Nebraska Newspapers

    THK NEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1010.
'IV- rjMAiiA Daily Bee.
FOL'fc i n'Af BT EDWARD ROSttWATEH.
VICTOR. ROSEWATER, EDITOR.
Entered at Omaha poatofflc second
class matter. . '
. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Dally Be (Irtertidrng Sifnday), P week 15
Dally B without Sunday), per wm 10o
Dally Pe (without Sunday), on year $4 09
Dally Be and flundayi on rMr c
i DELIVERED BT CARRIER.
EVenlng !) (without Sunday), per week c
Evening Boa (with SMnday),. per week 10c
Sunday. Be. on year U M
Saturday Bee, Aria year If
Aririrens all complaint of Irregularities In
delivery to City Circulation Department
- ornery.
Omaha Tha Be Building.
South Oman Twenty-fourth and N.
Council Bluffs-lS Scott Street
I4ncoln l Ijfttl Building.
Chlragol&48 . Marquette Building.
New York-Rooma 1101-1102 No. 84 WeSt
Thirty-third Street.
Washington--??. Fottrteth "treet. N W.
' ' CORRESPONDENCE.
Communication relating to newa and ed
itorial matter should b addressed: Omaha
Bee, Editorial Department.
REMITTANCES.
Remit by draft, express or postal erdet
pityabl to The He Publishing Company.
Only t-cent atampa recrlved In payment of
mall account. Personal checks, except on
Omaha or eastern exchanges, not aocepted.
fcTATKMKNT or rt ItCTTLATION.
Btat of Nebraska, Douglas County, sal
Ueors a. Trschi-ck. treasurer of Tha
Roo pMIanlng Company, being duly
sworn. y that the actual number of full
an complete cntilea of Tk Dally, Morn
ing, rCTcnlnf and Sunday Be printed dur
ing" the month of December. 1900. was at
fallows: . .......
41.B80 IT 44.M0
.......... 41,780 19 43,930
41.SSO It 41.630
4.. 41,70 SO 48,TT
,. 46,340 M. 46,480
43.830 M 40.0M
'.r. ........ 41,670 ' 34 42,480
8......... 46.860 14 42,880
- 42,620 86 42.600
10 46,860 26 44,680
11.., 41660 17 42,610
16 41,660 88 42,830
16 04,830 ' 88 42,370
14 4,1.470 80 42,410
IB 44,800 61 42,490
16 42.423
tfotal 1,309,810
Returned coplea 10,139
Nat Total ,l3ia,S0
Dally Averag .. 42.334
QKOROIfi U. TZSCHUCK. Ttuiurv.
Subscribed in my presence and rworn to
befor m thia list day of December. 1808.
... w r T.'ALKHIv,
- . ' . ; ' , ;. Notary Public.
' akaavlbera leaving! h city tw
aorartly ahoaM have Th Be
- saalUa to them. Address will b
caael aa often aa rqaatcd.
What'i one man's meat may be an
other's alfalfa.
Borne one moves to amend by re
ferring to it as ' the high eost of
high living.
It looks aa if the majority in con
gress still rules, whether itcounts the
speaker with it or against it.
The Balllnger investigation again
emphasizes the value of the oft-proved
advice, "Don't write letters."
Mr. Bryan evidently believes that
one standing. candidate for office on
the Commoner staff is quite enough.
Mayor "Jim" Is not an Officer of the
new League of Nebraska Municipali
ties, but he can still beat any of them
roping a steer. "
,. It is now said that the new crea
tions in Paris millinery are to be in
the form of boats liberally trimmed
with watered silk. '
Nebraska democrats are going to
congregate at Lincoln on February 14,
when they will hand each other a
few Co chlo valentines.
The display of pink carnations on
McKlnley's . birthday throughout the
country snows that thejast martyred
president is by no means' forgotten..
The Paris flood is not exactly of
the 407day 'Variety, but It has suc
ceeded In doing' almost as much dam
age in ,a much, shorter space of time.
Superintendent pavfdson Is said to
"favor turning out graduating classes
from the High school twice a year In
stead of.once.a year. Step lively
there. ; '
The coming ..week, is expected to de
termine wkere 'h,4 big prize fight is
to be pulled pff. In view of all the hot
air, preliminaries, better charter an
air ship; .- - i.
Because we are to have a new deal
at the county hospital , there is no good
reason why the old deal should not be
thoroughly ventilated; There is. a
grandf jHry coming.
VTe want to say that it "Uncle Mose"
Klnk&ld has" taken ! chance in the
coal-land lotterr In Alaska, we hope
he will not have drawn a blank' as
most of them have. '
Omahn's banlt clearings for last
week .exceed $16,000,000 and show up
an Increase of nearly J 3 per cent over
the corresponding week of the preced
ing year, doing some.
Excessive loaning has put a little
Nebraska bank into the hands of a re
ceiver. Of course, if that deposit
guaranty law were in effect the bank
would not have made any bad loans.
. A monument to the late E. H. Rar
rlman is to b erected by the Orange
County Horse sod Road Improvement
association. A greater monument to
the late E. H. Harrlman has already
been, erected extending over the west
half of this continent, from Omaha
to the Pacific coast.
