davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
H OH STORIES.

Maa
w d. Nesbit, in Baltimore American.
We sing old songs-their melody
Calls up tbs olden days,
And paints US pictures of the past
On which we fondly gaze.
We sing old songs-their cadence gives
A softer light on life
But when old stories strike our ears
We s~traightway rise I'm strife.
We hail old friends-we clasp their hands,
And vow they cheer our sight
We greet them with true. happiness
And comradeship we plight,
We hail old friends-We swear the tie ,
Is one that never ends, 1ea at 7s
But good old stories Wen not hear,
Not even from our friends.
We praise old wine-its bubbles smile
AS though to echo back
The smiles II coaxes to our lips
We talk OF good old Hck"; 2 H
We praise old wines--their mellow warmth
Goes tingling through and through;
But those old stories-When they start
We call for something new. ftf
We sing old songs; we hail old friends;
We praise old wine; why, then,
Let's call the good old stories up -
And tell them all again.
The old tales are the friends of youth
They hold the song ana wine.
Old friends, old wisses old songs, old tales
OF memory divine.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
BIog SCHOOL TEXT BOOK sUssUB.

You cannot eat your pie and keep 1t
at the same time. The taxpayers Of
Omaha have called for retrenchment in
local government because the taxes had
become so burdensome as to be almost
~unbearable and retrenchment is not pos
sible without the use OF the pruning
knife. The resolution recently adopted
by the school board to draw the line on
free text books at the High school is in
line with the policy Of retrenchment on
which the taxpayers insist for the flu
ture. AS a matter of fact free text
books are not an inherent right. Twenty
years ago the parent of every child in
the public schools had to provide school
books at his own expense and nobody
regarded it as an imposition.
When the free text book proposition
was first adopted It's advocates wanted
1t restricted TO the children whose pa
rent were 50 impoverished as to be un-
able to pay for the books. This would
have required each parent to make an
application that for many would have
been humiliating. For this reason it
was decided that all children, regardless
Of class or grade. should be furnished
| with school books free of charge. The
High school was included with the other
grades because Of the very small num-
Der that ~patronized it and the compare
lively Insignificant proportion OF ex-
pense Of High school books to the cost
Of books furnished to the other grades.
Now that we have 1,4O0 pupils in the
High school, the proportions OF expense
are very materially changed.
II is a disgrace TO Omaha and the
Sehool board that ta members should
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Africa and by direct negotiations with
the Boer leaders. This appears a not
unreasonable position. particularly In
view Of the fact that the Beers in Eu-
rope processing to be delegates seem
to have no authority to act for those in
south Africa. If they do not possess
the authority 1t would manifestly be a
waste Of time to carry on negotiations
with them and it appears strange, un-
der such circumstances. that the Neither
lands government should have suggested
anything Of the kind.
1t is obviously useless to talk of inter
vention in the South African war, unless
all the great powers were to unite for
such a purpose and that is to be re-
garded as impossible. Great Britain is
firm in the determination not to permit
any interference with her South African
policy and it will not be changed except
at the demand Of her own people.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

City Engineer Rosewater has made
his report more readable than the usual
official document by discussing in it sew
eral of the live problems Of municipal
government with which the taxpayers
of Omaha are graphing. His exposure
Of the false and misleading statements
of Omaha's bonded debt that have been
circulated out of the c~omptroller's office
and inserted in the census and other
statistical compilations is timely and to
the point. There is certainly no excuse
for any city official to advertise Omaha
as burdened with a colossal bonded debt
which exists only in the imagination.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
woDLp HcLp PACIFIC coMnERcs.

