Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 19, 1889, Page 3

—_— PAST AND PRESENT PRESSES. | The Evolution in Printing Machinery Strikingly Illustrated. GRAND PROGRESS PICTURED. From a Hand Press of 1871 to the Perfecting Presses of To-day— The Bee's First Motor a Muscular Richmond. “T'he press on which the first copy of Tue Bee was printed, was o Cincinnati hand cylinder, purchased by Redfield Bros., some- where in the sixties, for $1,300, a cutofl which is given. The capacity of this press was about seven hundred impressions an hour, or about three hundred aund fifty complete four-page sheets per hour. The power first employed in turning out Tug Bre was an abie-bodied and intelligent contraband by the name of Archie Richmond. who is at this time employed in the Bee building, and whose portrait appears iu this issuc. At his best he was capable of running off 375 com- plete papers an hour, 80 that beginning about 1 o'clock in the afternoon he kept on grinding until he man- aged to get out the entire edition of about €ve or six hundred copies. This is in strik- ing contrast with the twe lightning presses of Tue BeE to-day which turn out 48,000 four page paper an hour or 24,000 eight page pa- pers, cut, pasted, folded and counted. Had Archie Richmond been compelled to run off to-day's full sixteen page edition on the old Cincinnati press it would have talen him fully twenty days of ten hours hard labor each day. Tne BEe's lightning presses prints the edition in 45 minutes. The old Cincinnati press belonging to the Redfields was used by Tue Bee until after the fire in June, 18572, After moving into the Farnam street office Mr. Rosewater invested in a second hana three revolution Hoe press with a capacity of 2.500 to 38,000 four page impressionsan hour. This Hoe press wus perbaps about twelye or fifteen vears old then, and was in use in Tue Bee office ten years. When taken out it was still a first class machme. 1t was the first Hoe press brought into Nebraska. To it was added in coursa of time a Cottrell & Babcock Jarge cylinder second-hand press. Then Mr. Rosewater made another venture and bought ® new two-revolution Cottrell & Babcock press which was considered o be a marvel in this section. It was uged in printing the paper and- also for job work. About eight yeurs ago, soon after the first folding machine was put on the market by Chambers, of Philadelphia, one of these machines was purchased. ‘This was tne firstJolding ma- chine brought into the state. Then a double-cylinder second-hand Hoe press was purchased, and shortly afterwards a Dexter automatic folder, which was fol- lowed by auother, both being attached to the double-cylinder press. A new double-cylin- der press was added about six years go, and that was also equipped with two Dexter automatic folders, thus making the presses of Tur Beeunrivaled in this section of the country at that time. But even these facili- ties were found to be unequal to the emer- gency, as great delay iwas experienced in getting off the various editions of Tux ne, cspecially the weekly, which had grown to great proportions. A Web erfecting press was flnullg‘pul'chnscd at the otter works, Plainfield, N. J., at a cost of 7,000, including the dampening machine and the stereotyping apparatus. This press ‘was put in operation September 28, 1885, A year later a second Web perfecting press was found to be necessary, and while the local contemporaries ridiculed the idea of Tus Bek needing a press that would priut 12,000 complete papers an hour, the increase in cir- culation actually required two such presses, the weekly having grown closely or to 40,000 circulation. GREAT BATTLES FOUGHT. A Review of Important Victories Won by The Bee in Eighteen Years. Tie Bee has taken an active part in every public contest and auestion since its incep- ion, It has espoused the cause of the weak against the strong, opposed every species of monopoly and cham- pioned every movement calculated to advance the material prosperity of Ne- braska and the great west. It has fought the battles of the toiler and producer against corporote power, and scored victor- les whou the odds seewed overwhelming. Corruption in public place was exposed and driven from power. Abuses wherever they existed were fearlessly denounced. The Board of Education. At thoe very outset Tur Bee advocated the law cnactea by the legislature in 1871 organ- izing the bourd of education for tho city of Omaha ond abohshing the board of regents, which then had charge of the high school. This law made all public schools free and placed them in charge of the board of educa- tion, The board was to consist of twelve members, two trom oach ward, to serve without pay. A lively contest resulted. Tho board of regents, supported Ly the Herald and Republicun, attempted to defeat the law, while Tux Ber alono championed the change calculated to “lay the fouudation of an educational system which cannot fail to exercise the most potontial influerce on the futuro prosperity of the city,” The clection ook place Wednesday, July 19,1871, and resulted in a rousing victory for un’ ISee. B ing of the result Tns Bee said: “Out of 1,040 votes polled at the special election nlurux. 101 represents the potential influ- enco of the leading republican organ of the state, and a number of so-called leaders of ublic opinion. It must certainly be ex- fying to this grand combination ucational refors that Tus Bee is with mathewatical precis- they exert in any de- lon. ‘The mioption of this law was the founda- tion of the present board of education, and Auccess of the sy since then strik- "l.) verifies the jrediction made by Tue Tha Constitution Kight. ‘The first constitutional conyontion, which g:un in Lincoln, June 7, 1571,submitted result of its labors to the people late in . Five s:ru-u articles were in- ‘the priocipal ones being woman 5 ibition and church taxation. ved the body of the plauded by the Herald, Tribune and Repub- ican, which at the same time damned 1t with faint praise. The anti-suffragists and anti-prohibitionists joined with them in a general assault on the whole d 4 ment. Religious denominations attacked