davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
SHLPS IND COMMERCE.

The fact is generally recognized that
in order to extend the of the
United States we require Independent
well said that every steamship flying
the American flag is a commercial tray
eler for the American farmer and manu-
facturer. In his address to the conven-
ton of manufacturers held in Philadel-
phia the past week the president of
that body said that for the proper devel-
opment of the foreign trade of the
United States it is absolutely essential
that we should have cheap, quick, direct
II regular transportation of merchan-
disc and mails. Transportation. he, de-
clared, is II link which joins the pro-
Queer and the consumer and if we are
to seek for our share of the worlds
trade we must have the means of ocean
transportation equal to any that the
world affords. 'There is but one
gloomy story" he said, "to be told con-
corning the American merchant marine
on the high seas. Our coastwise and
lake and river IN is carried by Il
fleet of magnificent vessels, but in our
foreign trade our shipping is weak and
ever diminishing. The figures of our
foreign for a single year will
suffice to show the weakness of our posi-
ton. Out of Il total of $1,456.O OO, 600
in 1895 American vessels carried only
S~1T0,500,000, while foreign vessels car
ried S1,2S6, 1000. The share of our
foreign trade carried i'm American YES
sells in that year was but III per cent of
the total, which is the lowest point
reached in American shipping" 1t may
be added that this humiliating condition
was not improved last year and thai it
will be no better in the present year
and probably for several years to come,
since whatever legislation looking to
the restoration of the merchant marine
may be adopted by the G congress
cannot have immediate results. The
work of giving the United States in
dependent ocean transportation facilities
Will be Il matter of years.
But the vital Importance of doing this
being admitted, it will be the duty of
'iN hNAh 'ViSiNNH ~ administration W
give earnest consideration to the sub
ject. The national convention of manu-
|facturers expressed the hope and 'eX-
pectation that under the incoming ad-
ministratlon this long-deferred revival
of the American merchant marine will
be patrlotically, ~zealously and imme-
diately undertaken and forever after en-
ploy ships built, owned and managed
by Americans" This hope of the manu-
featuring interest of the country is
shared by the agricultural producers,
who are even more greatly interested
in independent transportation facill-
ties under the American flag. OF the
great volume of III exports In foreign
vessels by far the larger part is made
up of the products of the farm, so that
no class of our people are more con
cerned than are the agricultural produ-
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
THE OMAHA DAILY BEE. SUNDAY. JANUARY 81, 1897.

GERS in this question of an American mer.
chant marine. which would not only
he a means of extending our commerce,
but would keep at home a very large
proportion Of the money annually paid
for transporting our products to for
eign lands. estimated to exceed $780,
100000. Even If our American mer-
chant marine did not lessen the cost of
transportation, which I'm all probability
it would, there would still be n very
material gain to our people in retaining
for distribution among themselves in
various ways the large sum now au-
nually paid to foreign ship owners,
very little of which is expended in this
country.
The problem of restoring the merchant
marine is not free from difficulties, but
a %judiclous solution is possible and is
urgently demanded. When n body of
intelligent and practical business men.
who have given the subject careful con
sideration, declare that an American
merchant marine is absolutely essential
to the proper development of our foreign
trade, the opinion may safely be ac-
cepted as conclusive. There is every
reason to believe that the next admins
tration will be found favorable to what
ever policy will insure independent
transportation facilities for American
products and a restoration of our flag
to the seas.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

The annual report of the health de-
partment of Omaha makes the startling
revelation that there was born in this
city during the year 1896 one female
child in excess of the number of male
children. What is to become of the
nine hundred and fifty-fifth girl when
the 954 boys shall have chosen
their partners for life? Here, in
deed, is a serious problem. The surplus
girl must be provided for. What phi
lanthropist is ready to come forward and
by taking care of the surplus girl Gre
laundering down all ages?
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
THE FATHER OF SHORTHAND.

