Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 9, 1902, Page 4

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. E. ROSEWATER, EDITOR, PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTIO Dally Bee (without Bunday), One Pllly Bee and Sunday, On ar llustrated Bee, One Year. Bunday Bee, One Year Baturday Bee, One Year.. Twentleth Century Farmer, One Year. 1.00 DELIVERED BY CARRIER Dally Bee (without Sunday), per cup{.. 2¢ Pally Bee (without Sunday). per week. 1o ally Bee (Including Sunday), per week.1 unday Bee, per copy e Svening Bee (without Sunday). pe Evening Dee (Including Sunday), week. year.$4.00 . 1] week.10¢ per _ Complaints of “irreguiarities in ' delivery should be addressed to City Circulation Department. OFFICES. Omaha—The Bee Buildin h ty Hall ty-fifth and M streeta. Council 10 Pearl Street. Chic New Washin I Bullding, Twen- CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and editorial matter should be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Depdrtment. BUSINESS LETTERS. Business letters and remittances should be addressed: 'he Bee Publishing Com- pany, Omaha REMITTANCES, draft, express or postal order, The Bee ¥ hing Company, sted in payment of onal check stern exchange, not ac BLISHING COM STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. Btate of Neheaska, Douglas County, s.: George B. Tzschuck, secre tary of The Bee Publishing being _duly sworn, I number of full and of The Dally, Morning, Sunday Bee printed during of May, 1%2, was as follows: 17 20,500 18. 19, 2. Remit by payasle to nly 2-cent complete coples Evening and the month 1 Net dally averag 0. Subscribed 1n my re.i'(-nc.e and sworn to fore me this 8lst day of Ma; A D. 190 (Seal.) M B HONGARE tary Publle, The convention season is nowy on in full blast in Nebraska. — 1f all the other populist candidates for governor step out of the way, the popu- lists may take up with Yelser yet. Se———— It he will turn the faucets only half ‘way, the efforts of the weather man will be more gratefully appreciated. —— It should be remembered that nomi- natlons guaranteed and indorsed by cor- poration managers are not always re- deemed at the polls by the voters. S From the number of candidates in the fleld for the republican nomination for state treasurer, it seems to be pretty well understood that that place on the ticket is open to competition, S London hotel men are said to be play- Ing the imit on coronation week guests. They must have gotten tips from Amer- fcan hotel men who have had experi- ence with our inaugurations, national conventions and exposition; Congressman - Stark says he knows when he has had enough and will there- fore retire after completing his present » third term: But the non-resident con- ™ gressman from the First Nebraska dis- trict 1s asking for a sixth term. Discussion of the anti-anarhist bills in congress develops the fact that rad- “teal legislation proposed under high pressaré of popular clamor will not withstand .the deliberate judgment of the lawmaker. attey be has calmed down, e—— (With strikes among all classes of mechanies in the bullding trades there 18 some consolation that at least one set of tradesmen will not quit work on any provocation during the building season, Referene¢ is made to the plat- form builders. —— Wall street reports have it that an English brokerage firm has invested $700,000 In American rallway securities for & member of the royal family, Roy- alty apparently wants to get even for the invaslon of Lombard street by Amer- dcan money kings, o gy If the assessment just made by the State Board of Equalization of all the Nebraska railroads at $26,000,000 in- cludes the value of their franchises, pray what would the assessment be if the franchises were excluded and only the tangible property taken into con- sideration? EETEeep—— The railroad attorneys and tax com- missioners have to make a fight for tax evasion to demonstrate to their respective corporate employers that they are earning their money. The railroads furthermore prefer to maintain their costly tax (shirking) departments to standing for thelr just shares of the burden of government, em———— Cuba 1s & very rich country, and so are Brasil and the Argentine Republic, If we are to have an air line from Omaha to Havapa, why stop there? Why not extend the road to Buenos Ayres and Rio Janeiro and establish an __ Omaba steamship air line up the Ama- “gon and Orinoco rivers, where our mer- chants could go to swap mosquito net- ting and breechclouts with the natives for bananas, india rubber and parrots? E—m————— In calling on Richard Olney, a Massa- chusetts goldbug, to enter the lists as thelr favorite for the democratic nomi- pation for the presidency in 1904, those Tennesseo democrats are bardly show- ing the proper courtesy to Mr. Bryaun, WHO PAYS THE TAXES? Bulletin No. 2, compiled expressly for the railroads of Nebraska and published by thelr authority, embodies much In- struetive and euggestive information. Taking as Its basis the grand nssess- ment roll of the state for the year 1900, which aggregated $ 47,503, great stress s lald upon the fact that the Iroads pay 15.4 per cent of the taxes in Nebraska. As'a matter of fact, this estimate of the percentage of the taxes paid by railroads relates solely to state taxes and not to county and clty