davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
~DEBAUCRING THE PRESS.

One feature of the recently uncovered
correspondence by which the railroad
lobby at Lincoln e~ndeavored to per
suade the editors of country newspa-
pers to insert made-to-order articles
justifying railroad tax Sinking in their
editorial columns upon promise of pay
ment of n bill of expense they might
render, calls for further emphasis. II
is the insidious attempt to poison the
public mind by corrupting the we'll
springs of public opinion.
Several of the publishers who cont
piled with the reQuisition from RAILROAD
headquarters have ~endeavored to OK
plain their action by asserting that they
have advertising space to sell and that
In printing the misleading appeals for
tax exemption for the railroads they
were simply selling their wares to a
purchaser willing to pay the price.
There is a distinction as well as a diff
ference, however, between selling adj.
vertising space to the railroads and sell
ing editorial opinions to the railroad
lobby.
Nearly every one of the newspapers
addressed has an advertising contrac;
with the different railroads of Nebraska
and If 1t were intended to have articles
prepared by the tax agents inserted as
advertising they would have been trans.
mitted in the usual order with instruc.
lions to charge to the railroad account,
What the lobby chiefs sought to do in
Offering matter TO be inserted in the
editorial columns at the editors price
was to buy the editor of the paper
rather than space in the paper.
The Nervousness Of such debauchery
Of the press can be only compreheuded
when its disastrous consequences are
realized. Every honest newspaper owes
n duty to the public, whose betrayal
can no more be justified than the
treachery of a soldier in the field. II
editorial opinions are to be bought and
sold every powerful interest with q
full treasury would command the en-
tire press Of the country and the
wrongs of the people cry in vain for 6
champion.
In principle, Offering money to an ed
itor to distort pubic opinion for the
purpose of influencing the legislator tC
betray the interests Of his constituent
is no different from offering the lHgis
lator the money outright to support the
interests Of the corporate bride giveri
MS against those of the people he IL
elected to represent. In its essence, pay
ing the editor to fabricate justification
for dishonest lawmakers is no diferen
from paying venal lawmakers to be dis
honest.
That the men who hire themselveI
out to engage as lobbyists in corruption
work for the big railroad corporation
should in their d~epravity seek to de
bauch the press as we'll as the legisla
ture is not surprising. But we mistak,
the character and the caliber Of the ed
itors of Nebraska newspapers II thei
efforts prove successful.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

also provides for the punishment OF
those who accept rebates. Thus under
this law It is made a criminal ofense
for persons to ask and accept a rebate
so that not only the common carrier but
the manufacturer or merchant can be
held under the law for accepting a dis
elimination in freight rates.
The justice and fairness Of this prin-
ciple we think. no one will question. 1t
aims to establish absolute equality be-
tween all interests and to maintain II.
Enforced, as undoubtedly it will be, we
shall have in every part of the country
an absolutely fair and proper regula.
ton Of freight rates and consequently
none OF the issues and controversies
that are now continually arising. In a
word, the Elkins bill gives promise OF
a settlement of pending rate contro-
versies that will result to the benefit
Of the people as a whole. 1t may moi
be the final requirement, but it Is q
very long and decisive step in the right
direction.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Personal AND OTHERWISE.