the provision taxing ail property exccedin £5,000 in value, and every pulpit was turne 1nto an_opposition stump, These elements, controling the election machinery of the state, openly boasted, weeks in advance of the electivn, that the constitution would be defeated by at least 1,000 majority. Devel- opments after the election proved that they had dclibnrutcl{ organized and successfully carried out a plan to set aside the verdict of the people. ‘I'he schemers withheld the re- turns from western counties in the Omahu gnnmmce, changed the ficures, and thus rought about the defeat of the constitution by a fraction over a thousand votes. This outrage ou the ballot was confessed later by one of the leaders. Had the registered will of the voters been furly and honestly counted, it would have shown a strong majority for the constitution, and spared the state the expense and distraction of a second contest three years later, The Federal Brigade. The steady growth and svreading influ- ence of Tue BEE not only alarmed the owners of political organs in the city, but filled them with ill-concealed wrath, The Republican_ was then the organ of a compact federal ring which had control of public land surveys and a vast amount of patronage. Smarting under the exposures of Tne BER, the mercenaries sought to crush its power by the most unscrupulous means. Anonymous sheets filled with scurrilous assaults and personal abuse of the editor were issued from the Republican office and scattered every week through the aity. Instead of mjuring Tue BEE, they recruited supporters from all classes and advertised it as the foe of venality in official life. Blackguardism and abuse haviog failed, the federal brigade was cnlisted for the avowed purpose of chastising the editor and dis- racing him in the eyes of the public. uring the winter of '71-2 they began a sys tematic raid on tho paper by delaying and somctimes refusing to deliver its muail and by annoying and bulldozing outside subserib- ers. Complaints of non-delivery of the puper by postmasters became so numerous thut Tie BeE charged the postofiice officials with con- spiring to violate the postal laws and _delib- erately destroying the papers delivered at the Omaha office. The exposure roused the wrath of the federal juntaand the editor was threatened with severe bodily pain uniess relented and repented. Threats did not frighten him nor change the policy of the paper, anda new tack was taken. They concocted a yarn that he had violatea the postal laws and endeavored to have him in- dicted by the federal grand jury, but the scheme failed. Tue Brx continued the fight vigorously, while the federal ring improved every opportunity to iusult the editor and in- jure his business. Rival papers, as usual applauded their efforts and encouraged them with fulsome praise. On the 20th of Deceniber, while Mr. Rose- water was recciving his mail in the postoftice he was assaulted by the money order clerk, C. C. Sperry, who pretended to be mortal- 1y offended at a paragraph referring to gam- blers which appeared in Trx: BLe, In reality he was commissioned to commit the outrage and was rewarded for his disgraceful work by promotion, Sperry and Deputy Post- master Yost were arrested aud taken before Police Judge Porter. Sperry was fined $20 and costs, and Yost §5 and costs. This was the tunc that Yost penned the historic check on the Omaha National bank, which read: “Pleaso pay school fund or bearer for as- sault on a Christ-killer §20.80-100, and charge my account.” ‘During the montk of February Tne Bre unearthed the theft of mail bugs, which re- sulted in the indictment of Postmaster Grif- fon by the grand jury., He plead guilty to the charge on May 81, was fined $100 and costs and retired from cffice. The Rump Legislatura, The impeachment of Goveruor Butler by the legislature in 1871 elevated William H. James to the governorship, and made our own Isaac S, Hascall next in the order of succession. James was @ veritable pudding for the jobbers and corborate schemers. He was bavitually dissipated, aud his orgies at the capital becae a public scandal and gave Jamos the title of the ‘“In- ebriate governor.” State affairs went from bad to worse. Tug Bee exposed and denounced the disgraceful con- duct of the governor, which spread to other departments of the government, and for a time threatened to wreck the state, James did not confine himself to periodical whisky baths., He went further and stretched his power for the beneflt of corporations. Among other acts which make up his unenviable ca- reer was a donation of 100,000 acres of state land to the Brownville & 't. Kearney road and 20,000 acres to the Midland {’ncldc. These nmounts were given in addition to the lands granted by law. Tue Bee charged him with having misuppropriated 5,000 of state funds and of being *‘knowingly guilty of the most damnable and corrupt acts,or having no mind of his ows, is tho ready tool of any and every political ‘hack whose services are readily secured by large corporations for a pultry contingency.” Tug Bee voiced the demand of the publio for an extra session of tue legislature, but James puid no attention to the eclamor. The profita of the position were too great to be sacrificed by caliing the legislature together, @8 that meant impeachment and loss of power. Dut his opponents were gotive and vigilact. During the temporary absence of Jumes from the state in the fall of ’7J, L 8. Hascall assumed the duties of governor and issued @ proclumation convening the legisla- ture on tho first Tuesduy of Jauuary, 1872, James attempted w aunul the esl), but failed. The legislature assembled on the day desig- nated, and orguvized. The legality of the meeting being questioned, it wus submitted to the supreme court. A decision declaring thocall illegal was handed down by two of the throe judges, und James was loft Lo complete Lis terw undisturbed. The Kourt Rouse Klau, ‘The Douglas county campaign of 1873 was short, sharp and decisive, und one of the hottest local battles fought in this vicinity, The democrats had contrel of all county of- fices, and naturaily schemed to continue in power. ‘Tur