davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
WAT TBEY

The democrats Of the house Of repre-
sentatives have held their caucus and
announced what they proposed con-
gress shall do in behalf of the Beers.
They want that body to pass a reso-
luton Of sympathy, which OF course
would be of no practical or moral
benefit to the Beers. who already know
that they have the sympathy Of
nearly the whole American people.
They would also have congress appeal
to the British government to accept
overtures for peace, a hosdlities n
endeavor to bring about a settlement
Of the war. Such an appeal would Of
course be utterly futile and without
being OF the slightest benefit TO the
brave men OF South Africa who are
struggling for their Independence might
cause British resentment 70 our Injury.
There is nothing possible of accomplish
ment in the interest of the Beers
through what the democrats propose
congress shall do, but 1t would probably
operate to our own disadvantage.
In connection with this matter the
Indianapolis News makes the very per
tinent suggestion that what is particu-
larry needed Is a democratic caucus to
consider what course should be adopted
by the democratic party In relation &c
its attitude toward Americans. There
are two things" remarks that paper
that the democratic party seems TO be
in great need OF eomprehendlpg. One
is that It's relation to the people should
be a thing entirely uncomplicated by
questions OF foreign politics. England'i
attitude toward the Beers Is no more
the business OF an American political
party than Germany's attitude toward
the Poles In the subjected prov
inces, or Russia's attitude toward thu
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

park, in front Of the entrance 10 the house
OF representatives, which has on Ave occa-
sions during thunder storms been struck
and then glanced toward the earth, striking
the tree In its descent. In each Instance
the thunderbolt left its mark on the trunk
OF the old tree by cutting a weli-defned
groove In its thick bark. but never seri-
ousiy ~injuring Its growth.
Mr.. Church gave 1t as his opinion thai
there lie something connected with the tree
which makes 1t q hrst-class conductor OF
atmospheric electricity. and he suggested,
In view Of this attractiveness, that the Vi
entity OF the old linden is q good place to
keep away from during a thunder storm.
When the dome Is struck by lightning IL
is attended by phenomena Of a very inter-
esting character. The report made by the
explosion begins with q crashing noise,
then a continuation OF the report, which
sounds at times very much like a shower
upon a roof. and again as a fusiIade Of
bricks, accompanied by a great volume or
flying echoes. This is caused by the con-
d~uctivity Of the metallic roofing material
scattering the discharge. Following the re-
port, II at night, the interior of the dome
is weirdly illuminated for q second or two
by a blush flame, often accompanied by
a strong odor of birthstone.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

Firms. We may have popular ex-
preston galore on the broad question
Of humanity and sympathy. But when
a party seeks to make of Issues that
are purely foreign, questions OF Amer
lean politics, It is asking Of American
voters something that It has no right 10
ask. The democratic party's views
about the cause OF the Beers. OF the
cause Of the Poles, or the cause Of
the Firms, or Frances relations to the
Porte. have no more to do with Amer
lean politics or American interests than
the English navy estimates or the dis
pute in the Austrian empire as 20 the
question OF languages"
1t is perfectly plain that this mani
festation Of democratic concern for the
Beers is wholly for political effect. 1t
is a demagogic attempt, quite charac-
teristic of the party, to make political
capital. 1t viii catch no votes among
those who have the intelligence to dis
Germ its obvious purpose.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
coLoN1zLna nERRIsKA.