taxes. Assuming, however, that the figures of the rallroad tax bureau were abso- lutely correct, what proof do they afford to justify the claim of the rallroad at- torneys that the railroad corporations are assessed as high, according to the relative value of their property,.as are the owners of all other properties? Ac- cording to the estimate of the rallroad bulleting, 454 per cent of the taxes levied in Nebraska in 1900 were pald by the owners of farming lands; 15.7 per cent of the taxes were paid by the owners of improved town lots; 8.6 per eent ‘were levied on unimproved town lots, and 9.8 per cent were assessed agdihst the owderd of horses ‘and live stock; 10.1 per cent represent telegraph companles, banks, manufacturing inter- ests, merchandise, stocks, bonds and all other classes of personal property, and 15.4 the railroads. Expressed in dollars and cents the va- rious taxable properties in the *state for the year 1000 are as follows: Farm- fng lands, total, $78,044,155; improved town lots, oved town lots, $6,1 8,333; railroad prope: 26,442,204; ail other classes of personal property, including manufacturing materials, machinery, merchandise, money and credits, stocks and bonds, and personal property gen- erally, $17,3: These figures are decidedly suggestive, They show that 05 per cent of the taxes paid In Ne- braska are levied upon ,the owners of farming lands and live stock on the farms, aggregating $04,822,488. The lmproved town lots in the citles, towns and villages of Nebraska are assessed at $27,034,457 while, all the raliroads in Nebraska, with their vast properties, representing as they do more than $300,000,000 of interest earning capital, are assessed at only $26,442,204. Will any impartial and well informed man contend that the improved town lots in Nebraska are worth more than all the rallroads In Nebraska, with their valuable terminals and equipments? Would the owners of the Nebraska rall- roads be willing to trade even for the improved and unimproved town prop- erty, which Is assessed at $33,148,405? At the meeting of the state board two weeks ago Governor Savage, who claimed to have made a very careful computation of the property values in the state, declared that the true value of taxable property in Nebraska, includ- ing the railroads, would aggregate not less than $1,200,000,000 at a very low estimate. It Is an open-secret that $300,- 000,000 represents a very low estimate of the actual value of Nebraska rail- roads, or one-fourth of the total taxable property of the state. Instead of paying 15.4 per cent, as Is claimed by the railroad tax bureau, the Just proportion of assessment of rail- road property in the state should be 25 per cent. Instead of paying $150,000 a year toward the expenses of state gov- ernment and maintenance of state in- stitutions, the railroads should, by rights, pay $250,000 and the same pro- portion of county and city taxes. WEST PUINT CENTENNIAL. The West Point Military academy was founded by act of congress in 1802 and the centennial of that institution will be celebrated this week. It will be an exceedingly interesting celebration, in which many distingushed persons will participate and which will make the American people better acquainted with the history and the worth of this great wilitary school, aptly termed “the cradle of heroes.” The conception of a mill- tary academy in this country dates back to 1776, when the lack of cowmpetent officers for the army led to the appoint- ment of a committee by the continental congress to prepare and bring in'a plan of a military academy, but no further actlon was taken. In 1793 Washing- ton Invited the attention of congress to the matter and in 1796 recommended the institution of a military academy. Six years later congress passed the necessary legisiation aud the lustitution created thereby has been gradually de- veloped® into one of the best of the world's military schools, where have been educated soldiers who achieved imperishable fame. The American people are justly proud of the West Point academy, which is associated with our herole periods since the date of its foundation, and the cele- bration of its hundredth annlversary will command general interest. E———— AN OBJNCTIONABLE FEATURE. The most objectionable feature of the Philippine bill passed by the senate is that relating to the coinage of silver and it is very probable that this pro- vision will be changed in the hous The New York Journal of Commerce thinks it Incomprehensible that the sen- ate should bave provided for establish- ing the silver standard in the islands and at the same tinfe authorized the issue of bonds for the acquisition of the friars' lands and for local improve- wents payable in gold. While the sil- ver currency is necessary enough, re- warks that paper, it is in no respect inconsistent with the gold staudard. he two co-exist In India, in Japan, as to our silver dollars in the United States also, and as to subsidiary silver in most of the comwerclal world.” The report of the house committee on insulur affairs presented a strong argument for a Philippine currency who has gallantly placed Senator Car- mack of Tennessee among his MNist of presidential possibilities. As a prophet, Benator Carmack is evidently wmore predited abroad than at howe. based on gold, It wurged that “the