davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
TbE COAL STRIKE INvESrgArIoN.

n COAL STRIKE INVESTIGATION.
Whoever has been pursuing carefully
and without prejudice the coal strike
investigation must have concluded that
thus far the miners, through their
leader, have made out a very strong
case. President Mitchell has been sub
Jected to a most thorough and inclsive
examination by one Of the ablest law
yers in the country and he has stood the
test in a way that has commanded
almost universal admiration and
commentator. He has not attempted
to avoid or evade any relevant
question that has been p~ropounded
by the experienced and shrewd attorney
who has evidently beer put forward as
the leader Of the lawyers for the
operators and in more than one instance
Mr.. Mitchell has shown himself to be
quite the equal of the distinguished law
yer, Wayne MacVeagh, in intellectual
readiness and acumen. The manner In
which the leader of the mine workers
has met the ordeal OF the investigation
up to this time is such as to make very
strongly for his course and it is not to be
doubted has made a very decided I'm.
preston upon the public mind.
While the statements submitted by the
mine operators are couched in as strong
and earnest language as the learned
lawyers who represent them could com
mand, they are very far from being con-
yincing. They do not successfully refute
the allegations and the claims of the
mine workers. They do not prove that
the demands for better wages and Inn
proved conditions are not justified. They
do not establish the fact that the oper-
ators have in all respects or in most re-
spects been dealing fairly and Justly
with their employees. They do not prove
that there has not been ~privation and
hardship and suffering among thousands
of the people who nave been dependent
for subsistence upon labor in the anthra-
cite mines. Admit that some of the
miners have by extraordinary economy,
requiring a standard Of living which
Americans generally would regard as
in~tolerable, saved a little from their
earnings. Grant that a few own in
whole or In part their humble homes.
Yet the fact remains that a large major
ity OF them, particularly those with CON
siderable families, live from hand to
mouth and are unable TO permit their
children TO obtain a common school edu,
cation, while compelled to deny them
selves comforts which the average
American citizen regards as absolutely
essential.
The unhappy conditions In the anthra,
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
TARIFF REPRISzLS.

Tho action of the German Reichstag,
heretofore referred to, in adopting the
provision of the new tariff bill authoriz-
ing the government to ~retaliate on any
country discriminating against German
goods, has been freely commented on
by the American press. In view of the
fact thst the action of the Reichstag
vas distinctly declared by the repre-
resentatives Of the agrarian party to be
aimed at the United States, the ostensi-
bic incentive being a special classical
ton of certain German goods which
caused the cancellation Of a large order
by American importers, the general ex-
preston is that a mistake was com
mitted on the part of the Reichstag, but
since its action Is not mandatory upon
the German government and it is under
stood that the government is not dis
posed to adopt a policy Of commercial
apprehended.
The suggestion is made, however, that
the aggressive hostility shown by the
German agrarians may lead congress, as
n precautionary measure, to give the
president authority to increase duties on
importations from countries discriminate
ing against American goods. 1t is by
no means improbable that something of
this sort will be proposed at the coming
session, If the action of the Reichstag
should be adhered to. The United States
has been loath to enter upon a policy
Of this kind, believing that commercial
wars are Improbable, but it will not
hesitate to protect its trade interests
wherever u~njustly attacked. and it may
be expedient at this time to let this be
clearly understood.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

Something should be done without I'M
necessary delay to put a stop to che
range war that has been going on in the
far west for years. In some Of the states
there has prevailed since last spring n
condition of violence and disorder ex-
ceedlng the record of any other year.
Many homicides and the destruction Of
a vast amount Of property have occurred
in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho aud Mon
tana, but the evil eminence of leading
in lawlessness is accorded to Oregon.
1t is said that the Montana ranges are
so far gone hat cattle are too poor to
ship and have a bad prospect for winter
feed to carry them on to spring. The
same is true of much of the Colorado
range. Five millions Of acres Of the
public range, it is estimated, have been
made useless during the season and rem
dered unfit for grazing for many years,
if not permanently. In reference to this
the San Francisco Chronicle remarks
that while u people complain of high
priced meat and the grazers slaughter
each other and destroy property on the
American range, rivals are rising north
and south of us to take away the com
mercc which we are treating with In
difference and sacrificing by inattention
to the plain duty Of protecting the
wealth Of the arid region by putting
its use and preservation under the con-
troll of law. That paper urges that
while we are doing this we are also
multiplying the expected effects Of the
new federal policy of irrigation, since
nine-tenths of the land that will be
brought into action by irrigation will
find its most profitable use in produc-
ing winter feed for stock. The matter
is manifestly one which, from every
practical point of view, demands such
treatment as will effectively remedy the
destructive conditions that now prevail.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
Personal T