Bee attacked what was ubbed the “Kourt House Klan,” and made the campaign so lively and interesting be- fore the conventions were held that the dem- verats resorted to the subterfuge of peo- ple's convention.” The managers of the tion were such veterans as Dr. Mil- 'om Riley, Charley Connoyer, John W. H, Ijams and the smooth Charley ler, Rush, Byrne, und & Microscope Was not necessary 10 deterine the political complexion of the ticket. ‘T'he campaign turned wainly on Grebe, who was seeking a third term. ~ His ublican oppoucnt was Alfred Burley. The opposition to third term was not in itself suflicient to defeat Grebe, a strong and popular man, but nuuierous side 1ssues were sprung, which ereated discords in the yauks of the klun, His election and that of the entire ticket secmed ussured, when, on the eve of whe election, the following scusa- tioual dispateh was published in Tiz Bes: -8, ., H, Clark or T, (.. Kim- Lops Will' prob- Archie Richmond, the Motor of the Firat Press, 1871-2. {hie roud Letter than any sherit we havo ever had. Can't you give s this vote? 1 think you should if possible, If you agree, instruct proper parties to give lim the vote and send me A copy of your telegram, A.J. POPPLETUN. The publication of this dispatch exploded 1iks & bombhahall of the klan. The attempt to herd the railroad empioy and vote them like 80 many cattle was vigor- ously resented at the polls, and Grebe went down in defeat with the restof the bogus “people’s ticket.” It was a great victory for Tue Bee and a crushing defeat for the Kourt House Klan, Narrow Gauge Bonds. In 1875 the commercial development of Omaha reached a stage requiring new ave- nues of trade. Additional railroad facilities were necessary for the expansion of business. Owing to the railroad situation the rich ad- joining counties and the southwest were practically shut out from trading with Omaha, After considerable discussion and agitation, merchants and capitalists deter- mined to break down the barriers. A com- pany was formed to build a narrow gauge railroad through Douglas and Saunders coun- to the southwest. The ofticers of the com- pany were Sam Rogers, president; Erank Murphy, vice president; J. L. Lovett, secre- tary. 8. S, Caldwell and Dr. Lowe were members of the directory. These men in- spired public confidence in the movement, and the people along the proposed line *ex- pressed a readiness to assist in the building of the road. The quota allotted to Douglas county was £150,000, and the question of issu- ing bonds for thut amount was submitted to the voters at au election held in November. Tue Bee was particularly active in support. of the proposition, being convinced that great benefits would accrue to the city from the building of the road. The Herald and Re- publican at first supported_the proposition, but were Bought over by Union Pacific job work. Tue BeE was thus left single handed in the contest. For a time there was no active opposition to the bonds, but toward the close of the campaign the railroad strik: ers began an organized movewment. Word went forth fromn the Union Pacific head- quarters that the bonds must be defeated, and a large gang of political workers was turned loose to carry out the dictum. Jay Gould sent a dispatch threatening to remove the machine shops from Omaha if the people dared to vote one dollar to a rival railroad. This dispateh was given prominence by the subsidized organs. 1t had the effect of rightening the tenderfeet. The election was a desperate strugglo betiveen the people for commercial freedom against Jay Gould and the Union Pacitiq, Senator Hitchcock and the federal brigade, the Herald and its eating hcuses, the Republican and its rail road printing, the Union Pacific N bank and the smeltinz works. | standidg the opposition of these united inter- ests, the bonds carried in the cit jority of 45 votes, but were defeated in the country precincts by 250 votes, ¥ wing the result of the election Tue smd: “In the twelve years during ch we have resided in Omuaha, we have witnessed many an election, but never has there been an election in Omaha where the engines of coercion and intimidation were more remorsely brought to bear upon the men who depend for their livelihood upon their daily labor. The men who have con- tributea toward this subjugation of an enter- prising city, must hang their heads in shame at the infamous means by which this result ‘was brought ubout.” The Hitchcock Campaign, The election of Phineas W. Hichcock to the United States senate in 1871, was the be- ginning of a reign of office-brokerage never equalled before or since in Nebraska. Ever political dead-beat, every notorious ward- worker and bulldozer was. foisted upon the people with the sole object of dominating ‘state politics, The federal brigade became 80 obnoxious to the people that years before Hitchcock’s term expired there was a strong current of opposition to his re-clection, Tue campaign of 1876 was therefore, fought strictly on the lines of Hitchcock and arti- Hitchcock. Conventions were manipulaced by the Hascalls, the Cunninghams, the Van- dervoorts, the 'Yosts, and others of that stripe, aided financially and otherwise by the strikers of Juy Gould throughout the state, and they were no inconsiderable num- ber. In fact Gould made a personal pilgrimage to the state in September to ai and encourage the Hitcheock forees by sup- plying the sinews of war. He openly boasted that Hitchcock was a fricnd of the road, and that he should be supported by all the North Platte people, The attempt to stir up a fac- tional war petween the geographical divisions of the state was a deep laid scheme to split the republican party into fragrauts, and ride the democrats to power over the ruins, But it failed. Although the federal brigade managed to divide the party in several counties, the rank and file stood by their colors and contributed mightily to the overwhelming defeat of the corruptionists. In Douglus county there were two republican legislative tickets in the field, the anti-Hitchcock supported by Tne Bee and the Hitebeock f¢ pioned by the Republican, The election was @ walk-uway for