Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, October 21, 1916, Page 6

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE FOUNDED BY EDWARD' ROSEWATER. VICTOR ROSEWATER, EDITOR. — = B ‘THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY, Entered at Omaha postoffice as second. > TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. y ange of address or irreg livery to Omaha Bee, Circulation Department. REMITTANCE. by draft, express or postal order. Only 2-cent stamps in payment of small accounts. Personal checks, on and eastern exchange, not accepted. Remit taken except 1 OFFICES. s Omaha—The Bee Building, Bouth Omaha—2318 N street. Council Bluffs—14. North Main street. Lincoln—526 Little Building. Chis 818 People's Gas Building. New York—Room 803, 286 Fifth a: 8t. Louis—503 New Bank of Commerce. Washington—726 Fourteenth street, w. CORRESPONDENCE. .d Address communications relating to news and editorisl . matter to Omaha Bee, Editorial Department. » SEPTEMBER CIRCULATION 54,507 Daily—Sunday 50,539 Dwight Williams, circulstion manager of The Bee being duly sworn, says that % .val‘n circulation for the month of September, 1916, was l.“'l;‘ll and 50,639 Sunday. i DWIG! WILLIAMS, Circulation Manager. Bubscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this 3d day of October, 1916, # BOBERT HUNTER, Notary Public. i Subscribers leaving the city unpur-:? should have The Bee mailed to them. - : dress will be changed as often as required. s As a measure of safety, Mr. Wilson should insist on his cabinet officers wearing mufflers. ———— Business records of Omaha crowd so fast upon each other that one rarely reaches the ¢le- vator before going to smash, That democratic “vote-for-Hughes-is-a-vote- for-war” fake is apt to explode at the muzzle in the hands of the perpetrators, - SRRV 7. | ————— Oklahoma yeggmen are selfish to an unusual * degree. Taking the bank cash, if properly in- sured, may be forgiven, but making away with the notes of debtors imperils hope of redemption. e—— | Out of America's boundixg prosperity a lit- tle may be spared to succor the Syrim‘victima of Turkish cruelty. Innocent sufferers of war, their deplorable condition appeals to our gener- osity, and calls for hearty, liberal response. m—— What deal has President Wilson made, in per- son or through his political agents, to secure the public support of railroad magnates like Lovett of the Union Pacific and Underwood of the Erie? Is some more “invisible government” brewing? PR P 3wt 3 iy — Chicl‘p bakers who vainly sought to .inter- view the president should be thankful that noth- ing worse happened. Mr. Wilson's official Baker furnishes all the worry the administration can assimilate at this time. i Ambitious Gjflmn students will grieve little over their exclusion from the Rhodes scholar- “ships. German universities' supply all essential needs. ' Besides, traveling from Bonn to Oxford ~is inconvenient at the present time. ¢ Pl It > 'y ,R!cfil!fl at republican meetings are accorded courtesy and their questions an- 5 . Similar action at democratic meetings reveals the mob spirit. The civil answer and the y blow measures character of the and democratic arguments, Fag i E—— s *‘"Yu. but why wait until just a few days be- fore ‘election to tell us that the balloon station, b ‘away from Omaha by our democratic ad- . ministration, is to be restored to us in the.fu- ml Had it been leit here all the time we know that we had it. More than a month ago transatlantic travel- ers brought reports of the cépture of the sub- | marine Bremen by the British! Now the loss is admitted in German diplomatic circles at Wash- ~ ington. In this, as in all submarine captures, the _ British adhere to the policy of official secrecy. { —e . The taxpayers of Douglas county remember with regret the last time a democratic board of county commissioners managed the affairs of the county. The way to keep the board on a basis of business and efficiency is to elect the two repub- lican commissionership candidates, Frank C. Best and A, C. Harte. —— The vagaries of electric current excites the wonder of its votaries. Capricious beyond ex- pert control it wonders hobo-like from its regu- , lar path and jumps on any conveyance promising a ride home. That the juice should tackle water pipes and tap the precious fluid without paying meter rates constitutes a defiant assault on mu- nicipal ownership. 