davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
THE CHILD LABOR Evil.

The movement for the correction Of
the child labor evil does not appear to
have yet had any very important prac-
teal result, though 1t has aroused an in
terest in the problem, both north and
south, which can hardly fail to ulti-
mately be productive Of remedial meas
ures. The New York Evening Post,
which has been especially jealous in
support of the movement, says that de
spite the capitalistic influences at work
to prevent the rescue of the children,
there is a steadily growing recognition
that the fight is one for the health and
welfare Of coming generations" 1t
states that the movement is gaining
strength daily in North and South Car
olina, as we'll as In Alabama, where one
Of the largest mills works children of 8
years or more thirteen hours a day, with
twenty minutes for dinner.
The defenders Of this system in the
south, the Post says, effectively appeal
to sectional jealousy, representing that
the north is meddling in matters which
do not concern 1t and urging that New
England should set its OWL house in or
der. Unfortunately, there is abundant
warrant for the southern employers OF
child labor retorting You're another
/ Great numbers of children, hardly more
than infants, are employed in northern
mills and factories, though not gener
ally under such hard conditions, either
as to hours Of work or wages, as com
monty prevail in the south. According
to reports of factory inspectors, 9,OOt
children are employed in Massachusetts
10000 in New York, 10000 in Illinois
and $4,000 in Pennsylvania, exclusive o.
boys in the coal mines. 1t is said tina
In Illinois the number of children re
ported by factory inspectors has NOR,
than doubled in the FIVE years between
1897 and 1901. The testimony given be
fore the anthracite strike commission Il
regard to the employment OF little girl
In the silk mills for periods Of twelv
hours at a few cents an hour was
revelation that has made a strong I'm
preston and ought to strengthen tn
movement for remedying the child-labo
evil.
One Of the active leaders In the NOV,
} ment says that the ''chiid-labor problem
far from being a local one 10 be deaI
with by a small group Of southern col
ton-manufacturing states, is a great an
growing national problem" No one ca
doubt this who win take the trouble {
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
A VITAL MERGER DEFECT.

Financial journals are calling atten-
ton to the lack Of sufficient working
capital in a multitude of industrial
mergers and consultations usually re-
garded as legitimate undertakings, as
potential factors in the present money
stringency. 1t is noted that In the
original organization of these vast con-
Germs insufficient provision was made for
capital to carry on their business, so
that In some cases, like the American
Bicycle company, a ~receivership was the
only resort, or in many others, like the
American Linseed Oil company and the
United States Rubber company, immense
amounts had to be provided by ad-
ditional issues of bonds and stocks, while
innumerable companies which avoided
such issues now find themselves hard
pressed for operating funds. The
actual lack Of funds was in large meas
ure concealed by the liberal advances
the banks in fusher times could give,
but which are now withdrawn.
This grave defect was in fact newt
table in the methods by which the great
majority of the consultations were or
ganIzed and launched. Even in most of
the cases where legitimate industrial
concerns were the subjects Of consolida-
ton, an important and often the chief
motive was speculative, and while ex-
cessive prices were paid for the separate
properties enormous amounts of the cap
italization were set apart for the man
ayers in addition to what was seized
as profits to the promoters and financ-
ing syndicates at every stage Of the re-
organizing process. The plain but vital
matter Of operation being a secondary
thought, its needs were neglected. Not
only so, but most Of the concerns went
into operation having their capital still
in the form of unsold securities, and
to make them tempting in the market
or to maintain them there high dividend
rates had to be insured, thus cutting
down surplus earnings needed in the
business.
A striking illustration is afforded by
the American Grass Irvine company, a
far stronger concern than the average
in cancelling it's announcement of q
quarterly dividend of IL per cent. This
is significant of what must perforce be
done by a vast number of pretentious
consultations. What is actually rams
piring and impending as the result OF
inherent defects in industrial reorgani
zations-to speak plainly about its
commonly known as wringing out the
water.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
Pay Living wage or Quit.
MINNEAPOLIS Journal.