the domocrats, The result of the election throughout the state soon demonstrated that Hitchcock could not be re-elected by any combination within his own party. He lacked the neces- sury number of votes, and cast about among the democrats for supporters, The friendly Bruiue showered upon him from time to time y the Herald created a suspicion that there was a deep design beneath the laudatory ed- itorials. ~ While the country was wracked by the doubtful issue of the national elec- tion, the rumor was spread throughout the state that the democrats were on a “‘still hunt” for an electoral vote. Tur Bee voiced the general belief that a bargain had been eutered into by which Hitcheock was to re- ceive sufficient democratic votes to elect, and in return ne would uransfer one elec- toral vote from the republican to the demo- cratic column, That such a conspl contempluted was given the color of fulness by the Herald's frequent tion that if Tilden was counted out in the southern states, ‘‘one honest republican would be found in the uorth to rebuke the infamy of his party” by voting for Tildeu and Hendricks. This scheme was nipped in the bud by Governor CGarber. The legislature was convened in extraordinary session, December b, the vote of the state cwzuvassed and the result de- clared. ‘The senatorial conteat of 1877 was an un- usually lively one. Hitcheock failed to bring about the caucus, and stood no chance of election without the assistance of the democrats, It was known that a combination of sixteen democrats had been formed to vote for him,the moment he mustered the necessary number of republicdn votes, but the time cawe and passed and the demo- crats did not deliver the goods. Brown and Ambrose in the senate and Creighton in the house stood ready at any moment to de- nounce the bargain had it materialized, sud the wholesome fear of public exposure un- doubtedly prevented it. Hitcheock's desperation took a new and startling turn before the first joint ballot was cast, His private secretary, the notor- fous Dick Adams, secured o number of let- ters and telegrams from a Burlington clerk named Flannigan, purporting to come from President Perkins, These lotters authorized Briggs and Saunders to draw on the 8. & M., treasury for all the money necessary to con- duct their campaign. itcheock expected by these letters to demolish all opposition, but the legislature promptly ordere an investigation ~and exposed the villainy. e letters proved to be rank forgeries, for which Hitcheock &){qm $000. A reaction set in, and before itchcock could recover, Alvin Baunders was triumphantly elected on the fourth day re- ceiving 88 votes, The election was pro- unuhn:sd ::d’l'l B':.wd M'.I:.mph ’%t the ig occasio q rejoicing througliout the state. In Eniba iumina ONE OF THE TWO tions, fireworks and serenading bands gave vent to the general feeling of relief which was felt over the downfall of the Hitehcock dynasty. Speaking of the victory, Tug Ber shid: “Tho people of Nebraska, and the friends of honest government all over the uaion, a'e to be congratulated on the culminati great political contest that hus resul the election of Alvin Saunders to the United States senate. No event in the history of this commonwenlth has been fraught with more momentuous consequences, I'ne elec- tion of Alvin Saunders is not, as it may seem. a mere factional or personul victory. It is the triumph of justice over lawlessness, of truth over fulsehood, and of honesty over corruption. U. P. Bridge Tolls. No battle ever fought in the intorest of the producers of the state attracted such wide~ spread attention and supvort as that waged by Tue Bee against the exorbitant tolis ex- acted by the Union Pacific raiiroad at the gateway to Omaha, over the Missouri river bridge. The bridge was a veritable gold mine for the company. Its original cost was less than 2,000,000 "Ten dollars was charged for car- loads and 50 cents for every passenger. In 1878 the bridge was earning 3,500 per day or 81,2775 per annum, thus yielding annual dividends of nearly 100 cents on the dollar, The rates were double those of any bridge over the Missouri and Missis- sippi rivers. It operated as an embargo not only on the commerce of Omaha, but was an onerous tax on every bushel of grain, every barrel of flour and ry head of stock ex- ported from Nebra: The bridge monop- oly became an important {ssue in Nebraska- The management of tho ralroad, from the highest officer to the lowest section boss, was one vast political maghfne. Every fore- man was a ward worker, und every attorney, bureau master and superintenaent an adept in political wire puliing. Shippers were coerced, und aared not utter.a word of com- plaint in public lest theyr business suffer. Others who enjoyed speciul 08 were active and outspoken ndvocates of the Under these fiscouraging condi- 3eE, b d by a strong und un- flmching action of the: republican party, kept up the agitation in f reduced tolls. In the fall of 1878 at the republican state conyeution of that year résolutions were in- troduced by Mr. Rosewater denouncing the robbery and pledgin-the party..to use every means to bring about uction of what wus J red to be “unlawful. unjustand oppressive tolls.” Tae resolutions expressed the sentiment of a vast maiority of the con- vention, but by fillibustering tactics the rail- road attorneys staved off a vote until a large number of the delegates had left for nome, and deteated them by a resolution to adjourn. n Octover of tha same year a mass con— vention was hel@ in Omaha in response to a call signed by forty leading citizens, headed by Herman Kountze and W. A. Paxton, The purpose of the convention was set forth in the call as follows: “In view of the pernicious influence of co rate capitul in the various political conve ons, and deeming the interosts ot the city, county and state paramount to a1l political considerations, we have decided to support an independent, legislative ticket.” Judge G, W. Doane presided and made the prineipal speech, followed by K. Rosewater and W. J. Conaell. The convention en- dorsed several of the democr: nominees and completed the ticket with independent