The report submitted by Senator
Frye on the ship subsidy bill points out
that the proposed legislation wouio raa-
terially increase the Of the
Pacific and materially benefit the coast
states. He stated that the mail subsi-
dies would provide a f~ortnightly service
from the Puget sound ports, alternating
with a fortnightly service from San
Francisco. The report says that both
positively and negatively the American
transpaciic mail system which the bill
makes possible will contribute power
fully to American maritime ascendancy
In the Pacific. 1t viii accomplish this re-
suit, the report declares, because it
moves along the normal lines of the
worlds progress. 1t is urged that spe-
cial conditions render 1t certain that the
earliest and most rapid development
Of American shipping under the. bill will
be ON the Pacific. while American
shipping In transpaciftc trade has been
stationary and foreign shipping has
doubled within four years. nevertheless
that trade is not so completely in posses
sion Of ships under foreign flags as is
the trade of the Atlantic. The oppor-
tunity for new American maritime ven
tutres is greater"
There appears to be no doubt that the
proposed legislation would operate most
favorably to the maritime interests of
the Pacific coast and greatly help in the
development Of the industries and com
merce OF that section. This being the
case. it would seem there should be lit.
tie opposition to the measure from that
section, the future growth and pros
perity of which depend so much upon
the development OF trade with the
Orient. Unless there is a greatly exag.
gerated idea as to the possibilities OF
this trade, It is manifestly important
that there siall be . large merchant
marine on the Pacific n the proposed
legislation would undoubtedly promote
this. Nothing can, confidently be said
regarding the outlook for such legisIa,
ton. but II would seem that 1t should
have the practically unanimous support
OF Pacific coast Representatives in. con
gress.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

in, dealing with this question divide on
the political lines on which the board
was organized. This is not a political
issue and should be dealt with purely
from the standpoint Of the public well
fare. 1t Is deplorable that men who
were elected a few months ago on a
pledge of retrenchment and economy
and against machine w~astefulness and
extravaganza Should stand up as OBJ
structionists to retrenchment In the mat
ter of free text books for High school
pupils.
The mere fact that the Central Labor
union passed resolutions demanding the
restoration of free text books in the
High school affords no proof that all OF
the members OF trades unions in Omaha
are back Of these resolutions. Nine
tenths of them have never thought of
the question and the other tenth has
never had a chance to study and digest
1t. Four-fifths of the children being ed
ucated In parochial schools are the chill
dren of trades union mechanics whose
parents cheerfully pay not only for
school books, but also for the expense
Of teachers. Fully 90 per cent of the
children of the real poor never enter the
High school and the other 10 per cent
rarelyfgo beyond the second year.
The requisite books for the first year
In the High school cost $7.15, for the sec
ond year s6.sS. This means that the
parent of the boy or girl in the High
school will pay 21-8 cents each
working day toward the purchase
Of school books. This is certainly not
IN awful burden, only half as heavy as
tine burden Of buying a High school cadet
uniform. AS a natter of fact, almost
any poor mans boy, who has an ambi-
ton and is willing to work, can earn a
sufficient amount Of money in a variety
Of occupations outside Of school hours
to pay for his books. A boy by the
name of james A. Garfield worked on a
canal to pay for his school books as well
as his schooling in college without con-
sidering it too great a hardship.
The truth is that the hubbub about the
text books has been fomented by dema-
gogues who want to play poor mans
friend at the very first election, n they
are willing to befriend the poor man
who is shiftless and thriftless at the ex-
pense of the poor man who has invested
his hard-earned savings of years in a
home. They forget that the great ma
jority of the working men Of Omaha be-
long to the homecoming class.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
ooVrRNoR sAvAoE BAs 4 Plan.

GOVERNOR SAVAGE HAS A PLAN.
Governor Savage has taken the public
into his confidence by announcing that
his message to the legislature Of 1908
will contain a recommendation for the
most extensive system OF public i'm
provements ever contemplated by any
one in Nebraska The governor pro-
poses to make a state enterprise Of the
utilization Of water both Tor the pur-
poses Of irrigation and power. This
plan includes the construction and
equipment Of n or more power canals
to supply electrical energy to mills and
factories at the most feasible points and
irrigation works to water the semi-arid
lands In western Nebraska. Instead of
leaving these projected enterprises to
private capital, Governor Savage pro
poses to have them carried on by the
state for the people, who are to raise the
necessary money by the issue of state
bonds.
1t goes without saying that this plan
IL carried out on the scale outlined by
the governor would involve an 'expendl-
ture Of millions of dollars, and that is
precisely where II will run up against a
stone wall. The only way the state
could raise the money needed for such a
gigantic scheme Of internal I improve
ments would be by an issue Of bonds.
and since the state debt already far ex-
ceeds the constitutional limit the gov
ernors plan cannot be put in effect until
the constitution has first been amended.
II such an amendment is to be sub
mitted by the legislature of 19Qs, it can
not be voted on before the election In.
November. 1904; in other words, II 1t can
run the gauntlet Of a presidential cleo
ton year the preliminary steps could
o be taken until the Legislature OF
1905. If after digestings the plan that
body should decide in its favor, no bond
issue, even without ratification by the
people. could be made before the sum-
mer of 1905.
If Governor Savage is really in dead
earnest about his plan. which we admit
has some merit, he will take the short
cut by calling a special session Of the
Legislature this spring to submit that
amendment to the constitution. together
with all the others that are needed, ana
have them voted on at the general cleo
ton this year. A powerful argument
for an extra session is furnished by him
when he says: "There is enough power
going to waste every day In Nebraska
to turn the wheels Of a thousand fec
tories, and until a power canal or some
other means Of cheap power is devised
we shall continue to send our money
away for articles consumed here and
which might just as well be manufac-
tured here" If millions cars bs saved
every day, 1t would be almost criminal
to defer action for three years, or three
times 365 days.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Remarkable Strides OF the oountr1
an Tvventy Years.