12 Side Light on Peace When information is obtained through spirit- ual mediums, prophetic vision, or plain imagina- , that peace is about to be negotiated, it is to & and reason. If you are in doubt, reason out the meaning of the action of the Brit- ish government in taking charge of the importa- tion of wheat and flour, That ment announces that it will take of the purchase and transportation of these . supplies. ‘At the time of this announcement it . purchased a large quantity of wheat in Australia mkwfll supply the necessary transportation fa- R s. The individual trader will be eliminated. This means British control of the wheat of Aus- tralia, India and Canada. Through its control of transportation it will indirectly control the Ar- gentine upr’ly and in a large measure the sur- plus of the United States. The Entente Powers have been pooling re- sources, from gold to gunpowder. They will prob- ably ego'l the surplus food supply of the produc- in| 3 {vd. So lon, x'k'!:ey }::an eat htihey can ere peace sight, they would not be scouring the world for a supply of one of the - most important of “munitions,” wheat. - Neither would they be‘nkinf this step if they i an early opening of the Dardanelles, peace treaty or the elimination of Tur- 3 m\L of arms. It is commonly accepted ¢ has a store of surplus wheat. If it soon accessible, their policy would be It is plain that the Entente Powers are pre- ring ‘kz a le whose end they do not yet %2, not believable that this action in as- s for earl ace, and it is in- evident that g Bl of wheat for the future is con- waits. on the will aml Germany, gr even Washington and Villa. Nothing that has transpired in a long time has given American sensibilities such a shock as the parallel set up by Newton D. Baker, Presi- dent Wilspn's secretary of war, between the sol- diers of the American revolution and the bandits who have devastated Mexico. In comparing the men who fought to make this nation to the mur- derous marauders who have destroyed order and civilization throughout Mexico, the secretary of war inferentially sets up a comparison of leader- ship, and thus makes his affront to American in- telligence and patriotism the more offensive. Americans hold in deepest reverence the picture of George Washington, on his knees in"the snow at Valley Forge, praying for strength and guid- ance in his struggle to lead the American volun- teers to final victory, Newton D. Baker sees his counterpart in Pancho Villa, sacking a ranch or wrecking a church; for Light Horse Harry Lee, Zapata will fit in the Baker picture, Thomas Jef- ferson will be represented by Carranza, and Ben- jamin Franklin must stand side by side with Louis Arredondo. Is it to be marveled at that patriotic societies all over the land are blazing with indignation at the effrontery of the secretary of war? Nebraska in Congress. Nebraska is represented in the present lower house of congress by three republicans and three democrats. All of the democrats are committed to the principle of “tariff for revenue only” and voted for the tariff bill by which every product of the Nebraska farm was either pat on the free list or left inadequately protected by mere nomi- nal duties against the competition of cheap labor countries, On 'this issue alone, in view of what is bound to happen when the war ends, all three of the republicans should be re-elected and all three of the democrats.defeated to make way for republican successors. There is more reason than that, however, for individually, as well as collectively, the republican congressional candidates in Neanka are superior in ability and reliability to their democratic op- ponents, In the First district Congressman Churld F. Reavig has done more to acquire a position of in- fluence at Washington in his first session than his democratic opponent, ex-Congressman Maguire, who seeks to go back; succeeded in doing'in two full terms, Here, in the Second district, Congressman Lobeck rests his ‘chief claim on being a good “messenger Boy” for his constitutents. Judge Benjamin S, Baker, the republican nominee, will not be content to be a mere “messenger boy,” but will be an active, aggressive factor in legisla- tion, In the Third district the democratic congress- man, Dan V. Stevens, although last time elected by an unprecedented majority, has gotten himself by his double dealing in bad to such an extent that he has forfeited the confidence of his con- stituency, His oppgnent, William P. Warner, has a record as state senator which furnishes’ abundant proof of his legislative capacity and de- termination to go right at all hazards. i In the Fourth district the contest can hardly be called a fight, for Congressman Charles H. Sloan, by his forceful personality and intelligent industry, has won a position of leadership at Washington whose benefits the voters in that district are) in no. way tempted to. relinquish. In the Fifth district it was only by a fluke was dropped out in favor of Mr. Shllylenberger. and people there may be trusted to correct that mistake, or accident, as the case may have been. The Sixth district is like the Fourth, only more 80, for Congressman Moses. P. Kinkaid has proved so serviceable that his constituents be- lieve he has earned a life tenure and would vote it to him if permitted to do so. The best thing that could happen to Ne- braska, to strengthen the state’s standing at home and abroad, would be to send a solid republican delegation to Washington, “Partial to the South?” Oh, No! And now comes the Honorable Constantine Joseph Smyth to ward off “a