davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
AN "OPEN DOOR" QUESTION.

Some months ago the British and Ger
man governments protested against the
remission of the export duty, $3.50 a ton,
on hemp from the Philippines to the
United States. Those governments urged
that this discrimination against them is
an ~infraction of the open door policy, for
which the United States has earnestly
contended in the far east, and expressed
the hope that it will not be continued.
The correspondence in the matter is now
la the hands of the senate committee on
Philippine affairs and 1t is understood
will receive consideration In connection
with the pending Philippine tariff bill.
This is the first question that has been
raised bearing upon the open door policy
of this government and its determine
ton will be important. 1t is said that
the congressional theory seems to be
that an executive proclamation of the
open door, made before congress as
sumed jurisdiction OF the government OF
the Philippines, is not binding upon con-
gress now that that Jurisdiction is in full
operation. 1t also appears to be the
opinion of some that as long as the
products Of other countries are admitted
into the Philippines on equal terms with
our own, no foreign nation can complain
that we have closed the door because a
Philippine product is laid down in San
Francisco cheaper thar In some ports of
Europe. The San Francisco Chronicle
takes the view that 1t is none of Eng
land and Germany's business what we
do with the Philippine islands. 1t a y
in regard to the open door principle, that
we have simply insisted that so long
as China is recognized as an independ-
ent nation she shall observe, and be
permitted to observe, her treaties with
this country.
There is no doubt as to our right to do
as we please with the Philippines. We
can establish free trade between the
islands and this country and maintain
a prOhibitive tarif in the Philippines on
goods OF other countries than our own.
We may of right discriminate TO the
most radical extent against our com.
petitOrs for Philippine trade. But would
IL be expedient 10 assert this right
Should we not in doing 50 invite retalla,
ton on the part Of countries that are In
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
CORN REGAINING LOST GROUND.
Increased Demand Abroad shown in
the Exports.

NhONtidhu IcdutTs
American exports of corn are steadily
increasing and the shipments OF that grain
from tho Danube valley to western Europe
are as regularly diminishing. The indi-
cations are that the exports Of American
maize for December will be three times
as great as in the corresponding month Of
last year, though the shipments will hardly
be more than 30 or IS per cent as much
as they were in December, 1900. The
main thing is that the changes are con-
stantly in the right direction and they are
by no means slow.
These conditions in the corn trade indi-
cate that the effects Of a very bad crop
which cost American farmers the tenn
porary loss of a big export trade in the
most important American cereal will soon
pass away and 1t seems reasonable to
expect that corn alone will lift the total
trade of the United States $50, 200, 900 over
the figures for the current year in 1908, I'M
less there should be a serious loss in
some other direction. Natural conditions
favor a fine business with Europe in many
leading agricultural products, notwith-
standing the excellent harvests Of that
continent last season. Australia must
import wheat rather than dispose OF a
surplus and the Argentine exports of grain
promise to be only moderate.
Conservative Americans sometimes have
serious doubts about special features OF
the financial situation, such as the fate
of certain heavily watered trusts, but
there is mo room for uneasiness concerning
such basic elements OF our natural pros
pority as the abundance Of great staples OF
the soil and the size OF the surplus which
can be sent to other markets.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
WHEN HENRY SINGS.
An A~pOstrOphe to wsttersOn's MeIli-
nuOus voice,
washington Post.

