The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-01

fight which has been going on almost
from the very formation of Nebraska
territory, and certainly ever since it's
admission as state in 1867.
Nebraska is essentially an agricul-
tural state. Practically one-half of
all males and females over ten years
of age, engaged in "gainful occupa-
tons" follow agricultural pursuits;
BET per cent Of the males engaged in
"gainful occupations" are agricultur-
lists. Yet the state government has
never been wholly free from railroad
control, notwithstanding that only
17.2 per cent of the male population
over ten years of age are engaged in
trade and transportation" In 1897
the pOpulists and democrats had con-
troll OF the administrative and legisla-
tive branches of government; but the
supreme court was republican. Judge.
Sullivans election to the supreme
bench in the fall of 1897 was the first
bona fide representative of the people
as distinguished from the railroads.
Buth Judge Maxwell and Judge Reese,
elected as republicans, had shown rest
iveness at wearing the railroad yoke
the Inheritance of every republican
5udge-and a disposition to rebel; and
the powerful machine ruthlessly de-
Etroyed their usefulness to the people
as judges.
By the time Judge Holcomb reached
the supreme bench (January, 19OO),
the legislature was again republican.
Then the wave of Mckinley prosperity
carried back the administrative offices
to the republicans, and since January,
1901, the people have had no represen-
tation in state government except the
two judges on the supreme bench.
Upon whatever basis it may be cal
eulated, the railroads of Nebraska have
always had more than their share.
The Independent has no disposition to
deny men engaged in railroading the
same political rights other men enjoy.
Upon the basis of taxation, the rail-
roads, paying between Is and II per
cent of the taxes, would be entitled to
about one-sixth of the legislature, one
of the administrative officers and
supreme although the latter
would give them one-third of the
court.
Upon the basis Of "gainful occupa
tons" the railroad share would be
about the same-16 to II per cent. The
farmers would be entitled to 55 per
cent; professional men, 4 those in
domestic and personal service, II; and
in manufacture and mechanical arts,
about IL or 13. Permitting themselves
to be divided politically by all sorts
OF fiimsy issues" the farmers of Ne
braska have allowed other interests to
run the state government. The census
will tell story of what this has done
for the farmer. Let us make a COM
parison between agriculture and manu-
featuring in Nebraska:
The farmers investment in 1900 was
as follows:
Land and buildings. ........ .$577 $50 ,020
Implements, etc. ......... 940,O5O
Live stock. k................ l45,549,ooI
Total .................$1 $14t ,5oV,Vos
Farm crops TO. the year 1899 were
valued at $162,696,386, of which $685.
OPS, $50 was fed to live stock, going to
make up the 145 millions above and
leaving $124670,856 as the net farm
crops for sale as such and including
S7O,227, ,060 Of "animal products" !"
Hence, it becomes apparent that the
returns were nearly II per cent on
the investment-if we assume that
the 186,5S7 persons. male and female,
over ten years Of age. engaged tn agri-
culture, are NOT entitled to any wages
whatever for the energy they expend-
ed in producing these farm products!
There was, as matter of fact, ST.
$685. 100 paid out for farm labor. but as
we are counting the total product and
total engaged, no account need be
made of this. Assuming that each one
OF the 1S6,5S7 was, on the average, en-
titled to dollar day as wages, and
counting 800 davs to the year, we must
deduct $55976.100 as return in the
nature of wages. This leaves us:
Investment ............... .$747. $50 ,057
Net return ................ 68.694, ,756
Or something better than per cent,
and not quite ten. But out of this
must be deducted taxes, state, county