunately but little wind
prevailed. Trains on the Northwestern and
Union Pacific roads are badly delayed.
Carriers Stopped.
LOGAN, la., Jan. 6. -(Special.) The
drifted condition of the public highways
turned the rural mall carriers of Logan
back after they had started this morning.
Unless the farmers come to the relief of
the carriers the chancea are that few of
the carriers will make the "grand rounds"
until a later date.
Sleet Impedes Many Trains.
KANSAS CITY, Jan. 5.-Rallroad sched
ules throughout western Missouri, Kan
sas and In most of Oklahoma were de
moralized today and telegraph and tele
phone wires were laden with sleet, and
many of them put out of commission. The
snow and sleet storm of yesterday was
followed last night by lower temperatures,
which, however, began to climb upward
today.
The Golden State Limited, east-bound on
the Rock Island, was annulled this morn
ing at Herlngton, Kan.; being twelve hours
late. The . Santa Fe also reported many
of Its trains from four to six hours late,
and more or less similar conditions pre
vailed on other roads In 'and out of Kan
sas City In all directions.
The natural gas supply In Kansas City,
(Continued on Second Page.)
"I never fry 'enij I boll 'em always,"
said Mrs. O'Boyle.
"Well, would not these egggs have
boiled hard? Don't you know that a rot.
ten egg will not boll hard?"
"Well," Inquired the witness In return,
"why should I be after boiling them when
I never eat them that way?"
Testimony then turned on how Mrs.
O'Boyle felt when she tried to eat one of
the eggs. She desposed that the eggs
"tasted bad, stale, rotten, I could not get
them down."
"Muyba something was wrong with your
tomach," suggested Mr. 'Cooper.
"No! there Is nothing wrong with my
stomach," reterted Mis. O'Boyle with some
heat.
Mrs. MacMurphy testified that she had
candled all the eggs December 9. They
were sold November 3e. and "all were
bad, but one or two."
Dworak took the stand and declared that
he candled all his eggs, first when he
bought them from farmers, and, later, be
fore making deliveries to purchasers. The
case was argued by Deputy County At
torney Magney and by Cooper. The court
held for Dworak.
,..,"it
I.
ssr.-'-v
From the Minneapolis Journal.
CUSTOMS COURT APPOINTED
Alfred C. Coxe Is Made Presiding
Judge of New Tribunal.
LONG LIST OF NOMINATIONS
P. Emerson Taylor of Nebraska la
Appointed Consul at Stavanger,
" jrnr Iowa Man flees
to Bergen.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-Presldent Taft
today sent to the senate the nomination
of members of the new court of customs
appeals authorized under the Payne tariff
law.
To be presiding judge: Alfred C. Coxe, at
present United States circuit Judge on the
second circuit.
To be associate Judges: William H. Hunt,
at present United States Judge for the
district of Montona; James F. Smith,
formerly governor-general of the Philip
pine Islands, former Judge of the supreme
court of the Philippine islands and former
collector of customs In the Philllpplnes;
O. M. Barber of Vermont, a prominent
lawyer of that state; Marlon Devrles, at
present chairman of the board of general
appraisers at New York.
The president also nominated the follow
ing: State:
To be consul general at large: Charles C.
Eberhardt of Kansas.
To be consuls general: Maxwell Blake of
Missouri at Bogota, Colombia; Robert
Brent Mosher of District of Columbia at
Hankow, China; William H. Gale of Vir
ginia at Tthens, Greece.
To be consuls: George F. Chamberlain
of New York to Swatow, China; P. Mer
rill Griffith of Ohio at Pernambuco, Brazil;
Arthur Garrells of Missouri at Catania,
Italy; Lewis W. Haskell of South Caro
lina at Sallna Cruz, Mexico; Armlnlus T.
Haeberle of Missouri at Tegeclgalpn, Hon
duras; Felix S. S. Johnson of New Jersey
at Kingston, Ontario; Jesse Johnson of
Texas at Matamoras, Mexico; C. Ludlow
Livingston of Pennsylvania at Swansea,
Wales; James Verner Long of Pennsyl
vania at Malta, Island of Mulia; Clarence
A. Miller of Missouri at Tampico, Mexico;
Albert R. Morawetz of Arizona at Leip
zig, Saxony; Albert W. Pontius of Min
nesota at Chungking, China; Louis G.