adoption of an Americanu silver coin of the same welght and fineness as the Mexican, or of a slilar welght and fineuess, colned on private account with- THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1 out limit, would perpetuate the fluctu: tions in gold exchange which have caused 80 much embarrassment to trade.” The financial. situation in the Philippines is such as to have léd the Chamber of Commerce of Manila a short time since to appeal to President Roose- velt to induce congress to provide a remedy. The currency feature of the senate’'s bill does not do this, but on the contrary would perpetuate the con- ditions to which the existing situation is due. It seems obvious that the senate has made a grave mistake in this matter, which the house should and doubtless will correct. What is needed for the Philippines, as pointed out in the re- port of the house committee, is “a coin- age system which does not seriously dis- turb the customs of the Filipino people, but which gives them a unit of cum rency easily convertible into the gold unit of the United States.” DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. The creation of a Department of Com- merce at the present session of con- gress appears probable. The bill for this purpose passed the senate in Janu- ary and is now being considered by the house committee on interstate and for- eign commerce, which will make a num- ber of changes in the measure. It is stated that most of the members of the committee regard the senate bill as too wide in its scope, providing too many bureaus for the new department at the start. There is also a feeling that the senate failed to make provision for cer- taln lines of inquiry and work which would prove of much benefit and value to the general public. The house committee propose to drop out of the bill some of the bureaus which the senate bill provides shall be embraced in the new department and to glve the president authority to trans- fer to the department from time to time, such bureaus of other departments as he may consider properly belougiug to the Department of Commerce. This will permit the gradual expansion of the scope of the department in the fu- ture and make it possible for special attention to be given to certain lines of work which might otherwise remain undeveloped. The bureau of labor is one of those to be'dropped from the bill by the house committee, 1t beluyg thought that at some future time this bureau will be made an independent department with cabinet rank. The house committee will provide for the creation of at least two distinctly new bureaus, both of which will be at- tached to the Department of Commerce. One of these proposed is a bureau of insurance, intended to gather informa- tion of a general and detailed character regarding the operations of insurance companies and to publish the facts thus obtained much as is now done in rela- ton to manufacturing statlstics. It is deemed important that the general pub lic should be made acquainted with certain phases of the operations of in- surance companies. It is possible that the material changes made in the senute bill by the house committee may cause final action on it to be deferred to the next session, though the desire for the creation of the proposed department is 80 general in the senate that perhaps the amendments to its measure will be accepted. At all events, the creation of a Department of Commerce is as- gured and it is said to be probable that the first head of the new department will be Mr. Cortelyou, the president’s private secretary. SAy—— QUESTIONS STILL UNANSWERED. The very pertinent questions pro- pounded to the champlon of David H. Mercer in the recent debate still remain unanswered. These answers touch the vital points upon which the republicans will decide whether or not Mr. Mercer is entitled to a renomination. Lest we forget what these questions were, they are herewith repeated in concise form, together with the evasive answers made from the stage before an intelligent audience of Mercer's constituents: Question—Will Mr., Mercer live in Omaha if he is not re-elected or will he locate permanently in Washington and resume his old business as a profes- slonal lobbyist? Answer—I am not a mind reader, but 1 feel sure Mercer will keep the army headquarters in the old postoffice building, unless they are moved into the new postoffice bullding. Question—Is it true that Mercer 1s willing to live in Omaha two months out of every two years if he can keep his seat in congress for a sixth term, a geventh term and as many more terms as he is willing to serve? Answer—The people of this district need Mercer more than Mercer needs them. Mercer needs them only two months out of every two years, and they ought to be satisfled. Question—Is it true that Mercer pock- ets the allowance of §100 a month for clerk hire instead of giving some Ne- braska boy or girl a chance to earn the salary, while the secretary of the public buildings committee is forced to do the extra work which the government pays for? Apswer—Ask me something easler. I told you that all the opposition to Mer- cer comes because the army headquar- ters were removed from The Bee build- ing. Question—Why does Mercer make po- litical deals for West Point and Annap- olis cadetships, while other congressmen leave these appointments