II Mollneux does go on the stage there
will be some question about the propriety
OF the 1ury's verdict.
In Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 1t is said music
is being used with advantage as a cure for
insanity, and yet the kind OF music turned
out by young women practicing Is mad
dening enough.
]. Pierpont Morgan cheered the most Wig
orously of the whole push when President
Roosevelt rose to speak at the New York
chamber OF Commerce dinner. That ought
to settle the rumors Of disaffection.
Benjamin Kidd. the economist. who has
just made a tour OF the new British South
Africa, says he believes the country to be
richer than the United States west Of the
Mississippi and believes that its future is
assured.
William F. Cody says this is his farewell
year in the show business in this country.
But after the two years in England, which
he is still to put in. Buffalo William, like
all other great artists Of the show world,
will find it a hard task not to go on fare
yelling indefinitely.
Secretary Of War Root has determined on
a policy Of retrenchment in his department,
and has notified all the bureau chiefs that
their estimates for the coming year must
be greatly reduced. The secretary does
not wish to make reductions in his clerical
force except by refusing to fill such vacan-
cies as may occur.
Ex-senator w. P. Kellogg Of Louisiana
has Just returned from q trip to Europe.
"All over England" says Mr.. Kellogg, Il
saw a little card for sale bearing these
words: The bearer Of this His hereby per-
mitted to walk the earth and breathe the
air occasionally The card is signed with
the name OF ]. Pierpont Morgan, costs 2
cents and seems TO have a large sale"
The prince OF Monaco. in spite OF his be-
ing part owner of the greatest gambling es-
tabIishment in the world, never touches a
card. In late years the prince has been a
champion Of Dreyfus. as we'll as a pro-Boer,
and has published a magnificent work on
oceanography, which already extends to
twenty-one volumes, superbly printed and
illustrated, at a press OF his own at Monaco.
Colonel Wetmore OF st. Louis, the noted
trust smasher. had his Jaw smashed the
other day by a K~entuckian. who asserted
the colonel was a trihe too gay for a man
OF his years. The Kentuckian said his wife
had been insulted by the colonel. The
colonel would not apologize. Bin! AS the
K~entuckian's wife was at her home in
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

already been granted. I mean that we are
entitled today to reciprocity In natural
products absolutely and unrestricted, with
out granting one solitary iota Of a con-
cession further than we have granted
without putting an article on the free
list which is not already there and with
out diminishing our duties by a single
concession. And this concession Of free
trade in natural products must be granted
by the United States without a solitary
concession from Canada further than those
we have already made. We cannot AFFORD
any more"
That is, II Canada proposes-if her
statesmen OF the Charlton type reflect the
governments policy in any considerable
degree-to continue her discriminating tar
if duties In favor OF Great Britain and
against the United States, and then to ex-
act from the United States the free ad-
mission here Of the products Of her farms
and her forests and her fisheries! How
would the farmers, the lumbermen, and
the fishermen of New England and New
York like. that? How would the manufac-
turers of that great group Of seven states
fancy it? 1t wouldn't improve to the value
Of a penny the market for their wares;
and as for the agricultural, fishing, and
lumber interests 1t would deal a stagger-
ing blow to all three. No wonder that
Secretary Moody lately characterized 1t
as reciprocity all on one side."''It is the
kind" he explained. that would make us
give all n receive nothing. We have
never yet made a treaty with Canada in
which their statesmen did not get the bet
ter Of our own in the bargaining. For
one, 1 believe in guarding American in
terests and not fostering Canadian inter-
aetap
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
FEUDAL LORDS AT WAR.
Opposition to the Steel Trust steadily
Gaining strength.