Rosenburg of Michigan at Barranqullla,
Colombia; Bertll M. Rosmusen of Iowa at
Bergen, Norway; P. Emerson Taylor of
Nebraska at Stayanger, Norway; Howard
D. Vansant of New Jersey at Dunferm
line, Scotland; Ernest A. Wakefield of
Maine at Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good
(Continued on Second Page.)
The man who owns
an automobile
should take advan
tage of this severe
weather to have his
car thoroughly
overhauled and
painted.
On the first want ad page,
under the clossification, Auto
mobiles, are a number of firms
who are skilletl in automobile
overhauling and painting.
There are also many opportuni
ties to purchase a good used car
cheap under this popular classifira
tlon.
Have you read the Want Ads
today?
ALL RIQHT- 7
.yv OLD AN, IF WI)Ya
' YOU ENJOY YLvJ
THAT KIND ld yw
. : j-
Good Riddance.
Would Not Hang
Assailants on
Hangman's Day
Judge Declares Execution of Two Ne
groes on Legal Day Insult
to Murderers.
KANSAS CITY, Jan. 6. "I do not care to
desecrate the day by ordering these two
brutes hanged on the legal hanging day."
With this unusual declaration from the
bench. Judge Ralph S. Latschaw In the
criminal court here today sentenced George
Reynolds and John Williams, negroes,
found guilty last' night of assaulting Mrs.
W. F. Jackson, to be hanged on Saturday,
February 6.
"They do not even deserve to be classed
with the murderer, who must pay the
penalty for his crime with his life," con
tinued Judge Latschaw. "It would be an
Insult to these men, who had at least a
spark of manhood In their hardened souls
to have such brutes as these put In their
class. I do not care to desecrate the day
by ordering these two brutes hanged on
the legal hanging day."
The verdict of guilty was read last even
ing after the Jury had considered the case
less than six minutes and following Mrs.
Jackson's pathetio relation of her terrible
experiences at the hands of the negroes.
, The two negro lawyers who defended the
negroes refused to prepare an appeal for
them and Judge Latschaw sentenced them
to be hanged at the earliest date allowed
by law.
Lawyer Whips
Socialist Editor
Attorney for Homestake Mine Uses
Quirt on Freeman Knowles at
Deadwood.
DEADWOOD, S. D., Jan. 5. (Special
Telegram.) WTuTe Freeman Knowles, the
socialist editor, was.addiessing the Board
of County Commissioners here this after
noon, Chambers Kellar, the general at
torney of the Homestake Mining company
of Lead, entered the room, and after warn
ing Knowles of his Intention to obtain
redress for newspaper attacks, drew a quirt
and horsewhipped the newspaper man until
others present In the room Interfered. Tho
trouble arose out of an article on the Home
stake lockout published by Knowles In
which he "roasted" Kellar.
CLARKSON AGAIN A LAWYER
Former Omaha Judge to Open Office
at Kenosha After Working
as Laborer.
KENOSHA, Wis. Jan. 6. (Special Tele
gram.) Judge Joseph fl. Clarkson, formerly
of Omaha, who recently created a sensa
tion by disappearing for a time while
suffered from mental aberration and had
to be hunted up, has resumed the practice
of law in Kenosha, after working a while
as a factory hand. As yet Judge Clarkson
has not decided whether ha will be affili
ated with some of the other lawyers in the
city or If he will practice alone. It Is
understood that he will take up thegeneral
practice and will not specialize.
Messenger Boy Reads Note
and Saves Life of a Girl
DENVER, Colo., Jan. 6. The Inquisitive
ness of a messenger boy saved the life of
a young woman giving the ntme of Miss
Eva Hains, 19 years old, who had taken
several bichloride of mercury tablets with
suicidal Intent.
The girl wrote a note to a male friend
Informing him of her Intentions and gave
It to the messenger to deliver. The mes-
an-n.
EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY LAW
Senator Brown of Nebraska Proposes
Two Vital Amendments.