AWenAf heANAf
n wonderful developments OF Ameri,
can products OF the held. forest, mine AMI
manufacture. the growth In our populs-
tion, wealth and commerce. the extension
Of railways. teiegraphs and other meth.
DDS Of communication in the United states
within the last twenty years is strikingly
shown in a pamphlet Just issued by the
Treasury department. Among the facts
and figures shown are the following:
The cotton produced has increased from
1888 bales In 1900, 70 s.tS6.416 bales IL
1900; the wool. from IS, 500, ia pounds in
1S40 to 800. 500, 1913 pounds In 1901; wheat
from l5i, s99, 90e bushels; corn, from $751;.
sle, 2s5 bushels In 1856. to 3.1O5, 400. SIS BUSH
els in 1900; copper, from $50 tons In 1856
to 27o,5ss tons In 1900: pig iron. from 1885,.
900 tons In 1880, to 1 $500. 900 tons in 1901;
petroleum, from 81, 900. 900 gallons in 1860 to
1851, 49, Sos gallons in 1890; coal. from
S,s5s. 500 tons In 1850 to ee7 $780, 900 tons in
1901, and gold, from $50, 900. 900 in 1850 to
$79.17 900 in 1900.
During the period under consideration
exports OF merchandise have grown from
$7o,9s1,7so in 1900 to s..4G7. 76A9gi In 1901;
the per capita In 1900 being 1887, and in
1901, 1851. The imports OF merchandise
have grown from sci, 252, 76s in 1900 10
Ss2S, 172, 1876 in 1901, while the per capita
imports have fallen from st7.ls in 1900
to s1o.5s in 1901.
The wealth has increased from $7,135, $780,
600 In 1850 to an estimated $sl, 800, 0oo. 200
In 1900; the per capita wealth, from S307.sg
in 1850 to S1.2S5.SBs IN 1900.
The public. debt, less cash in the treas
ury. was in 1866 s7s.ss per capita, n in
1901 was 1884 per capita. while the In
terest on the public debit which in 1867
was S1ls, ISL 1892. had fallen to 1885, 1877
in 1901, M
The figures Of money in circulation show
In 1860 a total Of s4S5, 40y. 1852, and In 1901
81, 175, 1891, at. The circulation per capita
in 1860 was s1S.s5; in 1901 ssas.02.
The deposits In savings banks in 1880
were $6,e73, 304; in 1881, NHfty-eight years
later. they we're $1,o24. $50, 49,, and by 1901.
a further period Of only eighteen years,
had reached 1887, Os4. $50.
Meantime the national banking system
had come into operation, and in 1866 the
deposits in national banks we're $500. 91O.-
1913; in 1880, $1,000, 452, sb3. and In 1901. So
044,600 900. The number OF depositors n
savings banks grew from IS, 1885 in 1880 to
1867, O61 in 1866, and 6,S5s,a23 In 1901. Rail-
ways grew from 9.O21 miles in 1850 TO 1ss,-
s7S In 1901; and freight carried one mile
increased from SO, S02, 200, 24sy tons in 1882
to 141, 1862, 109, 4i3 tons in 1901 freight rates
falling meantime from 1.241cents per ton
per mile to .75 ofra cent per ton per mile.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
WHEN is a MAN .rrOo OLD,"
A Few NotabIes VINO Occupy thu
Front Benches.

