davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
GOVERNOR CUMMINs STEAKS OUT.
Indication of the Trend of Public
Sentiment in the West.

Philadelphia North American (rep)
What kind of strange doctrine is this that
Governor Cummins Of Iowa is preaching to
the republicans of the west? Does the ex-
ecutive Of the banner republican state Of
the middle west, the state which furnishes
his party with two cabinet officers, the
speaker OF the house OF Representatives and
the wisest and most cautious strategists in
the senate, appreciate the responsibilities
that attach to him as a shaper of public
opinion in Iowa and in the nation?
In a public address on the trusts before a
republican audience at Minneapolis Gov
ernor Cummins drops these heretical hints:
1.-THE American people will no more SUBJ
init to commercial despotism than they
would to governmental %despotism, and the
tendency in the one case can be and will be
as easily thwarted as the tendency in the
other.
II suggest, first, that no corporation,
whether industrial or otherwise, should be
permitted to issue stock unless paid for
in money at its par value.
Second, l believe that some branch OF
the government must be vested with the
power to TX the prices OF products or serv-
Ice upon which monopoly or substantial
monopoly has been established.
II believe, too, that some branch Of the
government must be empowered to remove
the duties on imports upon those COM
modities respecting which competition no
longer exists in our own country. 4" " "
I believe that the consumer has a better
right to competition than the producer has
to protection. Competition we will have,
that Of our country preferred, but that OF
the world II necessary"
These are only a few Of the salient sem
fences Of the long address devoted entirely
to discussion Of commercial monopolies,
but they indicate clearly that the tide OF
public sentiment is turning, even within the
republican party, against the do-nothing
policy of congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
TBE MARTlNIoUE CALAMITY.

The latest advices regarding the ca
lamity in the island of Martinique show
1t to be the most destructive disaster Of
the kind in all history. If It be true,
as now reported, that 10000 persisted
from the volcanic eruption, the destruc-
ton OF life exceeds that at Pompeii,
when that city was buried under the
eruption Of Vesuvius more than eighteen
centuries ago. The number of inhab-
itants in the ancient city has been va
riously estimated by historians, but prob
ably did not exceed 10000 and most of
these escaped the disaster. 1t appears
that few got away from st. Pierre,
Martinique, and besides the loss of life
there was great destruction of shipping
and other property. Assuming the facts
as now reported to be approximately
correct, therefore, the volcanic eruption
in that island is the most de-
structive ever known, greatly ex-
ceeding the Pompeiian disaster.
st. Pierre was not buried, as was
the ancient city of Campania, but it
was swept away by fire, a fate quite
as calamitous.
The prompt action of the United
States senate in passing n bill appro-
priating 100000 for the relief of the
survivors Of this terrible visitation will
be approved by the country and al
though action on the measure was de-
ferred in the house until tomorrow there
is no doubt the bill will be passed at
nee by that body and promptly signed
by the president, s. that there will be
no delay in forwarding relief, which it
is provided may be done in United
States steamships. 1t is to be hoped
later reports will show the calamity to
be less terrible than now stated, but
there is no doubt that the demand for
relief is great and urgent.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
SCATTERING TRUST STOCKS.