Chicago Post: The new woman should
erect a monument to Isaac Pitman, the in.
| ventor OF the standard system of shorthand
III any one gave her more assistance in the
way OF getting into the business world We
do not recall the name.
Buffalo Express: Sir Isaac Pitman, the
father Of modern shorthand, was one of those
fortunate individuals who have the priv.
ilege OF reading their own obituary notices
He was reported dead once before, in April
1895, and had his picture In the papers, with
long and kindly accounts of what he had
done for the art of shorthand writing.
Philadelphia Ledger: sThsre was short
hand writing long before Pitman's day, ana
there have been great improvements made
by his successors, but he is credited with
the invention of the basic principle sof the
various systems now in use, and, therefore,
Is regarded as the originator of the art in
its present, form. A system very similar
to Pitman's was published before his day,
however, by a man named Elliott, who re-
ported the proceedings of the first congress
notes have been preserved, as we'll as copies
of his book.
Chicago Tribune: There died yesterday
in England, two weeks after he had cele-
brated his Saith birthday, Sir Isaac
Pitman, whom his disciples used sometimes
to call a~ffectionately "the father of short
hand" He was not that, but he did de-
wise a system which was a great improvement
on any one of the systems which had been
in use prior to his day and which has dis
placed them all. so far as England and this
country are concerned. Pitman began his
labors sixty years ago, at a time when the
opportunities for making a profitable use of
shorthand were about to be increased greatly.
He pushed his system energetically and made
reputation and money out of it..
New York Sun: The father of phonog-
raphy, Sir Isaac Pitman, whose obituary
was recently published in all the morning
papers, was, perhaps, worthy of the honors
that were bestowed upon him, but If he had
not allowed his pen to run away with his
head and lead it into the spelling reform
craze. OF which he was also the parent, the
world might have admired him even more.
After all, his efforts in that line were useful,
for they stand as a warning to Photographic
fools. For their benefit the good Sir Isaac
was sufficiently self-sacrifcing to write him
self down a donkey in the London Times in
the following startling style: II hav riten
mel Letter fonetikali az is mel kustom."
That is the way we will all write when, we
get spelling reform.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

Our esteemed but ~short-visioned free
silver contemporary tries to be facetious
in reference to the fight put up by Ne
braska republicans in the last election,
and in support of its belittling remarks
cites the republican pluralities given by
Nebraska in the presidential elections
during the last quarter of n century.
From this ~improvised table it attempts
to sum up the results of the republican
campaign last fall as the wiping out
of an average republican plurality of
1850 and converting it into an adverse
plurality of 1895.
AS usual the mathematics of our es-
teemed free silver contemporary is as
faulty as its logic and both are as full
of holes as the ordinary milk skinner.
Although the republican state ticket
was defeated at the November election
and the electoral vote of Nebraska was
cast for the first time in its history
against the republican nominee or pres
ident, the republican party in Nebraska
has not been discredited, nor has it any
reason to be ashamed of the inroads it
made against odds that from the first
seemed almost insurmountable. Instead
of having 4 republican plurality to
count upon against the practically com
plete fusion Of all the opposition forces,
the republicans started out with q ire
mendous handicap against them. The
magnitude of that adverse handicap is
not to be gathered from the table of
republican pluralities in presidential
years running back into the 70s, but
from the actual figures for the elections
since the rise of the populist party. Those
figures are given in the following table.
the votes for 1883, 1892 and 1896 being
on presidential electors, those for 1890
and 1894 on governor, and those for 1891,
1898 and 1895 Oh supreme judge:
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
FOOT BALL
Arc Lights of Quaint Wisdom Crop
ping Out In Legislative Halls.