The announcement that the managers
OF the Union Pacific railway have per-
fected a plan Of colonization by which
they hope to bring 1900, new settlers
into this state during the coming year
will be hailed with qualification by
everybody interested In the development
and prosperity Of Nebraska
No state in the union presents a more
promising field for industrious home
seekers. There is room in Nebraska for
several million more people without
crowding. With only ~one-fourth OF it's
area under cultivation, the grain crops
of Nebraska during any fair harvest
year are worth more than all the min
eral wealth taken out Of the earth in
any one year in Colorado or California
The corn crop of Nebraska in any
good year computed at IS cents per
bushel will yield ~$75,OO0,O0o. and the
other cereals and grasses will market
for at least SOC, 100000 more. The heav-
lest output Of precious metals in Colo
ado or California never exceeded $780,
100000 in a year.
1t is eminently proper for the Union
Pacific to inaugurate a plan of coloni-
cation even at this late day. The great
est mistake the former owners of the
Union Pacific railroad made was that
they centered all their efforts on the
through traffic while neglecting lament
ably the local traffic which constitutes
the most profitable source Of the income
Of a well established railroad
It must be borne In mind that the
larger as well as the better half Of Ne
braska is north Of the Platte river.
Had that part of the state been colo
nized properly the state could today
have boosted half a dozen cities Of from
10000 to $4,000 population between
Omaha and Cheyenne and It's wealth
would have been more than trebled.
Had the Union Pacific pursued the
policy which the Burlington was forced
to inaugurate by reason Of its limitation
to local traffic and dependence on the
same the state censu for the year 1900
would have shown a population for Ne
braska of more than 100000.
Now that the Union Pacific has awak-
ened to It's true interest 1t Is to be
hoped that 1t will exert all Its energy
and influence to make up for lost time.
1t is better late than never.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

mails on the Atlantic coast. The American
line, which is TO be such a beneficiary OF
the government Is allied with the Rookie
Teller holdings. The American people are
naturally suspicious OF the benevolent in
t~entions Of the StandRrd OIL company and
the United States Steel corporation.
indianapolis News Cnd. rep); Senators
Fairbanks and Beveridge did not reflect the
predominant sentiment OF Indiana republic
ans when they voted for the ship subsidy
bill. What they did do was 20 endorse tba
proposition to tax the farmers and laborins
men OF Indiana for the beneht OF the men
who build and sail ships. That is all there
Is to Il.
Minneapolis Journal (rep.): Tho payment
Of subsidies will not have the effect OF
reducing freight rates n particle. The Frye
bill allows subsidies to vessels regardless
Of their ages. An old. obsolete type
steamer may get n subsidy. II the senate
thinks this kind OF business is popular
1t is likely to discover that it ia possible
for Its Judgment to make a characterization.
Detroit Free Press (dem.): Our foreign
trade is not to be increased, but the car
rying on Of such trade is made more ex-
pensive. No artificial stimulus Is needed
for the building Of American ships as they
are required and our yards are behind I'm
the demands made upon them. Senators
like Allison, D~olliver. Spooner, Quarles,
Proctor and Dillingham; had the courage to
follow their convictions in opposing the in
defensible and un-Amerfcan measure.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
4 CONCESSION TO THE HOUSE.


The house of representatives has Sc
cured O concession from the senate Of
its claim to participate in action In re-
clprocity treaties affecting revenue The
senate committee on foreign relations
having decided to. take up again the
pending treaties, 1t adopted the report
prepared by it's subcommittee recon-
mending that each Of the reciprocity
conventions. before the senate be
amended 80 as to provide that 1t shall
take effect when approved by con-
gress." The reason given for this is
that the Dingley law authorizing
these commercial agreements has a
provision requiring the consent Of
the entire congress. A Washington
dispatch says that . the members of
the senate committee on foreign rela-
tons are outspoken In their declaration
that this concession does not in any
way affect the tr~eaty-making power of
the president and senate, which they
contend is exclusive of the house, but
majority members say that as they
voted for the Dingley bill which con-
tains the reciprocity clause, consistency
on their part requires that they should
insert the proposed amendment In the
pending treaties. They also say that
their insertion Of it will be a notice
to all foreign powers that such provi-
sion will be required in all future re-
oto.ooa&y aoroamanta
The importance Of the decision max
ing the house a participant in reciproc-
ity treaties is chiefly In the effect which
1t may have upon the negotiation Of
such agreements. VIII not foreign gov
ernments be likely to feel that 1t places
an additional obstacle in the way OF
the success Of such negotiations and
! thus be less opposed to undertake them
1t is quite probable that such will be
the case, but however this may be 1t
seems clear that the decision OF the
senate committee is fully warranted
| and it disposes. at least for the present,
| Of a long-standing contention which 1t
was most desirable to have settled. The
subject, which had been referred to a
committee of the house, viii doubtless
now be dropped.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
ERsON NOTES.

