Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, January 12, 1903, Page 4

4 "THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1903. THE ©OMAHA DALY BEE B ROSEWATER, EDITOR. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Daily Bee (without Sunday), One Year.}.%0 Dally Bee and Sunday, One Year lilustrated Bee, Une Year, Bunday Hee, One Year.. Saturday Bee, One Year e s 4a0e Tweéntieth Century Farmer, One Year.. DELIVERED BY CARRIER. Dally Bee (without Bunday), per copy... 2¢ Daily Bee (without Sunday), per week..1c Daily Bee (inciuding Sunaay), per week.lic Bunday Bee, per copy b Evening Bee (without Evening Be Complaints of irregularities in delivery should be addressed to City Circulation De- partment. OFFICES. Omaha—The Bee Bufldin South Omaba—Clty Hall ty-fifth and M Streets. Councll Blufte~1v Pearl Street. Chicago—164 Unity Bullding. New York—2i28 Park Row Building. Washington+e0l Fourteenth Street. CORRESPONDENCE. Communications relating to news and ed- ftorial matter should be addressed: Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. Junday), perweek se unciudibg Surday), *per 8, Bullding, Twen- STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION. Btate of Nebraska, Douglas County, 8s.: George B. Taschuck, secretary of The Bee Publishing eompany, being duly sworn, says that the actusl number of full and com- Daily, Morning, Even- inted during the BEBENERERERED Total . Less unsold and returned coples. Net total sal Net average L., B0y GEORGE B. TZSCHUCK. Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this st A 1902, (Seal) —_—_— - Lincoln’s birthday has the next call on the national oratorical calendar. St—— At all events, we need not worry for the present about an ice famine next summer, fp——— Ex-Governor Savage declares publicly that he is glad he is again a private citizen. 8o are the people of Nebraska. | —— Speaker Mockett has an unenviable job in arranging his house committee assignments. But then, he bas to tackle it only once. T — If we would belleve the coal operators the coal miners are afflicted with noth- ing more than a disturbed state of the imagination. After Ustening to a scholarly address upon soclalism, the individual members of the Nebraska Bar assoclation pro- ceeded to get soclal. EEgfipee———— If new blood will insure more vigorous life, by all means let the new blood bave the right of way In the organiza- tion of the Commercial club. Car runhwai onl strike ‘or any other old pretext 1s &’ good enough excuse for the coal men o keep coal prices up to the very top notch that the traffie will bear. e If they can work up all' this excite- ment over the senatorship in Colorado before the formalities of voting in jolnt session are begun, what may we not ex- pect when the deadlock 1s on in real earnest? ——— Anyone who wants to make sure Henry Watterson is not off watch h only to propose a new name for the democratic presidential nomination and watch for the fireworks In the vicinity of the Kentucky border. The American people have always been In favor of lberal treatment of those entitled to pensions evidence of the nation’s gratitude, but it does nut require congress to pass.144 private pen- sion bills at one sitiing to make good their intentions. Lo It the work of our election officers is as bad as would appear from the dis- closures made in the recount of ballots cast for county commissioner, it might be well to safeguard the future, by in- stituting & few prosecutions for vio- lating the election laws which each derelict took oath to observe. epe———— For once the minority in the Nebraska legislature has been deprived of the chalrmanship of the senate committee on mines and mining, to which it had a right to imagine itself entitled by time- honored custom. An appeal should be taken to the courts at once for a judicial writ to oight this almost irremedial In- Jury. All the lawyers of Nebraska have put themselves on record In favor of contin- uing the supreme court commission ad infinitum by" re-enacting the law by which It was created. It would hardly be polite.for any lawyer to do differ ently while he has cases pending before the commission or a chauce of having a case appealed to it. —— Governor Durbin of Indiana has asked the legislature to create a bourd of par- dons to relleve him of the burdensome ‘work of en'pl‘hg applications for ex- ecutive clemepey and Investigating lnto their merits. In other words, a board of pardons !s recommended In Indiana as a protection to the governor and in Nebraska as a protection to the people. EpTTT—— After all the unsuccessful efforts to locate the respousibility for the Injec- tion of new names into the contest for United States district attorney for Ne- braska, It is just possible a clue might be found near the door of the present incumbent, who would doubtless be pleased to countinue to draw the emolu- wments Indefinitely while others fight for THE FUSIONIST LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM What the program of the fusion mem bers of the pepding Nebraska legisla ture 18 to be may be gathered with fair Approximation from the advise offered to them by the