The virtuous indignation against foot ball
continues to boil in the bosoms of legislators
who have nothing else to do. The philoso-
pher who has introduced into the Indiana
house OF representatives a bill forbidding the
Hoosiers to play foot ball, says that more
men have been killed by football than by
pugilism. Likely enough; but pugilism is
one OF the healthiest and least dangerous of
professions, and fully as safe as most 9TH
ers; and a foot ball game puts at least
twenty-five men In the field, whereas a bout
at boxing sets at work only two, of whom
at least one is liable to be a fakir. Legls-
lators like this Indiana sage are much more
exposed to danger than the heroes OF the
foot ball field. At any moment wisdom may
be expected to cry out, from the skies, for
the presence Of such sages, or the whirlwind
of their own thoughts may sweep them from
the sight OF men.
Into the Nebraska house OF representa-
lives has been introduced a bill providing
that persons convicted Of playing foot ball
shall pay a fine OF from s25 to 800. or be
imprisoned for a time not to exceed three
months. or both; and the wretches guilty
OF reporting. umpiring or merely being
present at such games are also to be fined.
Which able prOyisos show with what lumin-
Gus minds some lawmakers are endowed and
what an amount OF spare time they have on
their hands. Can IL be that these sages
are jealous OF the foot ball and regard Il
as a device which infringes on their own
heads3
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
SECULAR SHOTS AT THE PULPIT.

Chicago Times-Herald: Rev. Dwight l.
Moody In a recent sermon remarked
Heaven is a city like New York" Mr..
Moody unwittingly is working up a boom
for the other place.
indianapolis Journal: Evangelist Moody
Is quoted as saying in his sermon at Carne-
gle hall on Tuesday: Heaven is a city like
New York" Unless he takes back these
fatal words or makes II clear that there
will be no Wall street, no Seeleys and no
Bradley-Martlns there, the virtuous west,
including the silverites, will pull its skirts
to one side and scornfully refuse to go TO
such n heaven.
New York Times: While some OF the
Unitarians and Anglicans of Boston profess
to be shocked at the methods and grammar
OF the Evangelists Moody and Jones, who
are now holding a series Of meetings there,
they admit that these "exhorters" have
accomplished something of good by their
methods. A certain class of people have
been stirred up to a religious interest who
have paid little attention to such subjects
for years, and who would never have been
reached by ordinary methods of church work.
Ministers in orthodox churches claim to have
already benefited materially In the congre-
cations through the efforts of these men,
who are at least tireless workers.
New York Tribune: The Baltimore Sun
quotes a prominent Roman Catho-
lie priest of the Baltimore archdiocese
as follows: when Monsignor Satolli first
came to America as the papal legate he
ranged himself most decidedly with the lib
eral wing of the church, with the element
represented by Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop
Keane. He has gone completely back on
that attitude. has turned his back on those
whom he called his friends then. and has
since sided most emphatically with the mar
row wing, with the party that believes that
Cardinal Gibbons and Bishop Keane are doing
too much to Americanize the church In this
country. Whether he really held the liberal
ideas which he protested to hold in the be-
ginning and has since altered his opinion,
or whether he was simply diplomatic in
showing his true colors, is a puzzling ques-
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COIN.

A resolution has been introduced in
the house of representatives requesting
the president TO enter into negotiations
with the governments of China, Japan,
the several republics and colonies of the
American hemisphere, the Hawaiian is
lands and the Dominion of Canada, with
a view to securing a uniform standard
of value in trade and commerce.. The
author of the resolution, Representative
Beach of Ohio, expressed the hope that
an agreement may be effected for the
holding of n congress Of the countries
indicated which will agree upon Il uni
form coin, either of gold or Of silver, to
be used between them in International
trade. He thought If such an arrange
ment could be effected it would facilitate
exchanges, avoiding the delay now in
cident 10 having to do business through
the medium of London exchange. This
method is cumbersome and inc%onvenient
and often involves months of time in the
settlement of obligations between the
countries. Mr.. Beach said he believed
it would not be difficult to secure the
consent of the nations interested to the
holding Of such Il congress and he
thought if n satisfactory result We're
reached it would tend to promote more
intimate tlade relations among the ma
tions of this hemisphere.
The National Board of Trade, at It's
session in Washington the past week,
recommended the passage of the bill in
congress for an international coin, n
fair Inference from which is that the
business interests represented by the
board are favorable to the proposition.
II Is II matter that is certainly worthy of
consideration. The first question that
suggests itself Is as TO its pr%acticability.
Would the countries of this hemisphere,
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