DEFICITS THAT NEED CUEING
Holes Knocked In Law by Federal
, Court Decisions to lie IMugsrcd
by the Psnufe of Amend
atory ' Acts, .
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-(Spfclal Tele
gramsIn a bill amending the employers'
liability act, Introduced today by Senator
Brown, certain defects of the present law
as pointed out by the Department of Jus
tice, and also by the labor unions, are
sought to be remedied. The two things
especially sought to be accomplished are
the right on part of an Injured party to
sue either In the district of the plaintiff
or the defendant, or In which the cause
of action arose or In which a railroad
company may be found; and, second, to
provide for the survival of the cause of
action In the personal representative of
the Injured workman If he should die be
fore an action Is brought. These two
amendments are of tho highest Importance
.n the opinion of Wade H. Ellis, assistant
attorney general, who has approved tr.
Brown's bill, and representatives of labor
unions who have examined It. In recent
decisions of lower courts affecting the
present law, one of which held that Injured
employes could sue only In the federal
court sitting In the state In which the rail
road company was Incorporated, and an
other which held that If the employe died
from his Injuries before an action was
commenced no claim could be asserted
under the act by his widow or heirs, Is
found Justification nnd demand for amend
ments proposed by Senator Brown.
Public Land Matters.
The house committee on public lands to
day reported favorably the Martin bill ex
tending the time for certain homestead
entrymen In South Dakota, Wyoming, Colo
rado, North Dakota, Utah and Montana,
who are required to establish residence on
thdr claims during the month of Decem
ber, 1S09, and the first four months of 11)10.
They will be granted an extension of time
for that purpose until May 1, 1910.
The senate committee on commerce today
mcde a favorable report on Senator
Gamble's bill to extend fer a period of
three years the time for the completion of
the railroad bridge' across the Missouri at
Yankton, S. D.
The senate committee on public lands to
day made favorable report on Senator War
ren's bill to grant certain tracts In Chey
enne to that city for park purposes.
Congressman Klnkald today reintroduced
a former bill of his to pay Wlllard Alt of
Hyannls. Neb., S'100. the amount claimed by
him to be due for resurveylng boundary
linos in certain parts of Nebraska.
Mr. Klnkald also introduced a bill to
refund to ex-registers the land office
certain fees withheld from them under de
partmental regulations, but subsequently
decided to be legally due them. Nebraska lis
Interested In this bill to make Just restora
tion by the government of such fees,
amounting In each instance to about
are 8. J. Weeks of O'Neill, J. C. Pi ttljohn
of Long Pine and Bruce Wilcox of Alliance,
all former registers of lamj offices.
senger read the missive and hurried to
the police station with It. Police Surgeon
Mudd was dispatched to the girl's room
and found her In great agony. Kmetlc
gave relief and an hour later the girl was
pronounced out of danger.
She refused to discuss her attempt to
end her life.
The note ave Instructions to send word
to father, William Frailer, Waterloo, Ind.
TAFT DOES NOT
WIELD A CLUB
President Merely Asks Republican
Congressmen to Help Redeem
Platform Pledges.
PATRONAGE ON RECIPROCAL BASI3
Congressmen Must Expect to Tote
Fair with Administration.
NORRIS OF NEBRASKA EXPLAINS
Tells Story of Holding Up of tha
Orleans Appointment.
IS ONLY FIGHTING CANNONISM
Asserts 'Insurgents" Are l.oynl to the
Party, but Demand Iteforiu In
Hales I'nder Which the
House Works.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5. (Special Tele
gram.) Victor Hosewater, editor of The
Hee and national committeeman for Ne
braska, had an Interview by appointment
with the president with reference to poli
tical maters In Nebraska. After seeing the
president, Mr. Kosewater said:
"The president said to me: I want you
to help correct the reports that are beln;
circulated to the effect that I am using the
patronage club to whp so-called Insurgents
Into line. There Is a well founded custom
that has become almost a rule that In
making certain appoint niests, such as to
postoffices, the president should act on
recommendation of the members of con
giess In whose district they lie. If repre
sented by a member of the same political
party. This obligation resting on the presi
dent, however. Is reciprocal. Tho repub
lican congressman Is under a similar obliga
tion to support administration measures
recommended by the president to carry out
platform pledges on which both of us were
elected. I have hot turned down recom
mendations of Insurgent congressmen, but
am simply preserving the status quo to
Impress them with their obligation."