official populist organ, the Nebraska Independent. In its cur- rent issue it declares With your four members in the senate and \twenty-four in the Rouse you cannot hope to accomplish anytbing except as a portion of the majority chooses to ald you Sce to It that bills are introduced covering every promised reform In the populist and democratic platforms. Put the so-called anti-monopoly republicans to the test. It they are sincere, they will find a way to ald you. If they are not, then put them on record. Place no obstructions in the way of any republican bills which have the right ring to them, But on every measure of doubtful merit or unquestionably bad, see to it that the record is made so that the republicans cannot shirk the responsibility. Introduce a bill to reduce local freight rates 15 per cent on live stock, hay, grain and mill products. A blll to reduce passenger rates to 2% mts per mile—ot better still, one making a flal rate for any distance within the state. A bill which will provide means of ac- curately ascertaining the value of property and franchises of railroad, telegraph, tele- phone, express, and sleeping car, dining car and freight dispatch companies, and for equitable assessment and taxation of such companies. A bill to amend the Yelser referendum law, making it more easy of application. A bill “making railway corporations and others engaged in the operation of danger- ous machinery llable for all injuries sus- tained by their employes in the faithful discharge of thelr duties, whether occa- sloned by the negligence of the employer or of any other employe.” A Dbill to correct the “Burlington vol- untary relief” abuses. And, while on this head, a resolution requiring the auditor to show cause why he has permitted this con- cern to solicit and write life and accident insurance without complying with the in- surance laws of Nebraska. An anti-blacklist bill. An anti-pass bill, A bill to establish a binding twine fac~ tory at the penitentiary. Stand for liberal appropriations for the cause of education, and for legitimcte departments of state government. Try to cut off the ofl inspection farce. Help to settle that mooted question about supreme court fees, Help get a constitutional con- vention. The majority will doubtless present an elaboratg revenue law. It will be safe to vote against It. Our present law is as good as any new mushroom whiclr sprouts in a night. But insist upon increasing the limit for general fund state purposes, so the state board can levy as much in two years as you permit to be expended. Express property and telephones should be assessed as railroads are. But don’t be fooled into voting extravagant penalties for the pun- ishment of assessors who imitate the state board in crowding dewn assessments. While there is much in this program to be commended and much also that is of questionable public policy, it gives the republicans who are Intent upon working substantial reforms in different departments of the state government an idea how far they can count on support from the fusion side in case it comes to a point where the majority party is di- vided in opinfon. So far as the people of Nebraska are eoncerned, with rela- tion to the legislation most vitally de- manded, it is not a matter of politics, but of business, and fembers who are for reform in fact rather than merely in name will be expected to stand up (and be counted at the right time, ir- respective of i Phmmeepe——— T0 EXPEDITE SUITS AGAINST TRUSTS. The bill introduced in congress for ex- pediting proceedings in the courts under the present antl-trust law should be promptly enacted. It authorizes the at- torney general of the United States to file a certificate in any such case pend- ing in any circuit court of the United States to the effect that the case is of general public importance. A copy of the papers in the case is then fo be given to each of the clrcuit judges’of the court and it is thereupon to be given precedence over other cases and to be assigned for hearing at the earliest prac- ticable date. The hearing is to be before not fewer than three cireuit judges, or, if there are not so many in the circuit, one district judge may be substituted. In case the judges disagree the case is to be certified to the supreme court of the United States for review. Appeals to the supreme court in the ordinary manner also are gllowed. - Legislation of this kind is urgently re- quired. There is a disposition to critl- clse and blame the Department of Jus- tice for not making more vigorous ef- forts to enforce the anti-trust aet. This was shown at the conference in Chicago in regard to the coal situation, at which speeches were made censuring Attorney General Knox, and it is stated that the proposed national convention at Wash- ington is likely to be largely devoted to arralgning the attorney general for al- leged dereliction. It doubtless seems to many a very simple thing for that offi- cial to institute and prosecute proceed- ings agalnst the combinations, but thoughtful persons will reflect that it is an expensive process and one not free from difficulties. The attorney general, however