washington POST.
Colonel Henry watterson juggles very
prettily with words In his melodious peril
DDS we have the rebeck and the lutte, the
deep and thrilling timbre OF the horn, the
adde's wild complaint. He smites the
haru and wakes the palpitating pipe. He
sings as Sappho sang. upon the great
white rock Of Mityiene; yea, like Parthen-
ope herself. As Eurydice followed Or
pheus. so has the star-eyed goddess hung
upon the colonel's tuneful heels in this
otherwise sordid and unpoetic age. But
when Colonel watterson flutes to us that
the Monroe doctrine took no account Of
imperialism in Brazil or royalty in
Canada" we feel like hiring a little Ger
man band and smothering him with wsg-
ner.
Has Colonel watterson examined the
Monroe doctrine very recently? We fancy
not. for II he had examined It, he would
know that It took account Of more things
than Brazil and Canada. He would know
that 1t took account Of the two Guianas.
the French and Danish colonies, and all
the rest Of them, and stipulated only that
there must be no more OF Il. The United
States government did not warn OF the
premises anyone already in possession. II
simply said that the line was drawn. and
that It must not be disturbed thenceforth.
Strange as 1t may appear. the men who
were running this country at the time I'M
derstood that England. France, Holland,
Denmark and so on, were then In occupa-
ton Of certain areas and territories in the
western hemisphere, and frankly admitted
their right to remain in such possession as
long as It might suit their taste and fancy.
The proposition was that the status quo
should be preserved and that there should
be no nonsense about It for the future.
Perish the thought that anyone or any
thing shall interrupt the now of Colonel
Henry's song. This feeble chirp Of ours is
a mere sacrihcial tribute to his mellihuous
Hood. When the skylark trolls his midair
lay, what does the cricket hope to do upon
its lowly perch? When Rizzio shakes the
night with song, let meaner minstrels
SQUAT.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
EXCESSIVE FREIGHT RATES.
VIII Take the Matter Up and
do S~omethtnEf

SaAANAat AAAaA
Discrimination in railroad rates is grow
ing. Extortion in rates is the crying evil
now. Under the new order OF things no in
dividual is specially favored. but all arc
treated unJustly. Railroad combination has
done way largely with the favored shipper.
II is not so easy for him to extort cut rates
from one road by threatening to turn his
business over TO another. But combination.
which makes It possible to maintain uni
form rates, has also made IL possible to fix
and maintain unjust rates.
According to Mr.. Prouty, interstate COM
merce commissioner. the overtaxation Of
the public through excessive freight rates
is already q serious matter and threatens
to become more serious. The railroads.
says Mr.. Prouty, promised, when they were
combining, that they would not raise rates.
but rates have been advanced and are still
advancing. There are now complaints OF
illegal charges before the courts which
amount to a lump sum of $500, 200. 600. On
the one item of anthracite alone, says Mr..
Prouty. the roads have been squeezing the
consumers out Of $685. 900, 600 a year.
Mr.. Prouty has his plan for dealing with
the railroad question. other men have
theirs. Congress has no plan and pays no
attention to the subject. This is chiefly
because there Is no general popular demand
for action. These are prosperous times, and
most people take railroad rates as they
come. Whenever the pressure OF rates is
generally and seriously felt, and there is a
popular demand for legislation. as there
was when the interstate commerce law was
enacted, congress will take the matter up
and do something. ..s.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31


There is no room to doubt that the
Monroe doctrine is exceedingly unpopu-
lar with the German nation. however,
the government by inference may have
recently recognized it. The immense
expansion Of German foreign trade has
raised visions of colonial empire which
have pointed toward South America.
With a large German population already
in some of the states, it is natural that
the aggressive spirit Of the mother ma
ton should be dissatisfied with an in
ternational rule whose maintenance
bars it from the chance of territorial ac-
QUESTION in a whole continent. The
German people would hall with delight
a positive movement on the part of
united Europe to annul the Monroe doc
trine, but there is not the slightest pos
sibility of such a movement at present,
nor is 1t probable that 1t can ever be
contaminated.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
GUARANTEES OF ARBITRATION.

OF AhbiI hd IONs
There is no end of irrelevant assertion
or assumption that guarantees of the ex-
%ecution Of the finding of the arbitrators
must be had in the sense that some au-
thority will undertake the collection of
whatever damages may be found TO be
due from Venezuela. No such result is
necessarily implied in international ar
filtration as it has been resorted to or
as is provided for in The Hague treaty.
Nor is 1t probable that President Roose-
welt would in any event have consented
to act on such terms.
Where disputes are submitted to ar
bitration of course an implied obligation
is upheld and almost invariably the ex-
press pledge of the parties is made to
carry u its decision. But no case of
international arbitration can be cited
where governments as third parties
have stood by with drawn swords to en-
force the finding of the referees. 1t is
also true that no nation could refer a
matter to arbitration and then refuse to
abide by the result without putting IT,
self clearly in the wrong and forfeiting
the respect Of the civilized world, while
the other party or parties to the arbitra-
ton could still resort to other remedies
previously at its command.
1t is n conceivable case, although in
high degree an improbable one, that an
arbitrating board might find an mount
to be due which it would be impossible
for the debtor or offending nation to
pay. But as no such case has yet arisen,
it is not necessary to cross that stream
before coming to it. The usual method
when war is resorted to and the in
demnity required by the c%onqueror AN
not be paid is to appropriate territory,
but the Monroe doctrine forbids this re-
suit in American countries as against
Europe. The refusal or the sheer in
ability of Venezuela to pay an award,
If it be conceived as possible, is all the
greater reason why no strict guaranty
of enforcement can be exacted.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
PILGRIMs KNEW BEANS.
Primitive New England knowledge
which Was scsnt Elsewhere.