open for com- petitive examination, so that every boy who aspires to such an education cam have an equal chance? Answer—Do you expect Mercer to give away patronage to Tom, Dick and Harry? Was there anything wrong in sending Tom Blackburn’s bright boy to Annapolis? Should Mercer go back on Plackburn just to please you? Question—Why did Mercer pocket the quartermaster's supply bill two years ago after it had passed the senate, when he knew that it would be of immense benefit to Omaha? Apswer—Don't you kunow that the 1902. passage of that bill would hfve lost the army headquarters to Omaha and taken them down to Kansas City? Question—You say that Mercer has al- ways been loyal to the west. Will you explain why Mercer voted against the beet sugar interests and against the west, and for the sugar refiners and Sugar trust, and for the east, when that question was up a few weeks ago? Answer—Didn't The Omaha Bee change front on the beef trust and on the Philippine question? Oonsistency thou art a jewel long ago sent to the pawn shop. Question—Why did Mercer displace two Nebraska Grand Army veterans who were employed in the capitol build- ing and substitute for them two men who halled from Minnesota? Answer—You ought to be ashamed of yourself. A man who would ask such silly questions ought to wear wooden shoes, clothe himself in rags and retire to the woods for the balance of his life, The chairman of the county board has figured out an increase In the assessed valuation of Douglas county of nearly $1,200,000 by reason of the recent su- preme court decision relative to the as- sessment of the franchised corporations. That estimate may be correct, but the increase In the county assessment should not stop with the franchised corporations. There should be a gen- eral leveling up where favoritism or discrimination on the part of assessors is patent. There doubtless will be a marked increase in the assessed valua- tion of South Omaha property, where great improvements have been made during the last few years, and where the assessment has been out of all pro- portion with tangible property. By a decision just rendered by the supreme court of Kansas, the anti-trust law of that state has been upheld in its application to the Kansas Grain Dealers’ assoclation, which is adjudged to be a combination in abridgement of competition and against public policy. The court upholds the right of the legislature to fix penalties for the per- petration of unlawful agreement, al- though one of the judges dissents on the ground that it seeks to make crimi- nal the ordinary transactions of every- day business life. It is intimated that the federal courts may be invoked to pass upon the validity of the statute before the litigation is ended. John J. Hanberg, the republican nomi- nee for treasurer of Cook county, Il- linois, which comprises the city of Chi- cago, has pledged himself to turn over to the public all interest on public moneys in his custody if he is elected to office. The republican candidate for state treasurer of Nebraska will not only have to pledge himself to turn in every dollar of interest he collects on public funds, but also to desist from using public funds for speculative bond or warrant purchases. To prevent the State Board of Equali- zation from raising the railroad assess- ment, the railroad attorneys assured the members that they had no legal author- ity to include the franchise value. Now, to prevent the court from requiring the assessment of franchise values, the rail- road attorneys insist that the franchises were assessed along with the tangible property. For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain the heathen Chinee is not the only one that is peculiar. Treasurer Stuefer desires it to be un- derstood that he did not understand what the railroad lawyers wanted when they (nduced him to swear to an amended petition which contradicted the sworn petition he had signed a week before. A man who does not under- stand what he Is signing is a very dan- gerous man to occupy the responsible position of railroad assesgor, which In- volves the taxation of more than $300,- 000,000 worth of propert Congressman Mercer predicts in an in- terview that republicans will gain four seats in congress from Nebraska at this year's election. If Congressman Mercer had supported the republican candldates for congress in Nebraska through the national congressional com- mittee two years ago instead of throw- ing cold water on them, Nebraska would have had at least five republican mem- bers in the present congress instead of only two. Some Kicking by the ers. Washington Post. The peace arrangements were made by the Boers who did the fighting. Therefore the grumbling on the part of the envoys who did the runnipg about will not make much of an impression. Mighty Few 1 Boston Transcript. We are glad to notice that there were only four northern men among the forty- six fool democrats who voted against the resolution of thanks to Secretary Hay for his McKinley oration. No G to Ofiset Baltimore American. The cost of the Boer war has indeed staggered humanity, but the saddest part of it all is that humanity has galned noth- ing to compensato for this cost in money, suffering and life. There is 0o gain to off- set the loss. . The Tax will Stay Awhile, Philadelphla Ledger. The