The Red Cloud chief., 1902-10-17

assurance that the policies or PreSl-
dent Mckinley would be carried out.
and the self-contained way In which he
entered upon his duties az president.
restored confidence. He has brought to
the discharge OF his great duties n per-
feet honesty, untiring energy, abso-
lutte fearlessncss and devotion TO the
interests OF the people. which mark him
as a worthy successor OF william Nc
Kinley. He has gained In a wonder
full degree the respect OF foreign ma
lions, and the United States maintains
It's position as the leader OF thought.
OF enterprise, of craftsmanship, to
which II had attained.
Issues Past and Present.
Our position as a world power was
only reached as the result OF severe
conflict with the ideas advanced by
our opponents. In 1896 the issues OF the
campaign were sharply made. The
democrats Insisted hat IL the gold
standard were maintained, the result
would be dire disaster, that gold
would be wonderfully appreciated In
value, that its scarcity would curtail
business. throw laborers out OF en-
ployment, result In the foreclosure OF
mortgages. and all the various inen-
cial Ills which the mind OF man could
conceive would be fastened upon the
POOR people OF this country. The re-
va NV ~
ctded stand In opposition. predicting
that the result OF conforming to the
financial standard OF the commercial
nations OF the world, would give the
United States an opportunity to use
it's splendid possibilities, to extend its
commerce. increase It's exports. ana
assist In making the United states a
credit nation instead OF a debtor.
Bryan's Prediction.
Our distinguished fellow citizen.
william j.. Bryan, was unfortunate In
that at the close of that campaign, he
published n book called The First
Battle" Within its pages. his dire
predictions were preserved. They have
become a matter of indisputable rec
ord. and In the light of events which
have transpired since then must prove
TO him extremely embarrassing. How
he now succeeds with comfort to him.
self in posing as q statesman. 10 a
matter of wonder to those who are
familiar with the contents Of that
book.
History always ratified the wisdom
of the act of republicans. Accustomed
from the infancy of the party to Crap
pie with moinentous questions. 1t has
been our proud satisfaction that when
we have settled these questions n
they have passed into history, eXper-
fence has shown that we had settled
them right.
our form OF government is complex.
unique. the states within their several
boundaries and on a good many Ques-
lions being supreme. and yet we are
controlled In the large policies OF the
nation by a central government. In
dissolubly bound together as we are,
1t is impossible to separate state and
national politics from each other. We
are republicans on account of national
policies. To help and strengthen the
national policies Of our country, II Is
necessary that those policies should
be considered in a state campaign, and
yet our friends are making "a strenu-
Gus endeavor to confiue the issues OF
this campaign to state questions alone.
We would have no objection to do that
IL 1t were the proper thing to do. as
fortunately in the matter OF adminls-
tering the affairs of the state. the re
publican party has no reason to fear
comparison Of its record with those Of
its opponents.
state Finances.
Every tax payer and citizen is in
tevested in the disbursement OF state
moneys. The legislature for the last
several years has appropriated In the
neighborhood of 81, 600. 900 for each BIZ
ennium. the greater part Of which Is
required to maintain the several state
institutions. This enormous sum Of
money is raised by taxation. 1t Is i'm
perative that 1t be expended
ically and honestly. No contract for
supplies for any state institution
should be let except to the lowest bid
der who should be compelled to ex-
ecute a bond to the state to faith
fully observe the terms Of the con-
tract. Such is the policy OF good faith
and business honor; and I am glad to
say that such has been the strict poll
Icy and practice OF the present repub-
lean administration. / do not believe
that money should be taken out OF the
state treasury unless the state gets
full consideration for every dollar TAX
en-. Our state institutions are main
tanned for the benefit of the inmates,
wards of the state, and not for the
benefit n support of political favor
ties or relatives OF the several super
i~ntendents and their subordinates.
Business principles alone should gov
ern the management Of these institu-
tions.
Nebraska Laws.
That our state revenues are in bad
shape. no one disputes, not from the
fact that our present law does not pro-
vide for an adequate revenue. but
rather in the fact that we are all. or
nearly all. a lot OF tax shirkers and
have Above by common consent a
system of assessment OF property to be
put into practice that has for years
put us down to such a low valuation.
that I'm many school districts, towns.
cities. counties and ever In the state
1t has been difficult to provide revenue
sufficient to properly meet the needed
When the levy is limited by
statute n the assessment IL one-tenth
to one-twentteth OF the real value. An
indebtedness is sure to accumulate.
our constitution provides that the in
debtednesso OF the state shall not exceed
5000 goo. and yet the fact stares us In
the face that we hav allowed our LA
bilities to Increase at the rate OF about
$loo'oo0 per year for many years. ana
today We face an indebtedness OF
about $4,000. 900. This we have bor-
rowe5 from the school fund and owe IL
today. There Is a very grave doubt
In the minds OF many about the legality
OF this course. n 1t Ia evident that
this matter must be given attention
and the fund replaced. The question
arises. how shall wo 20 III Our assess
ment roll reveals the fact that in 1890
our total valuation Of all property as
sessed was slS4. no. 304 81. This year.,
1902, the assessed valuation WAS Sl79,-