davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
By MAIN FORCE.

David II. MERGERS supreme effort now
is to foist his denomination by main
force upon the republicans Of this dis
trict. He knows that If allowed a free
and untrammeled choice his constituents
will express their opposition to a non
resident candidate for congress and in
sist upon a successor who lives in
Omaha and whose interests are identi-
fed with them. Although his cham
plon, William f. Gurley, has proclaimed
that the people of Omaha need Mr.. Mer-
Ger more than Mercer needs them, he is
enllsting all the great corporations at
home and abroad that have interests
in this district to force those dependent
upon their favor into line for a man
they do not want.
The coalition of the Union Pacific,
Burlington and Elkhorn railroads to
help Mr.. Mercer retain his seat in con-
gress, where he has proved such useful
trading material for the corporations, is
notorious and undisguised. The over
turning OF the Omaha police board and
1iO haAAihb VA a ht" NOhihllSSAOu at the
dictation of John n. Baldwin of Iowa
and David H. Mercer Of the District Of
Columbia was brought about for Mr..
MERGERS benefit by the pressure of these
railroad corporations. Mr.. Mercer has
also secured from the eastern heads of
other railroads which enter this city
orders commanding their agents here to
assist in his campaigning. In South
Omaha the stock yards company and
the great meat packing corporations are
equally active in their efforts to brow
beat their men into the support Of the
corporation candidate, and word has
been passed along to the bosses to use
every a to have the men vote the
Mercer ticket at the coming primaries.
The order received by the local man,
ager Of a foreign brewery, with head.
quarters at ST. Louis, not only to sup,
port Mercer, but to spend money in his
behalf, shows how desperate Mr.. Mercer
has become. He has brought this in.
huence to bear, no doubt, through as
sOciates on his committee at Washing
ton. whom he has favored in the dis
tributiOn OF public building appropria
ti0ns.
The question is whether the rank and
ME OF republicans can be dubbed int
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
A sTRIKING
Illuminating idea OF the President ON
the Trust Problem.
Minneapolis Tribune (rep.).

Minneapolis Tribune (rep.).
President Roosevelt, in his recent series
Of speeches. has been talking all around
the trust question without saying anything
really new or Offering any new suggestions
in the way Of solution. But he has shown
a spirit Of sincerity and earnestness,
tempered with conservatism. that has
pleased the people. In his attitude toward
trusts he is not a cowboy forcing his
cayuse recklessly over the stringers OF a
railroad bridge. but a cautious rider seeking
a broad and firm highway for a definite
movement. He does not propose to de-
stroy corporations, but to prune down the
excrescence OF capitalistic monopoly.
In his speech at Wheeling he hit Upon
a happy and striking metaphor. He said
that no one could dam the current Of the
Mississippi, but that we can build levees and
keep the current within pounds and shape
its direction. So" he added. with the
great corporations known as trusts. We
cannot dam them; we cannot reverse the In
dustrial tendencies of the age, but we can
control and regulate them so that they will
do no harm. A flood comes down the Mis-
sissippi river. You cannot stop II, but you
can guide it between the levees so as to
prevent it's doing injury, so as to insure its
doing good"
This is a little gem OF rhetoric that will
play an important part in the trust discus
sion from this time on. It opens up at a
glance. even to the humblest understand
ing. a comprehensive view OF the whole
question. 1t reveals the folly of the ex-
tremists who would destroy the organiza-
lions that have done so much to put this
country in the front rank industrially. and
demonstrates the strength and consistency
Of the plan Of regulation and control.
Though not SO condensed. the metaphor is
as ~forceful in its appeal to common sense
as Lncoln's famous saying that "it is
dangerous to swap horses while crossing a
stream" 1t is a saying that will stick like
a burr in the public mind.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
THE COLORADO SITUATION.