If the legislature consults the senti-
ment of the people Of Nebraska, it will
take up the Transmississippi Exposition
bill and pass it without unnecessary
delay. Nebraska is almost unanimous
in its endorsement of the exposition en-
draw the tide of immigration and invest
ment to the state and inaugurate the
new era of old-time prosperity. The
people who elected the legislature want
the exposition made an unexampled sue
cess and stand ready to approve the
reasonable requests of the exposition
managers.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

Sugar Is the largest single article of
import into the United States, the item
for last year aggregating nearly $4,000
600. Every pound of this sugar can
and ought to be produced in this coun
try. There is no reason why the
land suitable for sugar beet culture
should be called upon to import a pound
of sugar. The beet sugar industry is
capable of expansion as no other Ameri-
can industry is, and with proper en-
enlargement is bound to become one of
the most important factors in the
further DEVELOPMENT of the west.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
PATRIOTISM AND THE CO]YsTrTUr1o

PATRIOTISM AND n CONSTITUTION.
"If 1 had the privilege says Cardinal
Gibbons, "of modifying the constitution OF
the United States. I would not expunge or
alter a single paragraph, a single line or a
single word of that immortal instrument"
This is the sentiment of all intelligent and
patriotic citizens. The constitution is a
grand old document, and we'll adapted to all
good urpos Globe Democrat.
Without %impugning the intelligence
and patriotism of Cardinal Gibbons, we
doubt very much whether that is the
sentiment of all intelligent and patriotic
| citizens. The constitution of the United
| States was framed in 1TS7, nearly 10
years ago. 1t has been amended on
six different occasions. 1t contains
many provisions that were en-
| grated upon it by way of experiment,
and other provisions that have long been
| outgrown. AS well say that the men who
favored the constitutional amendments
that secured civil and political liberty
for the negro were not intelligent or
patriotic because they wished to make
that immortal instrument more perfect.
The United States is a nation Of prog
ress and it will have to change its on
stitution more thar once as conditions
change from time to time and emergen-
cies arise that must be met. The prin-
ciples upon which the constitution is
founded will stand as long as free in
situations prevail and free government
is maintained by liberty-loving people.
Veneration of the constitution as the en-
bodiment of the highest ideal Of a re-
publican form of government must al
ways be one of the characteristics of
the intelligent and patriotic citizen, but
it cannot properly be held up as the
sole essence of patriotism.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
One of the conditions of the Iowa ap-

One of the conditions of the Iowa ap-
preparation for the representation of
that state in the Transmississippi Elk
position is that Nebraska make a liberal
appropriatiomin its aid. If the exposi-
ton were located in any other trans
mississippi state there would not be the
slightest hesitation in the state thus
honored making adequate provision for
insuring its success. Nebraska should
set the pace for its neighboring states
in appropriations for representation in
the exposition.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
BLASTS FROM RAMS HORN.

You know the man when you know the
company he keeps.
The man who Will not live UP TO his con-
v%ictions is untrue TO himself.
when people find out that It is blessed to
give, they never want to stop.
Whenever faith moves a mountain, love
should direct where IL Is to go.
Where the temperature is just right for a
saint II Is too warm for a sinner.
DO not refrain from doing because you
can only do a little. Remember that God
can make that little much.
1t is impossible 70 discourage the man
who has learned in whatsoever condition he
finds himself Herewith to be content.
The man who sits on a limb and saws II
off is a Solomon compared to the one who
thinks he can sin without having to suffer.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

Another paper suit freak is reported to
be on the way from Europe to America
n a round-the-world wager, If he is not
subject to the provision of the immigra-
tion laws that prohibit the landing in
this country of idiots, imbeciles or per
sons likely 10 become n charge upon the
community, he ought to be. The paper
suit man should be met with n polite
invitation to return whence he came.
The people OF the United States have
enough impostors of their own TO sup
port without importing new mes from
foreign lands.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
A Warming to the Wealthy.