suspicion” that President Wilson has been “partial to the south.” Mr. Smyth declares, if his peech is correctly re- ported, that this is “ridiculous,” because “Mr. Wil- son's three supreme court appointees were from the north, while seven of his cabinet members were northerners.” It is naturally to be ex- pected that Mr, Smyth, after being put on the federal pay roll at a fat stipend, should show his gratitude by urging the re-election of the man from whom such blessings flow, but he ought to stick more closely to the facts. President Wilson has been called upon, it is true, to. fill three places on the supreme bench, To the first he promoted his attorney general, James C. McReynolds of Tennessee. Is Ten- nessee a northern state? His second appoint- ment was that of Louis Dembitz Brandeis, born and raised in Kentucky, although later practic- ing law in Boston. He is just as much a northern man as that gopd Texas democrat, Robert S, Lovett, who has proclaimed himself for Wilson, and who is still a southern democrat even though registering from New York since Mr., Harriman gave him charge of the Union Pacific. The presi- dent's last selection for the supreme court, James H. Clarke, is the only one of the three that is really a northern appointment. As to the p:llidem‘s cabinet family, it has from the first included thirteen members. Of the two attorneys general one was from Ten- nessee and the other from Texas. Is Tennessee a northern state? The postmaster general is from Texas. Is Texas a northern state? The son-in-law secretary of the treasury is a Georgia man. Is Georgia a northern state? The secre- tary of the navy comes from North Carolina. Is the state of Josephus a northern state? The sec- retary of agriculture is from North Carolina by way of Texas and Missouri, making six out of the thirteen. And the big boss of the whole bunch is Colonel E. M. House of Texas, who “delivers the goods.” With this detailed diagram at his disposal we hope Brother Smyth will be more exact next time he talks. { SE—— Field Marshal Von Kluck, one of Germany's great military leaders at the beginning of the war, retires at the age of 70, incapacitated for duty by battle wounds. Rising from the ranks on merit solely, and overcoming the military caste of aristocracy, Von Kluck proved himself a great soldier. While failure marked his great sweep toward Paris in August, 1914, culminating in the battle of the Marne, military critics accord him the credit of conducting the swiftest march of the greatest army the world witnessed to that hour. THE BEE: OMAHA, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, Bryan on Hitcheock Statement given out during the primaries last April “When the progressive democrats of Ne- braska were divided between Mr. Wilson and Mr. Clark four years ago; Senator Hitchcock headed the forces that supported Mr. Harmon, the Wall street candidate. . “If you will inspect the senator’s record you will find that while he is supporting the presi- dert in the primary now, when he has no opposition and does not need him, he has op- posed the president at critical times, when he was needed; once when he joined WI“' street in an attemgt to defeat the currency bill and once when he joined the shipping combine in defeating the president’s l:ilppmg bill, “I believe that the only' reason Senator Hitchcock is for the president now is because he desires to aid the liquor interests ride into office on the back of the president.” Tariff the Basis of All William R. Willcox: Chairman Republican National Committes Whatever may be considered the paramont issue of this campaign, the tariff, in a way, is the most important because the success of all other issues are more or less dependent on our import duties. An adequate tariff is advocated hy repub- licans for two reasons—the amount of tevenue which it brings to the government and the amount of protection it brings to our labor and industries. Without import duties which are sufficiently high to keep out competitiye products our people must be idle or wages must ultimately drop to the foreign level. Unless we have good wages for our laborers and profitable returns for our farmers, our purchasing power falls to a low level, both for domestic and for such foreign goods as we may want to buy. We are prosper- ous or not, according to whether we are busy or not. If we are not prosperous not only are the revenues of the government seriously affected, but the revenue of every individual is more or less curtailed. 1f the custom duties fall off $100,000,000 a year or more and business is of such a nature that the direct taxes also fall off—corporation taxes, in- come taxes and the many other taxes now im- posed, and Uncle Sam falls behind. It would seem then that a tariff for protection is also doubly a tariff for revenue, revenue for the goyernment |and revenue for the people, and if this revenue is not forthcoming then every issue of the present campaign is affected. We shall not have suffi- cient funds for the preparedness which we need; we shall not have sufficient’ funds for na- tional defense; we shall not have sufficient funds to make the United States as Mr. Hughes would have them—first and efficient. 