anxious he may be to enforce the law, egnnot now require that cases against the trusts shall be given prece- ty label. denge In the courts. They must take the regular course. Another fact that appears not to be generally understood is that congress has not provided the Department of Justice with the money necessary to the prosecution of suits un- der the antl-trust law. Such proceed- ings are costly, necessitating the em- ployment by the department of the best legal talent to be secured ané which must be well pald for, and involving other expenses. Bo far as Attorney General Knox is concerned, we think there s not a reas- onable doubt that he is as earnestly de- sirous as any one for the enforcement of the anti-trust law. President Roose- wvelt has shown that he has complete copfidence in him and we think no fair- minded man will question that the pres ident wishes the enforcement of the law and would not retain at the head of the gal department of the government one not in full aceord with him in this mat- ter, AL shall give the attorney general the authority which the pro- posed bill contemplates and provide the money necessary to earry it out, it can be confidently assumed that there will be no faltering or delay in britiging pro- ceedings under the anti-trust law. Those who at Chieago censured Mr. Knox also cast a reflection upon the president, which was wholly unwarranted and un- Just. —_— POSTPONING THE CITY ELECTION According to a well-defined rumor the Omaha delegation to the legislature has instructed one of its members to draw a bill providing for the postponement of the city election from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday or second Tuesday In May. On general principles, a proposition to extend the tenure of public officials be- yond the time for which they have been elected and qualified does not commend itself to the public favor. It Is a seri- ous question whether the bonds fur- nished by guaranty companies to the city treasurer and other city officials would hold good beyond the time for which they were issued, Inasmuch as the assumption of responsibility on the part of the guaranty companies is limited within specific periods. Assuming, how- ever, that these bonds would be ex- tended either voluntarily or by mutual agreement, the question presents itself whether the proposed postponement of the city election is designed in the pub- lic Interest or whether it is simply a scheme to promote factional or personal interests and political ambitions. If the move for postponement Is prompted by a fear that the weather conditions in March are liable to keep a great many voters from taking part In the election and would thereby eu- danger or jeopardize the city’s interest, public sentiment would perhaps be favorable to the scheme. If, however, the main object of the movement is to put the election off until after the close of the sesslon in order that certain members of the delegation who are am- bitious to fill municipal offices may re- turn to Omaha to take part in the pri- mary election battle, public sentiment will not applaud the move. On the con- trary, it will be regarded as purely selfish, factional and without merit or Justification. The original object of holding elty elections in the month of March insteady of April or May was to give the mayor and council sufficient time for formu- lating and perfecting all arrangements for public works such as paving, grad- ing and sewer building in time for the spring season, thus counteracting the evils of delay Incident to the circula- tion of petitions for paving, advertising for proposals for paving and grading and the letting of the contracts;” which usually consume from two to four months and often prevents the begin- ning of active operation on public works before the middle of July or first of August. s If these reasons for holding the elec- tions in the early part of March no longer exist, a shifting of the election from March to May would not seriously interfere with the prosecution of public works. If they do, there will be no ex- cuse for the proposed change. On the contrary, the postponement of the city election would be detrimental to public interest and therefore inexcusable, A OUSTOMS CONGRESS. There will meet in New York this week a customs congress of Amerlcan countries, the primary object of which s to_consider the commercial systems and trade regulations of the various coun- tries with a view to remaving all un- reasonable charges and unnecessary re- strictions upon trade and adapting all laws affecting vessels and the handling of merchandise to the greatest conven- fence of intercourse. Representatives from most of the southern countries will attend the congress and it Is ex- pected that the deliberations will result In greatly improving the conditions of commercial intercourse between the va- rious countries. American manufacturers and mer- chants should obtain some valuable sug- gestions from this conference in the in- terest of an enlarged trade with the countries south of us, for which there is perhaps better opportunity now than ever before. “Our people have been