Boer war is over, but the tax ou grain remains o the British budget. The deeired property in South Africa has been acquired, but there is a heavy mortgage on it, which must be paid off before Britain can résume her pristine condition. Hope for the Thirsty, Washington Post, It s quite likely that the senate will save the members of the house from the incom- venlence of going outside the vapitol for their liquid refreshments. In addition to belng & deliberative body, the senate Is not obliged to indulge in that sort of bun- combe. Title R Bestowed. St. Louis Republie. “Doctor” Mark Twaln doesn’t sound so incongruous when we remember What ex- cellent physic is in a good laugh and how often “Doctor” Twain has administered his tavorite prescription to English-speaking Live Nebraska Towns ATKINSON—Active and Prosperous. Atkinson Is located at the head of the Elkhorn valley, and at present 4 trifie more than 1,000 Inhabitants. The town is more remarkable, perhaps, for its steady growth and development than anything else, all efforts to start a “boom"” having happily failed. There is Do lack of enterprise, but it Is always directed in the way of conservative businees effort rather than temporary ‘‘schemes. The business of the town at present conducted by two banks, seven general stores, one clothing and shoe stere, two drug stores, one newspaper and printery, two hardware stores, one furniture store, two lumber yards, one flour and feed store, one large Implement establishment, three hotels, one restaurant and bakery, two livery barns, two blackemith shops, two millinery stores, two barber shops, two meat markets, and numberless small enter- prises Among the more notable institu- tions are a large flouring mill run by the never falling water power of the Elkhorn, a brewery, and a creamery. Until the hard times of the '00s & brick yard was in operation, and will probably resume opera- tions again soon, as there is great demand for its product for the erection of new business blocks to take the place of old frame buildings built in an early day. Atkinson has an excellent system of water works and a local fire company. Nearly all the foremost fraternities have organizations, and three of the religious bodles, the Methodist Episcopal, Presby- terian and Catholic, have excellent church buildings. The public school bullding stands on the brow of a plateau in the north part of town, from which locality a most beautiful view is obtained of the fertile Elkhorn valley stretching to the east and south, dotted with the houses of prosperous farmers, and covered with fields of small grain and corn. This may have been a prairie country once, but it is now well dotted with artificial groves. The #oil is not excelled in Nebraska for “rais- ing”” qualities. In this connection it may be interesting to note that the land adja- cent to town is rapidiy becoming cut up into small tracts of five to ten acres which make money for numerous market garden- numbers is ers. These lands, when changing hands, bring prices of $756 to $100 an acre, which is a fact that would probably have to be roven to m “backeaster,” who has always heard of this country as the Great Ameri- can Desert. Another fact which might stun him is that Mr. James Brook, living on a ten-acre patch of this $100 land a halt mile east of Atkinson, makes more than a comfortable living every year simply by plcking strawberries in the summer time. He ships them in immense quantities and people in Omaha and other cities buy them and think they come from somewhere in the vicinity of the Gulf or Mexico, Atkinson is really on the dividing line— west of us lles the range country, with its thousands of cattle, while east and south are leagues of the most fertile farm- ing country ever blessed by raln and sun- shine. Land values are steadily increas- ing, which reminds me that we probably have more real estate men here than in any other town of the same size in the ptate, and they all seem to keep busy as immigration in coming this way very rapldly. Just at present Atkinson is prominent in the minds of travelers as the nearest railroad point to the Indian reservation soon to be opened in South Dakota. It has been necessary to establish a special stage line from here to the coveted section to accommodate the trafiic. Altogether Atkin- son has excellent transportation facilitles, present and prospective. We are on the main line of the Fremont, Elkhorn & Mis- sourl Valley, and when the Atkinson North- ern bullds to the north country and the Burlington comes up from the south we will have connections in four directions. We have two local telephone companies doing business, and are also connected with the Nebraska Telephone company long distance wire, It there is anything that Atkinson needs it is more of the same kind she already has. More people, mote business men, more capital, more tradesmen, more me- chanics, more laborers, and more farmers on the fine land in the valleys which can be bought for $10 to $25 an acre. All these will help to make Atkinson the city she seems destined to become. A. M. CHURCH. Bryan for Governor St. Louls Globe-Democrat (rep.). The effort which is being made to in- duce Willlam J. Bryan to accept the nom- ination of the democratic-populist com- bination of Nebraska for governor shows that his friends intend