There are few signs Of spring in sight,
but It is certain to arrive on schedule time.
The Hudson Bay region is coming to the
front as a diamond field. The press agent
Of the summer excursion season is getting
busy"
Miss Maud Come is gone. for better or
worse. His name is Mcbride. The an
nouncement will make one or more Omaha
hearts throb with grief.
The crop Of French sardines is a failure
this year. But we have something just
as good" The art of printing French Ia
bells has reached perfection In Maine.
The man who caresses his nude dome as
he reads Of the wonders wrought by hair
restoratives may be pardoned II he enter
tains a doubt or two about truth abiding
with medicine.
It is now proposed to build a railroad
bridge over He'll Gate. a noted locality in
New York harbor. Apparently the water
route cannot furnish q sufieient quantity
Of fresh, dry material.
The Oldest man in California has added
two years to his century. He has been a
smoker for eighty-nve and 4 moderate
drinker for ssventy-hve years. but never
touched modern breakfast foods.
A Boston professor says pretty girls do
not make good wives. The professor talked
for home consumption and reached the spot
Fourteen federated clubs tossed him bo-
quets adorned with pink and blue ribbons.
A New York bride whose husband IL q
trainer OF reptiles. paid him the compli-
ment OF wearing a wriggling snake as a
necklace when the marriage ceremony waa
performed. Such devotion passeth human
understanding.
at strikes me as peculiarly appropriate
remarked the Saddle Greek philosopher as
be fondled a package from the Agrieul-
tural department. for a congressman who
was Jared loose last fall to send his do
voted constituents farewell packages Of
beet seed"
People who put up good money on prom
Uses Of from 8 TO u per cent a month from
turf and cereal investment companies car
obtain some consolation by employing al
automatic kicking machine. These april,
ances are warranted to rub In grief In al
impressive fashion.
During a basket ball game In one Of thu
New York's high schools the girl con.
testants mussed each others hair, INDUCED
in ~knockdowDs and scratched faces in
shocking manner. Accounts OF the fracai
neglect to state that the girls had . per
fectly lovely inc"
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
THE FOOLS
Edward Rowland sill.

EuWdTu hOWlhnu Sill.
The royal feast was done: the king
Sought out some new sport to Danish
And to his Jester cried: sir Fool,
Kneel now. and make for US a prayer!'
The Jester doffed his cap and bells.
And stood the hooking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.
He bowed his head and bent his knee
Upon the monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: 20, Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!
mo pity. Lord. could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool
The rod must heal the sin; but, Lord,
Be merciful to me. a fool!
" 'Ts not by guilt the onward sweep
OF truth and right, o, Lord. we stay;
It's by our follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaven away.
These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard. we'll meaning hands We thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.
"The il-timed truth we might have kept
Who knows how sharp II pierced and
stung?
Who knows how grandly Il had rung7
"our faults no tenderness should ask
The Christening stripes must cleanse them
But for our blunders-oh, In shame
Before the eyes OF heaven we fall!
Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave, and seourse the
That aid mis- will: but Thou, o Lord.
Be merciful to me, a foolF'
The room was hushed; in silence rose
The king. and sought his gardens cool;
And walked apart, and low,
b merciful TO me, a fool!'
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

people, while the senate represents not
only these, but also the interests of
capital in addition, ought to be n of
the most powerful arguments in favor
Of the proposed change. If the house
represents the interests of all the peo-
pie, why should the capitalistic class
be entitled to a second and special rep
resentation in the senate? Why should
capital have an equal voice In one
branch OF the legislature with labor
and then exclude labor from an equal
voice with 1t in the other? Does this
not give the whole case away that the
senate has become the property, as 1t
were, of the great corporate powers
and merger magnates and that they
can maintain a sure grip upon II only
by manipulating legislatures to choose
their creatures as senators who could
never secure the popular endorsement
Of a direct election at the polls7
The suggestion that the election Of sem
ators by direct vote of the people would
result in plurality choice can have little
weight with thinking people. Under
the present system, senators often rep
resent neither majorities nor plural
ties, but merely a small minority of
corporation captains, who dictate leg
~islative action by the use Of corrupt in
iuences and the outright expenditure
Of colossal sums Of money. These fac
tors might intrude into political conven.
lions, but they would have smaller room
for play. and the common people with
un~purchasable votes would have the
inal veto on every ~unsavory candidate.
Not a single valid reason has vet
been advanced anywhere against an
amendment of the constitution that
will do away with the senatorial dead.
locks and scandals in which so many
Of u legislatures have been involved
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
PRAISE FOR THE CLUB WOMAN.
Club Life Quickens EnerEies Hitherto
Dormant.