The fusionists have had six years of
continuous power in Colorado, control
ling every department of the state gov
eminent. In that state, as elsewhere,
they came into power, on prodigious
promises of what they would do,
but they have been stronger in
promise than in performance. They
ate enactment of an eight-hour law for
those who work in mines and smelters,
a revenue bill that would eQualize the
burdens Of taxation, taxation of cor
pOrate franchises, municipal ownership
of light and water plants and an honest
and effective primary election law. All
of these promises have been broken.
Not a single one of the planks of this
alluring platform has been carried out,
Notwithstanding the opportunity has
been as complete as the duty was obyi-
Gus. Waning majorities and the dying
out of the silver craze have brought
the democrats, who are the legatees of
fusionism in Colorado, face to face with
ehS ~ pCAAA Vi lOSihS llS SldISs anu
they are now repeating their old promis-
sorry tactics. The republicans last year
forced the issue by demanding a con-
stitutional amendment to cover the
eight-hOur question and demanding abb
solute home rule for Denver. They are
going straight forward ON the same line
this year. The democrats and the
populists have split. With a record of
unexampled extravaganza in the con-
duct Of the state government, in add
ton to violated pledges of reform, the
now broken combination is in fair
plight to be defeated if the republicans
can pull themselves together and avoid
f~actionalism. This marks an immense
change from a few years ago, when the
state seemed hopelessly given over to
the silver infatuation.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
THE HOME MARKET.

Intelligent farmers know the value of
the home market. They also under
stand how that market has been built
up and maintained. Therefore it is
not probable that they will support Il
policy which would operate to the detri-
ment of the home market by injuring
the manufacturing industries of the
country.
An Oregon agricultural paper, in con-
trasting the condition of the farmers of
that state with those of the state of
Washington, as shown in the census
bulletins on agriculture, presents an in
teresting object lesson as to the value
OF manufacturing industries to the farm
ers. Oregon has less population thar
Washington and more farms. Wash
ington does a great deal more manu-
featuring than Oregon and in all farm
products consumed at home the differ
ence in favor of the Washington farmer
is very marked. The Seattle Post
Intelligencer says: Taking up the cen
sus figures on manufacturing it appears
that in the state Of Washington there
are engaged in manufacturing, as own
ers, prOprietors, salaried clerks and
wage earners, 40,154 people, as com
pared with %, 115 for Oregon-a differ
ence in favor OF Washington Of upwards
of $4,000. On the basis of one wage
earner for a family of five, this would
give 10000 more people whose support
comes from manufacturing in this state
than in Oregon" 1t adds that this
large excess in manufacturing popula-
ton, with the home market afforded, is
worth in net income not less thar
$50 a rear to the average Wash
ington farm and concludes: ut
is not and it cannot successfully be
denied that the manufacturing in
terests of the United States have
been built up by the protective
tariff. Wherever the population en-
gagged in manufacturing is largest, the
home market for farm products is best.
The protective tariff thus benefits the
farmers to the full extent that it does
any other class in the community. The
prosperity OF farmers is intimately al
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
WALLS OF CORN.
Ellen p. Allerton.

Ellen P. Allerton.
Smiling and beautiful, heavens dome
Bends softly over our prairie home.
But the wide, wide lands that stretched
away. .
Before my eyes in the days OF May; mo,
The rolling prairie's billowy swell,
Breezy upland and timbered dell;
Stately mansion and hut forlorn-
All are hidden by walls of corn.
All the w1de world is narrowed down
To walls of corn, now sere and brown.
What do they hold-these walls of corn,
Whose banners toss in the breeze OF morni
He who questions may soon be told
A great states wealth these walls enfold-
No sentinels guard these walls OF corn.
Never is sounded the warder's horn;
Yet the, pillars are hung with cleaning
gold.
Left ali unbarred. though thieves are bold.
Clothes and food for the toiling poor;
Wealth to heap at the rich mans door.
Meat for the healthy and balm for him
Who means and losses In dim;
Shoes for the barefoot, pearls to Irvine
In the scented tresses of ladies hne;
Things OF use for the lowly cot,
Where 0bless the CORN want cometh not;
Luxuries rare for the mansion grand.
Gifts of a rich and fertile land.
All these things and so many more,
1t would fill a book but to name them DER,
Are hid and held in these walls of corn,
Whose banners toss in the breeze of morn.
Where do they stand. these walls of corn,
Whose banners toss in the breeze OF mornf
Open the atlas, conned by rule,
In the olden days of the district school.
Point to this rich and b%ounteous land,
That yields such fruits TO the toiler's hand,
"Treeless desert" they called It then.
Haunted by beasts and forSook of. men.
Little they know what wealth untold
Lay hid where the desolate prairies rolled.
Who would have dared. with brush or pen,
As this land is now, to paint II then?
And how would the wise ones have laughed
In scorn,
Had prophet foretold these walls of corn.
whose banners toss in the breeze OF
morni -
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
Personal NOTES.