The Lincoln monument, for which
the legislature appropriated flO.000,
alti on the raising of another 1 1 0.
900 by tlie Lincoln Monument associa
tion. If tho rest of the state famishes
half of the money, Lincoln, which gets
the monument, ought to be ready to
-vn!gh the other halt
The Democratic Position.
Norman E. Mack, who speaks in the
dual capacity of chairmen of the demo
cratic national committee and also
editor of what he calls a democratic
national magazine, adds the force of
his official authority to the notice
that the democrats in their fight for
control of the next house of represent
atives will show no more favor to so-
called insurgents than to any other
brand of republicans. The democratic
position is that of opposition to the
program of the president as the party's
legislative policy. Tills; in Mr. Mack'a
opinion, la the democratic opportunity,
and the Interjection of Cannon and
Cfuarronlsm Is regarded by him as
merely incidental. To quote his own
words:
Her, then, Is the democratic opportun
ity. Joseph O. Cannon, as speaker of the
house of representatives, ,ta no better
or no worse than . his party policy. If
Da lie! I, or Payns, or Alexander, or any
other republican leader were In the seat
occupied by Speaker. Cannon; If It were
Norrls or Murdoek we have no doubt he
would endeavor with the aame ruthless
hand to carry out the same vicious poli
cies of government for which Cannon is
now condemned.
Chairman Mack here makes It dis
tinctly understood that no republican
need expect anything of the democrats.
The democrats hope to gain by differ
ences within the republican ranks, and
the democratic minority in congress
will omit nothing to foment such dif
ferences. To achieve this "purpose
these democratic congressmen would
as soon ally themselves temporarily
with the regulars as they would with
the Insurgents. If the party division
In this county were .graded off aS it is
elsewhere, for example, into radicals,
socialists and conservatives In addi
tion to republicans and democrats, the
democrats would tie up with any one
of them to pave the way to democratic
ascendency.
When the issue comes to be drawn
then there should be no masquerading.
It will be the republicans phalanxed
behind President Taft and the adminis
tration presenting a constructive pro
gram on one side, and on the other,
the democrats against everything pro
gressive and promising only to block
the march of the nationaradvancement
of prosperity.
Boulevarding and Street raving;.
The Park board Is again being be
set with applications to order various
boulevards paved and pay for the same
out of the park funds. The theory of
the Park board's jurisdiction is that
any improvement of a boulevard, after
once laid out, is to be made at the ex
pense of the city, while the cost of
paving streets comes back upon the
owners of the abutting property bene
fited. This theory is. based on fairly
sound principle because the pavement
of a street is for the chief advantage
of tha adjacent property owners, and
the use of a boulevard 4s general for
the people of the whole city.
This applies, however, . where a
boulevard is really A boulevard' arid
not merely a misnamed ' street1! tWe1
have had Instances where, streetp n.ave
been labeled "boulevards'!, temporarily
In order to get them 'paved at common
expense and then have become streets
again sb soon as the abutting property
owners, who should have been
specially assessed, had escaped their
obligation. It goes without saying
that whenever one group of property
owners get a street paved out of the
park fund It works an injustice on
other property owners who are then
called upon a second time to pay for
the neighbor's paving.
It is quite likely that each case
must be considered by Itself, and on
Its own merits. The Park - board's
troubles in this respect arise from the
fact that bad precedents have' already
been set. While there is no use cry
ing over split milk, for the future the
line 'should be definitely and strictly
drawn between what is a street and
what Is a boulevard, and street pave
ments should be paid for by special as
sessment on the abutting property,
and not by diversions of the park
fund.
A Joker in the Deck.
The offer submitted to congress in
the 1 name of John B. Ballalne of
Seattle, to pay 5Q cents a ton on all
coal mined on the first choice of 6,000
acres of coal land in Alaska looks
mighty good, and is without question
a great improvement over the $10 an
acre which would be paid by entrymen
under the laws as they now stand. A
royalty of SO cents a ton on the best
5,000 acres in Alaska would doubt
less yield several hundred thousand
dollars, but when the same rate Is ap
plied to 16,000.000, 000 tons ot coal
said to be contained, in the Alaska
fields, with an ultimate revenue to
the government of $8,000,000,000 It
looks like stretching it some.
When a person inquires into the Bal
lalne bid closer it discloses a small
sized joker In the deck. The bid is con
ditional, not only on first choice of
the best 6,000 acres rn Alaska, but
also on a guarantee that no other coal
shall be mined In Alaska without pay
ing, at least, 50 cents a ton royalty
to the government. It is possible that
all the coal in Alaska might
pay 50 cents a ton royaltyand then
again It Is possible that comparatively
little of it can pay that much. If tho
coal mined at the greatest cost is
marketed to pay 50 cents a ton
royalty, then the coal mined at the
least eost on the best 5.000 acres
marketed at the same price, would cer
tainly yield a" munificent profit., The
joker In the Ballalne bid would be
about the same as If some one offered
to pay $100,000 a year rent for the
best business corner in Omaha on con
dition that DO one else occupying the
same space In any other part of town
shonld pay any less.