OOEmnnts
Golfers Weekly.
A who can hold a club together,
who can control a body of women, many of
whom arc these same drones, is not a
woman who will manage her house. her
husband or her children in a shiftless man
ner. The woman who organizes a club must
be a good housekeeper; she cannot help
herself; 1t Is born In her, and club life and
organization only tend to develop a char
acteristic which l will admit is dorman in
many women and which club life quickens.
You will nnd. IL you are fortunate enough
to be invited to a clubwoman's house, that
everything will run like clockwork. There
will be no hitches. The servants will be
perfectly drilled; system and order will
prevail, simply because the woman has
brought her talent for organization into her
home as she has into her club.
You will also find that the woman who
holds a prominent position in her club is
also more companionable to her husband.
The majority of clubs take up some spe-
cial study, II political land you know a
woman never does things by halves), she
will study the silver question or the tariff,
or the trusts, and, in the end, her husband
comes to look upon her as an Intelligent
being, with whom he can discuss political
issues. which were formerly considered too
abstruse for her feminine understanding
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
n ELkINS BILL.

The passage by the house of repre-
sentatives of the Elkins bill, which sup
plements the interstate law
and will render that act more effective,
is an advance in antitrust legislation of
very great importance. There are some
who are not quite satisfied that this
legislation will be adequate for the pur-
pose of regulating and controlling the
combinations. They assert that the
publicity it provides for is not sufi.
tcrmined by the application of the law,
Objection in advance Of that is not to
be very seriously considered.
Meanwhile 1t is interesting to know
that the Elkins bill is most favorably
regarded by the Interstate Commerce
commission, 1t is viewed by that body
as very materially Strengthening the
present law and there is no question
that such is the case. The present law
has been shown to be inadequate fol
the purpose IT was intended to subserve
Everybody knows that to be the fact
The railroads have persistently disre
garded and defed the law as we nov
have It and there is every reason to be
lieve they will continue to do so unlesI
there is additional legislation restrain
ing them. This is supplied by the n
klns bill, which not only prohibits re
bates on the part OF the railroads, bu
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

According to the Washington CORE
spondent Of the Lincoln Journal, It is
going to be a hard proposition to get
the appropriation for the maintenance
of the Indian warehouse at Omaha
restored to the bill that passed the
house with that item struck out, be-
cause the commissioner Of Indian af-
fairs has made a report that the cost
OF the Omaha warehouse is excessive
and out of all proportion to the bene-
fits derived by the government. In
the same dispatch it is added: "It
Senator Willard cannot get the item
restored nobody can" What about our
Dave? Is he not stIll n full iedged
congressman, with power-plenipotentlary
until March 4 next?
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

state and then carry the thought which
II suggests over the entire country.
Would It be an exaggeration to assume
that for the nation at large the savings
Of last year were ten times the amount
Of those in the single stOte OF New
York? We do not think It would and
therefore 1t is perfectly legitimate tC
assume that in the year 1902 the Amer
lean people put in the savings banks
Of the country at least S830,00o,o0C
and probably more than that sum
Measured by such a fact, what a pro.
gresslve people we are and how sub.
stantial is u reason for confidence in
the future.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

The need Of authority vested in the
president to veto separate items in ap-
preparation bills was never so apparent
as 1t is now. One house or the other
of congress is undertaking to load UT
these bills with appropriations for all
sorts of sinecure jobs over the protests
Of the department heads, who assert
that they are not needed. A most fla
grant example is found in the attempt
to retain crooked Indian agents, whose
salaries were dropped in the estimates
made by Indian Commissioner Jones
with = view to transferring the contro,
Of the reservations to the Indian schoo.
superlntendents. If the president hat
the power TO veto separate items of thu
appropriations the political pull OF tn,
Indian agents would avail them noth
ing.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
As Good as a Gold mine.
New York Tribune

The Wagner heirs are still drawing roy
alties Of more than 800, 900 a year from
the production Of the operas Of the Teu-
tonic composer. The music drama of
Germany may not be quite as lucrative as
the telephone patents in America, but II
seems to be we'll buttressed and fortified
financially. How much did Shakespeare
get for Hamlet and what was paid TO
Milton for Paradise Lost?" This is a
generation of big figures.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
IN z rRlnMPH.