to keep him at the front, at least until after the election of 1904. If there were any chance of his success In the canvass for governor there would be an obvious reason for compelling him to accept the candidacy, even though he says he does not want it, and will re- fuse it if it is tendered to him. His friends think he can carry the state, and, there- fore, they are working to get him the candidacy. Many prominent men have been con- strained to @ccept nominations which they did not want and which they declared they ‘would decline. Senator Hill positively for- bade his friends to name him for governor of New York in 1894, but they went right ahead and put him up, and he was forced to accept the candidacy. Bryan will be in similar position- Hill at that time was a presidential aspirant, as he is still, and he knew that a defeat for the governor- ship, even though he had held that office before and did not want it then, would injure his prestige in the race for the presidency, as it did. He was drafted, however, and Bryan will be compelled to accept the governorship candidacy now if his friends insist on it. Undoubtedly Bryan's candidacy would make the election in Nebraska this year of interest to the whole country. Bryan himself has said that he has ceased to be an aspirant for the presidential nom- ination in 1904, but i he should be elected governor of his state in 1902 he would have an excellent chance to sweep the na- tional convention of his party two years hence. This is a'contingency which makes the canvass in Nebraska of great interest to the country. All the gold democrats, of course, are against Bryan, but not many of that sort of democrats can be found in Nebraska even now. If Bryan should give the word he would be nominated for gov- ernor by acclamation. There s a chance that he will be nominated whether he gives the word or not, and, If nominated, he will be compelled to accept. This Is something which will glve a great deal of concern to the men who are attempting to reorganize the democratic party by throwing Bryan outside the breastworks. AMONG THE FUSIONISTS, Sherman County Times-Independent: W. J. Bryan announces that he will not accept the nomination at the hands of the fusion forces for the office of governor. Bryan has always been level-headed. The nomi- nee must be a populist. Holdrege Citizen: The fusion forces are talking again of nominating Bryan for gov- ernor. There are many who seem to think it will take some one like Bryan to keep the fusion forces in line, and even then there is liable to be trouble. Stanton Register: We are still firmly of the opinion that John C. Sprecher should be the fusion nominee for governor. With a clean, honest, able man like Sprecher on the ticket we can go into the fight with vigor and win or lose knowing we have done our best. Greeley Leader-Independent: As Dr. Coffin’s candidacy for governor becomes more widely known his chances for the nomination become brighter. Let Greeley and Valley counties be neighborly and sup. port candldates from central Nebrask: Coffin and Barry. d Alnsworth Star-Journal: Mike Harring- ton positively refuses to be a fusion candi- date for governor. He is busily engaged in trying to keep the wolf from the door, but intimates that some years later, when he gets a few dollars ahead, he will go Into politics just for the fun of the thing. Crete Democrat: The Grand Island Demo- crat has been a very irregular visitor at this office for some time, but we notice In its last week's issue it gives Gilchrist a boost for auditor. It is our opinion that the fusionists have had enough of this in- dividual already, without taking another dose. Bloomington Advocate: The fusionists of the state are fast coming to the conclusion that they cannot win in the race for gov- ernor this coming fall except by using the those who know have conceded that Judge Westover will run “head and shoulders" above anyone that the republicans can noms inate in this judicial district. Superior Journal: Hon. W. G. Hastings is talked of by the fusionists of the Fourth district as a candidate for congress. He was, several years ago, judge of this (the Seventh) judicial district, and is now a member of the supreme court commission. The fusionists of the Fourth district have the idea that their present congressman, Stark, will be the nominee for governor, and they are looking about for a man to take his place on the congressional ticket. Geneva Gazette: Hon. W. G. Hastings of Wilber, ex-judge of this judicial dis- trict, and now a member of the supreme court commission, is being mentioned as a candidate for congress in the Fourth dis- trict on the fusion ticket and some of | his friends have started a boom for him. Congressman Stark has a large nymber of supporters for a fourth term in Fillmore, but in the event of his nomination for gov- ernor, which i{s not an improbability, many of them would mo doubt be strong sup- porters of Mr. Hastings. Grand Island Independent: The sugges- tion of Hon. W. H. Thompson of this city for the fusion nomination for governor seems to be growing In favor among tho members of that party over the state. ‘While ex-Senator Allen has recently come out strongly in favor of Bryan for gov- ernor, there are other fusionists, and quite & number of them, of equal prominence and perhaps