Question Interests All.
"Are the so-cailed Insurgents In the houso
to be punished for their attacks on Cannon
Ism and rules by depriving them of their
patronage?" was the only question heard
about the capital today. But one subject
was discussed whether the administration
was really at the bottom of holding up the
appointment of postmasters, as alleged by
certain of the Insurgents, or whether the
rules of the Postofflce department had
brought about a most unusual state, of
affairs.
Miller of Minnesota was the first to feel
the heavy hand of the administration In his
failure to get his postofflce appointments
paBt the arguseyed first assistant post
master general. Dr. Granfleld, and he
raised a might "holler." Hubbard of Sioux
City was the next victim of withheld pa
tronage, then came Lenroot and Cooper of
Wisconsin, who openly charge Postmaster
General Hitchcock with all kinds of devil
try In connection with their postofflce
recommendations. Now comes Judge
George Norrls of the Fifth Nebraska dis
trict, who, while not making direct charges
against the Postofflce department, says
that thing's look mighty "suspicious," and
unless something drops mighty soon ho
will come to the conclusion that he Is be
ing punished because he had courage to
stand up and protest against rules of the
house of representatives.
One of orris' Casee.
Three weeks ago Norrls" attention was
called to the fact that a recommendation
he had made for postmaster at Orleans was
"up In the air." Early in October last the
postmaster at Orleans died, and, In the
usual course, notice came from the Post
office department of the death of the post
master and asking Norrls to recommend a
successor, which he did In the person of
Mr. Olmstead, a miller at that place.
Thinking nothing more of the matter,
Judge Norrls went about his business, sup
posing that Olmstead had taken over the
office. Just before the holidays he learned
that the Postofflce department had done
nothing In the way of the appointment of
Olmstead and he got busy. He wrote Dr.
Granfleld, first assistant postmaster gen
eral, asking as to the status of the Orleans
case, but received no answer. Another let
ter was written, with no better result, and
then a third letter was sent ti Granfleld,
Insisting Uiat some attention be pn!d his
several communications, which brought
forth the reply that the matter was under
consideration.
Norrls had a personal Interview with
Granfleld, In which the latter told Norrls
in so many word, that the "matter had
been held up at the instance of the post
master general." Norrls was amazed and
at once sought an interview with the post
master general, but without success, not
being able to see Mr. Hitchcock, and there
the matter rests. What makes Judge Nor
rls particularly bitter Is the Impression
which has been sent forth In some of the
newspapers that he Is being disciplined be
cause of his alleged opposition to policies
of the administration.
Not Fighting the President.
"The facts are," said Mr. Norrls, "that
so-called Insurgents of the house nre r.s
a body standing for one principle only,
and that is to bring about a change in
the house rules so that some of the power
of the speaker may bo taken away. There
has been no attempt or suggestion among
the Insurgents to fight any of the so-called
policies of the president.
"The statement Issued, apparently from
the White House, that the Insurgents of
the house were to be punished becauae
they were fighting the policies of tho ad
ministration is an attempt to befog the
real Issue. In reality they are being pun
ished because they have fought Cannon
Ism, Tut the reason given to the publlo U
entirely different. They will not be en
ticed from this course by the promise of
patronage nor driven therefrom by threats
to withhold It.
"As a matter of fact, the Insurgents ns
a body will be nearer unanimous In f.ivor
of the faithful carrying out of the pled"s
of the republican purty fliun any eqval
number of members of the house. Who
they have ne agreement or understand'ng
It will be found that they wllj be prac
tically unanimous for corrective railroad
leKlslatlon and Increased power to the,
Interstate Commerce commission, for phys
ical aluiitlon of railroad properties, for
postal savings banks, for publicity of cam
paign contributions, for the redemption of
platform pledges on Injunction legislation
ur.d for reform In Judicial procedure.
) Cannon Is Treacherous.
"The regulur organization In the house
headed by the speaker, now pouiig aa the