Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-21
IN NEBRASKA'S INTEREST
Banquet rendered Senator Allen the 0cca-
sion for Praising the State,
GOVERNOR HolcoMB ON THE SITUATION
With a Subject Fdnr Hundred Miles Long
and Two Hundred Miles Wide the Chief
Executive of tho Commonwealth
Entcftnins Eloquentiy.

LINCOLN. March 2O-(Special Tele-
gram.)-At 1890 this evening 200 people sat
down to a banquet rendered United States
Senator Allen, at the Llndel hotel. This
event was preceded by a reception to over
300 guests in the parors The senator and
his wife arrived from their home at Madison
on the 6:10 p. m. train, and were at once
driven to the hotel In carriage. Senator
and Mrs Allen were assisted in receiving by
Hon. w. ]. Bryan and wife and Mayor Weir
Falk's orchestra provided well selected list
Of instrumental numbers during the recep-
tioa and banquet. Among the guests from
Lincoln and abroad were: Congressman
McKeighan, d. Glen Deaver, Omaha; James
c, Dahman. Chadron; James 0Shee, Lincoln;
j. w. Sheridan. j. V. Wolfe, j. H. Edmisten,
Eddyvie; John II. Powers, Major William
Daily, Charles Pirtle, Washington, ID. c.; V.
o. Strickler and wife, Omaha; Governor Hol-
comb and Private Secretary Marat. Judge j.
II. Broadly, Hon. W. II. Deck, Captain Pat
rick Barry, Charles Hoxe and wife, Lincoln,
and all of the populist and democratic men,
bers of the legislature.
DURING THE BANQUET.
During the banquet J. V. Wolfe presided
as POSTMASTER. To "The Peoples Senator,
Our Guest" Mayor A. II. Weir responded in
a happy post prandial vein. To the toast,
The State Of Nebraska" as announced
facetiousy by the POSTMASTER. Though
| slightly disfgured will be found still in the
ring" Governor Holcomb responded in part as
follows: "Mr. POSTMASTER Ladies and
Gentlemen: The subject assigned me this
evening is such large one that I approach
1t with hesitancy You have given me
| subject that is 400 miles long and 200 miles
| wide. Larger than all the New England
states. and in which England and Wales may
be placed with territory enough left to make
three counties as large as my own, the state
| of Custer with its $500 square miles of
| rich prairie land: population of over 1,000,
| 900, and yet capable Of sustaining four times
| that number, with 400 acres or more to
the individual. My auditors may, perhaps,
| think my subject dry one. and must say
| that due regard for my reputation for
veracity compels me to admit that it has
| been very dry for health, intelligence and
the contentment of its people. There are
few, if any, states equal to Nebraska and
none superior. The searcher after health and
pleasure may go to California or Florida for
comfort in winter. to Cape May or Bar
| Harbor to enjoy cool breezes in summer, but
to the Nebraskan is given the pleasure of
enjoying the 365, days of healthful, pleasant
| and invgorating climate not q pleasure re-
sort to obtain health. but business resort
with good health as one of the principal at
| fractions.
BEAUTIES OF NEBRASKA.
my subject, however, is breezy one.
| 1t is the gentle Nebraska zephyr that sweeps
over its beautiful praries giving life, activ-
ity and vigor to all coming in contact with
it. The breezes purify the atmosphere, in
vigorate the system and give to our people
that restless energy which has placed the
state, though yet in its infancy in the front
rank Of agricultural states and along beside
her sister states in the great Mississippi
valley in manufacturing, commercial and ag-
ricultural Industries"
Following a description of Nebraska's re-
4 sources and present condition, the governor
Il said: at is quite the fashion now. or ought
to- be, to have printed on the back of your
business or visiting cards statement oi
the number of excellent crops grown in this
state In the last twenty-five years. 1t would
read something like this: 1869, good crop
1870. good crop; 1871 big crop; 1872. good
, crop: 1873 short crop, with grasshoppers
printed in parentheses as an explanation
1874, good crop, and so on down to 1894, witt
but few exceptions all good crops. At M
time within the history of the state so fal
. as my knowledge goes, has drouth ant
: consequent crop failure been so complete, 81
: absolute and SO far reaching as that Of thu
past season, and l venture the prediction
r that We may all live our allotted three scor
; and ten years without witnessing a recur
renee Of such dread disaster"
The governor, in conclusion said that h
!, would leave the subject with the distin
guished guest of the evening, who has beel
! so valiantly championing the cause of fire.
! silver for free people.
4 Toasts were also responded to by Hon
2 John M. Ragan, Hon. P. H. Barry, Hon. w
: F.. Dale, Hon. w. H. Dech Dr. l.. j. Abbot
: and Fl. f. Rose, esq.