proverbially slow,” remarks the New York Tribune, “in meeting the peculiar demands of foreign consumers and all over Spanish America the Germans and the English have established themselves | by supplylng the wants of the inhabi- tants in the way they wanted them sup- plied.” This drawback to the growth of trade between the United States and countries of South and Central America has been for years repeatedly pointed out, but without much effect, and what is true in regard to the southern coun- tries also applies to those of the Orient. Our manufacturers for the most part give little heed to the peculiar require- ments of these forelgn markets and they are therefore necessarily at somewhat of a disadvantage in competition with European manufacturers who do care- fully consult the special wants of those markets. That this fault on the part of American manufacturers will in time be corrected there 18 no doubt and such a conference as that to be held in New York may have a tendency to hasten this. At all events, its object is one that can hardly fail to have results ben- eficlal to all the countries concerned, and perhaps to none in larger measure than to the United States. The economlic idea of the state senate is strikingly illustrated in the decision reached by the caucas that each senator was to be entitled to two employes on the payroll. In other words, the thirty- three members of the state senate pro- pose to put sixty-six men, wowen and boys on the payroll at from $3 to $4 a day, or an aggregate of $4,000 for the session, when half that nuwber of em- ployes would be more than superfluous. To be sure, forwer legislatures were Just as recklessly wasteful, but that af- fords no excuse for a legislature that faces an overlap of nearly two millions in the state treasury. Not many years ago Willjam Altstadt, better knowu as Little Blsmarck, had the distinction of overruling the su- preme court of Nebraska while per- forming the functions and duties of Justice of the peace at North Platte. But Mr. Altstadt is no longer the only judge in the lower stratum that has overruled the supreme court. County Judge Vinsonhaler has evidently emu- lated his example in his peculiar rulings on counting out ballots duly cast and canvassed for candidates at the regular election because of defective certificates on the part of election officerss The principle laid down by the supreme court of Nebraska, and in fact by all other supreme courts, is that the neg- ligence or rascality of election officers cannot deprive the people of thelr choice of publie servants as expressed through the ballot. In all election contests the great and paramount issue is the intent of the voter. When a ballot shows clearly that a voter intended to express his preference for a particular candidate it has been held that that preference must be counted and declared In the final result no matter what may be the consequences. It is not for judges to carry electjons by willful or capricious rejection of votes given by electors. On the contrary, it is the sworn duty of Judges to credit every vote honestly cast for a candidate whenever his intention can be ascertained. That has been the trend of judicial decisions for the past twenty-five years and that will continue to be the ruling of the supreme courts in the future. While it is not clear whether counting the votes thrown out’ by Judge Vinsonhaler would change the result in the present county commis- sloner contest, the precedent established would if applied to all future cases tend to defeat the ends sought by popular suffrage. It is being polnted out that examina- lon of the record shows the price of oll to be greater now than it was twenty years ago, notwithstanding all economies in production and reductions in trans- portation rates. The gist of the matter Is a direct contradiction of the oft-re- peated citation of the Standard O1l com- pany as an illustration of a monopoly from which the public has reaped the principal benefits through steqdily low- ered prices. The tendency of monopoly everywhere, no matter what field it oc- cupies, is to exact the very highest prices for its commodities or services consistent with a maximum net revenue, and no opportunity 1s allowed to escape that will perfnit of an increase in prices without a diminution of consumption, For the oil business this opportunity has been presented by the influence of the shortened supply! of coal upon the de- mand for oil for fuel purposes, with a prompt regponse from the ofl magnates in the shape of 4 bdost in their market price. If the price Is later reduced it will not be out of philanthropic motives or to accord the public a share in econ- omies of production, but simply out of necessity to keep up consumption. The most stupendous task devolving on Mr. “Two' Spot” as representative from Douglas county will be the intro- duction of an amendment to the charter to put off the city election from March to May. Upon the majority of men who occupy places In the city hall this threat to extend their term of office two months has about the same effect as the threat of the schoolma’am to punish the naughty school