One Of the most dangerous features
of the colossal corporations known as
trusts is the scattering of their stocks
among small investors and wage
workers. A notable example is afforded
by the ~well-matured organized effort of
the Steel trust to dispose of its stocks
among the industrial classes as n sub
stitute for savings bank certificates.
During the past six months many
thousands Of dollars have been eX-
pended by the Steel trust in advertising
extravaganza prospectuses that make
tempting appeals to American wage
workers to invest their savings in Steel
trust stocks in preference to placing
their money in savings banks. Great
stress is laid upon the fact that the
United States Steel Trust corporation
has been paying for the past two years
quarterly dividends at the rate of II
per cent per annum on all of its out
standing stock, and 1t is expected that
this dividend rate will be increased as
soon as its plants can be enlarged to
ultSJ lhG hCCuS Va q AhpluAS 6LON M
business.
1t is represented that as q rule stock
in well managed manufacturing COM
panies is generally bought up by those
in some way connected with their man
agement and the outsider has little
chance to purchase them excepting at a
high premium, but the directors of the
United States Steel company are anx
ious to give an unusual opportunity to
people of limited means to secure an
investment already paying u large in
cOme-an opportunity such as Is usually
offered to capitalists only, so that the
mar with a few hundred dollars gets
q chance to earn a higher rate Of in
terest upon his savings than he could
possibly obtain from any other source.
In view of the fact that the special edi-
ton of United States Steel company's
stock is divided into blocks of treasury
shares, fully paid, and worcestershire
at par, for So per share, it is not the
least surprising that vast numbers of
the wage working class have become
shareholders in the great Steel trust and
will for the next few years be very
vitality interested in its prosperity.
Barring the fact that this is u very
ingenious scheme for unloading hun
dreds of millions of watered stock upon
the American people, it Is also a very
bright scheme for reconciling the in
dustrial classes to the trust by making
them individually interested in its un-
curbed rapacity. The poor dupes, who
have beer made to believe that the trust
would be able to continue to pay II
per cent dividends for an indefinite pc
Rod on $500,OOO 900 or $6OO,OOO,OO o of
COMMON stock, besides paying ON a
billion Of bonds and preferred stock,
may at no distant day discover that
their investment is no better than If
they owned mining shares in a Cripple
Greek hole in the ground.
In that event the ruinous effect Of
such a general scattering Of trust stocks
upon the whole country can scarcely be
oyerestimated. The reaction and Its
disastrous effect upon industry and com
merce generally would be widespread.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
INVITING

While immigration TO the United
States is larger than for several years,
the efforts Of Canada to induce immi-
grants to come to hat country are not
very successful. Recently the Domin-
ion parliament offered several hundred
thousand dollars to be used in promot-
ing education and the government has
agents abroad seeking immigrants, yet
comparatively few are secured, although
the inducements offered are such as it
would seem should prove attractive to
many who are looking for opportuni-
ties and homes In this part of the
world.
The great majority OF such, however.
prefer this country. believing that their
chances Will be better here, where there
is abundant prosperity, a good demand
for labor and other advantages to be
found nowhere else on the globe. The
present immigration may not be of the
most desirable character. 1t is said
that skilled artisans and agriculturists
contribute comparatively little OF 1t
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
NEW rsrHMiAN CANAL BILL.

The bill providing for the construc-
ton of an isthmian canal introduced a
few days ago by Senator Hoar differs
entirely from the pending bill and all
propositions that have been suggested
rs amendments to that measure. 1t
provides simply for the construction of
a canal, leaving the matter of details
to the discretion of the president. The
bill makes it the duty of the president
of the United States, las soon as the
same can economically and owen
iently be done, to cause to be ~eXcavnted
and constructed a canal OF such depth
and capacity as will be sufficient for
the movement of ships of the greatest
tonnage and draught now in use, and
such as may be reasonably anticipated,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by such
route as may be selected by him, haN-
ing satisfied himself of the right of the
United States to construct and protect
such canal" The president also is d.
rected to have harbors constructed at
both ends Of the canal and he is given
uullOlllg W CLlIlOs suNh o6NANANS "HN
obtain such advice as he shall find
necessary. Further authority is given
the president to determine the terms
upon which foreign countries may use
the canal. The bill fixes the aggregate
cost of the canal at $~1SO,O00,O0O and
$4,000, 900 is appropriated for the be-
ginning of work.
In view of the issue regarding routes,
which threatens to prevent canal legis-
lation by the present congress, would
it not be wise to adopt the compromise
proposition introduced by Senator Hoar?
1t may be objected to this as it was
to the Spooner resolution that it sur
renders the function and duty of con-
gress to decide upon the route, but this
does not seem to be a matter of very
vital Importance. The president Is not
committed to either route. 1t is not
publicly known that he has a prefer
ence. He is most earnestly In favor
of the construction by the United States
of an isthmian canal and thinks the
work should be begun as soon as pos
sible. Neither the advocates of the
Nicaragua route nor the Panama route
have any reason to doubt that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would be Influenced In
selecting the route by any other con-
sideration than the national interest,
while all would feel If the matter were
left to him that there would be no I'M
necessary delay.
The Hoar bill offers a simple n we
believe a perfectly legitimate way of
disposing of the canal question and as
surfing an early beginning of the great
undertaking.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
FsAFcBIsE TAXES IN NEW YORK.