Just at present 81. Louis is attracting
more attention with its boOdlers than with
its worlds fair.
General FitzhuEh Lee has been elected
president Of the jamestown Exposition
company and has accepted the ofce.
The trolley cars on the line where the
president was hurt are ambitious. One OF
them ran into a steam roller the other day.
So prevalent has the pistoi-carrying habit
become in Memphis that Judge Moss, pre-
siding in one Of the local courts, has In
structed the grand jury to make inquiry
regarding the evil.
Colonel william Glazier and his party Of
ten New England college men, who sailed
from Boston for Labrador on July 10. have
just returned home. An unknown river In
Labrador was discovered by the party
Troubles never come singly. Just as
the long-suffering public begin to look
toward the oil wells Of Texas for a suosti-
tute for the no longer affordable coal, we
hear that the Texas oil fields are all ablaze.
Theodore c. Bates, a Massachusetts hnan-
cier and promoter. travels not a little IN
connection with projects he has on hand,
but always carries with him a supply OF
drinking water from his farm in the old bay
state. The water is from a spring near the
spot where took place one Of the most ter
rible Indian massacres in all the history OF
Massachusetts.
Sir Richard Sedden, premier Of New zea-
land. displayed great activity in sending
colonial troops to South Africa. On one oc-
casion a political opponent said to him:
you are ready enough to send our sons
and brothers to be shot at. but" The rugged
premier interrupted: "Sir. this morning I
signed a commission for my own son. He
will be shot at. too, aud l dared him to come
back without a wound"
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

line by such tactics. Is not the fact
that these great corporations and foreign
interests are going to such lengths to
force MERGERS denomination convincing
proof that he is not the man we want to
represent this district at Washington?
II the corporations are under obliga-
lions to Mercer, why should they not
pay their own debts, rather than to try
to unload them forcibly upon us? VIII
the republicans of this district hold up
their hands while Mercer and his cor
porate allies perform the political high
wayman's act7
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP.
Rock Island Directors Abandon
Minority Control.
Chicago Tribune.

chicago Tribune.
The directors Of the new Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific company have withdrawn
from a position which was supported by the
law, but which was attacked by the public.
Legal sanction has yielded to current
opinion. The state of New Jersey gave
the Rock Island directors certain rights.
People in general protested against the ex-
ercise Of those rights. The directors de-
cided that people in general were Of more
consequence to them than the state Of New
Jersey.
The case was this: The Rock Islands
articles Of Incorporation gave the directors
the right to buy and sell the company's
stock, to call in outstanding shares and
bonds, to reissue those shares and bonds
and. in general, to contract or expand capt.
talization In a way which is generally sup
posed to be a special prerogative Of the
shareholders. The dangers of such a sys-
tenn are perfectly clear. Here we have a
small group Of men who, perhaps. own only
a minority OF the stock of their company.
BY virtue OF their position on the board of
directors these men are able to begin and
continue a financial policy which, to those
who own a majority of the stock, may be
most Objectionable. In matters Of great
Importance such directors are able to vote
the stock OF the company as IL they were
owners instead Of administrative officers.
They are also able to use the company's
money In stock market operations. The
temptations lurking in this arrangement
need not be dwelt upon. The directors
would have all the opportunities which 60
with control and might have none Of the
responsibilities which go with ownership.
The scheme was. therefore, a fragrant
violation Of the sound business principle
that control and ownership ought to be
lodged In the same person. No other ar
rangement offers any safeguard.
There are special reasons Just now why
public attention is attracted to this matter.
The great railroads of the country are in a
period of prosperity. They are accumulat-
ing large SURPRISES and large credits. They
have, therefore. become the object of in
tense speculative interest. The purchase Of
the Rock Island by the Moores and the
purchase Of the Louisville & Nashville by
Mr.. Gates and his friends have opened the
eyes of the public to the speculative posi-
bilities OF such transactions. Competitive
building, the dictation Of rates, the utiliza-
tion Of credit for the purpose Of buying
other roads or OF carrying on extensions,
the utilization Of control for the purpose Of
distributing the surplus, the wanton dis
turbance Of existing conditions-these are
lines Of action which are open to the men
who are now buying up the control Of rail-
road properties. 1t is evident, therefore,
that control should not be lodged in the
hands Of men whose interest In the prop
erty is purely speculative and whose move
ments are not under the direct supervision
Of the real owners.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
Dupes Come In for . Divvy.
Brooklyn Eagle.