boy by making bim occupy a seat between two girls, — Nebraska has a debt of approximately $2,000,000, zccording to the exhibit of the state auditor, although the gonstitu- tion limits the debt in time of peace to $100,000. This part of the constitution, however, has been so long honored in the breach that a little discrepancy of that magnitude has mo serlous effect upon the lawmakers. Not if They Are Awake, 8t. Louls Globe-Democrat, Freight rates are to be advanced again. The railroads are not likely to lose any- thing by increasing the wages of their em- ployes. —— Kicked. Chicago Chronicle, A notorlous mouthplece of monopoly hints that Senator Hoar’s anti-trust bill suggests “a weakening of the rigidly logical faculty hitherto enjoyed by the eenator.” In other words, the monopolists regard as crazy any- body who entertains the idea of Interfering with their operations. P it Up. Minneapolis Journal. Give the devil his due. Mr. Baer declares that his company will continue to see hard coal at ide water at $5 per ton, no matter if the independent operators raise the price sky-high. Divine right rulers even have their good slides. 0ld News In New Tones. Baltimore American. John Wolfe Barry, president of the As- sociation of Technical Institutions in Lon- don, admits that England lacks the “mental equipment” of America. Thanks, awfully. Nothing but the overweening modesty of the Americans had prevented their telling bim so long since. i — Shivers Instead of Shocks. Indianapolis News. Three_coal companies, located in Mary- land, West Virginia and Peonsylvania, bave formed & combination with a total capftal stock of §31,750,000. The purpose of the organization is not stated, but it is supposed that it is the usual onme, |. e, en- tirely for economy of productipn and is not at all for the raising of prices sull, it price of coal goes up another noteh, it will only give us a shiver, not a shock Heautles of Simplicity. Brooklyn Eagle The recent spectacle in India beat an in- auguration of president of the United States out oi sight. Perhaps such an exhibition hes its uses in emphasizing tbe simplicity of the republic. The more enlightened peo- ple become, the less tendency is there to display. We may be abie some day to in- augurate a president of the United States without the long and tiresome line of Penn- sylvapia (roope. 'ROUND ABOUT NEW YORK. Ripples on Current of Life in the Metropolis. The sneer which New Yorkers usually hurl at “the provinces” and the provinclals who gravitate to tho big elty are in soak tor the present. A young jay from the country who was not as green as he looked blew in a few days ago, stationed himself near one of the ferries and plucked scores of native youngsters with thé skill of a professional. They were “dead easy.” The country grafter would fasten on some youngster going to or from his work or on eome errand, and in a little time would find out all about him. Then the comver- eation would run something like this: “How much are you getting?" “Three dollars a week.” “‘Oh, heaven! And I can put you on to a place where you can get $6. All the boys are raised to $8 in a couple of weeks." The other boy was interested. Then the country youngster would say: “How much money you got with you? “Eighty cent “Give me that. There, now you go to the Erie raflroad office. Mention me and you'll get & good job right oft. So long: A dozen or more boys applied at the Erlo offices and all told the same story. One of them paid $1 and another a $2.50 gold plece his employer had glven him. The wise ones In Wall street who think they know a gold brick when they see it took passing kicks the other day at a shining bar of metal in lower Broadwa: This brick of real 22-carat gold, worth hun« dreds of dollars, was kicked about the finan- cial district by messenger boys, jocular brokers and knowing financiers for an hour or 80, when a stupld youngster who had never heard a joke in his life came along and picked it up. The owners were found to be assayers on John street and the boy was handsomely rewarded. No sooner did this fact appear in the newspapers than several of those shadowy gentlemen who sell gold bricks to farmers labeled a number of their brass bricks and were offering them for sale. In each case the article was offered at a price much less than $257.07, with the suggestion that the purchaser could have it remelted and make a good thing out of it. Oreater than in any year previous in the history of the port of New York, the number of cabin passengers landed dur- ing 1902 by the steamship lines reached the grand total of 139,848, This is 11,705 more than the preceding year and almost 2,000 more than in 1901, when the Parls ex- position was the magnet that drew many to the other side. To tramsport the great army of travelers 922 trips were made by the ocean liners and more than twenty- three routes of travel were traversed by the incoming people. Together with tho large cabin lists came 674276 in the steerage, or a greater number by 136,408 than the year before, and only approached in size by the figures of 1882, when 520,355 were landed at Castle Garden. A surging