republicans, The democrats were elected by an overwhelming majority. The county campaign was but a prelim- inary skirmish io the great anti-monopoly war then spreading throughout the country, but it demonstrated that 1.500 volunteers bad enlisted in Omaha on ten days’ notice. The at political power of the Union Pacific, with all its resources, was unable to check the growth of manhood and independ- enco which proclaimed thut there would be no truce as long as the bridge extortion con- tinued. As s00n as the members of the legislature were definitely known, the railroads began the usual distribution of bribes in the form of passes. The Union Pucific was particu- larly generous, Every counting member was favored with an annual pass for himself and family between Omaha snd Ogden, while the Burlington limited its favors to passes over lines centering in Lincoln. Both companies pooled their issues aguinstthe common enemy, for a reduction of rates on tke Union Pacific bridge meant a similar curtailment of profits on the Plattsmouth bridge when completed. The effect of these favors was felt at the oreanization of the legislature. The railroad committees of both houses were packed in the interest of the monopolies, but an active and vigilant minority succeeded in bringing the question squarely before the scnate and placing the members on record, A resolution was in- troduced endorsing the bill then pendiug in congress limiting the tolls onthe briage. It was champloned by Senators Van Wyci and C, H. B3rown, and opposed by Senators Howe and Birkhauser, The wily support- ers of the corporations insisted that a reduc- tion of the tolls on the Omaba bridge would force the company 1o raise rates on the main line and while Omaha would be benefitted, the restof the state would be damaged. It was a tricky and effective argumeat and fur- nished the wavering country members an excuse for betraying the 'interests of tho state. The resolution wus defeated. ‘Thore is an interesting ohapter of history connected with the bill to which the resolu- tion referred. The bill was drafted anda 1n- troduced in the house byt Congressman Fin- ley, an dependent demoerat of Ohio, He had made a trip to Omalia ‘and the west 1n 1877 and become familiar with the exactions practiced by the Union Pacific under color of law, and cheerfully velunteered his ser- vices 'in securing relief for the people. A strong anti-monopoly sentiinenv then pre- vailed in the lower hu\ln?, which insured the passage of the bill. It 'was referred to & sub-committee of the tommittee on com- merce, of which Dr, Felton, an anti-monop- oly democrat from Georgia; ' was chairman, The bill was loosely drawn and did oot fully cover the evils it intended to remedy, and was given to Mr. Rosewater, who represent- ed a committeee of Omaha citizens, for re- vision. Meanwhile, several members of the senate were approached and their views so- licited. Benator Bootn, of Califor- nia, who was elected governor and then senator as & representative of the anti-monopolists of the coast was lukewarm and half hearted, and gave little encourage- ment to the measure, while Senator Thur- man cheerfully promised to support it if, after examination, he found 1t constitutional, Mr. Rosewater returned to Omaha with the bill, but soon found that the lswyers and bankers who had taken a leading part i the movement, had reluxed their efforts and practically abandoned the fight, and the bill ‘was drop) of January, 1880, the railroad or of On the company announced, with a great flourish, a reduction of fifty per cent, in bridge mfll, but it turned out to be a sop thrown to the oity, a8 it merely reduced the rate on local passenger trafic from fifty to twenty-five cents. The steady growth of anti-monopoly principles throughout the state, culminating in the election of Senator Van Wyck in 1881 was a warning which the corporations heeded by a reduction of excessive toils all round. In waging this war Tte Bes battled not only Omaha but Nebraska and the west, w the Herald and Republican defe move and every imposition which crippled the industrial interests of every section of the state. The Anti-Monopoly Movement. The irrepressiblo conflict between orgamzed capital and_disorganized labor, between the producers of the country and avarice of rail- road corporations, which spread throughout the west in the last decade, was an uprising of the oppressed against political aud indus- trial dictators. The commercial highways of the country had consolidated, competition was destroyed, and tho products and indus- tries of the nation placed under tribute by a dozen men, Their power became so groat, their greed so appalling, and their exa L 80 burdensome that the life blood of western producers was sappea and dramed to a dangerous point. Knormous dividends were paid on millions of water stock. The profits of tne toilers were absorbed in getting their produce to market, and many of the ueces- saries of life were almost beyond the reach of peovle of moderate weans. The railroad corporations did not stop there. They in- vaded every department of the government, became offensively prominent in all elections, infested the national acd stale capitals, bribed legislators, made and unmade laws at will, and substituted machine politicians for esmen. he grange movement of the carly seven- ties was the first practical rebellion against railroud tyrany. It was successful in dem- onstrating the benefits of organization among farmers and accomplished much good in Iowa, Illinois and surrounding states, The great fight inaugurated and carried on by Tne Bee against the Union Pacific bridge tolls and intolerable interferance of that cor- voration in political affairs, was the beginning of the anti monopoly muvement in Nebraska. The desperate struggle: the federal brigades, the Hitchcock regime, and the wholesale prostitution of the ballot by monopoly mercenaries, paved the way to political freedom and forced the party in power to respect the will of the people. During the campaign of 1330 the anti monopolists, though unorganized, held the balance of power and forced the issue in nearly all