Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-14

FROM TIE BUSINESS STdNDPOINT
"Ir you wish TO interest the people OF
the south today, talk TO them OF the
resources and development Of their sec
ton. Once they enjoyed more the clio
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 Smitli 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 politi-
clans
The fierce contention which has been
preciptated 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 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, as enacted by congress, but
he would have approved 1t as president
just as readily as did Benjamin Har-
rison.
much more at stake in securing legisla-
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 fayorite sons in preference to
| tlie fayorite son of Ohio. On the other
| hand, we can not overlook the fact that
4 III Iy nf nd A11isnn a
absolutely control the legislation of the
present congress. They do not expect
or ask Nebraska to desert it's 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
jeopardize the material welfare of Ne
braska and the most promising projects
for the restoration of better trade condi-
tons 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 vitality 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?