The change from the policy of sale
to the policy of royalty in the distribu
te of mineral and coal lands still
embraced In the public domain is
going to bring the government a tre
mendous revenue as compared with
what it otherwise would get. But to
us the conditional bid of Ballalno as
the basis for figuring a revenue to the
government of $8,000,000,000 out of
the coal deposits in Alaska is going
pretty strong.
If congress enacts a campaign pub
licity law It should provide some way
of enforcing it. Such a law has been
for more than ten years on the statute
books of Nebraska, where the demo
crats yell loudest for it, but never
obey It The democratic defiance of
the Nebraska campaign publicity law
gives ground for the belief that the
provisions of the national law would
get no better compliance from them
unless supported by a real penalty
clause.
One of the arguments advanced
against women's' suffrage , is that the
women want all the rights of men and
all the privileges ot women. Para
phrased to apply to economic condi
tions this might read. Give us all the
benefits of hla-h prices for what you
sell with all the advantages of low
prices for what you buy. Sounds like
that familiar proposition of an irresls
tlble motion meeting with an immov
able body.
If the new garbage contractors want
householders to see to it that outside
haulers do not collect the garbage
they, should, at least, show their own
good will by sending their own men
around. If the new scheme of dis
trict contracts does not work satisfac
torily there will be nothing left for
Omaha to do but to establish a mu
nicipal garbage department and attend
to the business itself.
Governor Harmon will not come to
Nebraska for the democratic gabfest
scheduled for next month, notwith
standing the fact that the invitation
was urgently pressed on him by Gov
ernor Shallenberger. Tho Ohio gov
ernor must have heard what the Ne
braska governor said at that famous
after 8 o'clock, when he projected
"Dave" Francis as first choice for
1912.
Some of the striking shirt-waist
makers have solved the problem by
getting married. Others announce
their willingness to try the same rem
edy. Well, the divorce court has had
plenty of experience as a court of ar
bltratfon, especially where there has
been a shortage of ante-nuptial court
ship. ' . .
(, "It behooves democrats everywhere
to get together," reads the proclama
tion to Nebraska democrats signed by
tWofflcers of the state committee. If
(h 'Idenjocrats are going to get to
at'etfeej; itj would not be a bad idea for
the i republicans to avoid splitting
apirt."''' '
, It is pleasing to note that our Audi
torium, erected by popular subscrip
tion, has again come into its own as
an arena for wrestling bouts. Wrest
ling, at any rate, pays better at the
box office than art. exhibitions.
The intimation that Dan Stephens
will make a try for the democratic
nomination for senator indicates that
he thinks the Checkbook is by this
time big enough for two. How about
it, Edgar Howard?
The man who claimed to have dis
covered the process of making paper
out of wood pulp has just died. Some
people are not yet ready . t6 . say
whether he is entitled to a credit mark
or a debit mark.
Canned.
Washington Herald.
The Treasury department's famous ruling
that "frog ieg-s are chicken" will not be
nearly so Interesting;, now that tha coun
try Is about to go on an anti-meat diet
unanimously.
Smile While Yoa Can.
Philadelphia Record.
It Is the good vegetarian who Is all
smiles. Things are eomtng his way. But,
If Oargantua eschews meat, vegetables
will go up; and - then the aforesaid vege
tarian will not be so happy.
Auimlag Nredlaa Hlak.
Indianapolis News.
The scheme to pass the ship subsidy next
winter with the aid of the votes of de
feated congressmen may not be wholly ef
fective. Most of those defeated congress
men will want to go back borne to live,
you know.
I
Where the Judge Fell Dona,
RL Paul Pioneer Press.
An Illinois judge has ruled that a man
must not stay away from horn more than
forty-eight hours without a good excuse.
That Is not new. If the court wanted to
decide a point worth while he should
have established what constitutes a good
excuse.
(
What's th Uaef
Chicago Record-Herald.
Reports from Cleveland indicate that it
pays to get along without meat Steaks
ar lower In price ther at present than
they have been at any other time since ths
beginning of the year, Btlll, on second
thought, what's the use saving money on
meat nowT The Ice companies will get It
all next summer anyhow.
Rally for Par Food.
Philadelphia Record,
Th New York State Medical society
has adopted resolutions favoring an amend
ment to -the national food and drugs act
by which the use of antiseptic drugs In
canned fruits and vegetables and other
preparations ot fruits and vegetables de
signed for human consumption shall be
prohibited. The resolutions also favor com
pulsory Inspection by federal officials of
commercial food kitchens to Insure com
pliance with the law In the tie of un
adulterated food. . Whether congr can
be prevailed upon to give .heed to, the
pica of the doctors rema'ns to be sen.
There will be stout oppoaltkm on the part
of Industrie engaged In the preparation
of sophlMlrated food for the market. The
doctors apeak for the public; tho aophls
t!canrs jprnk for themseJve, and thry
will thorefore plead with the greater ur-rency.
LOOK VP T1IB cnOtF.UY BILL.
Character of Service and Preference
for Pnrknare Hoods.
American Clrocer.