senatorial and represcutative aistricts. In Douglas county 1,000 republi- cans rebelled against the legislative ticket foisted on vhe party by a pack convention. They raised the revolt against monopoly domination and sup- ported every man, rogardless of politics, who pledged himself to stand by the peonle. The result was a complote rout of the cohorts of Jay Gould, Thurston, Hanlon and Cou- tant. Merchants, farmers and workinginen rallied in every section of the county aud after a campaign of three days overthrew the enemy. The legislature of 1831 was a strong anti monopoly body. Control of the lower house was in the hands of producers, and much beneficial legislation resulted. The most important was the bill framed by Judge Doane of Omaha, which the opposition fa- cetiously dubbed the “‘Doane tub law.” Tt prohibited secret rates, rebates, draw bicis and other privileges granted to the fayored few; provided equal rates and service for ally limited charges to the tarifts in force in November, 1880, and imposcd severe penalties for viola- tion of the ac Another bill was passed re- quiring all railroads doing business in the state to incorporate under the laws of the state, to maintain general offices in some county through which the road ran, and keep books showing the amount of business done, names and residence of stockholders und the transfers of the same. ‘The defeat of Senator Paddock and the election of General C. H. Van Wyck was the greatest triumph of anti-monopoly in the state, After a desperate hand to hand co flict, lasting five days, the hosts of monopoly were routed. It was a victory of ular self-government, and marked an epoch in the political history of Nebraska, It was the iumph of the peo- ple, for which Tz Br cluums a large share of the credit. For nearly ten years it had fought the good fight almost single handed. it had overcome the most malignant opposition, placed in the constitul visicn giving voters the right to express a preference for United States senator, con- tributed to the downfall of the federal bri ade in 1877, and was largely instrumental in giving monopoly a death blow n 1851, The arrogance and political infamies of the corporations, their determiniation to rule or ruin, the discriminations which built up favored towns at the expense of others, forced the restrictive measures of which the companies now complain. They overreached themselves in grasping all the trafic would bear, and forced the people to seek redress in national and state legislation, The inter-state commerce act, thesraitrond commissions in various states, and the smashing of pools, huve materially curbed corporate rapacity and brought their power within reasonable bounds, The principles of anti-monopoly have taken deep root in Nebraska. Since the first convention was held in January, 1581, they secured the approval and support of a majority of the people, overy succeeding year witnessed an improvement in the character of public officials; corporate tools were gradually retired, and the public ser- vice placed beyond malign influence of monopolies. The defcat of Senator Van Wyclk in 1587 was not a defeat of anti-mono- olists, It was a triumph of treachery, a ase betrayal of pledges and promises, und a cowardly surrender to king caucus, The Lesson of 1882, The sucéess whicn crowned tae efforts of the anti-monopolists in 1850 gave strength and contldence to the moverent. Bmboldengd by the election of a pronounced leader in Senator Van Wyck, the rank and file turned their attention to the nrotorious tools of monopoly in and out of ofilce. (Vhen E. K, Valentine sprang 1nto the congressional brogans of Hon, Krank Welch in 1878, Tue Bee gave him hearty support. He bad scarcely warmed a seatin congress when he displayed his bent for corporate favor. He became the subservient tool of monopolies, and rarely missed an opportun- ity to do their bidding. In 1880 Tug Bee demanded his with- drawal from the race, but the rail- manioulators of the republican convention, backed by the remnants of the federal brig- ade, secured his nomination, There was no organized opposition to his election, Never- theless he received a rebuke by falling be- hind his ticket 8,000 votes. The republican party paid no attention to this mild warning. rullmr to a large ma- 1orlly to elect any tool receiving the nomina- ion, the managers of the macnine deliber- ately invited party revolt in 1882, The in- crease of the congressional delegation and the division of the state into three districts, precipitated a vigorous campaign, in which the organized indepéndent auti-monopoly rnrw was au active factor. The :rpolhmn urned their heaviest guns on Valentine in the First district, Laird in the Second, WEB PERFECTING PRESSE3S NOW USED C. H. Gere, for regent, fana Toran Clark, republican candidate for treasurer. The convention which nominated Valentine was packed by ofiice holders and railrond strikers. heir high banded methods and outrageous trickery resulted in a division and two con- ventions. The independents nominated M. K. Turner, of Columbus. The democratic candidate ‘W. H. Munger, of Fremont, In the Second district, the nomination of Luird. a Buriington attorney, naturally aroused the anti-monopoly sentiment which was particularly strong in that section. This feeling tallized in the nominution of Dr. 5. V. Moore, of York, while the democrats selected F. A, Harman. 