MInneapOIIs JOURNAL.
Judging from Judge Gray's remarks in
the coal arbitration commissions session
the commission does not propose to go into
the question OF whether the operators can
afford to pay living wages or not. 1t as
sumes that IL they can't it would be better
to close the mines. This is good sense.
Inquiry as to whether the operators can
afford to pay what the men earn would last
indefinitely and would be aside from the
point. Let those mines close that cannot
pay fair wages, and the sooner the better,
Not many, however, will close even under
application of this rule.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
Personal AND OTHERWISE.

Two short weight coal dealers have been
hustled into jail in Chicago. Once In a
while justice does a Job which cancels a
multitude Of sins.
Kentucky's whisky crop for the year will
be 10000, 900 gallons. The fear Of drouth
IN the Bluegrass state seems to be without
substantial foundation.
Five Crows, an Indian chief In Oregon, Is
dead. Too much nectar Of civilization.
When Did Crow and Five Crows got to-
gether some one had to croak.
The man who rocked the boat has retired
from business. but the one who tries to
skate over the air holes Of the Missouri
river will be heard Of presently.
Medical sharps claim to have discovered
a specific for the germ Of lazlness. Hitherto
the dictum Of Josh Billings held unques-
toned sway: "Thare amt nothing that's
a sure cure for l~aziness, but have known
a seckond wife tew hurry it some"
A young woman in Oshkosh was forcibly
kissed three times and was awarded a YER
dict Of $166.66 for each kiss. This raises
the Oshkosh kiss to the notch Of luxury
AT this season, however, IT is expected ev-
cry young woman will be generous to the
poor.
Peter Finley Dunno OF Dooley fame will
not philosophize on domestic relations
for some time to come. for, you see." he
observes, marriage is one OF the few
things IL is better to 'discoorse' on before
the experiment" Dooley has gone and
done 1t.
A bronze memorial bust OF the late
Colonel Richard w. Thompson, secretary OF
the navy in the cabinet of President Hayes
and for sixty years an active participant
in national politics, has Just been unveiled
in the court house yard at Terre Haute.
Ind.
The Philadelphia Record scores an un-
doubted scoop" by Issuing its annual
almanac two weeks ahead Of the process.
sion. Its early call makes its welcome all
the warmer, and its record Of the wanins
year is as interesting as its forecast of com.
ing events is instructive.
Some unknown knocker sent personal in.
vitations to New York aldermen to visit
and inspect local jails. The salons took the
hint and promptly approved the Pennsyl.
vania tunnel scheme which was held uT
for months past. Recollections of BIZ
Lineed and Jake Sharp are a power fol
good in Gotham.
The Washington Star swelled out of al
proportion on the 10th inst, the occasion
being the golden anniversary Of the found.
ing Of the paper. A seventy four page edi.
ton and a magazine supplement fttingly
marked the event. 1t was a notable achieve,
ment in the newspaper line and epitomize.
the progress Of the national capital in hal
a century.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

1t Is noted that Canada's imports from
the United States have grown steadily
Notwithstanding its preferential duty in
favor of British goods. But it's trade
with Great Britain has also grown stead
lily, and there is no question that the
United States would have gained still
more had it been on an equal footing
with Its competitor. If full reciprocity
should be instituted between the United
States and Canada Uncle Sam would
soon outstrip his British cousin in the
race for Canadian trade.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
TRUSTS POLICY OF DELAY.
Modern Application of "FIavian Mill.
tary Tactics"
Baltimore American (rep.),