4 If factory and farm workers are idle, our freight cars must also be idle and the railroads cannot earn enough money to pay the increased wage which has been given by law to a part of their employees. So the tariff must not only be an important issue, but in a certain sense the most important issue of the campaign. While the war continues abroad, we shall have perhaps more or less pros- perity becausf of our sales of munitions, but the war will not last forever. It may not last but a year or so longer, and then it our tariff is not changed, we shall not only lose the foreign trade which has brought so much prosperity, but we shall be at the mercy of producing nations which can send their cheaply made goods to this country under a low duty, or free of duty and flood our markets to the displacement of our home- made goods, So from every standpoint we are dependent upon a protective tariff for prosperity and success, and even our existence as a fore- most nation. We are so interdependent that the success or failure of one is affected by the suc- cess or failure of another, and there is no getting away from the fact that we cannot carry out our lans for preparetness and pational defense and teep our country in the front rank of nations unless our labor and industry are Qrotec‘ed against the producing nations of the world. Even now when the war is at its height abroad, we are buying more than ever, and our revenue from import duties is comparatively less than ever, so the American voter should consider this hase of the tariff question and-understand that it is really the most important issue of the cam- aign. # {Jnleu Mr. Hughes and a protection house and senate are elected next November, the tariff will not be changed for at least five years and during that time the loss that will entail will be almost in‘ca(culnble, 1f, however, the republicans are successful in November we can, within a year, return to protection and carry out the many plans which the people of the United States have for making their nation first and efficient, We have a good government; we cannot have an adequate army and navy; we cannot have fortresses or afmmunition or equipment, without revenue, and we cannot have sufficient revenue un- less we have ample customs duties and internal receipts. If our mills and workmen are idle, if business is more or less Eroslrated, they cannot pay taxes in large enough measure to meet the requirements of the government. It is calculated that the deficit for the fiscal year will be largely in excess of $100,000,000, while it must be still greater in the years following if the war ceases and we continue under the operation of the pres- ent tariff. The voters must change those conditions at the polls on November 7 and make it possible to get a tariff law that will give us both revenue and protection. l People and Events l Plain clothes cops in Philadelphia are doing a bargain sale business running down fake charity solicitors. A horde of imposters are working charitable people for various war sufferers and growing opulent on the proceeds of the crooked game. Humiliation stalks on the trail of Charles W. Morse, the noted high financier who wormed himself out of a federal prison through doctors’ certificates of near-death. His salary as a steam- boat president has been garnisheed and he is com- pcllcg to pay each week $92.30 on a $41,000 judg- ment. Reports from war hospitals of wonderful sur- gical feats in patching up mutilated soldiers made an impression on Battling Nelson, the champion lightweight pugilist. Nelson’s numerous battles marred the manly contour of his mug, and he has engaged surgeons to give his face the beauty treatment. . “No tears or sighs or trappings of woe for me," wrote Phil Goldman of New York weeks before he answered the call. Instead he left $250 to pay for a memorial banquet for relatives and near friends. “My wish,” he penned in his will, “is that they should spend a cheerful eve- ning in their recollections of me.” . The comings and goings of worshipers at a St. Louis church is featured in local movies. The pictures scored a distinct hit, as the critics put it, because a bald-headed man is the last in and the first out at the service. To the hairless the inci- dent lends rainbow colors to the scriptural in- junction: “The last shall be first,” etc. ‘ Prof. Dooley has stored up a bunch of fresh news for the entertainment of Hennessy at the next social eonfab. It concerns the kids of the neighborhood, 8 years and under, who made a playhouse of Peter Finley Dunne's town house i New York, while the family tarried at their summer home. What the kids did to the interior was a-plenty, but as the contents were sheltered by burglary insuragce it is believed Dooley will extract some humof