Springfield Republican.
Five officials OF the United States
steel corporation have withdrawn from
the trust. One OF them is Perci-
val Roberts, who was president Of
the American Bridge company before
its absorption in the big corporation, and
who is accounted one OF the longest-headed
steel men in the country. Another is Frank
]. Hearne, who was president of the Ma
tional Tube company. also at present a
constituent concern in the trust. Two
others are the controller, Edward Shear
son, and First Vice President James Gay
ley. Mr.. Hearne, It is said. is to take the
presidency of a large independent iron and
steel company; and Mr.. Carnegie's old
partner, Frick, who is, OF was, a large
owner OF the stock OF the United States
steel corporation, is credited with being a
prime mover in the Union Steel company.
which has been buying large ore deposits
in the upper lake region, and preparing to
become an important competitor OF the
trust.
This is all significant Of more than the
fact of severe competition growing up
against the largest corporation in the
world. II is indicative also of more than
the apparent fact of dissension in the
councils of the trust. There Is further re-
vealed the indisposition Of men who have
built up and conducted a large business to
be content with subordinate positions In
a trust which combines their several con-
Germs into one. They are always ready to
preach the virtue and necessity OF that
individual suboTdlnation and efiacement in
the case of Others which modern eonsoli-
dalton is forcing upon society, but they
dislike very much to submit themselves.
II has been the policy OF trust promoters
to give good salaried positions within the
trust to the men who were at the head OF
the concern before consolidation. and in
this way, as it we're, buy of people who
may prove troublesome as starters OF COM
peting enterprises; but the event lie prov
ing that those who do go into the trust
as subordinate directors and managers are
not easily held there.
II will require a generation Of schooling
in industrial consolidation to eliminate
this as a serious element Of disturbance
The situation is not unlike that in a polit.
ical way which attended the breaking al
OF the feudal system and power in the
head OF the state or empire. The feuda
lords made a lot Of trouble for a lonI
time. and had TO die on through severa
generations before their families becam'
submissive and peaceful subjects Of the on
lord. the king. 1t will likewise be a lonl
time in industry before the spirit gen
Grated in the regime OF individualism 1
suppressed-if It ever is. Thus In anothe
way are the trusts operating to make tn
socialtstie state practicable or tolsraols'
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
want a wiId East show.
Portland oregonian.

Portland Oregonian.
Hamilton King, United States minister to
Siam, has limited that King Chulalongkorn
would like very much to visit this country
as a guest of the nation, 1t is further said
that his imperial majesty has set apart
1000, 900 taels O650, O00) to pay the ex-
pense Of such a visit. Secretary Hay COM
putes the cost Of entertaining his royal
visitor at $4,000. II for this outlay the
king will leave behind him the large sum
above named and give a free show all along
the route, the visit will not be a bad in
vestment. A real king, travelling with full
r~etinue, will be something new. Foreign
princes are no longer novelties, but a n
Oriental monarch traversing the country
in full regalia would be worth while. Let
the invitation sought be extended by all
means, even IL its acceptance puts Buffalo
Bill" out of business for the time being.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
JOHNNY's PA.
Baltimore American.

My pa-he Always went to school,
He says, an studied hard,
wy when he's just as old as me
He knew things by the yard!
Arithmetic? He knew IL all,
From dividend to sum-,
But when he tells me how II was
My grandma she ays Hum"
My pa-he always got the prize
For never bein' late:
An when they studied toggerfy
He knew bout ev'ry state.
He says he knew the rivers IN
Knew all their outs an ins,
But when he tells me all o. tina
My grandma she just grins.
My pa-he never missed a day
A-goin'. to the school,
An never played no hockey, nor
Forgot the teachers rule:
An ev'ry class he's ever in
The rest he always led.
My grandma, when pa talks that way,
Just laughs an shakes her head.
My grandma says at boys is boys,
The same as pas is pas,
An when l asst her what she means
She say IL is because"
She says at little boys is best
When they grows up to men,
Because they know how good the were
And tell their children then.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

The semi-oficlal footings of the re-
turns of the state election show a slump
OF 10000 votes in a comparison between
the vote cast for governor in 1902 and
1900 In other words, 10000 sovereign
voters, commanded by General Apathy,
were marking time on election day and
looked on the battle from afar with
sublime equanimlty, primarily because
they were satisfied with existing condi-
lions, aud, secondly, because they did
not care a tinker who whipped.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
MUNICIPAL RAILRoAD TAXATION.