Baltimore American (rep.).
The policy OF the trust magnates DURING
the present session Of congress reminds
one very much Of the famous Flavian mill
tary tactics. There is a very obvious in
disposition to precipitate a congressional
contest which will force a general battle,
with its final decision. The trusts arc
afraid to face such a crisis. Like the Ro-
mans OF old, they know the fierce power
Of their adversaries, All of the arguments
Of fairness, Justice, honesty and national
contentment have been. marshaled under
the banners OF the antitrust army. Such
an array of power is entirely too formid-
able for the trusts to chance a .conclus-
i've trial of arms against 1t. Were the
matter pushed to a final issue at this
session there is no. doubt as to the over
whelming, the crushing defeat which the
trusts would sustain.
The champions of the trusts are sharp
enough to see their danger, Just as much
SO as the Roman general was shrewd enough
to perceive the perils which would be en-
countered were the legions OF the empire
again dashed against the battalions OF Han
nibal. The policy of delay, as a conse-
quence, is being resorted to by the trusts
as the best way to avert a legislative
calamity. Strenuous efforts are being put
forth to prevent this session OF congress
from e~nacting any measure which is in the
leastwise aggressive. All of the combined
power OF their wealth and influence is
being utilized in the plan OF choking of
discussion as far as possible and Of holding
down legislation; that is, II legislation
must come, to some trivial and ineffective
measure.
The trusts hope to accomplish much in
this way. They have great fears OF the
consequences should a constitutional amend
ment follow. They also oppose the sug-
| g~estions about publicity and capitalization.
Any radical law in any one Of these direc-
lions would be ruinously hurtful to the
trust method Of operation. For that rea-
son the trust champions are conducting a
three-cornered fight. They are endeavoring
to split the antitrust arm into three parts,
each part representing some special pet
measure of its own. By this process Of
dividing the enemies forces the trusts
count on preventing the mastering of
enough support around any one proposition
to carry IL to enactment. In other words,
it is desired to keep the several divisions
80 far apart that they cannot act in unison.
BY so doing the matter of actual antitrust
legislation will be so delayed that the end
of the session will fnd the situation such
that no effective law will be likely OF enact
ment. and, indeed, there may be the pos
sibility Of no enactment at all.
United action on the part OF opponents OF
the trusts is absolutely imperative in order
to make the Flavisn policy Of the trusts a
ridiculous failure.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
MUNICIPAL oWEERsHIP In IOWA.

The extension of municipal ownership
of public utilities has in no western
state been more rapid than lately In
Iowa, a noticeable impetus having been
recently given by the decisions of the
courts. The most important cause of
this growth. however, is the satisfactory
experience of municipalities which have
made the experiment. For the most
part these have not been the largest
cities of the state, for the reason chiefly
that about all OF those had already
long since reached what was under
stood to be the constitutional limitation
Of Indebtedness, depriving them of the
means of providing the funds necessary
for expensive plants. But for a period
Of years a large and constantly increas-
ing number OF the smaller cities and
towns have owned and operated the
plants by which particularly water and
light are supplied.
So low have been both the charges
and the operating expenses of these
plants that a multitude of towns have
been able to supply themselves where
it was impossible to enlist private cap
ital to operate under franchises. There
Is almost no record OF towns which
have thus administered their own pub
lie utilities abandoning the effort OF
subsequently turning over to franchised
corporations, but there are numerous
cases where the latter have originally
attempted to supply the public and
failed, where the municipality taking II
over has succeeded. Municipal owner
ship is now practically the rule, so fal
as water and light are concerned. IL
the minor Iowa cities.
The case is materially different in thu
principal cities, for the constitutions
reason already cited and for the fur
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
ONE WAY TO KILL 1T,
An Old Reliable Remedy for the Germ
of LaEiness.

An Old Reliable Remedy for the Germ
of LaEiness.
Baltimore American.
1t has remained for an American scien-
list to discover that strong aversion to
work, deep anxiety to refrain as far as
possible from anything that even smacks
Of toll, is due to a germ. II is the custom
nowadays to blame nearly everything on
this apparently innocent factor in the
makeup Of the universe, and It will prob
ably not be long before It is charged with
being responsible for original sin and for
other mental and moral weaknesses that
have brought all kinds Of woes Upon the
human family. This scientist insists-and
nobody yet has arisen to question the &C
curacy OF his discovery-that the germ Of
laziness has at last been captured; but as
yet he has found no method Of killing It.
II IT partakes Of the nature of the human
being in which it exists, there is not, how
ever, any danger that it will run away,
and the scientist may have all the time he
wants to find its antidotc.
1t has generally been held thai some
people are born lazy; others acquire lazl-
ness, Just as some unwise men acquire an
Unsuitable desire for rum, aud still others
a fondness for company that does not ben
eft either their minds or their morals
Cases have been known in which even
household servants, who fail to wake hp
when the cock crows or when the alarm
clock goes on a rampage, have been ac-
cused OF laziness; but the h~ousekeeper has
never felt IL necessary to send for a doc
tor to search for the germ. Emphatic Ian
guage from the head Of the house or q
prompt discharge are generally employed
to prevent a recurrence Of the lack Of APP
probation OF the flight OF time. The tramp
and the hobo. il laziness bs a germ. mus
be well supplied with the article. for ever
the law cannot cure them of the resolve
to keep far way from anything that re.
sembles toll.
The American scientist can rest assured
that II laziness be a germ, work will cure
It. Enforced labor with head or hands Of
feet will knock out laziness quicker thar
even Dewey could knock out a spanisl
feet. The remedy is infallible, and wheI
once employed the patient Is not apt 4
come around asking for another dose.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
MISS OMAHA's CHRISTINA STOCKING.