from the fragments. ‘ent: 1916. TODAY. Thought Nugget for the Day. We are firm believers in the maxim that for all right judgment of any man or thing it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronounc- ing on his bad. —Thomas Carlyle. One Year Ago Today in the War. Fren army crossed River Vardar and threatened flank of Bulgarians who attacked Serbs. Italy renewed Tyrol offensive to pre- vent Austrians from withdrawing troops for Balkan front. Russians reoccupied Czernowitz, capital of Bukowina, lost a year be- fore, and pounded German line at Mitau and before Dvinsk. In Omaha Thirty Years Ago. The following contributed to the en- tertainment given in the lecture room of the First Congregational church: The Misses Nellie Horton, Cochran, Doolittle, Helen Gregory and Messrs. C. W. Mallory, Burnham, Eddy, Mal- lory and Barnaby. The prevailing mania is for making pompoms of the down from the milk- weed pods. Exquisite results have been obtained from dying and the col- 21 ored balls are even prettier than ‘fihe natural hue. Wired and tied with a bow of ribbon they are often sus- pended from the chandelier, 4 Mrs, Hattie Hough of Chicago is the guest of Mrs. Wakeley. Mrs. Hough was formerly Miss Gilman of this city, the first principal of Brown- ell Hall. The surpliced choir now being trained for Trinity were regaled with cake, ice cream and fruit, after re- hearsal, by Miss Millard. The boys sang several pieces and Hilton Fonda gave two solos. Senator Gorman of Maryland was entertained at an informal club din- ner, at which the following were pres- Judge Savage, Robert Patrick, Mr. Woodworth, Dr. Miller, Mr, Og- den, Mr. Godwin and Mr. Gallagher. Mrs. Frank Miller of Michigan has arrived, in the city and will spend the winter with her daughter, Mrs, Mum- augh, on St. Mary's avenue, The ball for the benefit of the Cleve- land Orphan asylum, under the aus- pices of Nebraska lodge, 1. O. B. B, was a soclal and financial success. The committee of arrangements consisted of J. Obertelder, F. Adler, M. Hellman, Max Meyer, B. Newman, 8. Fischer, Julius Meyer, T. Nagle and 8. Schles- inger. / Tl}ll Day in History. | 1806—RBritish unger Lord Nelson defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain in the great battle off Cape Trafalgar. § 1841—John Forsyth, who was sec- retary of state under Presidents Jack- son and Van Buren, died in Washing- ton, D. C. Born in Virginia, October 22, 1870, 1863—General Nashville, 1864—Confederates under General Price invaded Missouri. 1880—Contract signed for the con- struction of the Canadian Pacific rail- way. 1891—Monument to Henry W. Grady, celebrated orator and journal- ist, unveiled in Atlanta. 1900—First successful trial of Count Zeppelin's airship at Friedrichshafen. 1902—The Samoan controversy was decided by King Oscar of Sweden ad- versely to the United States and Eng- land and inj favor of Germany. 1912—A Greek squadron blockaded the| Isle of Lemnos. 1916—Beveral United States soldiers killed by Mexican raiders near Mis- sion, Tex. Grant The Day We Celebrate. George H. Kelly is today celebrating his fifty-seventh birthday. He came to Omaha from Dubuque as partner in the Adams & Kelly company, which has mill work plants in both places. He was at one time head of the Com- mercial club, | Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Dunlop Swinton, who is credited with the in- vention of the British."tanks,” born forty-eight years ago today. 8ir Willlam Christie, former as- tronomer royal of Great Britain, born seventy-one years ago today. Louis N. Parker, author if “Dis- raeli” and numerous other successful plays, born at Calvados, France, sixty- four years ago today. Ralph N. Cameron, former dele- gate from Arizona in congress, born at Southport, Me, fifty-three years ago today, Jan N, Darling ("J. N. Ding"), car- toonist, born at Norwood, Mich., fifty years ago today. Dr. Alfred 8. Warthin, famous path- ologist of the University of Michigan, born at Greensburg, Ind., fifty years ago today. Timely Jottings and Reminders. One of the most elaborate historical pageants ever seen in this country is to be given at Yale university today to commemmorate the two hundredth anniversary of the removal of the col- lege from Saybrook to New Haven. The one hundred and eleventh an- niversary of the battle of Trafalgar will be observed today throughout the British empire. Elections are to be held today to fill vacancles in the directorates of the Federal Reserve banks throughout the country. Officials of the Agricultural depart- ment will conduct a hearing in New Orleans today on a tentative draft of regulations for administration’of the new federal grain standards act. President Wilson has designated to- day and tomorrow as official days for American contributions to relieve the sufferings among the Syrians and Ar- menians in the war zones. Today, which is the thirty-seventh anniversary of the invention of the electric light by Thomas A. Edison, will usher in the annual