That It costs more to nalntnln an indi
vidual or a fnmlly now than formerly Is
a fact. And yet It Is largely a matter
that can be adjusted to income If the
party Interested chooses to use common
sense hnil practice solf-drnlal. Prof.
Whitney, chief of the bureau of soils,
Washington. L. C. asserts a truth that
Americana are eating far more than they
did fifty yenrs ago.
Novcr before Was the dietary of the
people so varied aa todny; never of higher
average quality. We are a nation given
to extravagance and waste. Why buy a
prime rib roast costing 22 to 25 cents or
more the pound when a hind quarter of
spring lamb Is sold at 18 cents? Why
docs a family, forced to economise,' pay
14 cents for a proprietary .brand of rolled
oats when they can buy a like quantity
In bulk at half the price? Why do tlie
people pay a nickel for a box of biscuit
weighing less than half a pound whon
the could purchnso for ihe same cost
nearly double the quantity of bulk? Thoaw
are lnstnnces typical of hundreds of
articles of food. If the situation is an
alysed we discover that the people regard
package gooda with the greater favor and
willingly pay the higher cost because of
their convenience.
The real copt of food Is Influenced
greatly by the character and expense of
service demanded1, and that varies tre
mendously. It Is a factrthat n store whose
customers demand a luxurious sen Ice
distributes 100 worth of food at a cost
to the consumer of $125 and that It re
quires fiO to 123 to cover ihe expense of
the service, leaving the dealer 2 to 6 per
cent net profit. Within the same terri
tory are stores serving a different ciass
of trade where the expense of service 1b
12 to 16 per cent, the net profit 6 to 10
per cent.
I
PVI.L ON RAILROAD PROFITS.
Afrillnted Corporations Skim the
Cream.
Chicago News.
. Everybody knows that the Pullman com
pany Is a profitable concern. Its net earn
ings are very large. In order to dispose
of the surplus it Is found necessary to
make extra dividend disbursements from
time to time. There was such a disburse
ment in the form of a stock dividend In
1906, the sum involved then being about
$26,000,000. The close of the last fiscal year
showed a surplus above regular payments
of over $7,000,000. Reports are in circulation
that another "melon" Is to be cut by the
Pullman company in the near future.
Recently the public has had striking
proof of the large earnings of express com
panies In excess of their regular dividend
payments to stockholders. Not long ago
one express company, mode disbursement
of a surplus amounting to 900 per cent on
the capita! stock.
Sleeping cor and express companies make
It their business to take over certain func
tions of the railroad companies. They
render a service which the railroads would
be obliged to perform directly if they did
not farm It out to other agencies. The
enormous profits. of the express and sleep
ing-car companies, therefore, represents ex
cessive 'charges ,fpr , forms .. of railroad
service. Perhaps, (reference should be made
also In" this, connection to . the private-car
Service f0.rnlghed'o,by concerns like ,tho
large packing, firms, which supply refrig
erator cars and receive compensation for
their use.
Wheri the attempt is made to reduce rail
road charges it is asserted that the rail
road bilslness is not as profitable as ths
public Is led to believe. Perhaps one ex
planation is that; .the cream Is skimmed off
the business by affiliated corporations that
In the past have, escaped publlo scrutiny.
Hereafter the government in its attempts
at railroad regulation should treat the
business as an entirety, taking cognizance
of the corporation rendering public ser
vroe in oonnectlon with the railroads, like
the express and sleeping-car companies
and the concerns operating refrigerator
cars, as well as of the carrying corpora
tions themselves.
FARMS WILI, BE MORE POPULAR
Present Agitation Likely to Check
Huh to Cities.
Cleveland Leader.
The great prominence given the rise In
the market value of foqd staples and the
increase in the. cost of living, especially
emphasised and criticised in relation to the
food supply of the average American
living In a city or town, is bound to have
its effect upon the growth and prosperity
of rural districts. It will be felt particu
larly In the country, within twenty miles
or so of largo cities, because such districts
will appeal with inore force than more re
mote counties to those who are used to cltv
life, or are hungry for It. Unless all signs
rail, there will be a better demand for
farms, large and Small, in all parts of the
country, than there has been in many
years.
Of course, large number of men who
say that they are going to raise their own
food and sell food to others Instead oft de
pending upon the markets to meet their
needs, henceforth, will lose their enthusi
asm for tho country before they try to
work out their theories of the wlddom of a
radical change.9 The majority will go on
making the best ihcy con of town life and
Its burdens. Some, however, will stick to
tholr purpose of moving to the country.
There will be a certain proportion of farm
buyers left out of the host of city workers
who have become deeply dissatisfied with
their general condition and outlook.
Another effect of the heated and gen
et a! discussion of the cost of living will
be tha Checking of the constant Inflow of!
vnnnff man , . 1 v ... hi ..!... ... , l . l. !
h.iu J '..'" num. II u, III; 11 M
cities from the farms. Many a youth,
balancing between farming and the chances
of the cities, will be decided In favor of the
cauntry by the outcry which has gone up
from the victims of high pries In tho great
centers of population. He will realize
better than he would have done if It had
not been for the prevailing agitation how
much the burden of providing food, shelter
and clothing Increases when city prices
have to be "paid and city conditions Ac
cepted. Altogether, the effect Is bound to be a
shifting of the balance between town and
country which will be favorable to tha
farming districts. ' There will be a str inger
market for farm lands and a better supply
of labor to cultivate them as the result
of th sharp rise In the cost of living in
cities and towns. Rural America never
fuccd a brighter future.