NJ
When Tax Commissioner Fleming de-
clded to assess all taxable property at its
actual value he was forced, as a matter
of Justice and equity, to disregard the
assessment made by the state board and
assess the railroad property on the same
basis as all other property subject to
municipal taxation. Uniformity in taxa
ton is expressly required by the on
stitution, and the supreme court in the
Bee Building company mandamus case
said in so many words that uniformity
n taxation must be enforced in the as
sessment of property for the mainte-
nance of municipal government.
The fragrant injustice to the taxpayers
Of Omaha by reason of the evasion OF
tax burdens on the part Of railroad com
panies has been manifest for years, but
the practical effect Of this jug-handle
system was never so apparent as It is
now. In 1901 the state board assessed
all the property of railroads In Omaha,
including trackage, depot grounds,
depots, terminal facilities and bridges,
the Belt Line and the East Omaha
Terminal bridge at a fraction over
$4,000, and all these properties, ag-
gregating in value more than $15,000,-
600, paid into the city treasury less than
$4,000 in taxes. This amount was as
sessed against them on the basis of a 30
mill tax levy, although upon all other
property except the railroads on a basis
of 40 per cent of their value. This year
the state board has assessed the various
railroad tracks, terminals, depots and
depot grounds and bridges for $20j 900,
or about $1,000 more than the assess
ment for 1901, when the East Omaha
Terminal bridge property was included.
With an assessment go per cent
higher than last year, when the levy
was 80 mills, the assessment, it is esti-
mated, will require only from 10 to IL
mills to create a revenue of $1,000,000.
AT 10 mills the railroads would contrib
ute toward this amoun $2,050, instead
of $4,000, as last year, when by rights
they should contribute $15O,OO0, because
the railroad property in Omaha repre-
sents not less han one-sixth of the
property values of this city. Even with
a 12-mill tax they would have to pay
only $2,460 in city taxes, or just about
the wages of two firemen and one police
man.
Surely such a rank discrimination
against other taxpayers would not be
justified by any tribunal, whether it be
the Board of Review, the city council or
the courts of last resort.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
Tom Plat C~onnents.
Boston Transcript.

DVSNVN IUIH7N PIT
Thomas G. Plat Of New York has again
consented to be a candidate from his
state for the United States senate The
situation reminds us of that in a Boston
engine company in the old volunteer days
when the members annually elected their
foreman In this particular company the
foreman, who belonged to the old school
of vets" would saysto his men a few days
before the date for making a choice: 1T
won't be necessary, to hold an election,
boys; 1 am willing. torserve you for another
YEAR"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
LAUGHING GAS.

Detroit Free Press: ,'Twhat has Charlie
done with his sofa pillows?"
Why, he's using them as pads for his
FOOT ball suit
" star; BlotmsEns9s you have
it's awfully good of you:
Tyner-Not at all; 1 did it on the advice
of my doctor. He said 1 needed violent
exercise, you know.
Detroit Free Press: Ike-Hello, Tint
the last time l saw you was in jail
Tim-Yes, l went there once to see you.
money" she exclaimed angrily.
As for him. he refused to lose his temper:
In the glass; was all he said.
Philadelphia Record: This coffee" re-
marked the boarder, lis like the quality of
I"so?'' queried the landlady. with a show
YES; It's not strained"
New York Sun: Washington had just
"Bu tell us" he was asked. why aid
you select the cherry tree to cut down."
II knew" replied the sagacious George,
that the plum tree would come in handy
Without further ado. he selected his
cabinet and appointed hfty-ive post
Philadelphia Bulletin: Hubby-Yes, dear,
you are the apple of my eye.
Wifey-Oh, ] am. Well, II you'd give me
money enough to buy some new clothes
perhaps l wouldn't look so seedy,
Baltimore American: Askem-What are
you working now?
Tellem-Oh, I'm teller in the .Steenth
National bank.
Askem-Teller?
~Tellem-Yes; / stand at the front door
and tell the people which window to go to.
Chicago Post: I don't know what to do
about this?' said the defeated candidate
Has any new annoyance come up2"
Yes / have Just learned that my son
bet IS, 900 that 1 would be elected. 1 don't
know whether to commend his hlial affec-
ton or criticise his utter lack OF judg-
ment."
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