FRANCHISE TAAES IN NEW YORK.
Two years ago the New York legisla-
ture, at the instance Of Governor Roose-
welt, enacted a law imposing franchise
tax upon corporations that controlled
public utilities. The power Of the
courts was invoked by the corporations
to enjoin the collection OF the special
franchise tax and a decision has just
been rendered by the referee, ex-Judge
Earl, on the constitutionality Of the law.
The findings are adverse to the cor
porations on every point and it is gen
orally believed they will be sustained
by the court Of appeals.
On the first point at issue, regarding
the violation of the United States con
%stitution in impairing obligations, Judge
Earl holds that the franchise tax takes
away nothing granted, and impairs no
contract The imposition Of the tax is
not an effort to exact more compensa-
ton for the franchises, but to compel
the owners thereof to pay in common
with other owners Of property their
share of the public burdens. IF the
argument of the REALTORS is to be car
ried to its logical results, then the state
could never tax any franchises of any
kind without impairing its contracts
and the millions which have been taken
from corporations under franchised tax
laws from all parts of this country dur
ing the past twenty years have been
taken in violation of the federal cOnsti-
tuition and have been Illegally exacted."
On the point raised that the fran
chises cannO now be taxed because
they were not taxable at the time they
were granted, Judge Earl holds that
they are not by any law, or contract,
exempt from taxation. They were
property of immense value under the
protection of the government and there
was no reason for ~eXempting them from
taxation. There was no contract eX-
pressed or implied. They should, there
fore, be compelled to bear their share
of public burdens like other property.
Regarding the claim that it is impos-
sible to value a franchise, Judge Earl
declares it is proper to look upon a
franchise as real estate and it is not
impossible to find a tangible value. The
assessment is undoubtedly attended
with great difficulty, but it can be made
with such an approximation to accuracy
as will satisfy all the requirements of
the law and constitution. Suppose what
constitutes a special franchise Of any
corporation should be put in the market
for sale, can it be doubted that 1t will
sell for a substantial price and n
which business men could determine
with sufficient accuracy for business
purposes?
The Greater New York tax for 1900,
upon which the litigation was begun,
was $21G,679,351. The figures for the
1902 assessment were $220,620, 100.
These figures represent the value of the
franchises in Greater New York alone.
The value of franchises in the various
cities, villages and towns of the state
of New York is computed to be greater
thar that Of the franchised corporations
of New York City. For the present
year the franchise tax In Greater New
York will yield $5,5O0,00O, or four times
as much as all of the taxes imposed
by the state of Nebraska for the main
tenance Of the state government and
state institutions.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
HENRY EsTABROOK IN BOSTON.
Omaha Boys Oratory Charms al
Audience at the Hub.

Henry Estabrook OF Omaha and Chicago
was the chief orator of the banquet of the
Middlesex club OF Boston recently. The
occasion was the birthday anniversary Of
General Grant, and the theme, General
Grant, the Soldier" That the club was
charmed and thrilled by Mr.. Estabrook's
oratory is evident from this account Of the
Boston Post:
"Mr. Estabrook had a theme which in
spired hin to his most splendid Efforts
the history of Grant as a soldier. whose
natal day the club was celebrating. In
language so vivid that 1t electrified his
hearers, with a wealth Of splendid power,
a grace Of gesture and a magnificent voice,
Mt. Estabrook held the attention OF the
club as no other speaker dared approach.
MIR. Estabrook was generally referred to
as a second Grady
'In silence 80 profound that the tinkline
of a glass sounded like a rife shot, the
members listened as Mr.. Estabrook painted
In most ~eloQuently beautiful language the
God-given mission OF Grant, with Lincoln.
the savior Of the union cause In rebellion's
dark days.
"In parts Of Mr.. Estabrook's grafton he
reached heights which literally pulled his
listeners from their chairs, and loud and
long rang the applause. until the speaker
was obliged to stop until the effect OF his
matchless eloquence had passed away And
when he had concluded the gathering
cheered and cheered and cheered, stood
upon the chairs and literally yelled In
frenzied enthusiasm.
"Mr. Estabrook is known In Chicago as
a great orator. The Middlesex club was
not prepared for such a wonderful speech
as fell from his lips that night, even though
they may have known his power. But one
thing can be said-that Grant, as pictured
by Mr.. Estabrook's magnificent imagery,
will remain a forgotten mem
DRY. other speakers there were. but they
were overwhelmed in the glamour OF the
speech OF Grants eulogizer."
In another department Of the paper the
orator is awarded even higher praise. at
the Middlesex club Saturday night" says
the Post, 'the greatest contradiction 10 the
saying that oratory is a lost art was pre-
sented. Henry d. EstabroOk OF Chicago, a
lawyer unknown In the east, delivered the
most wonderful grafton ever heard In Bos-
ton In recent years. ! have heard Inger-
soil. Bryan at his best, Mckinley and
Henry w. Grady's famous Grafton on THE
New South" but none OF them, in my esti-
nation, approached the standard set by the
modest blue-eyed gentleman from Chicago.
His magnificent effort literally held the
audience CENTRALIZED. A lte-haire man
who sat next to me leaned over as Che
orator finished and said: Wendell Phillips
at his best could not surpaAs this man."
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