Room to Spare.
Chicago Record-Herald. '
Nebraska Insurgents have met and de
cided that tha republican party is not big
enough to contain La Follete, Cummins
and Brlstow snd Aldrlch, Cannon and De
pew. Ftlll th democratic party, which
Isn't nearly as big as the republican party,
has for a long time contained Parker, Tam
many and "Gum Shoe Pill" Ston and
Uryan, Ualley and Tillman.
Ravages of Floods
Th Disaster la fsrls and
t-8 Bala TrJley and Other
&oordi rioods la Europe
Dwellers of the Mississippi and Missouri
valleys from their experience with river
floods In years past can appreciate the ex
tent of the disaster that lias befallen the
French capital and Its suburbs. The record
Tood of the Missouri In ISM spread over
the valley often ten miles wide, from Bis
marck to Alton, but did comparatively
little damage to valley cities and towns.
Of greater extent was the Mississippi flood
of 1S92, a year remarkable for floods In the
United States and British Columbia. The
destructive effects of these floods were not
felt severely, being distributed over a vast
area of comparatively scant population
Th disaster to Paris Is concentrated
destruction, transforming the gay capital
Into a flood ravaged city. Above tho city
the flood spread over the itolne yalby to a
width of twenty-five miles, while through
the city a restricted channel with In
numerable bridges and several islands act
ing as obstructions forced the flood over
all barriers. The loss Is estimated at $200,-
000.000, a sum almost treble tho next high
est recorded flood loss, that of Toulouse,
France, in li75.
The devastation being wrought by the
overflowing Seine, while sufficiently terrt
ble to excite the Imagination even of the
most practical and commonplace of man
kind, is but a trifle in comparison with
some of the disasters which have resulted
from th sudden rise of streams flowing
through densely populated countries. With
the exception of an extensive conflagration
or earthquake shock, nothing is more Bug
gestive of the majestic, irresistible power
of nature and the Impotence of man than
the rising of a great river. Originating
In causes but Imperfectly understood by
man, coming with a force which the
ingenuity and strength of man can not
control, tho flood has beon, in all ages,
the emblem of supernatural strength. The
strongest works erected by the most skill
ful engineers are swept aside by th might
of the waves, embankments are leveled as
though a giant hand had paused over
them, smoothing down the wrinkles on the
face of nature, while the remorseless water
mules aay, In a moment, tho results of
the labor of years. It Is, therefor, not a
matter of surprise that men stand In
speechless awe as a strength that can be
neither resisted nor directed manifests It
self In their presence.
With the exception of the Danube, the
Rhine and the Russian rivers, the streams
ot Europe are mostly short, but all the
more dangerous on that account; tor, al
though almost dry in the summer season. In
times of heavy rain they become torrents
which do Immense damage. The Spanish
peninsula has suffered terribly at times
from the floods In Its short and rapid
streams. In 1617 over 60,000 persons perished
in Catalonia from a sudden rise in the
rivers of northeast Spain; in 1787 2,000 were
drowned In Navarre. Torca, a city of
Murcla, in Spain, waa totally destroyed in
1802, while the great floods of 187 In Murcla,
Andalusia, Alicante, Almara and Malaga,
by which over 2,000 houses were destroyed
and 1,200 lives were lost, are still fresh In
the public memory- The south of France Is
uyder substantially the same conditions
the Spanish peninsula and destructive floods
have been extremely common. In 1840 the
Saono rose to a height that had not been
exceeded in 233 years. Over 60,000 acre of
arable land were covered by the Saone and
the Rhine, Lyons was Inundated, In Avig
non over 100 houses were destroyed, and
upwards of 800 at Marseilles and Nlmes,
while the loss of life wentup into the
thousands. A general flood season recurred
in 1846, tho Loire rose twenty feet In two or
three hours, a railroad viaduct, which cost
8,000,000 francs, was swept away, and th
total damage done by this stream alone was
estimated at $20,000,000.
The short rivers of Italy must be credited
with a great deal ot damage; 264 lnunda
tlons of Rome by the Tiber are noted since
the foundation, of the city, while the Po
and other streams have been equally mis
chlevous. The Danube has experienced sev
eral notable floods. In 1879, the great storm
year, the city of Szegcdln, In Hungary, was
almost totally destroyed; out of 4,666 houses
only 331 remained standing; seventy-seven
persons were drowned, and many thousands
rendered homeless. In 1811 tlie Danube de
stroyed twenty-two villages near Pesth
and two years later a Turkish corps of
2,000 men was surprised on a small Island
near Widln, and all perished. In the same
summer over 8,000 inhabitants of Silesia
were drowned by the floods, while 4,000
perished in Poland, and In 1819 4,000 houses
la Dantzlc were destroyed and many Uvea
were lost by a flood In the Vistula. The
British Islands have been repeatedly de
vastated by floods and the Instances ar
frequent of great damage being done by
high water in the Thames, tih Severn and
the Scottish rivers. The destruction of the
forests In Spain, Franoe, Germany and
Great Britain, no doubt, had much to do
with 'these destructive floods, and the
policy of extensive tree planting will prob
ably in the course of a century do some
thing to remedy the evil.