cite coal regions are not a matter of re
cent discovery. They have been known
and talked Of for years. The country Is
now being furnished with the facts and
the commission can be depended upon to
elicit all that is to be ascertalned re-
garding the real conditions. That is
what is required Of It and so far 1t is
performing the task in a way to com
mand public confidence.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
Pledges Must Be redeemed.


Governor Odell insists that the repUb-
licans of New York must keep their ante
election promises. They must do this not
only in the Empire state. but in every
state, and especially at the national capital.
Every republican who has been elected as
a member of the Fifty-eighth congress must
remember that he has a duty to perform,
not to his party, but to the whole coun-
try. A faithful service is demanded
service that will not be barren Of results.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

The contract for state printing has
been awarded to Omaha, Fremont and
Lincoln print shops at a considerable
saving over last years rates. To that
extent the taxpayers should feel CRATE
full, but it is to be hoped that the paper
and ink used for printing legislative
journals and other state documents will
be of a higher grade than for several
years past, even If the state has TO pay
a higher price. The legislative journals
of the last two or three sessions have
been a disgrace to the state and their
makeup has been execrable, just be-
cause the printers In their reckless COM
petition seek to recoup themselves by
using blotting paper and spreading mat
ter that should be on one page over three
or four pages, thus charging the vol
umes out of all proportion to their on
tents. The same disregard of space and
convenience is exhibited in the printing
of bills introduced into the legislature.
These bills, although generally printed
on good paper, are spread over double or
treble the space required by the printing
of bills introduced into congress. This
abuse should by all means be rectifed
by the secretary of state even If the
new printing contracts have to be re-
yised.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

Ex-Queen LII has arrived in this coun-
try again headed for Washington. Until
her claim for compensation for the
crown lands is received with favor at
the capitol. she is likely to be a regular
winter visitor.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

A merger Of all the local women's
clubs, educational and charitable, on a
community of interest plan is said to be
In the air. If the women take up the
idea, where may it not extend to?
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

To get all the taxable property in
Omaha on the tax list once at reason
able valuations should be the goal aimed
ut by the assessing authorities. The
question of double taxation of the same
property is a secondary matter.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19
WHAT CANADA WANTS.
A "R~ecIprOcity" that Would Take
Much and Give Nothing.
New York Commercial.

New York commercial.
The campaign just closed in Mass
achusetts was not a little remarka-
BILE for the almost frantic demand
that came forth from certain free-trade
quarters for immediate trade reciprocity
with Canada. The Commercial has more
than once pointed out how our Canadian
n~eighbors would like TO arrange that sort
of thing. and how they nov maintain an
unjust tariff discrimination against the
United States and in favor OF Great Brit
ain. The policy that they favor annot bet
ter be defined and described than by quot
ing from a speech by John Charlton, one
OF the member OF the Joint high commits
sion as well as Of the Canadian Parliament
and a most industrious proselyter in the
reciprocity field Of politics. Discussing his
favorite theme on the floor OF the House
at ottawa last winter, he said:
"No arrangement will be satisfactory to
Canada that does not give US reciprocity
in natural products without granting any
return or any concession beyond what has
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

which ought to be suppressed. The
courts have ample power to deal sum-
marily with such b~oorishness, and they
ought to use the power more generally
than they do. There is no good reason
why they should sit idly by while wit
nesses are subjected to insult and down
right abuse.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

Inmates of the Nebraska penitentiary
who are up TO snuff are reluctant to
let the official term Of the great pardoner
end without bringing every influence to
bear to invoke the favor of his elemency.
The pardon record may be expected to
take a new squirt during the hex six
weeks.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-19

The German emperor's protestations
of loving affection towards the United
States would be somewhat more binding
II they did not come along with ar
engagements to establish naval squad
rons on our Atlantic and Pacific coasts.