and this fact supplies those who want
restrictions placed on immigration with
a text for urging their demand. 1t does
not appear, however, that any of the
immigrants are not finding employment,
which must be accepted as showing that
there is room for them here and that
they will be. useful in contributing to
the general prosperity and most Of
them may reasonably be expected to
become citizens. There would be no
objection, of course, If some of these
people should accept the invitation Of
Canada to settle there, but none who
come here with the intention to i'm
prove their condition by honest work
and to obey the laws and conform to the
customs of the country will be unwel-
come.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
Keep Close to shore.


United States Investor.
On the whole, our advice to the public
In the matter Of speculation would be not
to get too far from shore. The next few
months may furnish a good market for
turns" If one has sense enough to know
how to use the turns" We certainly
should not buy stocks for a long pull until
we had a clearer knowledge than is likely
to be obtained for many weeks Of what
the next harvest is going to be like. II
the next harvest should turn out to be
bad. VI should rather be short Of stocks
than long. because. under such circum-
stances It would hardly he likely that even
all Mr.. j. p. MorRan's skill would avail to
keep the financial situation intact.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
BLASTS FROM RAMS HORN.

Lights are more Important than lamps.
A creed may be made a casket for a faith.
He loses all who lie unwilling to lose any.
No man can run away from his heart.
Heaven does not wait for earth's APP
Glause.
Every blessing received creates an obli-
cation.
1t takes a small breeze to raise a storm in
a puddle.
Clutches become a curse when we might
have wings.
The church fair does not help the fair
name Of the church.
1t is a greater thing to prevent a disease
than to invent its cure.
The good shepherd thinks more OF his
flock than Of his feeces.
The man who is always figuring where he
will come in will find himself cast out at
the end.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
GOOD NIORNIN'.

w. d. Nesbit in Baltimore American.
He always said Good m%ornin',"
An emphasized the good"
AS If he'd make II happy
For each one, If he could.
Good mornin'!' Just Good mornin'
To ev'ryone he met;
He said 1t with n twinkle
That no n could forget.
He always said Good mornin';"
An people used to say
That one o. his good mornin's"
Chung to you all the day,
An made you always cheerful,
Just thinkin o. the sound
1t always was good mornin',"
Long as he was around.
He always said Good mornin'.'
An glad an happy-eyed,
Those were the words he whispered,
The mornin' that he died.
Those were the words he whispered,
AS cheerful as he Could-
An / believe the angels
They emphasized the good"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

In response to an lnsistent demand the
committee to which the proposed consu-
tutlonal amendment for the election of
United States senators by direct popular
vote promises to report the resolution
lat an early day" IAN early day" in
the senate chronology is usually a very
elastic period. The people are steadily
being more and more aroused to the ne
cessity for a change in the method Of
electing senator's, and although their pa
t,ence may be also elastic, it has limits
beyond which 1t cannot be tried.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
DOMESTIC PLEAsANTRIEs.