The denudation of the' mountains had
nothing . to do with the dreadful floods
which have, from time to time, desolated
the lowlands of Holland. In this land,
much of which has been literally reclaimed
from the sea, eternal vigilance la the price
of safety. But ceaseless vigilance can not
always prevent accidents, and when a high
sea occurs simultaneously with high water
in the Holland rivers, awful calamities are
apt to occur at any time. One such took
place at Port in 1421, when an Inundation
of the Meuse occurred while a terrific
storm from the north was beating In on
the shore, and sending hug billows to th
top of the dikes. The waters of the liver
could find no outlet, and so wera piled up
until they finally began to creep over the
dikes. The resulting disaster hod up to
that time no parallel In Europe; 100.000 per
sons wire drowned and thousands of square
miles of territory converted Into a raging
sea. This, however, dwindled into Insignif
icance whan compared with a calamity
which occurred In the same country about
a century later. The whole coast. North
sea coast, of this remarkable country Is de
fended by expensive dikes, which also pro
tect about 100 miles of the Zuyder Zee coast
line, th embankments being from thirty
to fifty feet high, seventy feet wldo at
the base and having a roadway 'on top.
Their cost is estimated at $1.&00.000,C00, and
tlie annual expense of keeping them in re
pair exceeds $1,000,000. In 1530 heavy storms
and floods pravalled at the same time, th
dikes gave way and the Netherlands were
submerged. Over 400.000 of the population
were drowned, the loss of life was so great
that in large districts of country ther was
no inhabitant left to claim house, land or
property. Not many years later th Dutch
voluntarily rut their dikes and admitted
ths sea to drive out their enemies, against
whom they -fcould not otherwise prevail,
but th act, being voluntary, can not be
reckoned among th misfortune of nature.
What a Faaay Idea;
Boaton Traneortpt.
The lateat applicant for Alaska'a coal haa
a funny idea, Wants to pay for Itl
JABS AT jni.
Loup City Northwestern:. Hairless Jim
Pa hi man hss filed as demneratlo candidate
for governor. If nerve were the only thing
I necssary, nothing could keep him from
; winning hands down.
! Kearney Democrat: If Dahlman a--cures
the nomination and is pitted ngalnat a
county option republican, then you my
expect another "Hol d campaign," in which
enough republicans went to Boyd's sup
port to carry th state and elect him gov
ernor.
Schuyler Free Lsjic: Mayor Jim
Dahlman of Omaha haa filed fir
the nomination for governor on the
democratic ticket and propose giving
Shallenberger another run, but he will
again meet with defeat nd worse than
he got It before,
Tekamah Herald: We never could ac
count for the vote In Burt at the primaries
two years ago. when Dahlman received
more votes than Shallenberger. There Is
no doubt but what Mr. Dahlman will poll
a large vote wher he Is acquainted, h Is
very popular with his friends and they will
exert an extra effort In his behalf.
Oakland Independent: Dahlman has
filed papers for th democratic nomination
for governor, believing that coming out
early In tho gam will give him a good
boost. Maybe It will, but It will also hav
the effect of crystallslng the opposition
both In his own party and outside, which
abhors his stand on the temperance ques
tlon.
St. Paul Phonograph: Mayor Dahlman
la not backward about It. He soys that
he Is going to be the next governor of
this state, and that Bllll Thompson Is
going to be the next senator, indicating
that lie thinks th cowboy and the little
giant will be too much for Shallle and
the white stockinged Hitchcock. And the
Phonograph Is for Thompson, but agin
Dahlman. Well, it always waa able u
take and keep a ridiculous posHlon.
Pender Times: Mayor Jim Dahlman of
Omaha has formally entered the rac for
the democratic nomination for governor
Jim, Jim, What evil spitH has prompted
you thus you can t cut'er not this year.
Wlnslde Tribune: Mayor Dahlman has
filed for the gubernatorial nomination and
now the people outside of Omaha will have
a chance to do things to him and show
genial Jim that thuglsm does not extend
all over Nebraska.
. WISDOM OF MR. TAFT".
Demand for Falflllment of Repnb.
llcaa Platform Pledges.
S Minneapolis Journal.
Without identifying himself with either
regulars or Insurgents, but sturdily main
taining his position as the leader of his
party. President -Taft has kept steadily to
his path down th middle of the road. He
has not allowed Congress or himself to
forget that th party has made certain
pledges to th people that must be kept.