The United States has triumphed in
the Venezuelan controversy and that
issue may be regarded as practically
settled 80 far as any danger of war is
concerned. That is to say, the Euro
pean powers, having shown what ag-
gression they dared to and put them.
selves in an absolute warlike attitude
that incidentally challenged the United
States, have at last decided that Ii will
be a wise policy to abandon their posi-
ton in regard to Venezuela and permit
the United States to have a controlling
influence in the settlement of the con-
%troversy. In other words, both Great
Britain and Germany appear to have
come to the conclusion that 1t is the
part of wisdom to concede something
to the greatest nation on earth and not
to get into a quarrel with a power
which is today beyond question the
foremost nation, so far as influence and
moral power are concerned, in the
world.
The position of the United States in
regard to the Venezuelan dispute has
been absolutely fair and s%traightfor-
ward. Our government has simply
said to the European powers that it
does not propose to shelter any Of the
southern countries from the payment of
their obligations. The United States
is not the protector Of dishonest gov
ernments and will not shield them from
responsibility for their Just obligations.
This has been adequately demon
strated and the southern countries
ought to learn a lesson from the Venez-
uelan matter which would be of per-
manent value to them. If they have
hitherto fancied that the United States
would defend them In their dishonesty
they must now understand that this
country has no such idea, but on the
contrary insists that all the common
wealths of this hemisphere shall act in
good faith and failing to do so must
suffer the consequences.
The adjustment of the Venezuelan
dispute is a matter of very great i'm
portance. 1t is a renewed and very
great lesson in the influence of the
United States. While our government
has maintained a strictly neutral posi-
ton. it has still been we'll understood
that we had a very vital interest in
the controversy and this has had it's
effect upon the powers. 1t is another
evidence of the greatness Of American
Influence in international affairs.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Medical Progress.

Louisville Courier-Journal.
An analysis Of the philsnthroplc gifts
made in the United States during the last
year shows that a larger sum has gone
toward the alienation OF physical suffering.
and work that gives promise of alleviating
II, than toward any other cause. This is
the dictation Of a sound estimate of the
relative Importance Of human needs. 1t is
a fundamental philanthropy; bodily health
is a condition precedent to mental, and
even to spiritual, growth.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

We note that the scheme for the fed
Grafton OF church workers set in mo-
ton at the Christian church convention
held in Omaha last October is being
adopted in other states. the churches Of
California having recently organized
along these lines. The very fact that
the plan is being favorably received
and acted upon attests its merit and II
It proves to be entirely successful the
credit for having originated the scheme
should rebound to Nebraska's benefit.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

The assurance of Mr.. Balfour that the
Monroe doctrine has no enemies in
Great Britain will be received with
thanks, but taken for what II is worth.
The best assurance OF the integrity Of
the Monroe doctrine is the readiness of
Uncle Sam to- enforce it against all
Vlolatore
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Time Ripe for = MussIe.
Chicago News

If a presidential Invitation is in reality
a command" as the social leaders OF
Washington assert, will the president
kindly invite the social leaders to stop
talking that kind OF nonsense7
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

French scientists are claiming TO have
demonstrated by their experiments that
silk can be produced in any color with
u being dyed by feeding the silk
worms with materials OF corresponding
shade. The mex thing we will have
will be eolOred Easter eggs laid to order
by hens dieted upon mixed paints.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Another spasm of pretended indigna'
ton IL due from the first families Of
the south over the musicale given in
the White House at which coon songs
had a prominent place on the program.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

The loss in the mails Of a package
containing $4,000 will not create very
widespread alarm. Not many OF us
have been expecting remittances Of that
aiwa
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Decorated a Troubled Breast.
Boston Transcript.

II signor Mascagni carries back no hoard
Of American duoats, at least he has re-
ceived the title OF Chevalier Of the order Of
Savoy In recognition OF his American tribu-
latione.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
Large school of GudEeOns.
Minneapolis Journal.