which was Sc0nt Elsewhere.
Boston Globe.
The glory Of the New England forefathers
is not likely to soon fade from the earth.
In New York. Philadelphia, in the west.
and, in fact, wherever we cast the eye we
find ready representatives Of the Pilgrim
Fathers assembled to sound their virtues
and glorify their names at this season.
In New York and elsewhere some at
tempts have been made to initiate the
Pilgrim Fathers in the bills of fare served.
How puerile IL looks to try to initiate the
Pilgrim bill OF fare in the Waldorf Astoria
and similar fashionable gatherings! Even
II they had the food they haven't the men
and the parlors Of fashionable hotels are
not the places TO display them.
But IL may surprise a good many New
Workers to know that the Plymouth colony
raised potatoes as early as 1862. and that
about the same time Gosnold's colony
raised oats and barley. In fact, right here
in Boston we raised beans as early as 1902.
and forty-two years afterward they had the
conceit to him that they knew beans in
Manhattan and Virginia.
The fact is that the Pilgrim Fathers
were a plain, blunt. unvarnished set OF fell
lows. Rev. DR.. living. president Of the
Western Reserve university. lately stated
that the Pilgrim Fathers were even a very
uneducsted set OF men. Not one Of them,
he said. except Brewster. had ever seen the
inside OF a college.
Yet few men have ever been more hon.
ored at seats Of learning. especially by
Harvard university. and by other colleges,
II was not that they were learned, but
that they were men Of character and convic-
tion.
All honor to the Pilgrim Fathers! We
will even forgive them. though they allowed
history 20 cheat Cape Cod out Of the real
honor Of being their hFHt place 81 landing.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
NEBRASKA POETS ON NEW YEAR

I saw an old friend turn, away from me
And slowly totter on his ancient cane,
With labored steps, as one who suffers
pain, .
n dim, sad eyes that scarcely seemed to
see.
I called his name, again, again, but he
Came in between with dull and missy
And shut him out beyond my sight or plea.
All, well. he was not always over kind;
Nay, often ever cruel, l confess.
His better deeds, his sometime tenderness.
And L am glad, since we no more shall
The bitter to forget and keep the sweet.
ISABEL RIcHEY.
The old year wore a robe of green, e.
With many garlands of sweet foW'rs,
And fastened with the golden sheen
OF shining, shimm'ring, dreamy hours.
And then the r~ipening summer time
Made him a garment of spun gold.
With cleaning emeralds at each line,
And beauty lurking in each fold.
Rich autumn changed his brilliant dress
To sober brown and quiet gray,
And rubies gave II loVeliness,
Burning with light of closing day.
And now the spirit of the snow
Bestows a cloak of fieecy white,
Bedecked with diamonds that show
Unrivaled splendor day and night.
The signal fires of the sun
Proclaim the dying of the year;
His spring and summer time are gone,
The winter of his life is here.
meets the new year. fair and glad;
He turns to greet him at deaths door.
And smiles to see him gaily clad
In the last mantle that he wore.
BELLE WILEY CUE.
The Year is drawing to a close:
Old Year, goodbye!
To some twas filled with Joys; to others,
woes:
Old Year, goodbye!
We leave the past with deep regrets and
tears,
For hours misspent have added to our
years.
And to the future look for ecompense.
When we may gain more wisdom and more
sense;
old Year, good-byel
Thou glad New Year. we welcome thee;
All hail, New Year,
And may your coming I'LL with glee;
All hail, New Yeari
Our new resolves will be our lives 10 make
More worthy, less of sin and grave mis-
And II our efforts fruitful to the end
Wen mourn thy waning days as some lost
friend;
All hail, New Yearl
coRYDoN ROOD.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Aerorrnms in q Storm.