Some days John D. Rockefeller takes in
IS, 900 900 or so.
J. H. Estul, candidate for governor OF
Georgia. is a newspaper man
DR.. Parkhurst, speaking OF the Sunday
closing law, says: whats the user"
weyler continues TO loom up in Spain,
although but few people have been shot a.
yet.
Lord DunerIn spent most Of his life in
cold ATTITUDES. When sent as viceroy to
India he gleetully said: Now / can hang
myself up to dry"
Francis Marion Cockrell OF Missouri IL
the dean OF the democratic side OF the
senate and was the first native Of his state
to be honored with selection to that body.
Those Indians who objected to having
their hair cut as q condition precedent 70
enrolment before the Dawes commission
had probably heard OF the conversations
qualities OF the average American hair
cutter.
DR.. Charles A. Eaton. pastor OF the
Cleveland church which Rockefeller attends
when there, has decided on q campaign Of
street preaching to rouse the Cleveland peo-
pie, who. he says, are sadly Iethargic TO
gsrding religious matters.
Clarence A. Black. a Detroit millionaire,
has been setting q good example 10 other
rich men by serving for several days as
Juror in a Justice court where nearly all
the cases are those OF petty quarrels be-
tween individuals and the police. Many
| other capitalists have been called for such
service. but all escaped the duty on one plea
or another. Mr.. Black made no effort "a
svads thu task. saying II IL the duty Of ali
good citizens to take 4 turn In the jury box
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

What f. going on in Illinois now shows
how completely the constitutional method
Of electing United States senators has
broken down and how desirable Il IL that
some substitute for It shall be found. The
proposition that senator's shall be elected
by the people may not be gaining ground
in the United States senate. but IL IL among
the people.
The present method Of ~electing senator's
Ii as unlike what the trainers of the con-
stitution had In mind as Is the method Of
e~lecting a president. II was assumed that
the presidential electors chosen by each
state would be free agents who would exer-
else their untrammeled Judgment in voting
for a chief MAJ strate. The electors are no
longer free age, It's. They must vote for the
candidate of the party which elects them
or they will be held up to public scorn as
perhdious scoundrels. The original theory
was that members Of state legislatures
were free agents in the choice OF senator's.
They are ceasing TO be. In this state, whose
general assembly is to elect a senator next
year. men are being given legislative nom
nations because they are pledged to vote
for a particular candidate for the senate.
These pledges cannot honorably be broken
by the men who ave given them any more
lhAn = pTesluonIlhl elecJoT can Dreak his
implied pledge.
An Illinois legislature has many matters
TO attend 10 besides the election Of a SEN
ator. But in selecting legislative nominees
little attention n paid TO the ability Of the
nominee TO legislate wisely for the state.
The main question 10 whether he can be
depended on. II elected. to vote for q par
ticular man for senator-or for the man
whom . machine may direct him to vote
for. h inevitable result is an inferior
general assembly and often an inferior SEN
atoT besides.
IN code Of party ethics makes II dis
honorable for q legislator TO refuse to sup
port the caucus nominee for senator, even
II b nominee be an unfit man. To bolt is
to commit political suicide. Thus II comes
about that a senator often is not the choice
OF the people, nor Is he the real choice of
a majority Of the legislature which elects
him. Party drill and discipline put It in the
power OF a minority to force a senator Upon
the majority.
Tho present method Of electing senators
works to the advantage OF the millionaire
who has political aspirations, or who as
sumes that II will help him in a business
or social way to be In the senate. Election
by the legislature has placed in the senate
the wealthy men who could not otherwise
have got there. and whose presence has
won for It tho name Of the millionaire
club" Riches can corrupt a Legislature
they a v done so-but they cannot per-
manently corrupt q people. Senatorial
patronage can make a state legislature
subservient. There L. not enough of It to
influence the action Of the people in the
smallest state. To take the election Of
senators from the legislatures and give II
TO the people is to deprive wealth Of its
undue influence and give merit the oppor-
~tunities now denied II. Corruption thrives
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
Election of
Chicago Tribune.