greater influence, who favor Smyth or Thompson, and between these two there can be but little doubt that the aggressive little Grand Islander, if he once gets fighting clothing on, will win. Rushville Standard: The Madison Mail of last week devoted considerable space in advising the reform elements of the state to throw all other possible candidates for governor over the transom and unite on W. J. Bryan, belleving that by doing so pame of W. J. Bryan for that posltion. |, 'woulq mean success for the reformers. The Lincoln gentleman claims he Is not a ' *0, FO0 o no pre- candidate, but that he would accept It It} (ons0 of being as well informed on politics tendered to him unanimously. Rushville ‘Standard: as the editor of the Mall, who is no other The latest popullst | than ex-Senator Allen, but we believe the gubernatorial timber is Dr. C. E. Coffin nf‘ Mail has errored in advocating such & Valley county. He is said to be all wool, | course. We have nothing to say against a yard wide, clean of character, smart as | Mr Bryan, but belleve it would be doing & whip, and has escaped the smell of fire hym an injustice in insisting upon him ao- on his garments. Nothing strange about that; there are scores of pops with ltke records. Hoorah for Sprecher. Emerson Enterprise: A healthy boom ha: large been developed during | proof positiv ting the nomination for governor of Nebraska. We do not think it policy or good politics. Mr. Bryan's name has hardly and | been connected with the position, which is that he has not been con- the past ten days for W. J. Bryan for sidered a candidate nor considered him- governor. Bryan is undoubtedly the strong- est man the fusionis can put up, but Nebraska is pretty safely republican and {f the convention at Lincoln, June 18, names good clean candidates even the eloquence | pucta ForL G T N etatent, & selt a candidate, In our opinion his can- didacy will not be seriously considered. Wahoo New Era: Some of our democratic exchanges, Brother Howard of the Colum- urg- of Mr. Bryan will not save the fusionists. | ;g ypon the delegates selected to the next Sherman County Times-Independent: The following named gentlemen have been men- tioned as possible candidates before the fusion congressional convention for the nomination to the office of congressman from the “Big” Sixth: M. F. Harrington of O'Nell, Judge Westover of Rushville, Gen- eral Barry of Greeléy, Judge Sullivan of Broken Bow, Representative Taylor of Cus- ter county and former State Senator Stewart of Scotts Bluff county. Chadronian: As the time draws n the state and other conventio ment for the various candidates seema to be crystalizing. For governor, M. F. Har- rington seems to be taking the lead. Hi is & brilllant and a thoroughly retlable man for the place. hoped that he can be induced to make the race. For congress, it has been conceded that Judge Westover will consent to make the race, If nominated. In this instance It s devoutly to be| democratic state convention to stand pat in ipsisting upon a democrat to head the ticket. Such nopsensical talk is good grist inta the republican hopper. A year ago, gentlemen, you had your way, a democrat headed the ticket and defeat to the entire ticket was the result. If the opposition to the republican party honestly intend to get together, and they really are after success, a populist must head the ticket unless it be Bryan. Individually we mot only could, but would be glad to support and vote for such & true and honest reformer as “the little ant” of Grand Island—W. H. Thompson—because we have faith in his political sineerit: is the peer of any populist in his loyalty to the principles ad- vocated by the populist party, but the re thousands of populist voters in this state that have made up their minds not to go to the polls If a democrat heads the ticket. Geptlemen, we are only stating stubborn the fusion forces are fortunate, for | facts that it will be wise to heed. " CANDIDACY OF STATE TREASURER STUEFER. Tekamah Journal: Those who would make it appear that to Treasurer Stuefer's manipulations of state school funds is dus the credit for the large school apportion- ments, should take, for instance, his deal in Burt county bonds and figure out where the school fund's profit comes in on that deal. Callaway Courler: The republicans of Furnas county, in thelr convention, passed resolutions condemning State Treasurer Stuefer for his manipulation of school funds. This action might well be imitated by other counties. The republican party cannot afford to burden itself with men against whom even the appearance of offi« clal crookedness can be urged. ausa Gazette: We belleve the proper thing for Treasurer Stuefer would be to get out of the race. His record is not above criticism and as a candidate this fall he would be sure to be a dead weight to the state ticket. To make sure of vie- tory this fall it behooves Nebraska re- publicans to place a ticket 1o the fleld for which there is no need making excuses— men who have in the least provem un- worthy of public trust should be relegated to the rear and new, clean timber brought forward. By placing the stamp of disap- proval on all questionable actions of their public men the party will gain strength and respect; by attempting to make ex- cuses for such, but suspicion and loss of power. The