From that duty he haa steadfastly refused
to be diverted, and he haa tactfully made
It evident to the leaders In congress that
they must support him In passing the
measures promised by tha republican plat
form. The senate, which usually dawdles along
while the house Is perfecting th appro
priation bills, has, through th smiling but
pertinacious efforts of th president, been
roused to the realisation that ther la no
necessity for such waste of time, and that
it ought to and must get busy on the ad
ministration measures. It Is now predicted
that the senate will have several of these
bills ready for th house by th time the
house gets through with originating monev
bills. ,.- .. r '
The Insurgents, who had visions of a long
and sorappy session of th house. In which
by combining occasionally with th demo
crats they would make things uncomforta
ble for the organization, have been brought
by Mr. Taft to see that their first duty is
to legislate, and to legislate In accordance
with party promises. Th organisation, n
the other hand. Is eager to do the presi
dent's bidding, even though some of Its
leaders ar fain to make wry faces over
some of th items In the piesldentlal menu.
Speaker Cannon bos been told by his best
friends, by the men who hav stood by
him In many a battl and have defended
him lustily, that he must retire for the
good of the party. Even from New Eng
land comes this advloa, Representative
Foster of Vermont voicing the phanglng
sentiment. of a.section that was supposed
to be as solid for th Danville man as its
own hills.
The trend of events Is thus setting In
strongly In the direction Mr. Taft has
steadily and sturdily urged. The president
will ultimately demonstrate his worth and
his power by effectuating th legislation
h haa promised. Those who have doubted
him and worse will hav to revise their
opinions. Dally he looms largor in the
publlo' confidence and affection.
Our Birthday Book
January 31, 1810.
Milton T. Barlow, president of the United
States National bank, is today celebrating
his 66th birthday. He wo born In Qreen-
caatlo, Ind., and la one of the old-timers
In Omaha banking circles, but Is still on
the job every day. He happens also to
ba a member of th Omaha Water board
Just now.
Nathan Straus, the well known New
Tork philanthropist, was born In Bavaria
January 81, 1848. .Mr. Straus, with his
brothers, constitute R. H. Macy & Co., and
his special form of philanthropy He in the
free distribution of milk and Ice in the
crowded tenement districts.
William H. Sherwood, concert pianist,
is M.
William Herbert Wheeler, who is now
conducting th general insurance buslnees
formerly handled by his father, was bom
at Plattsmouth January 31, 1870. Mr.
Wheeler was one an. expert stenographer
end court reporter, and spent several years
at Washington as clerk to th house com
mittee on publlo buildings and grounds.
He Is a gradual of the University of Ne
braska.
Qorgo If. Thummel, clerk of th United
States circuit court for this district, Is 62.
Mr. Thunimei used to practice law at
Grand Island, and boasts of having been
the youngest member ot Nebraska's con
stitutional convention In 1871.
Ira A. Kellogg, who represents The Bee
at South Omaha, was born at Clarka,
Neb., January 81, 1874. He Is a graduate
of the University of Nebraska and has
been with The Bee for five years.
Al Sorenaon, the Would-Be (he says Will-
Be) United States senator, is 00, but doesn't
act It any more than he looks It. Neither
would anyone familiar with his variegated
careers suspect thst he was born in Na
shotah. Wis., under th shadow of an
Episcopal theological seminary, but such
Is none th less the solemn and attested
fact. "Al" was city editor of Th Bee In
th olden dars when th city editor was
th whole reportorlal staff and the bouncer
at on and the same time, but now he Is
running a weekly paper of his own called
the Examiner, which boasts that It has
spac to ell toany candidal for political
office who has
PERSONAL NOTES.
An Interesting pha.tn of th life of Hlra
Warner, who has Just died in Springfield
at the age of S3. as that thlrty-flv years
sgo he was given up hy fourteen doctors,
but finally took his own rase In hand and
outlived them all.
Benjnmln Hanford. for ninny years a
leader of the socialist party In this coun
try, snd twice Its candidate for vice presi
dent, died of a complication of Illnesses at
his homo at Flatbush. Brooklyn. H had
been 111 for several years.
A police officer, recently deceased, for
fifteen years had charge of the Wall street
district, during which time. It Is stated,
not so much as a 10-cent piece was stolen
there by an "outsider.? Th street extends
privileges only to th initiated.
In a recent test of spook athletics two
men held the medium's hands and feet,
yet she succeeded In tickling thslr ears
with her toes. A person capnbJ of pull
ing off such a stunt Is wanting valuable
time and losing good m -ney In n.igl'jcllng
lo "elevate th stage."
Mrs. M. la Read has just celebrated th
twenty-fifth annlveraary of her service as
passenger agent at Ardmor Station on th
Pennsylvania railroad. She Is said to hsv
performed her duties In a manner highly
satisfactory to both th public and th rail
road, s
The Los Angeles woman who claimed to
hav been blessed with quadruplets, follow
ing two sets of triplets and a pair of twins,
has confessed that she has had but one
baby and that died in Infancy. The rest of
th brood represented raids on orphan asy
lums. Mother lov seldom devote Itself to
working up such a fake as this.
Lloyd-Georg will visit this country next
year as the guest of American Welshmen.
He will be accompanied by Sir Pamuol T.
Evans, the solicitor general; Mr. W. Ab
raham, M. P., and Mrs. William Jones, M.
P., and, according to the Druid, the organ
of the Welsh people In America, a banquet
will be given In his honor which President
Tsft Is expeoted to attend.