Victor Smith in New York Press.
While the storm was thickest on Satur-
day afternoon. about $3.50, l stood on top Of
the Chesebrough building. II State street,
reading aerograma from Coney Island and
Fort Wadsworth. Not an object In the har-
Dor was visible. but the billiards. fury did
not retard messages in the slightest de-
gree. As a matter of fact, a great preci-
pitation of snow or rain serves to increase
the efficacy Of the wireless system. Aero
grams fly all the faster and truer as the
elements destroy or embarrass the existing
standard line service.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

Senator Teller is treading on the thin
nest kind Of ice In his effort for re-elec-
tion. 1t is known that a number of the
democratic members OF the Colorado
Legislature are strongly disposed to
throw him overheard and to insist ON an
o%ut-and-out democrat, in spite OF the
fact that he publicly declared his ad-
hesiOn to that party last summer. The
prospect is for a long-drawn nj contest.
with a growing feeling that the demo
cratic members cannot in any event be
held together long for him.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
whOopins Up the Farmers Trust.
Phlladelphia North American.

P~hIIaueIpnla NORTH Amerlcan.
The farmers are trying to organize a
trust, but 1t will be seen that among the
purposes OF the combination lin
itation Of products, destruction of compe-
tition and dividends on fictitious capitaliza-
ton are not included. The aim OF the
farmer is not Reorganization of agriculture.
He desires to encourage improvements in
methods, increase the crops, obtain a fair
price for farm products and get a square
deal from the railroads. Success to the
farmers trust and more power to its arml
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
WHAT WERE THEY ELEorsD FOR,

The republican members of the dele
CATION from Douglas county are reputed
to be under a pledge not to commit it
or any of it's members for or against
any issue that may come before the leg
islature until it has received the ap-
the delegation in star chamber session.
In other words, every member of the
delegation is reputed to be pledged to
surrender his own convictions to the
will of the majority, and to take nobody
into his confidence except by permission
of the majority of the delegation.
This unique g~entlemen's agreement
has it's only counterpart in the now ia
imous st. Louis councilmanic agreement
which bound the members Of the COM
bine not to speak except through the
chosen spokesman. From the dark re-
cesses of the chamber in which the
Douglas delegation has held it's secret
conferences the public is assured that
the prime object of this extraordinary
policy is to promote the public welfare
and fOrestall adverse criticism. How
the public welfare is to be promoted by
a refusal to discuss public issues in pub
lie can only be surmised by the tip given
to the Real Estate exchange by one of
the spokesman of the keep-it-dark dele
cation when asked what position he and
his associates would take with regard to
fhn nronOcad YanaaI af fho caatio. -
the charter that virtually exempts the
railroads from local taxation. "The dele
CATION would prefer not to touch this
matter, but leave it to the courts to set
tie" was the response.
This is cooler than a 30-below-zero
breeze. 1t is a declaration In so many
words that the Douglas delegation
would prefer to be excused from dis
charging its plain duty and leave the
taxpayers, who have for years borne the
burdens that should justly have been
imposed upon the railroads, to the ten
der mercies of these corporations until
the highest courts have pronounced upon
the constitutionality OF the tax-exempt-
ing clause Of the charter.
The question that Will naturally force
itself upon the mind of every ~taxpaying
citizen is, What are they there for?
What object is there in electing repre-
sentatives to the legislature If they will
deliberately decline to represent the in
terests and wishes of their constituents?
What other natural inference can be en-
tertained than that they have mort
gagged themselves TO the corporations
that own S25,OO0,OOO worth of property
in Omaha which is assessed at less than
1 per cent Of its actual value, while all
other property is assessed at 100 cents
on the dollar?
How can any representative to the leg
i~slature justify himself in surrendering
his own individual convictions by shift
ing the obligations imposed upon him by
his constituents ON the plea that he is
tied hand and foot to do only that which
the majority of his colleagues win per
init him to do, even when his action or
attitude is in conflict with his own hon
est convictions and when he believes It
to be detrimental to the public welfare?
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