The litigation over the Fayerweather mil
lions and the distribution of the funds t.
lawyers and courts is another pointed illus.
tration to the benevolent rich to give away
their wealth while they are alive and In
health and can see to it that 1t Is applied as
they desire. 1t illustrates the fact, which
has been proven over and over again, thai
the shrewdest lawyer cannot draw a will
which will stand the test of the courts. Mr.
Fayerweather' left princely requests to some
twenty colleges. The heirs who wanted the
money did not even wair until he was dead
an in his grave before beginning the scramble
which they have kept up for years. The
moral is too plain for rich and benevolent
men to fail to see. 1t is, give of your
abundance while in health and you in person
can insure the gift.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
The National Library.

blODc-DeIOCrat.
The congressional library, which Is soon
TO be placed in the new and magnificent
building erected for the purpose. comprises
over 100000 books, $50, 900 pamphlets and
about 300. 900 numbered periodicals. Then the
Smithsonian Scientific library Of 100, 900 vol
umes and the Toner library of 30, 900 volumes
are to be placed in the same building; and
there is also a collection of 40, 1000 maps, and
100000 musical compositions acquired under
the copyright law. Taken all in all, this
aggregation of literary products lis one of
the most extensive, interesting and valuable
in the world.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
Omaha's present system of two cour

Omaha's present system of two coun-
cilmen for every ward in the city dates
back to 1881. At that time the city
was divided into six wards, and the
council consisted of six ward councilmen
and six councilmen at large. The propo-
sition to reduce the council to nine mem
bers, therefore, is a proposition to give
Omaha a smaller council than it had
when it was Il town of less than 10000
inhabitants.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
Personal AND OTHERWISE.

The car is troubled with swelling of tn,
head. 1t Is some consolation for him t.
know there are others.
1t is regarded as settled that Senator
Turpie of Indiana will not play in the bacl
yard of tho "Herod of Havana"
Among the curiosities of the new Frencl
census is the discovery that Paris contain!
comparatively few natives of the city.
The crusade against premature buria'
started in New York must be exceeding wei
come to numerous United States senators
who failed Of reelection.
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina has
some claim to rank as an original Mckinley
man. His 7-year-old bears the name OF
William Mckinley Pritchard.
The disastrous railroad wreck near At
lantic City last summer cost the company
81, 900, COO in the form of damages to injured
passengers and to the heirs of those who
were killed.
Where there's a will there is ground for
attacking it. One of the reasons urged in n
New York court for setting aside a will is
that the ~testator once wrote to an employe,
you are hearbuy discharged"
Grant Bamble, the mechanical wizard of
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, whose rotary steam
engine patents were said to have brought
him SO, 900 900, has decided to adequately re-
ward the local press. The two Sleepy edi-
tors are to receive 81 ,OOO,O 900 each, the re-
porters 500, 900 each, and the Geographic
correspondents will divide $500, 900. The only
restriction to Bamble's generosity is that the
favored ones shall wait till his 50 5000, 900
arrives. Bamble hasn't yet seen the color
of it.
The New York supreme court holds that
damages cannot be recovered for anguish
caused by delay in the delivery of a tele-
gram. This reverses the principle expounded
in the Omaha case-printer's case-of Bob
Charters VS. DR.. George L. Miller. 1t was in
the early 70s. Bob was a typesetter on the
old, the real Herald. The brain depart
ment was weary and copy was hard to get.
quantity of white" and across the spotless
expanse wrote in an elegant milesian fist,
80, 900 for anxiety of mind" 1t went.
Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31
The preachers who were misled into

The preachers who were misled into
signing n testimonial to the good disci-
pline, harmony and efficiency of our in
efficient police department were simply
hoodwinked by designing politicians
anxious to hold their jobs. The preach
ers are not to be blamed except perhaps
for allowing themselves so easily to be
made victims of misplaced confidence.