Enterprise believes that David Mer- cer has served the Second district long enough, for many reasons, which we will give from time to time in these columns. Mr. Mercer seems to have lost all interest in this district, except just when he wants our vote. He has even ceéased to reside in Nebraska. He has no business Intercst here, and if he is not continued on Ne- braska's pay roll he will no doubt quit the state. The Second district has many bright and competent young men who have grown into prominence among us. They are clean, able and progressive. Give ihem a show. Among those who have beey yrominently mentioned for congress are Judge Baxter, E. J. Cornish, N. C. Pratt and Attorney Breen. North Nebraska Bagle: The press of the state continues in no modest way to oriti- cise State Treasurer Stuefer and his very indiscreet acts, and to an alarming extent the propriety of his candidacy for a re- nomination at the coming republican state convention. The general feellng seems to be that if he is on the ticket it means an attitude of defense, and it is a well known fact that In a redhot campalgn con- stant explanations do not explain. While some of the bond deal exposed by The Omaha Bee, made a bad showing for Mr. Stuefer, the Eagle will only say that he acted very unwise and indiscreet. Many questioned his honesty and integrity, know- ing his disposition and avariclousne: It is well to view things as they are. The coming campaign will be an exceedingly warm one. No man should be placed on the ticket whose record contains any spots, or who has been in any way connected with the Joo Bartley deal. To place a candl- date at a disadvantage means an injury to the whole ticket. The opposition will take advantage of all the mistakes that are la- ble to be made. For Mr. Stuefer to make a defensive campalgn would be somewhat humiliating, and it would be even far more humiliating to him If he were defeated. It would seem as a good, conscientious republican Stuefer would not want the bal- ance of the ticket to lose votes on account of himself being placed on the same. Agaln, as a business proposition, can he afford to take the office for the paltry salary, especially when he knows the salary will hardly eover the expenses? It will be far more vindication for Mr. Stuefer to withdraw from the race and step aside to make room for a new man, after having filled the office for one term with a pretty falr record and being able to turn over to the state its just dues. PERSONAL NOTES. The way the Texas oll men fight the oc- topus is by organizing a trust of their own. A portrait of Captain Clark, the Oregon's commander, i belng painted to be placed in the Vermont capitol. Dr. N. C. Morse, president of the Iowa Assoclation of Rallway Surgeons, is the heaviest physiclan in America, weighing 326 pounds. A Penosylvania professor s trylng to frighten Hudson river people by telling them that Anthony's Nose was once an ac- tive volcano and that he is liable at any time to blow it. Prof. Robert T. Hill, the geologist whose investigations at the scene of the Martinique lLorror have attracted wide-spread attention, was a printer in his youth. He is a Texan and worked at his trade in several news- paper offices of the Lone Star state. Governor Wood brought from Cuba a souvenir in the form of a machete pre- sented to him by veterans of the Cuban war. The hilt has the Cuban coat of arms ond & single gold star on one side and the general’'s Initials on the othber in gold. SMILING REMARK! Philadelphla Pre 'Of course,” sald the church trustee, “‘we realize that you are a good preacher, but—" “But,” interfupted the minister who was unable’ to collect his salary, “I appear Lo be doomed to be good for nothing." Washington Star: “Have you made any important discoveries with reference to voi- canoes?” o red the scientist with “Voloanoes are ex- lite and property.” Chicago Tribune: “I haven't seen a good short story for months. What has become of all the writers of fiction?" “Don't you know? They are all at work writing attractive little pamphlets for the proprietors of summer resort hotels.” Detroft Free Pr “Those boys wero two peas and I hear they're much BOW.. in? n? t'other's & com- ponderous’ emph. tremely dangerous t an hiladelphia Press: “Phoxy has opened uP'u:u.:?c-ll’ conservatory for beginners' in hous Dl e ldea! He dossn't know anything e, .b‘olulkll":: but he has some objectionable neighbors whom he wants to make move o the burn ," answered the sneerer, ‘‘but the burnt child has the satisfaction of proving to the world that its tamily is still able to buy coal.” R that A SECRET, New York Tribune. . A sweet robin sang from the old apple tree, ve a secret sacred I'll tell on?y thee, And thou must remember 'tls 'twixt me and thee. “Come under the branches and blossoms so swoet That cluster in fragrance quite close to my And L1l fell thee & secret thou must not re- peat. “There is in the branches high over my ea A round little nest that's as soft as thy And over it hovers the sweet wife I've wed. “And what do_you ‘spose is tucked under her wings ?— But four v.ry‘ wonderful, Ml\x(gul thi b For which the sweet mother bird grate: fully sings. “They are four dainty eggs which we're arding wi re. In "l"hh egg there's & baby bird hiding! 8o ere. Do you wonder I'm gléd, with & secret so rase’