Detroit Free Press: Where did the :
originator"
Il suppose some bachelor said it"
New York Sun: Mrs. Jaggs-John. VT
are you doing down there, turning ,
uoorknob round and round?
J~aggs-Dunno m'dearst. Can't find 2
hesh-hoIe' Guesser mush be a stem-winG
Atlanta Constitution: John is so
nestle In his tastes" said the BIllvs
He is?"
Yes. He's been all day in the hot $
lyme TO XII a rattlesnake to get a RAJ
Washington Star: What do YOU tn.
or q man who would whip his wife 81
Well said Mr.. Meekton, absent mil
eddy, Il should say that he was a migi
mean mar and a pretty nervy lighter
Boston POST: Haven't I married
before?' asked the clergyman, pleasant
was ABOUT to be Joined to the young nj
from Oshkosh. '
only twice. she murmured coyly, ,
the ceremony wen on.
Puck: He-You must remember. de-.
we are just starting out in life, and
must eConOmize.
debt is the best way? Then wen have
economize!
Detroit Free Press: Mr.. Poppingtu,
Daughter, that young Lexington you d
mire so much Is said to be lazy.
Daughter-Oh, papa, he isn't a bit Ia
he told me all about It. He's Just
awfully intellectual that he can't make
living.
Chicago Post: He had proposed. II
fore giving you my reply" she sa
let us have a distinct understanding.
| am to consider his seriously / will ha
to say No. but If it is only a summer
sort engagement / shall be pleased to q
cept you for the time being"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

AS a democratic organ the Chicago
Chronicle repudiates Tillman and as
serts that he is not a democrat. not a
pOpulist and not a republican, but be-
longs to a party Of which he is the
sole member. To get rid Of Tillman in
that easy way would doubtless be a
great relief to decent democrats, but
they must not forget that at the late
democratic national convention Mt Kan
sas City, the South Carolina hrebrand
was almost the whole show. His voice
promulgated the democratic platform, In
formulating which his vote had been a
deciding factor. The democrats may
disown Tillman. but they cannot shake
him loose except with an effort
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

Public business should be transacted
before the public view. There is no
more reason why the work of the State
Board Of Equalization should be behind
closed doors when fixing the assess
ments Of Nebraska railroads any more
than that of the city council when fixing
assessments for Omaha's franchlsed cor
porations.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
Fancy Profits of syndicatinE.

San Francisco Gail.
1t is believed that nothing Is easier than
syndicating and nothing pays better. For
financing the steel trust the profits were
$50, 000, 900; for combining the steamship
lines they we're 312, 500, 900; for. converting
the steel trusts 5000, 900, 900 into bonds and
raising $50, 600, 900 cash for the corporation
they were $40, 600. 600. The profits to Nor
gan and his associates from the Northern
Securities merger are yet to be heard
from.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
DIR. HaIe's Rule of Three.
New York World.

New YORK World.
DR.. Edward Everett Hale's three working
rules for lite given to a Chicago audience
Keep out in the open air as much as pos
slble," Have faith in your neighbor" and
Make a practice of engaging in CONVEX
sation each day with someone whom you
know to be your superior"-embody In won
drously little space much wise counsel for
physical, moral and mental growth. 1t
would be hard to improve upon them.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

Congressman Boutell is to address a
republican club banquet at Detroit on
the subject, The Financial Triumphs
OF the Republican Party" No one win
venture to speak on the financial tri-
umphs of the democratic party. The
democratic financial triumphs have all
been deficits.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

iowa has had unusual misfortune In
the destruction of it's state institutions
by fire, and Nebraska has suffered much
from the same cause. Fireproof con
struction should he the invariable rule in
all public buildings to which the lives OF
dependents or wards of the state are en-
trusted. No more finder boxes for In
a u asylums or schools for deaf mutes.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

Now that the county commissioners
have viewed all the streams and creeks
In the county IND found the places
where new bridges can be planted and
old bridges replanted to advantage, the
figuring of the bridge contractors will
begin in earnest.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

The official report upon the mule
industry at Port Chalmette is said to be
ready for the public. Whether it stands
by the mule or repudiates his preten-
sions. 1t is sure to occasion a kick.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11

New York City boasts that seven
former members of presidential cabinets
are residing there. Iowa may furnish
the live cabinet timber, but New York
gathers in the dead wood.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
only one of Many.

Philadelphia Ledger.
This country is not elating much over the
fact that it is making the medals for King
Edwards coronation. 1t is getting used to
doing odd Jobs for other nations.