'There were threo state tickets in the fleld. . D. Sturtevant, anti-monopoly for treasurer, was endorsed by ti Loran Clark, the republican nominee, was particularly obnoxious to the farming ele- ment. For years he was the favored pet of the railroads in Boone county, enjoying spe- cinl privileges and rebates for his clevator, and squeezing all who were forced to market their grain in Albion. C. H. Gere, editor of the Lincoln Journal, was foisted upon the arty as a reward for his unswerving sup- ery species of wmonopoly and The campaign against these four waged vigorously and resulted in a sig for the anti-monopolists, On a straight test they cast 17,500 votes. Lovan Clark was defeated by a majority of 4,111 votes. Valen- wnid Laird pulled through by the skin of teeth, the former by a pluralit and the iatter by 2,900. Both dist overwhelmingly republi polled 7,342 votes in the Third district, while hundreds of republicans voted for Mun more effectiveiy rebuke the party mac In the Sccond district Moore polled 10,000 votes ugainst 12,900 for Laird. Gere pulied through by a bare majority. The resuit of the election was a les republicans that they could not safely ig the demands of the producers and industriai classes, w of the state office: were clecied b, majority vote, and Laird and Vulentine were minority represcutatives. It was 4 revoit which brought about many re- forms and tanght the monopoly tools and nachine managers that a continuation of their methods meant the wreck of a great party, In this tight Tue BEr was in the forefront of the fray, battling with migh and main against corporate interference state and wun L affairs, o The Holly Waterworks Fight. Few contests in the history fougat with such vigor, persistenc, terness as that against the Holly s) waterworks, during the winter of rly in the fall of '70 the noted Dr. Cu ing, the advance agent of the Holly company, camped in this city and began operations. At first his proposition met with cousiderable fuvor, but ‘Ltz Bee, bucked by many of the lesaing citizens, insisted that no svstem of works other than gravitation would meet the nceessities of Omaha. Cushing’s i pressure from the settling o treasury of the c coussion and i pr prossure was not swmted to Omuha, and the best intellect aud enterprise of the city combined in opposition to the Holly fran- But while discussion waxed hot, Dr. Cushing was activoly applying direct pres- nembers of the council. With ief fugleman it did not require pproach and fixa majority of ch men ns Hascl S Riepen, Siuven, Redman and Lo open to conviction, and readily conceded th euperior advantages of the Holl appliel to themselves. They were ained and wined, and taken on a tour of the country where substantial arguments werc | used to soothe their consc 5 and s spines. For W 4 tered eight An ordinance passed granting the Holly company the fran- chise, but the direct pressure crowd met an unexpected and unflinching oppouent 1n or Chase. His veto of the ordinance pra dofeated it, as the gang wus un- able to muster the necessary two thirds to over ride the veto. Mauy amusing and des- perate expedients were resorted to by the opposition, I'ritz Riepen, the colleague of Barney Shannon from the Third ward was ected of having fired his grocery store to amount insurance, Fritz was r of urrest, and tho opposition encouraged it. ‘When the question of over- riding the veto came to @ vote u detective armed with a Dbogus warrant was placed on Riepen’s track. He was cornered in a room and quietly remained there during the meeting in ord: 1w uvoid arrest, During the mectings of the council in the old Redick opera houso, the chambers were filied with excited men cheering and encouraging the four membors who fought the Holly crowd from first to last, and vigor- ously hissing the boodle Av one time a Iyuching party was seriously cousidered as the only means of ridding the city of Has- call, but conservative counsel prevailed, and Isaac lives to annoy the municipu? body like a vunning sove. The defeat 62 the ordinance 1aade the quoes- tion the chief issuc of the municipal cawm- paign in April, 1830, Cushing ostensibly ro- tired from the fight, but in reality he was in it up to his chin. The Ifolly company fur- nished the sinews of war, which caused the machine politicians and ward bums to rally and work the primaries, Water pipes were brought to the civy and distributed on the ringipal strects for the nurpose of convins- ing the voters that the ifolly people meant business and proposed 1o stay. Large gangs ¢ mwen were employed for the sole purpose of working the primaries and for tueir votes on election day, buv their labors were in va The Holly crowd succeeded in renom:inating most of their supporters, thus forcing an iude- pendent citizens’ movewment. Respectable and trustworthy citizens were nominated by the opposition and triumphantly elected, The election was an exciting one in many wards, particularly the sccoud, where Mr, Tiewen was pitted against Hascall. The poll was located in No. 8 engine house, wheore the board of trade buiding now stands. Hascall led his own forces, while the opposition was marshalled by Hon, W, A. Paxton, James E. Hoyd, K. Losewater and others. During the first three hours the opposition aiataral (00 © aie saninat Har. call and couvinced him that he was doomed, At 10 a. m. he mounted a box and announced bis withdrawal from the contest. ~ Hascall's retirement had a depressing effect on his fol. lowers, resulting in their ovsrwhelwing de- foat in every ward where the issue was raised, Thoy were buried by 2,233 votes out of a total of 3,230 polled in the city. The defeat of Cushing and the Holly erew was largely due to tho uprising of leading morchants and manufacturers, who vigor- ously supported Tur Beg's sctive warfure on mercenary oficials. It inaugurated a new era in the city (governmant by pllc(nq munci- pal legislation in the hands of \ulrlfi it men, and saved the city thousands of doilars a year in hydrant reut. gigantic swicdle was nipped in the bud, and the city redeemed from the grasp of plunderers. In the followiug July & freucbise was granted in constunt fe 1 ussaulted and a few | ger. system as | | militia_ guarding BY THE BEE. to the Omaha waterworks company fora system combining gravitation and direct pressure, and the present magnificent works. are the result. The Camp Dump Campnign, One of the thrilling mcidonts of municipal tife was inaugurated in Omabu in the latter days of February, 1882, tnown in hise tory us the C paign, On the site of the present Burlington freight depot, east of Eighth street, the compuny had & lar force of graders employed leveling the bluft, Jim Stevenson was the ) flooded the surroundin, offering employment to was a large influx of laborers, Stevenson, who was merely careying out the behest of the Burlington managers, expected to profit by this rush, in reduced