Miss Omaha sits wondering
What Santa Claus this year will bring.
She knows from past experience
Old Santa can be very dense
When one expects he'll understand
h ones most urgent needs demand.
However, she has managed to
Ride many Yuletides safely through,
And so, though furrowed is with care
Her brow, she thinks not to despair,
But reads the promise in the sky
OF wishes realized-by and by.
For Santy's benefit we'll here
Enumerate the things most dear
To Mistress Omaha's big heart,
That he may do his generous part.
(For things he can't In time rush through
Let Sanity give his / o u
An auditorium she wants;
Her dreams Ak-Sar-Ben's castle haunts
A temple for sweet music's home;
A market hall to call her own;
More factories, shops, good tenements
And cottages at lower rents.
Then cheaper power, light, heat needs she,
And more street car facility;
The paving OF her streets made good
And asphalt substituting wood;
More public spirit%nterprise;
Less idle guys who just look wise.
Wen. anyhow. she's hung it-mind.
The biggest hose Miss o. could find
Where Sanity, when he makes HIS CALL
Must tumble in, reindeer and all.
II does one good It's size to view.
ALFRED MARsCHNER-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

AS a result of a citizens movement
and investigation begun last fall the
assessment roll of st. Joseph has been
increased by between 100000 and
$5,OO0,0OO, and the increase represents
property on which taxes V were
paid before. The experience of st.
Joseph is the same as that Of most other
western cities. Through lack of ade-
quate public interest abuses steadily
crept in until they became too fragrant
to be endured.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
symbols.
Boston Herald.

bOENbh Iltl dihs
We get further substantial evidence OF
the prosperity and generosity of our peo-
pie from the enormous quantities Of
Christmas gifts with which the outgoing
ocean liners have been laden during the
past week or two. The great bulk Of these
tokens Of remembrance, numerically at
least. are those Of the comparatively poor,
and It is significant Of the condition Of this
class Of people that their remittances, In
one form and another, nave been excep-
tionally large this season. 1t is recalled
how Mr.. Beecher once remarked that the
gifts sent from children in the new world
to their parents and relatives in the old
home were a symbol of love and affection
without parallel, and the highest tribute
to the character and value OF the newly
arrived immigrant. 1t is apparent that the
growth of this sentiment is almost keeping
step with the enormous growth OF immi-
grafton.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
Boomer of Great Schemes
Philadelphia Record.

HAlaAtlpiAa 1917"
No promoter in the land carries more
speculative bees in his head than Senator
Morgan OF Alabama. His latest scheme is
to c~olonize the American negroes in the
Philippine islands. He would have the
government undertake the necessary
transportation. giving free passage and a
twenty-acre homestead as inducements to
emigration. without consequent impair
ment Of any OF the rights Of American
citizenship. No doubt there are climatic
arguments which would Justify such a
movement. The negro hourishes under
tropical conditions that eneryate or de-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
POINTING IN RIGHT DIRECTION.
Free Rural Mail Delivery n Promoter
of Good Roads.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
II report be true, the postmaster general
is soon to be asked to consider a pretty
promising plan for the betterment of the
highways of this country, submitted to the
superintendent Of the free delivery system
by a citizen of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Joseph
W. Brown. 1t is based upon the fact that
only one serious obstacle stands In the way
Of developing the free delivery service,
namely, the present condition OF our coun-
try roads.
Mr.. Browns idea is that II a certain road
is reported as practically impossible for
the carriers, the highway authorities of the
town wherein It is found are to have a
reasonable length of time within which to
repair 1t, and the penalty for their failure
so to do is to be the cessation OF free de-
livery in that locality.
In his recent report Mr.. Martin Dodge,
director Of the bureau of public roads in
quiries Of the Department Of Agriculture,
made some interesting comments:
"The circumstance that over Sc, 1000, 900
was appropriated by our last congress
largely to be buried in our muddy roads in
the delivery of our rural mails, while only
the small sum of 500, 900 was last year de-
voted to meeting the road problem, indi-
Gates the great need Of education regarding
the present necessity and demand for Wig
orous and intelligent road work.
"As much Of these large appropriations
for rural mail delivery could be saved II
we had good roads, II is obvious that an
amount equal to a considerable portion OF
these sums could be spent to good advan-
tage in educating the people in the work OF
improving our country roads, and thus for
ever close q large drain on our national
cashbox."
If III. introduction of free mail delivery
results in the improvement OF our country
roads our rural friends will have occasion
to bless the art of letter writing and the
nOEtof8ca fufca ovar
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
GETS A NEW DEAL.
Cards stacked Too Early I'm the Game
for the JudRship.
Chicago Record-Herald.