crowd besieged a wagon on the corner of Broadway and Ann street the other day, relates the Post. In the wagon was a tall, cadaverous gentleman with a swollen face, watery eyes and mustache stalned with tobacco. His volce was rasp- ing, nor did he look or sound like an orator, and yet he held the crowd spellbound, etir- ring it to frequent enthusiasm in which men fought to get mear enough to take what he offered them. His only speech was_this: ‘Here yar! Here yar! Balzac complete, § cents! Balzac's complete works in ten vol- umes fer 5 cents!" His wagon, which was filled with great stacks of pasteboard emvelopes about as large as ap ordinary novel, was emptied in forty minutes. He must have sold more than 2,000 during the morning, it he had them to sell. A curlous person wishing 1o save his nickel, looked over the shoulder of one of the buyers as he hastily opened his envelope. There were ten thin psmph- lets inside, one of them bearing this title “The Next Pope.” “There is not much Balzac In the en- velope,” commented the curious one. ‘No,” replied the other, “I didn't expect 1t. But they are worth a nickel, I gues: Those who roll out Ffth avenue as far as Seventy-seventh street on the padded cushions of their automobiles, as well as those who are junketed on the top of fhe quaint but ever-popular old Fifth avenue stage, now look with renewed interest at Senator Clark's great white palace, which may ultimately become the home of the billion-dollar baby for which a mother gave her lite, a New York letter. This palace—for it cannot be called a house— is & pocket edition of the world. From garret to cellar it contalns every varlety, every beauty, every convenlence, every lux- ury and every semsation that the heart could desire. It is so complete that Sen- ator Clark might shut himself up within its walls and never come out, yet lead a normal, active and even exciting life. The house contains three separate dwellings, each complete as to drawing rooms, bed rooms, libraries, dining rooms and even private roof ; great art gallerles, a sculpture hall, a music room twice the size of the ordinary ball room, a grand salon of the size and style of a French throne room, & conservatory, an observa- tory, a theater complete In every detail, an ofd Roman bath in pink marble, a Turk- 1sh bath, a-swimming pool, a gymnasium, a billlard room, an automobile room, two ins, both the works of fa- a great banquet hall, an elevator, furnished, lighted and bung like an ordinary drawing room; an electrie Tght plant, a cold storage room for furs, a grand marble stairway like those of the French court, a secret passage with a secret stair- way winding down to a secret door and hundreds of other modern and medieval wonders. An interesting bit of history was recalled when the United States Realty and Con- struction company, the new real estate trust, purchased the house at the northeast corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-second street, for $1,309,000. The place was owned by Madame Restell many years ago and it was there that that woman killed herself in 1878 rather than stand trial after her arrest by Anthony Comstock. When her case was called her lawyer created a sensa- tion by declaring she had cut her throat to avold appearance in court. The place, which was maintained in palatial style in the time of Madame Restell, is now occu- pled by four of her nephews, among whom the money for the property will be divided. Evils of Tr En ted. Senator Hoar's Speech. First, destruction of competition; second, the management of local Industries by absentees in the interest of absentee cap- ital; third, destruction of public spirit; fourth fraudulent 'capitalization; ffth, secrecy; sixth, management for the private benefit of the officials; seventh, the power to corrupt elections and in some cases to corrupt the courts; elghth, the want of per- sonal responsibility te public sentiment; ninth, the absence of personal liability for contracts or wrong-doing; ing of yast properties in mortmain—in the “dead hand,” If we use the anclent phrase of the English law. But it bas life enough for all purposes of power to serve the will that wields it. It is dead only to the influ- ence of any merve which comes from the Lbrain or beart of the people. tenth, the hold- | i TALK OF THE STATE PRES Ponca Journal: 1t about it. Ponca Journal: It seems to an observer from a distance that i{ is about time the Thompson-anti-Thompson scrap at Lincoln is called off. It has had a pretty thorough hearing. Thompson has been well provided for, 80 havé the antl-Thompson men Beatrice Express: Governor Savage doubt- less shed tears when he discharged herofc colonels who composed his military staff and reflected upon the fact that he would never again lead those Intrepid men where the bullets were thickest. There is ' comfort in the thought that when one set of colonels step down and out another set appointed so the commonwealth really doesn't, suffer from a colonel famine. Kearney Hub: The thrilling event of the week has been the discharge of Governor Savage's military staft upon the occcasion of his retirement from office, with