wages, but in this he was sappointed About the 1st of Marc the m J for an increase from $1.25 .50 per day. The demand was refused and the men dis- charged. The Burlington people then came to the rescue and gathered ap a number of section gangs to do the work. Meanwhile the strikers formed an organization and se- cured the active suvport and other trade and labor organizations. Wecnesdsy, the Sth of March, was fixed upon for a publie demon- strgtion in favor of the strikers. They gathered between 2,000 and 8,00) strong on Jefferson square, formed in line, and marched to the dump. The section hauds were at work at the tune, guarded by u dozen raw constables. The procession turued south on Eighth street, followed by a large gang of rutfians anxious for a row. Just as the head of the procession reached the dump, some of this gang raised u ¢ The constables were f them beaten, and the laborers fled to their boarding cars. The tumult subsided in w few minutes, and no- great damago was dose. The row, however, meat for the opponents of labors Their organs purposely o fied it, declared that rivulets of blood wer oursing through the streets, and that anarchy reigned su- preme in Omaba, Flaming editoriais were printed with the ovident intention of em- bitering the \\-m-mm;rmulc and rovoking an outbreak. Tur Bee defended the i of tho laborers to peace- v resist wago reduction and vigorously: denounced the false cries and absurd asser- ns that the peace of the city was in dan- ‘The night following the ra'd on the dump, Mayor Boyd calfed” a meeting of citi- zens 4t his office. Mayor Boyd, Sheriff Mil- ler, General Manager Holdrege of the Bur- lington und Mr. Rosewater were present. ‘Lhe apparent purpose of the meeting was to- petition the governor to call out the militia. Mr. Rosewater insisted that such a move- contractor, Hj untry with posters 0 men, The result { ment was unnecessary, that iz would only | provoke further distarbance, and d O: a in the eyes of the countr; ¥ his protests of no avail, he withdrew. The mayor and sheriff united in o telecram to Governor ing that tney had ex- hausted all r, und requested that. state militia be ordoved out to protect tho tify the disgraceful act of turn- ing the city over to the militia, the Herald and Republican printed tho most scandulous fulsehoods—that the workingmen —were looting the wity and unless nssist- ance came ruin und rapme would result. The editors of thesc papers controllod the avenues of nows to the ecast, and sent. their falschoods brondeast over the country, s Gamage to the nume and credit of Wednesdayv night till Suturday noon there was not the slightest indication of & disturbun The raw troops from the country arrived at noon Sat- ay. Fortunately the governor induced the president to order the military 1o the scene, preseating the spectacle of the the dump and the army ing the wilitia, Sunday worning 'ything was in readiness for war, How- itzers commanded the approaches, rifles and i nets glistened in the sunlight, and thous s of wen, women and children gazed anxiously on the thrilling scene, The enemy did not come to euliven the furcical proceed~ ing. Along toward cvening, George P, Arm- stroue, an old man somewhat under the weather, stacgered over the dead line and was promptly bayonotted by u bloodthirsty militiaman, His wound proved fatal, and the murderor es K this crime did nov provoke a row, and thereign of terrorism subsided in the Herald and Republican, In a few days the troops were withdrawn, leay- ing several large bills and empty jugs as mementoes of the Camp Dumyp campaign., Phe Campiugn of 1884, ' The presidentias campagn of 1884 did not create much euthusiasm in Nebraska., Great- ar interest centerod in the contest for state, ofMices and in the congressional districts, Cloyernor Dawes monopoly record and polit- ical dishonusty did not cormnend him to the masses und & vigorous protest against his renomination was unhesded by the republi- can convention, ‘e democrats and ine dependents united on J. Sterling Mo In the IMirst congressional district Weaver's unredecmed pledges alienated a vast num- ber of republicans, and these with the demos orats centered on Hon, C. H. Iirown, of Omaha, A siwilar condition of affairs ex- isted in the Sceond district, where the in- fumous Stnking Water land grab and his truckling to corperations discreditea Laird among the people. I'he opposition united on Captain Stickle, Tue Bes actively sup- ported tho opposition candidates, belioving that the best interests of the republican pariy 48 well as the interests of the people clannded that unfuishful and dishonest oflicials should be effegtually rebuked. The rosuly of the eleciion proved its wide influs ence for good. Dawes ran rearly seven thousand vo! per cent of the total Vot Lowan received per Weaver was elected by o scrateh, his plural ty over Hrown being 975 in a district which gave Blaine over 5,000 majority, Laird’s plurality was the lowest ever re- ceived in that district, The Defeat of Howe. The memorial campaign of 1886, in the First district, which gave Nebraska its first democratic congressman, s fresh in tho minds of all. The republican machine forced Church Howo upon the people. Notwith- standiug the earnest protcsts of Tue Bew and thousands of republicans, Howe wi nomiuated amid the blare of brass bands a) the wild hurrahs of his strikkors at Beatrice, He weont up liike a rocket and came down siuged stick. Hon. John A, McShane, o’ Omaha, was nominated by the democrats, The campaign was short” but uncommonly Lively, and resulted ia the overwhelining de- feat of Howe. MoShane carried the distrigh by a majority of 7,028, Howe carried hi home cuuutr by & bare majority while Douglas gave McShane a mas jority of 5,076, and wlso a majority for the republican candidute for governor, Tho result was a crushing Waterioo for Juy Gould’s man F'riday, and an cmphatic rebuke administercd by republicans to the political vagabonds responsible for the nomination, The revolt was not confined to or county, It extended from Platte viver to the Kansas line, omp.nnuca_u{ declared that a repnblican ng ination, without regard 10 the w::