celebration of Edison week under the auspices of the electric light corporations throughout the country. b Storyette of the Day. Two English officers in billets were longing for a drink, but dared not in- dulge, as their landlady was a staunch teetotaler and would probably read them a lengthy lecture.. “I know the trick!"” exclaimed one, in glee. “Let's ask her for a drop of whiskey to clean our pipes with.” The good woman was truly sympa- thetic when informed regretfully by the wily twain that their pipes were too foul to smoke, and promptly sup- plied them with the desired ‘“cleansing fluid.” Later she asked with a kindly smile: “And was the whiskey success- ful?” “It was,” replied one of the con- unh'etorl. ou. 3 i “Not at all,” replied the landlady. “I was glad to make use of it. I only bought it the day before yesterday to wash little Fido in, and the results were wonderful."—Liverpool Post. arrived at! “It was awfully kind of | The Bees, Lellor 3¢ Mail Vote Usable Only in Nebraska. Battle Mountain Sanitarium, Hat Springs, 8. D., Oct. 19.—To the Edi- tor of The Bee: There are about 200 old soldiers temporarily members in this grapd and efficient sanitarium, who_are greatly interested in the res- toration of the national honor, which has been prostituted’ so shamelessly ;;irz since the election of Wilson in These old men who offered their lives from '61 to '65 that the honor of our country should be maintained, are perhaps more cognizant of the spine- less humiliation with which the pres- ent national administration has dis- gusted and nauseated every man, woman and child with the spirit and sporting blood of our fathers. These men are of the impression the law of their proud and prosper- ous state of Nebraska permits them the privilege of casting their ballot by mail. Will you, sir, explain the “modus operandi” of this law in your next issue? Incidentally, I want to congratulate you on the trenchant editorial power of The Bee. You sure have the pep all right. The editorial in Saturday's issue, “Hughes and the Hecklers,"” is about as straight logic and full of pep and brief composition of the rare quality as I have enjoyed for some time. But why particularize? All of The Bee's editorials are full of sense and poise. N. 8. BELL, M. D. Note: The right to vote by mail is available only to Nebraska citizens happening to be on election day in some place in Nebraska other than their place of residence. Presidents ;h;_Worc Beards. Omaha, Oct. 20.—To the Editor of The Bee: At the great Hughes meet- ing last Monday evening I noticed that some fellow with a shallow brain and shallow voice yelled to Governor Hughes and said: ‘“Why don't you be an American and cut off your whis- kers?” I will wager that the fellow with the squeaky voice who yelled so insultingly at a man who stands above him as an elephant compared with a mosquito has not taken a bath in the last six years. When we come to talk of wearing a full beard, many of the most noted men of this nation have worn full beards, and no one has ever thought of insulting them for it until the days of Woodrow Wilsen. Abra- ham Lincoln wore a full beard at least a part of the time when he was presi- dent. General Grant, as we all know, wore a full beard, and so did Presi- dent Hayes and President Garfield and President Harrison., President Arthur also wore a partial beard, and of the nine republicans who have held the presidency only one of them has been devoid of beard. The only smooth-faced president we have had of the republican presidents was Wil- liam McKinley. So that Charles E, Hughes in wear- ing a full beard is in mighty good re- rubucnn company, and instead of be- ng a badge of dishonor it is an honor, even if some rattle-brained people think otherwise. Other great men of our country have worn full beards, including James G. Blaine and James Russell Lowell. 8o did the rebel generals Lee and Longstreet. So, hereafter when someone speaks derisively’ of the whiskers of Hughes, just name the great men who have preceded him as president, whose names will go down in history for numberless years to come. FRANK A. AGNEW, Analyzes Electric Light Contract. Omaha, Oct. 19.—To the Editor of The Bee: As a citizen who has taken an active part in the efforts put forth for some time past to secure better and cheaper electric light, will yuo allow me to state my position through wour columns on the action now be- ing taken to defeat the contract for street lighting that has been entered into by the city commissioners and the Electric Light company? I am opposing this action because 1 do not believe it i®being done in good faith as being for the best interests of the city and the patrons of elec- trical energy in that the parties be- hind the movement have not made any public statement of their purpose or attempted to show any irregulari- ties in the contract, or thay the price to be paid for street lights’is too high. The News in a recent editorial stated that the contract was ‘‘meant |, to