1ANNNAgh LAbAS
II is quite remarkable, as we'll as for
tunate that the dupes Of the Franklin
syndicate nave been able to recover the
$4,000 Of their money which Miller turned
over to his lawyer and Seymour, johnson &
Co. The evidence brought out in the liti-
cation shows that neither Miller nor the
people who received the money had the
faintest intention that It should ever reach
those from whom IL came. 1t was no doubt
regarded as a nest egg put by for Miller
after the law had got through with that
remarkable swindler. The thorough venti-
lation which this Franklin syndicate and
associated get-rich-quick schemes have re-
ceived in the Imprisonment OF Miller and
the subsequent court proceedings in pur-
suit Of his ill-gotten booty ought TO protect
people OF this region from similar Swindles
for SOM time to come
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
NO SETTLEMENT IN sLGHT.

Public interest in the anthracite coal
situation intensifes as cold weather APP
proaches and the price of coal advances.
The latest announcement is that there
Is no prospect of a settlement. All eff
forts thus far to settle the contest have
come to naught and both sides appear
to be as obdurate and determined as at
any time since the struggle begun. The
operators will listen to no o%vertures.
They will consent to nothing but a re-
turn to work Of the miners on the old
basis. The mine leaders. on the other
ton and profess confidence that they
will yet win. Neither side is giving any
consideration to the interests, to say
nothing of the rights, of the public.
The probability appears to be that the
operators will ultimately win and the
Philadelphia Ledger. which has been
fair and impartial in it's discussion of
the contest, admonishes President
Mitchell that it is now time, before de-
feat becomes a Tout, to consider not
alone the interests of his union, but the
needs of the public. 1t expresses the
opinion that the operators, chastened by
falling dividends and an %outpouring Of
public sentiment, are not unwilling to
mine coal and are probably disposed to
open the way for resumption by afford
ing terms to the miners on which they
would gladly go to work. 1t declares
that the time for obstinacy is past.
The counsel is good, bua it is to be ap-
pretended that it will not be needed.
Meanwhile the public looks helplessly
on and the of anthracite are
seriously considering what they shall do
the coming winter to keep warm.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

tended to the Pacific ocean on the west,
Dominion OF Canada on the north, and
Mexico and the gulf on the south; called
attention to the national progress, civill-
zation and commerce until we have become
mistress Of land and sea. and that we are
now teaching civilization and principles
Of civil government to the nations which
gave birth to the human race. Mr.. Hin
shaw is a fluent speaker and a gentleman
and is making a clean campaign, not re-
sorting TO the schemes Of the demagogic
politician, which is making friends for
wherever he goes.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

lied with the prosperity Of the manu-
%facturers."
There are many individual manufac-
turers in Nebraska and Iowa who en-
ploy thousands of people. They have
been enabled by the protective tariff to
establish and maintain their enterprises
and pay good wages to their employees.
The farmers of these states have de-
rived great benefit therefrom. TT >
democratic policy Is to remove the pro-
lection under which these industries
have been built up and to open the
American market to the free admission
Of foreign manufactures. How long
could the industries in these states
survive such a policy? How long would
they continue to give employment to the
number of people they now do2 AS
soon as the democratic policy went into
effect there would be a repetition of the
experience of a few years ago. Man
ufacturers would reduce the labor en-
ployed and curtail output. In a brief
time there would be an army of idle
people and wages would fall. Con-
sumption of all products would neces-
sarily decrease and prices would decline.
The farmer would have much Of his
produce left on his hands, whereas nov
there is an active demand for 1t at
profitable prices.
The American farmer is most unwise
who will vote to impair his home mar
ket, yet that would be the inevitable
result of democratic tariff policy, as
experience has shown.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