Chicago Record-Herald.
There seems to be a fine opportunity for
political reform in Douglas county, Mo-,
where Judge Burgess OF the state supreme
court has issued a writ Of custer against
Judge Burkhead OF the circuit court. IL
appears that Judge Burkhead secured his
nomination as the result Of a game Of
cards. Burkhead Is q republican, and he
defeated George w. ThornberTy, democrat,
at the polls. Thornberry comes forward
now with the claim that Burkhead and q
man OF the name OF Bronson were rival
candidates for the republican nomination.
In order that there might be no contest in
the convention, he says, they agreed to play
a game Of cards for the iudgeship, the win
ner to pay the loser the sum Of $1,S75 in
cash.
Bronson won at cards. but when he went
into the convention 1t was found that he
could not secure the nomination. He then,
according to the allegation. turned his votes
over to Burkhead, who gave UP the hnan-
clal stake to Bronson. The defeated demo-
crat rises now and virtuously declares that
neither OF his republican rivals is entitled
to the seat, and that he ought to have IT.
Leaving that matter out OF the question, IL
must be rather humiliating to the reput-
licans of Douglas county, II the charges
are true, to think that their votes could be
played for at a card table as IL they had
been poker chips or three-for-hve stogies,
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

Their reason that the experience Of pub
lie ownership In the larger has not been
as satisfactory as in the minor mu-
inequalities. But under the holdings of
the courts a distinct movement is al
ready on in the former to control d.
rectly as proprietors their public utili-
ties even where they are now in the
hands of corporations. The extent to
which the public ownership movement
has gone in Iowa has hardly been ap-
preciated even within the state itself.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
BLASTS FROM RAMS HORN.

Humility is the prelude to honor.
Mammon Is the mother Of misery.
Men need soft hearts in hard times.
Gems are but pebbles without the grind
ing.
High pressure in society is apt to go
with low pressure in piety.
Our gains depend not on what we can
get. but on what we can give.
The plant OF piety will not live by being
stuck in the soil OF prayer about once a
week.
The life wholly spent in the closet is as
useless as the life without the closet is
powerless.
II you hide your sins in the cellar they
will be sure to make themselves known In
the parlor.
The religious market will be dull as long
as We preach No. 1 hard and practice
screenings.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21
Good Thing 20 Pass Around.
Wnshlnrtnn Pest

Secretary Wilson contends that the peo-
pie who kill their cattle afflicted with the
foot-and-mouth disease should be paid for
the same. What about the man who sorts
his potatoes and is obliged to throw away
the bad ones. Then there is the newspa-
per publisher who would not object to re-
ceiying compensation for the papers that
are spoiled in the process of printing. But
there are so many other industries the
secretary might benefit in this manner that
It is not at all practical for us to attempt
to enumerate. II we are going in for pa
ternalism, why show determination
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-21

The commercial f~orecaster of Dun &
Co. has favored the country with the
announcement that the year 1902 Will
end well. On the theory that it is some
what risky to praise a man until after
he is dead, because he might do some
thing out of the perpendicular before
he draws his last breath, the prediction
of the Dun forecaster is slightly pre-
mature. There are still ten days for
the unexpected of 1902 to happen.