delay municipal ownership for five years,” but did not show how it would do so, and has not seén fit to publish or reply to a letter I addressed to them last Wednesday taking excep- tions to this statement, and asking them. to show how it would do so, and what other ' objectionable features there were in the contract. Commissioner Butler has stated that the people of Omaha should study the contract after they have re- pealed it, and that then they will find the black heads popping out of the proverbial woodpile. ,Why can’'t we be shown these things now as well as to have them pointed out later? The citizens of Omaha should demand this information before joining this movement by signing the referendum petition now being circulated. We must admit that the lighting of our city is very inadequate. We have been fighting for more than three years for a cheaper rate for the small consumer. We now have the oppor- tunify to secure additional light for our streets and have the commercial rate reduced to the price we have asked throughout the fight without surrendering any right of municipal ownership to the company. I can see that the contract will pre- vent to quite an extent the effective- ness of a law that might be passed by the next legislautre permitting the establishment of a competing plant in connection with the water plant, as it would deprive that plant of a certain amoynt of patronage by prohibiting the ifcluding in such a law a provi- slon requiring the city to light its streets with energy from that plant before the expiration of the contract, Since Mr. Ballard was here senti- ment against a competing plant has grown very fast, so that it is prob- able that such a proposition will be defeated if it is ever voted upon When we enter the field of municipal ownership by either the Water board or the city direct, we should first take over the present plant of the ligh company and remove all competition. Then as the city grows and more ca- pacity is needed it may be advantage- ous to develop another plant in con- nection with the water plant. Nothing has been shown as being in the con- tract to prevent such action, and should the Water board develop a competing plant the city should not be required to purchase its street lighting energy from that plant ex- cept on a competative basis with the present company, which could not be made short of two years, and we are not justified in waiting that long for additional benefits we might hope to derive in the remainder of the five- year term over that now available. The 6-cent rate that will be held up by defeating the contract is as low or lower than in any other city of like size in the middle west, and cheaper to a greater part of the patrons than lthe Lincoln rate, which is shown be- ow: Lineoln. Omaha . $ .50 Uni e t tract are shown I am opposed to its defeat, and believe the greater part of the citizens of Omaha will be also if they give the matter a little careful study before signing the petitions. EDWARD W, SINNETT. Business for the Business Man. Omaha, Oct. 20.—~To the Editor of The Bee: Business and politics as a rule don’t mix well—but it's also true that every loyal American ought to take an active interest in his govern- ment—the hest In the world. Vote for the man or party nominees who represent what you belieye in, Have the courage of your convictions. Every man in business or out is interested in our State Rallroad commission. They control the rates that all of us haye to pay on everything we use or sell on shipments within the borders of the state. Among the candidates for election the coming November is Mr. H, T. Clarke, jr. He has been tried, tested and not found wanting; has been fair, just and square, and thoroughly qualified. No man has ever occupied a place on the commis- sion more so—and should 'by all means be re-elected. Not because he happens to be republican, but be- ‘cause he can be trusted to give the citizen a square deal always. W. W. BINGHAM. DOMESTIC PLEASANTRIES. “I suppose they won't say anything now egajhst drinking in the British army.” “Why not?” “Just look at the work the blg tanks e doing at the front.'—Baltimore Ameri- “My husband and myself have traveled lite's road together for twelve years now.' “Under present conditions I consider that very good mileage.'—Loulsville Courier- Journal, The success of this Company, we are confident, depends upon our operating along lines that meet with the approval of the public. ‘This is an age of mag; the faith of thousan tics, remains with the old reliable vegetable purity and - riority o S3% ecogaised by all wl recom! reputation ve taken it and received its benefita and ed by them 1o all sulierers. from blood dis- was won by merit alone, and is retained by the same contin- ) uous service to humanity. / eases. Rheumatism, Catarrh, Malaris, and many forms of Skin Disease, are some of the §ive way to the influence of 8.8, 8. 's worst enemies—but will surely Get the Genuine S. S.S. at Yeur Druggist. N