Front Benches.
New York World.
1t IS frequently stated that no old men
are wanted nowadays. The World Eets let
tiers by the score from those who say they
have been showed aside to make room for
younger men.
1t seems. however. that despite his sixty
six years Lyman J. Cage. about to retire
from the Treasury department. has had
four good Jobs offered him. with salaries
attached ranging from $25, 900 to $4,000.
Useless old men are not wanted these
days. Useful old men are. Mr.. Gage has
made a lifelong speci7lty Of banking. Bank
ing has changed greatly since he arst went
into the business, but he has kept abreast
of the changes. In fact, in some instances
1t was he who made the changes.
Mr.. Gage is only one instance. There are
hundreds of other men past the threescore
mark filling positions Of highest Importance
and filling them we'll. Chauncey Depew,
John wanamaker, John D.. Rockefeller. An
drew Carnegie, George r. Hoar. Hiram
Maxim, Bishop Potter and Levi p. Morton
are all past sixty5some of them past
seventy-and yet they are among the most
useful and active men In the country,
How old q man Is depends largely on him
self. II an old man is not wanted In a
position he has occupied for years 1t 10
not because Of his years or his gray hairs.
1t is because he has lost interest n
ambition, because he has made no effort
to keep up to the times, because he has
grown careless or has sacrificed his health
to indulgence or ignorance.
Useful men are always In demand, no
matter when they were born.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Ex-senator w. ".
The admirers OF Thomas jefferson should
not be carried of their feet and induced TO
give expression to sentiments not war
ranted by the truth Of history. No we'll
informed man doubts Mr.. Jefferson's ability.
or that when president he administers
the government faithfully, and by his writ
ings and public u%tterances endeavored TO
lay a broad foundation for popular govern
ment; and for these he should be held in
grateful remembrance. But It is a mistake
to think Mr.. jefferson was the unalded
author OF the Declaration of Independence,
for he was but one Of a committee con-
sisting Of John Adams, Thomas jefferson,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and
r.. r. Livingston who drafted that. inn
mortal instrument. .
The Declaration of Independence did not
state anything new in the line Of political
thought, for the French school of democ
racy had formulated and advocated the
doctrine OF popular government before
Jefferson's time. The Declaration of In
dependence was not the first statement
made by the people Of the United States
through the Continental congress, of their
claim to political liberty. One month be-
fore it's adoption Richard Henry Lee OF
Virginia, d. seconded by John Adams of
Massachusetts,, presented this resolution
to congress-:
THAT these united colonies are and of
right ought to be free and independent
states; and hat all political connection
between them and Great Britain Ia and
ought to be totally suppressed"
The resolution was sent to the committee
Of the whole, and was debated until the
10th Of June, 1776, when 1t was adopted,
and on that day a committee to draft a
declaration was appointed and instructed
to declaro:
"That these united colonies are and OF
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
Treason to II. Jefferson
1910 w. v. Anen IN Madison Man.

len in Madison Mail.
right ought to be free aud independent
states; that they are absolved from all
allegiance to the British crown; and that
all political connections between them and
the state Of Great Britain Is and ought to
be destroyed
Briefly told this is the history Of the
Declaration Of Independence. Mr.. Adams
says that Mr.. Jefferson was appointed to
do the clerical work on account Of his we'll
known accuracy OF penmanship and ele-
gance OF style and to mollify him. But his
tory shows hat the original draft was ma
t~erially amended and thoroughly edited by
the Continental congress.
Mr.. Jefferson is usually and properly
credited with having negotiated the treaty
OF purchase Of the Louisiana territory;
but we must remember that Napoleon
Bonaparte was induced to part with the
territory not by reason Of q desire for
money, but because he was on the eve Of
a protracted war with England and the
allied powers, and did not have an army
and navy sufficient to enable him to con-
duet a continental war and at the same
time protect his American possessions.
And this was the moving influence to his
parting with Louisiana.
Candid men Will concede That Mr. Jet-
ferson showed himself to no advantage In
his bitter and relentless prosecution Of
Aaron Burr, his political rival. There
never was any tangible evidence on which
to base the charge Of treason against Burr,
as was thoroughly demonstrated IN his
trial at Richmond before Chief Justice
Marshall Of the United States supreme
court. This prosecution amounted to a
---A--- - ANkA0aahaa pAopItAA IN
the destruction Of the political fortunes
Of Burr, 1t did not add to the luster Of
Jefferson's NAME.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

The Board of Education has adopted
a resolution granting the state photog-
raphers' association the use Of the as
sembly room in the city hall for holding
a convention in May or June. If the
Board Of Education a grant the use
Of its quarters in the city hall to the
photographers association it can with
equal propriety grant this privilege to
the state druggists association. the
medical association, or the state board
Of funeral directors, formerly known
as undertaksf% and in due course of
time It might W go so far as to grant
the use OF its assembly rooms to the
state liquor dealers association.
Surely there is nothing In a name so
long Is the principle is the same.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
ENGLAND RrIEors INrGRVESTloN.