several encomiums on their gallantry, bravery and services performed for the state. Governor Savage's staff and that of Governor Diet- rich before him, has been nothing if mot magnificent, and has constituted the most | spectacular military collection ever seen in | Nebraska. Bradshaw Republican: The Inauguration of Comrade John H. Mickey as governor of this commonwealth brings to our mind the | fact that Comrade Mickey is the second governor furnished out of the remnant of | that noble regiment, the Eighth Iowa cav- | alry—the late Governor Walden of Iowa and the present Governor Mickey of Ne- braska. Few regiments of the late war of | the rebellion can boast of more and what | 1s best of all, republican principles were then, as now, the gulding star of both. LIBEL OF MARY MAGDALENE. History, Drama and Agencles of Phil- anthropy at Fault. Rev. James H. Ross in Leslie's Wedkly. The production of Paul Heyse's drama, “Mary of Magdala,” by Mrs. Fiske, at tho Manhattan theater, New York City, which 18 to be reproduced throughout the country, gives color and form to an inveterate his- torical error, which never has been suc- cessfully eliminated from the popular mind and probably never will be, although Mary Magdalene is one of the Marys of the New Magdala was the city or town If she were a woman of today, conspicuous in the place of her resldence, she might be designated “‘Mary the Albanian,” or “Trojan,”” according to Obviously, there is Testament, in which she lived. the name of the city. no designation of character in such a term. And yet “a Magdalene” is the acquired name of an abandoned woman, derivative is supposed to have its historic origin in the name, place of residence and moral character of the primitive Christian woman out of whom seven devils (or de- mons) went, who stdod under saw the empty tomb of the risen Jesus, and told Puter and John what He had said unto her fair name is dus her. The libel on to the misinterpretation of her malady, demon or devil possession. Whatever it was, it was not vice. The delivetance was in accordance with the case. She was a vietim of that, the cure of which was a physical, mental &nd spiritual experience. She was de-demonized. Whatever the de- monized state was, deliverance from it was curative, The subject in the gospels of the New Testament is characterized in the terms of materia medica, not of vice and erime. The consideration of the subject leads us into the realm of Jewish beliefs about demonology, but not fnto the realm covered by the history of sexual vice. The diff- culty* has been that the phrase “seven devils” has been taken as a Hebraism for peculiar sinfulness. If correct, Mary Mag- dalene would need to be considered as the incarnation of numerous vices and crimes, not merely as the embodiment of a single sin. Gelke, in his “Life and Words ot Christ” (Vol. II, page 62), eays: “It i3 contrary to the whole temor of the New Testament to understand the seven devils as a mere figure of speech. * * ¢ The great body of scholars reject the idea of Mary having been a Magdalene.” The correct historic method would have been to attach her name to medical institutions, to hospltals, sanifdriums, and the lik But 1t has been given, wittingly and un. wittingly, to the malodorous haunts of vice and the institutions for rescue and reform. History, art, the drama, the haunts of evil, and the agencies of philanthropy, aliks have libeled the character of Mary Mag~ dalene, and there is little or nn hope that this great historic injustice will be cor- rected. The Twentieth centuiy and the metropolis of this country and great popu- lar audiences persist in perpetuating an accpsation which, it Mary Magdaleno were living, would give her right of action in the courts, the verdict of & judge or jury, and heavy damages. The utmost that could be claimed in defense would be circum- stantial evidence. In the case in mind, it is the author vho is primarily to blame. The actress ace cepts what is given to ber and uses fit. Fiction 1s conceded a liberty amounting to license, yet it {s to be remembered that in our own country and time the authors who have used the names of living persons in works of fiction have been legally and sucs cesstully prosecuted. The period beyond which some cases are outlawed is short, very short. Nevertheless, there will never be a time when it will not be becoming to restore to Mary Magdalene her good name, and to appeal to authors and actors to have some regard for their own reputa. tion as scholars. & Governor Mickey now. Ex-Governor Savage will retire to the Pacific coast, where he will try to forget all the | and the the eross and over agalnst the tomb of Jesus, who PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE, Some people in northern burning beans for fuel. onable news to Hoston! Boston is no longer the literary center, and, alas! it was a Chicago woman whe patented the army fation of condensed baked beans. If the legislative war in Colorado shall contihie at the present pace, Gemeral Funston will have work to do that he never Areamed of in the Philippines. Sir Frederick Treves, the famous English | surgeon, says