The new gear will open with a poor
prospect of peace among the great rail-
road systems especially interested in the
traRscontinental traffic. A bitter war
has sprung up between the Gould and
interests, which will inevi-
tably result in construction of a great
deal of new mileage and it is just pos
sible the Milwaukee will resume It's plan
for building to the const.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

position to control markets in the ORR
ent? The maintenance of the open door
policy undoubtedly depends a great deal
upon the position of the United States,
and our influence in behalf OF that policy
would certainly be very much weakened
If in the Philippines we discriminate
against other countries. The question
raised merits the very careful attention
of congress.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

Down In Lancaster county a bank
combine that has been working the tax
payers for county deposits without pay
ing the interest required by law has
been broken. There is no good reason
whatever why Douglas county should
not get interest upon it's treasury bal
ances. and it would get the interest
speedily il the responsible authorities
went about II the right way.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

British observers take comfort in the
thought that so long as American manu-
faeturers have the profitable home mar
ket at their command, there is no danger
Of American products s%upplanting Brit
ish products either at home or in neutral
markets. But had 1t not been for the
policy OF protection American manufac-
turers would not have had the home
market much less n fOOthOld abroad.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
jug Handle Suggestion.
Portland oregonian.

1OTIdnu OTeBOnlan.
In Nebraska the State Board Of Chari-
ties and Corrections is arking the legisla-
ture to pass an act making It a crime for
a husband to desert his wife. How foolish
to expect a Legislature of men to pass such
a law! Acting upon the suggestion, they
may pass a law making 1t a criminal offepse
for a wife to desert her husband.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

And now the police commission hints
that it Will apply faith cure treatment
to all liquor license ailments. In other
words, II has no faith in the circulation
statements of the pretending Fakeries.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

Footings Of the city assessment roll
show that the recent Board of Review is
the only board that ever made any ma
terlal increase in the totals returned by
the tax commissioners.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

A New Years day reunion and jollih-
cation of all the beneflciaries of Gov
ernor Savage's pardon pen with the
great pardoner as guest of honor would
seem to be in order.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Can We Live without Trent
Baltimore American.

The highly dangerous habit Of kissing
been called by special legislation to
the attention Of the public, the practice Of
hand-shaking has next been hailed before
the medical bar TO give reason why It
should not be banished from modern So
ciety as harboring Objectionable germs. 1t
looks as though we we're gradually work.
ing back to the old days when clothes were
made out OF armorplate.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

from tampering with the council. Why
should taxpayers Of Omaha be compelled
to wait for a decision from the federal
courts, or the supreme court OF Ne
braska, when its representatives in the
Legislature can give them relief by
knocking out the railroad taxation
Clause9
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

Those South Omaha officials who are
getting apprehensiye over a prospective
overlap might apply to the Omaha school
board for consolation. Our school fund
has a perennial overlap, but it never
disturbs school board members.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

If that newly invented machine will
really heat a room for 81 II year, it must
require extraordinary self control on the
part Of the inventor to refrain from
selling them under existing circum-
stances.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

The Real Estate exchange committee
on taxation does not appear to be willing
to lay down just to accommodate the
tax-shirking railroad. The t~axpaying
citizens of Omaha certainly will not lay
down even if it takes years to fight it
ont.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

The glowing accounts now being sent
out regarding Grover Cleveland's health
will hardly escape the eye of Colonel
Watterson.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31

From New York to Chicago in four
hours is the promise held forth by an
ambitious inventor. From Omaha to
Lincoln in one hour is equally desirable
and much more practicable.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Opportunity for MiIIionaires.
BROOKLYN Eagle

bTOoklyn Eagle.
II our millionires want to do one of the
greatest services to the human race that is
possible to them, why don't they engage
DR.. Lorenz to live in America, at a suf-
ficient income, and let him cure the Door?
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Cut ONT the Preface.

st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Arbitration is a good thing, but should
never again be p~refaced by the seizure Of
a navy and bombardment Of a fort as a
means to collect private debts.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-31
Time to Break Loose.

Chicago Chronicle.
The mad mullah has not been killed for
almost two weeks and his friends are be-
ginning to feel uneasy about him.