ENGLAND REJECTS LETERVENTlON.
The effort of the Netherlands govern
fnent to bring about peace in South
Africa has failed. as was expected. the
British government adhering TO its pol
icy not to accept the Intervention OF any
foreign power in the South African war.
The renewal OF this declaration should
have the effect TO put a stop to the
efforts OF sonie weTImeaning people in
this country to induce our government
to take steps looking to Intervention,
unless they are willing to p~recipitate a
quarrel with Great Britain. These PEG
pie ought to kaow that the British gov
eminent is standing In this matter just
as our government stood In the war
with Spain and Is taking the position
this government would bake If any for
eign nation were to propose interven-
ton In the Philippines.
At the same time the British govern
ment indicates that II is not unwilling
to consider a request from the Boer
delegates in Europe Cor a safe conduct
to South Africa. Ia order TO confer with
the Boer leaders there. aud It is also
disposed to treat with those leaders foI
a settlement But Il win carry on no
nesotiations9fh .Edrope. Whatever shall
b dOne must be accomplished IN sOuth
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

The announcement that the State de-
partmsnt has funds at It's disposal with
which It could defray the expenses Of
entertaining Prince Henry ana of send
ing special commissioners 20 tie corona
ton Of King Edward must BIZ a sore dis
appointment to the opposiusn members
Of congress. There is not the slightest
doObk- had a special appropriation been
nsked barrels OF eloquenee would have
been tapped BY political demagOgueA
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Compressed air motors are suppressed
ing the mule in many Pennsylvania
coal mines. AS generations of swear
ing drivers have failed to make any i'm
preston on the mule. a change may do
no harm
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
How dc Promoter. Farea.
Boston Herald.

Boston Herald.
And so the United States steel syndicate
got securities OF the par value OF s12s, s97,-
500 and present market value OF about $780,
O00. 900 for agreeing to furnish $500. OO0. 900
for organization purposes and actually fur
nishing SIS. 900. 200. which was returned.
And this thing happens In q civilized coun-
try which boasts Of the equality Of all men
under the law and holds 1t criminal to
steal a pin and add water to milkg
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05
ControI % the RaIIroaas.

bL TauI FI0nceT FIV77s
II would seem that the great railroad
magnates are beginning to realize that the
people OF the United States will not permit
the enormous pc~er OF controlling the rates
Of transportation 70 be lodged in the hands
OF a few men under no restraint except
their own conception Of their sslf-interests,
but win and ought 20. demand hat they
be placed under the restraining and regu-
Eating authority q the EoFsrnmsnt
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Democratic senators are putting in
most of their time discussing and de-
nouncing the acquisition Of the Philip
pines. The great trouble with these
fault-hnders is that the acquisition
would never have been made but for the
democratic votes that helped ratify the
treaty when 1t was up before the senate.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

A great row Is being raised in the
British Parliament because Austrian
and American horse dealers got the bet
ter OF British officers who were sent to
buy horses. The man who does BUSH
ness with a horse trader needs to have
his eyeteeth cut before commencing the
zeal.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Why should the fusion press try to
apologize for MeserveS Is there any
thing in politics that obligates a party
organ to v up official c~rookedness
just because Its own party has beer the
victim of misplaced confidence?
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

1t is said Lord Salisbury will resign as
premier of Great Britain as soon as the
South African war is ended. But from
present indications his grip on the min
istry is not likely to be loosened for
some time.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-05

Statistics complied by the War depart
ment show that the number OF men in
this country Of military age and avail
able for military duty in case of emer-
gency n l0S45.26s. While this may be
comforting to look upon. it is still more
oomfortlng TO think there is no proba-
bllity OF any considerable portion of
them ever being called upon for service.