Another get-rich-quick concern lie on the
rocks. From the revelations coming out
concerning the extent Of its business, 1t
would appear that the more improbable the
allurements held out to investors the bet
ter the chance Of getting the Investments.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

The announcement is going the
rounds that a Pittsburg firm has re-
Gently taken a single order for 100000
quart bottles to be delivered this year.
A pint at a time used to be the usual
quantity carried in the pocket.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

A statement of the deposits in the
savings banks OF the state of New York
shows that they were considerably more
than n thousand million dollars at the
end Of last year and that during that
year they had increased more than $685.,
100000 Think Of that for a single
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

1t looks as IL the Mormon question
would have to be threshed over in con-
gress every time a new senator or rep
r~esentative from Utah presents his
credentials.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Mr.. Rockefeller explains that when
he declared the antitrust bill must not
pass he meant It to be understood only
in q Pickwickian sense.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Our prohibition friends have been
very quiet on the subject OF the repeal
Of constitutional prohibition by Yer
mont after a half century OF expert
ment and experience with it. 1t will
be remembered that when Nebraska
was in the throes OF its prohibition
campaign. Vermont was held up as a
paragon OF temperance, where prohibit
ton was held TO as the only true solu-
ton OF the liquor problem. But that
was twenty years g and many
changes take place in twenty years.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Bradstreet's report that labor is
scarce in the lumber camps might have
added also that lumber is scarce in the
labor mi
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

In wisconsin the railroads want to
keep the tax, Of 4 per cent of gross. rev.
enues as their contribution to the ex-
penses of government unchanged for
fear that the ado ltion Of a tax system
subJecting their property to assessment
the same as other property will make
them pay more taxes. In Nebraska
the same railroads are content to pay
on a valuation of their property rather
than on gross receipts, provided only
the valuation is made by officers whom
they feel they can control. The differ.
ence between Wisconsin and Nebraska
must be explained on the theory that
the railroads fear they might not be
able to handle the officers constituting
the assessment board there as easily as
they have manipulated the assessment
boards in Nebraska in the past.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Kansas City Star.
Hawaii has asked congress for 1850, 900
for public works this year. II has taken
Hawaii almost no time TO learn that the
United States treasury is a legitimate loot.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

The coal strike arbitrators could learn
a thing or two in the way Of %expediting
business by copying after the arbi-
traitors of the Omaha job printers
strike,
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

II the coal dealers were up to snuff
they would import some Of that 66 de-
grees below zero weather from Dawson
City.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
The coin

Indianapolis News.
Governor Taft's report shows that the
OF the Philippines has lost
81, 277. 941 by the slump in silver, and II
wasn't trying to corner the market. either.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

In all these pay increases for railway
men, the sleeping a porter seems tC
have been negligently overlooked.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

OF curse the raising Of that peace
full blockade lie intended simply to prove
to Venezuela that the intentions of the
powers are stlll peaceful.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

These automobile shows seem now to
be all the go.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

STATEMENT OF CIRCULATION.
state OF Nebraska, Douglas County, IS:
George b, Tzschuck, secretary OF Ine bee
Publishing company, being duly sworn, sags
that the actual number Of full and complete
copies Of The Daily, Morning, Evening ane
January. 1903. was as follows.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

: Hell suppose now that / shall have to
ask your father for his consent.
She-No, Harry. After the FIRST time you
called pa said ! might have you II l wanted
you. Pa and / have understood II for q
long time. Boston Transcript.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
DOMESTIC PLEAsANTRIEs.

Borem-I'm sure your father doesn't like
me. although he's always very polite and
all that.
Miss Koy-Ah; yes. that's Just like papa;
everybody says ! take after him., you know.
Philadelphia Press.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

Barker-Come over here. old a l want
to introduce you to my wife.
Parker-Oh, l know Mrs. Barker already,
We were engaged for three months in the
summer of 1s94.-Somerville Journal.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15

For the first year OF our married life.
dear" said the young mar who was poor,
but had prospects, I'VE shall have to live
principally on love"
well, people can live on spoon victuals.
can't they, George?" she said, smuggling
cioser to him.