Uncle Pam Is to have a new "globe trot
ter." Jacob M. Dickinson, secretary of
war, who recently returned from an ex
tended trip to Porto Rico, Cuba and San
Domingo, hna been chosen by President
Taft to make the official excursions of th
present administration. His next trip,
which probably will be made early In tha
summer, Will take him to the Philippines
and Hawaii.
PENNIES AND RURAL POflTAGFI. '
Changing; a Custom' Comraoa on
Raral Rentes.
Washington Star.
Occasionally a figure is quoted In our
national affairs that amphaelxea the mag
nitude of th country. The latest of this
kind Is th statement that during the last
year approximately.. 300,000,000 pennies wore
taken by rural free delivery carriers from
the boxes on their route where they had
been deposited with letters In 'lieu of
postage stamps, In accordance with a rule
permitting the patrons of the routes to
post letters In this manner. ' Tha means
that 160,000,000 letters were written and
posted In th rural districts In twelve
months for which the writers had no
stamps at hand. Considering the com
parative lack of epiartolatory enterprise on
the part of rural residents this Is a sig
nificant item. It suggests that tha rural
freo delivery stimulate correspondence.
Nevertheless the postal authorities find
that the deposit of pennies In the boxes
tends to delay tlie collection and delivery
of the malls and consequently Instructions
have been Issued to all rural delivery post
masters Informing them that after the
1Mb. of February tha pruotio will be dis
continued. After that data the farmers
wijl have to buy stamps. , There will: prob
bly be much grumbling, but eventuallv
the change will be beneficial!
WHITTLED TO A POINT.
"My husband Is like a rooster In one ro- A
tpeot." ' '
"Indeed?"
"Yea. .. vi1"" ho gets up early he crows
over It." Judge.
"It is a wonder that a barber
Is gen-
crnny loquacious."
"Why so?"
"Because he Is always cutting other men
short." Baltimore American.
"Let's go to the theater."
"I've nothing to wear."
"Then we'll go to tha opera," Lippln
cott's Magazine.
"Mr. Smith," spoke Up the young lawyer,
"I com here as a representative of your
neighbor, Tom Jones, with the commission
to collect a debt due him."
"I congratulate you," answered , Mr.
Smith, "on obtaining so permanent a Job
at such an early stage in your career."-
Success Magaslne.
"Bo you are studying telepathy V
"Tos." answered Senator Sorghum; "my
object In life has been to find what people
are thinking end then say U first .Any
reliable system would simplify my labors
Immensely." Washington Star.
"Do you see that very stout woman over
there?"
"The one with three hlnsT"
"That's the one. Well, I never see her
without feeling that I owe her tha dernest
gratitude." :
"Did you some great favor, h?" -"Yes.
Refused to marry me when sh
was a girl." Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Visitor It must be a glgantia task to run
a great newspaper like yours.
Jidltor Not at all. It's the easiest thing
In tha world. Dozens of my friends, as
wall am nprfai-t tramrarH ... . m a in t,aA
every day to tell me how to' run it. Chicago t '
Tribune. )l
The orator was urging th men to quit
work. "Strike for your altars and your
fires," he conclud 1.
"Well, I don t know," ssld a thoughtful
tuditor. "If you will ahow me how strik
ing will pay rent for the altars and buy
era! for the fires I'm with you."
Unfortunately at this Juncture an execu
tive session was ordered.
THE CUCKOO CLOCK.
A. W. Chamberlain In New York Sun.
Ah seen him In de cunnel's hall,
Whar he s own noutte nang op a wail,
Dat teonchy Hi buhd.
He mish he's atttlck shiittRh back '
An' pop he's hald out, lak er Jack,
An' say ae quares wuna:
Cuckoo! (Listen!)
Cuckoo! (Hear 1m?)
Cuckoo!
Dst sln't de rain crow callln' from
lie watctimeion row;
Drprn's on Jes' de time ob day ,'
Mow many times ne crow.
Erway erlong to'ds evenln' time,
When red sunbeams slant low.
De flel' han's top dey wukkln' an'
De wore lea' movln' slow.
Dat buhd sing from he's wlndehsell.
Ci'ar an' sweet es er honey bell.
l.UCKOO, CUCKOO, CUCKOO,
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo! 1
Ah wondeh whut's dat kin ob buhd?
Ah wondeh whut's he's name?
Dat house a dock, my mammy say,
De buhd, he tell do time ob day
Uol. buhds Inside ob clocks!
It s'prlsin' dey doan' scotch dey heel.
Er eotch dev feddebs In 1 wheels,
An' stop do ticks an tocks.
Cuckoo! (IJsten!)
Cuckoo! (Hear 'Ira?)
Cuckoo!
Dat ain't do rain crow callln' from
D watchmelon row;
Drpon's on Jes' de lime ob day
Low many times he crow.
Krwny orlong to'ds evenln' time,
When red aunLeams alant low.
De flel' han's slop dey wukkln' an'
Dc worl s lea movln' slow. '
Dat buhd sing from he's wlndehsell.
Cl'ar an' sweet es er honey bell, ,
Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, f
Cuckoo, cuckoo, ouckool '
Ah wondeh whut's dat kin ob buhdf
Ah w ond oh whut's he's narast
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