The democrats of the Fifth Iowa dis
trict begin their resolutions with the
district" The convention was COM
posed of just eight men. All of them
urged each delegate present in turn to
accept the congressional nomination and
all irrevocably declined. Finally they
nominated an absent brother, who, the
moment he heard of it, telephoned his
refusal. The convention" had by that
time adjourned. '-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

In an important decision the supreme
court of Rhode Island sweepingly sus-
tains a law passed by the last legisla-
ture limiting the hours of labor on street
car lines, regardless whether the EN-
ployes Of the street railway companies
are willing to work a greater number
of hours or whether they and the ON
pany agree and contract to do SO. The
court holds that the intent of the statute
is to guard the public safety from serv-
ice too prolonged for alertness in the
exercise Of reasonable care, and says:
This being so, the public safety cannot
be made dependent upon private ON
tracts" In other words, the court in
t~erferes with the laws of nature in
voked by the corporations. But it uses
good sense, just the same.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
Does This Settle Itf

Springfield Mass.) Republican dnd.).
Thirteen democratic state conventions
thus far this year have refused to reafirm
the Kansas City platform, while fourteen
have reafirmed it. But these figures amount
to very little. The next democratic national
convention will get our a new platform
that will not indorse "16 to l." and that is
the main point.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

For the purposes of the republican
primary Ransom has evidently turned
owe to Gurley all of their joint criminal
law practice. When it comes to cleo
ton, however, Gurley is likely to tell
his clients to do as Ransom says, and
Ransom say he is a democrat.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
VINO Owns the Courtf
Chicago

cSN6
Senator Clark declares that Mr.. HelnZe
must not be allowed to own the supreme
court OF Montana. Mr.. Heinze is equally
firm in his demand that Senator Clark shall
not own the supreme court Of Montana.
In this situation there seems to be some
reason to look for a surprising and unpre-
cedented condition of affairs In which no
body shall own the supreme court Of Mon
taua.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

Our nonresident congressman may pre-
vail on all the bank presidents in town
to go on his primary delegations, but it
must be remembered that the vote of
the richest bank president weighs no
more in the ballot box than the vote of
the poorest day laborer.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
Heels on. and Listen.
Baltimore American.

"WTNEENEVEN o
II the plutocratic kings of the coal re-
gions will remove the iron heel from the
neck of the consumer long enough for
him to get his breath they may hear him
suggest that he will be glad to pay that
little 10 cents extra on the ton for which
the miners ask,
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16
Poor Year for Profits.

Kansas city star.
The profits Of one Of the firms which is
to be included in the packing house trust
were only $4,000, 900 last year. But 1t
will be remembered tina cattle and hogs
were scarce, and that the sales of meat
were considerably abridged by reason Of
the high prices which the packers were
forced to ask for their products.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

The Salt Lake Board of Education has
issued an order barring married women
from the teaching force in the public
schools. Omaha's Board of Education
has issued the same kind Of an order
several times, but the married women
are still teaching.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

If the denizens of literary old Concord
turn up their noses at the mere thought
of a mammoth hog packing plant in the
neighborhood Of the homes of Alcott,
Hawthorne, Thoreau and Emerson. that
is nothing to what they may have to
do after the plant is in operation.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

Republicans must not forget that after
their candidates are put up they have
TO be elected, and success at the cleo
ton will depend largely ON the charac-
ter OF the candidates. 1t will not do to
rely on the weakness Of the opposition
nor to trust to luck in this year 1902
simply because Douglas county normally
goes republican.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-16

1t is anticipated that President Roose-
velts speeches in Iowa may have
special relation to the tariff. His first
stop In the state will be at Sioux City,
where he will appear with Governor
Cummins, the special champion OF the
no-shelter-fOr-trusts plank of the Iowa
nlaffnrm.