q -
in the close atmosphere Of legislative halls.
accomplish little.
Il is argued sometimes that II senator's
are elected by the people the same methods
which are now used to get control Of legis-
latures will be used then to get the control
of state conventions which will nominate
senatorial candidates. This is not I'M
likely. The senatorial a~spirant who labors
now to elect his delegates to a senatorial
district convention will have his workers
in every county convention.
There will be this vital difference. A
legislative caucus to nominate a senator
does It's work after an election. What 1t
does Is a hnality. A state convention
meets before election. Its work must be
passed on by the voters. Party prudence,
the desire for party victory, will induce a
state convention 70 nominate for senator
its strongest man, or, at least, to refrain
from nominating one of its weaker men.
Such a convention will not pick out a nom
inee from the ranks OF the millionaires,
because It will know that he cannot be
elected.
A senator outranks a governor now In
popular estimation. When a governor and
senator are on the same ticket the sena-
torial candidate, practically, will be at the
head OF Il, and will have 70 carry the
ticket" IL can hardly be assumed that II
the republicans Of New York had to elect a
senator and governor In the same year by
popular vote they would depend on Tom,
Plat 70 carry the ticket" Nor IL II likely
that II the Ohio republicans wished to in
sure the election of q senator of their party
under the popular vote system they would
make Senator Hanna their candidate.
The man who goes before the people as a
candidate for the United States senate will
find large wealth, which enables him to buy
an election from q legislature, something
of a detriment n a canvass before the peo-
pie. He will have 20 rely on the record he
has made. the favorable estimate the peo-
pie may have formed Of his ability and on
his powers as a public speaker. II the
convention Of one party shall have nomi-
mated q man of q low order Of ability, so
much the worse for that man and for his
party. All the voters will be Jurors in his
case. These voters will have two men of
opposite political parties to choose from.
one OF whom. presumably. will not be unde.
serving OF a high position. Before the peo-
pie the better man always will win when
the vote Is close. Before the legislature a
man OF moderate qualifications often has A
fair chance of election.
1t Will not be an easy matter to extort
from a reluctant senate the submission OF
an amendment to change the mode Of elect
ing senators. Most Of the senator's are sat
ished with the present mode. Many OF them
could not have got their seats, or kept their
seats, but for It. The Increasing pressure
OF popular sentiment may break down even
the resistance Of q stubborn senate, and the
day may come when that selfish body will
be forced TO yield to the popular demand for
a purer and moro democratic method of
electing senator's.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
American Success in Havana.
Chicago Tribune.


From Troy to Pekin historians have al
ways been given an opportunity for vivid
writing when q "hourishing city" has been
handed over to q ''rapacious and licentious
soldiery." The historian OF the military
occupation Of Havana will have to write in
an altogether different strain. His theme
will not be found in pillage and debauchery.
1t will be taken from more satisfactory,
even II less picturesque. sources. In par
ticular Il will come from such reports as
that recently presented to General Wood
by Major W. c. Gorgas on the Vital Sta
tistics Of the City of Havana for the Year
1901"
In 1898 there were 1882 deaths in
Havana; in 1899. the first year Of American
government, there were s,15S; IN 1900 there
were 6,103; in 1901 there were b,72O. The
average death rate for the previous thirty
one years had been 41.65; the death rate
for 1901 was 22.lI. This is b has been
accomplished by those 'bloodthirsty army
ofhcers whose trade It is to kill their fellow
men,"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
JOURNALISTIC DISASTER.
Denver Times.

Denver Times.
A crowd of old subscribers stood in long,
And twiddied with their fingers as they
passed the time o. day.
And overhead a little bird with feathers,
Kept warbling Of its joys and griefs and
various other things. 4.-.
Adown the line the veterans stood-the
halt, the lame, the. blind 20
With gnevous troubles, resting on the,
And side by side with him who Kicked
was she who tore her hair qt .Gt
And softly dropped invectives on the cir
cumambient air.
And while the silent army pressed fits way.
Stepped out and made his statement in a
voice that weighed a ton,
I've read this publication fer nigh onto
He said, as he reached up and grabbed a
swiftly falling tear.
"An' in that time I've seed Il through a
thousand torrid fights.
An worryin over this here sheet rive lost
Now, I amt sayinF it's fer me t. say you
shall or sha'n't
Ner am 1 stickin' on tn pint o. why you
can or can't; .a
but when this Teller comes eroun' an
looks me in tn eye
An tells me / amt paid my bill an gotter
I can't, resist a-cOmln' down an droppin'
this remind: g.
Thet I'm a constant reader. eff I am a bit
behind!
The circulator sobbed a sob and dropped
And as he viewed the wetness ordered up
the office mop;
And loud exclaimed, as he began TO weaken
at the knees;
"Ah, must l make this journey on a 1oral
bed of ease?"
Awhile the old subscriber stood to let the
anguish pass,
And made a toothless humble. as a peni-
tent at mass; @ -
Then up he rose In anger and he made q
vicious sweep
with his right arm and plunged into a
wild rhetoric leap.
He drew attention TO the faults he'd no
ticed from the first;
And painted all the evils OF the journal
at their worst;
And when he'd spent his frenzied breath.
a-tremble to the core,
He yelled: An / don't want your burned
old paper any moreV' rr
The eli culator gasped and stared-twas
such an awful bloWl
And with a face all pale and wan mean
dered down below.
He staggered and his voice was thiokly
punctured by distress;
''Bill Jones has stopped his paper, Jim;
you'd better stop the press"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

