Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-14
FROM the BUsrNEss srANprorNr

FRDM TIE HUSfNESS STdNDF0INT
ar you wish TO interest the people OF
the south today, talk 10 them Of the
resources and development OF their sec
tion. Once they enjoyed more the cio-
quent words OF the political orator, but
now the plain business presentation OF
questions connected with material
growth finds the most attentive listen
ers"
Thus wrote Secretary of the Interior
Hoke Smith in the North American Re
view two years ago, when the Atlanta
exposition project was about to be
Launched upon the country. 1t may be
truthfully asserted with equal force
that questions affecting material
growth and prosperity awaken greater
interest among the people of the west
and more particularly among the people
OF this city and state than the most
eloquent oratory of ambitious pollti-
clans.
The fierce contention which has been
precipltated over the selection Of a
delegation to the republican national
convention is in many respects very
inopportune and unfortunate. 1t goes
without saying that any man nominated
by the republican national convention is
certain to receive the undivided support
of the party, and his election is n fore
gone conclusion. A republican presi-
dent, whether his name be Mckinley,
Reed, Allison, Cullom, Morton or Man
derson, may be relied upon to sign any
tariff bill that shall be enacted by a
republican congress- Mckinley could
do no more-Reed, Allison, Cullom or
any other president could do no less.
1t is matter of history that James G.
Blaine was opposed to the Mckinley
tariff bill, us enacted by congress, but
he would have approved 1t as president
just as readily as did Benjamin Har-
riSon. ,s
The people of this city and state have
much more at stake in securing legisia-
ton favorable to several important
projects and measures from the pres
ent session of congress than they have
in the personnel of the republican
national ticket. Mckinley can not
make the country more prosperous than
any other republican president. Nc
Kinley has publicly assured the friends
Of other candidates that he will think
no less of them for their ambitions or
their states for casting their votes for
their own favorite sons in preference to
the fayorite son of Ohio. On the other
hand, we can not overlook the fact that
the friends of Reed and Allison almost
absolutely control the legislation of the
present congress. They do not expect
or ask Nebraska to desert its own can
didate for them, but they can scarcely
be expected to extend special favors to
Nebraska If 1t deserts its own candi
date for any other man.
The plain business presentation of the
pending issue therefore is, Shall we
jeopnrdize the material welfare of Ne
braska and the most promising projects
for the restoration of better trade condi-
tions for the sake of political sentiment
or personal glorification? In this
respect we are confronted with a condi-
ton, and not theory. We have al
ready accepted favors at the hands of
our neXt-door neighbor, Iowa, and de-
pend upon it's good will for further
help. In the national house of repre-
sentativeS the fate of measures in
which we are vitally concerned rests
absolutely with the speaker. Can we
afford to sacrifice everything we have
at stake to make hay for politicians
who in their anxiety for prospective
federal employment are willing to go to
any length?