that he was very lazy as & | student. He never won a prize; indeed, ac- cording to his own accoynt, he never hal the audacity to try for any. A 10-year-old girl In Parls writes “‘poems” during breathing spells at jump- ing the rope“with her playmates. Instead | of consulting a specialist on cerebral trous bles, her parents have issued a volume of hor verses. he late “Brick Pomeroy” is to be im- mortalized by having his name and cogno- men given to a tunnel in the Rocky moun- | taine. Most men, however, would choose some other form of distinction than asso- clation with a big bore. Peter Vieau, the oldest native born Mil- waukeean, will celebrate his 83d birthday on January 10. He is the only survivor of a family of twelve children. His father was an Indian trader and Peter was the sixth of & family of twelve children. Chicago sorrowfully accepts as true the remark of Dr. Lorenz that “its atmosphera is not inspiring,” amd also that there is about the people “a provincial air.” The | only retort defenders of the windy eity make {8, “Too much Harrison.” By a swift, herolc movement the Milwau- kee railroad rescued itself from a perilous situation by restoring its new transcon- tinental route. In this instance Young energy turned the angry roar of the town into a foaming stein of goodwlll. There appears to be several sound grains of truth {n the assertion that married life promotes longevity. For instance, Rev. Dr. James Nicholas Lann of Goshen, N. Y., cleaved unto thirteen wives during his ninety-three years. The superstitious fig- ure might claim & knock here, but it is dis- allowed. The secret of the popularity of one of Chicago's local statesmen is revealed by the report that during the hours he has devoted to his business in the last five years ho has sold 85,000 barrels of beer at an estimated profit of $310,000. In private life the eminent statesman answers to the name Alderman Michael Kenna, but the en- vious sneeringly dub him *“‘Hinky Dink." Indiana are Carry the treas- * LAUGHING GAS, Editor—You must try and cultivate a veln of eatire. Contributor—How n “Well, study yoursel Gertrude—Isn't that fur boa very uncom- fortable around your neck? Evaline—Terribly uncomfortable; i8 very expensive fur, don't you' k Boston Transcript, at be done? Brooklyn Life, but 1t now. — the new benedict, “I wonder,” said e s anything warmer reamily, “ff there than a woman's love?” 2 replied Oldbache; “two women's heard of a bigamist once who found that out.”—Philadelphia Press. “I cannot understand, sir, why you per- mit your daughter to sue me for breach of EYDmlll'. You remember that you were itterly opposed to our l‘nfifl ement, be- cause I wasn't good enougi fnr her and would disgrace the family.” “'Young man, that was sentiment; this is business." " —Judge. “Do you have any highwa; here?" aeked the timid tourist ‘‘Yes," answered Broncho Bob, who was reading the papers that had come in by the weekly malil, “‘But cheer up. They're just amateurs. We haven't 'any trusts yet. Washington Star. “I wish I could remember what it was [oy wife told me to bring home this even- ymen out o“wnh"’ dldn’'t you make a memorandum “‘Confound it, I did! I wrote it on cuff when I started from home, but the o 1 all one colop now."—Chicago Tribune. First Stork—I just left a baby at that millionaire’s housp. unny things, these human I've just delivered 'three to one woman in a tenement, and her husband’ out of work and they haven't a cent.— Brooklyn Life. He watcned the love scene enacted on the stage and shook his head regretfully. T wieh I could do it 1'ke 1hat,” he said. *“I'nere’s nothing like trying, Harry,” sug- gested the girl at his side. Bhortly thereafter they went Into ex- ecutive session.—Chicago Post. THE COUNTRY DOCTOR. H. F. Day, in “Pine Tree Ballads." In his blg fur coat and with mittens big m as hams, ‘With his string of bells a-jingling, through the countryside he slams, There are lots of calls to m: always on the tear, A-looming in his cutter ltke an amiable car. e, and he's And it's hi-i-i, there, Johnny, don't'ye care, 2 Though 'tis ‘aching something awful and ts most too much to bear, Just—be—gay! As soon as it 1s day, The pain will go a-fiyin’, for the doctor's on the way. There are real, true saints, angels all arcund, But there isn't one that's welcomer than he is, I'll be bound. When he' bustles in the bedroom and he dumps his buff'ler coat, And sticks a glass thermometer a-down the suffrin’ throat, there are And it's chirk, Mother, bring a cup! You're goln_, to like this bully when you take a little sup. There—there—why, There's a twinkle in your eye! You'll be out again tomorrow, bub; gid-dap, gld-dap, goodby ! heer up! hair, and keeps the scalp free stores color to gray hair, all the It feeds, nourishes, invigor- ates the hair. That’s why it makes the hair grow, stops falling from dandruff. It always re- deep, rich color of early life, And it is an elegant dressing. #1.00 s vottis. 3. 0. AYER 00., Lowell, Mase, “Ayer's Hair Vigor o halr from fall! and' i ade now hiaks Conte tn. thiCK wad beavy.” & w! could see my scalp, heu It was 80 bad you Misn. W. G HACGM, anton: Oblo,