For the first time In its history
Omaha, since March 1, ranks second In
the list of hog packing centers, leading
Kansas City by a good margin. While
this Is undoubtedly due, in a large meas
ure, to the lack of corn to feed In large
portions Of the Kansas City territory,
the South Omaha interests should not
give up the fight to permanently retain
the position now held. This market
has been steadily closing up the gap
ahead Of it for several years and now
is the time to make the supreme effort
when it Is backed by the prestige Of
position.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21

Another one Of the pioneers who laid
out paper cities on the banks OF the
Missouri has passed over to the ma
jority. Reference Is made to William
+. Hansford. whose death is announced
from Indianapolis. Mr.. Hansford
achieved renown half a century ago by
laying out u town near Omaha, striking
a Decline for Pixies Peak when gold
was discovered In Colorado and stalking
out n claim for a large tract of land on
which the city of Denver now stands.
MIR. Hansford was so years old, which
goes TO show that the good do not al
ways die young.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
A QUESTION OF l.

The majority and minority reports OF
the senate committee on isthmian
canals have been submitted. They re-
late principally TO the question of the
validity of the title Of the new Panama
company TO the canal property which 1t
proposes to sell. The majority report
urges that the company cannot convey
a valid title and further points out diff
culties and complications that may arise
should the United States accept the
offer Of the Panama company. 1t urges
that there is danger of this country be-
ing drawn into ~disagreeable relations
with the hundreds of thousands Of the
French people whom 1t is alleged have
been defrauded by the new Panama
company.
The report Of the minority on b
other hand, maintains that the title Of
the Panama company is perfectly sound
and valid and that while the consent of
Colombia must be obtained for a trans
fer of the company's property n con-
cessions, that government has shown
and declared it's readiness to make the
necessary treaty. The report states
that every link in the chain of the com
pany's title and every step In the course
by which it came In a position to sell
its property, free and clear. is plain and
satisfactory. 1t is further declared
that in disposing of the affairs Of the
old company the French court proceeded
in a straightforward way and had a per
feet right to do as it did.
1t Is easy to see that this issue offers
opportunity for almost interminable
controversy, for even should Colombia
offer entirely satisfactory terms the ad-
| vocates Of the Nicaragua route will I'M
doubtedly still insist that there is danger
Of complications by eason Of some de-
feet in the Panama company's title.
The simplest way out Of the dilemma
| would seem to be to pass the Spooner
resolution. which provides for the ac-
ceptance by the president Of the PROPOSE
| ton Of the Panama Canal company II
he shall, after a thorough investigation,
become satisfied Of the ability OF both
| the company and the Colombian govern
ment to transfer to the United States a
| clear title to the Panama property. II
1t is found that a clear title cannot be
established, then the resolution author
ICES the president to proceed with the
construction Of the Nicaragua canal as
| provided for In the bill that passed the
house. This Is a compromise PROPOSE
ton the adoption of which there is no
doubt would be approved by the con-
~servative opinion of the country. 1t
would remove the question from con-
troversy which is confusing to the pub
lie mind and which promises to in
definitely delay action. The president
could be depended upon to perform
such a duty with the utmost care. 1t
is not known that he is partial to either
route, but whatever his views may be
there can be no doubt that he would
conform strictly to the authority given
him by congress. Unless the Spooner
compromise is adopted there is very
small probability, as the situation now
appears, Of final action on the canal
question at the present session.