davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-22

The city stretched out before him as
| when he left his fathers house, full Of
human weakness, power, struggle, de-
F; feat, sin, selfshness. In a very positive,
| but not by any means fully defined,
manner he began to feel his way with
this age old problem of humanity He
realized that he had by no means
served his apprenticeship Please God,
if he were granted twenty years of
vigor he would learn something of the
ways of men and be used if God willed
it to play his part manfully in the never
ceasing drama He thanked heaven
that his love for the people was more
sane and more passionate, too, than
ever. There was also an abiding peace
in his soul as he marshaled up for re-
view all the possible forces of right
eousness in the city. sometimes Sleep
ing, apathetic, Indifferent, but always
to be reckoned with. And it even stirred
his soul that the world had not yet
grown deaf to the cry Of children nor
its heart become cold to the sorrows of
the poor. Hope was strong within him
as he felt his life forces pulsing anew.
summoning him to conflict for human
rights, for a city of God on the earth.
And he stretched out his arms toward
the people he could see through the
window, saying. Let us love one an
other and all things will be possible"
| Thus John Gordon as he resolutely
faced his future enshrined the people
in his holy of holes as the current of
their lives bore him on, their destinies
irrevocably woven into his own.
THE END.
| One thousand more subscribers wanted
to read The Free Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-22

One thousand more subscribers wanted
to read The Free Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-22
Arril2l, May 1.815-2.a,as, June 5 10 8.

E. C. Farmer, attorney for executrix.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
Personal NOTES.

Secretary Cortelyou is a fine musical
critic, something that has long been needed
in the cabinet.
1t is proposed in Brooklyn by prominent
citizens to give Minister Bowen, who was
formerly a resident OF that city, a banquet
before he returns to Venezuela.
It is significant that within three days
after it was announced that the president
was going TO practice workmanship the
allies agreed TO sign the protocols.
On the site of the old home OF the once
famous Captain Kidd in New York a sky
scraper fifteen stories high will soon be
erected by the Century Realty company and
William F. Hayemeyer.
While Colonel Arthur Lynch. the member
Of the British Parliament recently con-
vIoted OF treason, has been In prison he has
received all Parliamentary documents with
great regularity, the same as the other
members. Though serving a life sentence
he stll has a standing as Galway's repre-
sentative in the lawmaking body at West
minister. q
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

touched" He declared that next in ad-
vantage to having the thing to sell is
to have the convenience to carry It TO
the buyer and therefore we must en-
courage u merchant marine and have
more ships under the American flag,
built and Planned and owned by Ameri-
cans. 1t is not to be doubted, IL the
testimony of South Americans them
selves is Of any value, that much would
be gained in the way of trade IL we
had steamship lines sailing frequently
and regularly to the more important
South American ports, but that is not
a promise of the near future. Undoubt-
eddy there are other and quite as seri-
GUS disadvantages that may be RENE
died in time.
When we are seeking markets for
u surplus manufactures the fact that
we are making no progress in the large
and valuable markets south of us seems
very remarkable. British and German
trade with those countries steadily
grows and 1t appears like a refec-
ton upon American energy and enter
prise that there is no increase In our
South American commerce.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
LIFT THAT CIGAR box LID.

David City Record: It might be Of in
terest TO have our legislature investigate
our late pop ex-Treasurer Meserve TO hnd
out how much accrued interest he pock-
eted from the school fund deposited in his
banks during his oficial career. Our fusion
friends have always been a little sore on
this charge, but the irritation may cease
when the fostering sore is once fully ex-
posed so the attorney general may recover
some Of this unearned increment II the
legal rules permit.
Pawnee Chief: II has been suggested
that the present legislature demand the
contents of that much talked Of cigar box
be made public, and the Chief hopes there
are enough members of both branches who
are not tainted with BartleyIsm TO pass a
resolution looking to this end. Oh, but
wouldn't there be some surprises II the
beneheiaries OF Bartley's populations were
singled out and named? But honest
men universally are in hopes our legisla-
tors will call for a show down"
stanton Picket: The demand for action
by the legislature 10 investigate the BARLEY
steals, the alleged crookedness Of Meserve
and Mr.. Stuefer's bond transactions should
be complied with. II there Is any way OF
finding out wha BARLEY has done with the
money embezzled from the state IL should
be done. II other state treasurers have
gone crooked let II be known. Take the
lid on that cigar box and show the public
what Is inside. Let there be an investiga-
ton and such a one as will investigate and
not whitewash. The legislators have II
within their power to do good service for
their constituents in this matter and Il
| should be done. and let the bit birds cutter
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
THE CLUB THAT DOES.


"The greatest thing in Kansas City,
chief maker of Kansas City, it's prophet,
apostle and crowner, is the club that
does. The Commercial club is the title
of it." So writes H. AIloway, the we'll
known financial editor of the New York
Times, who has been making a tour of
the southwest to find that the Kansas
City Commercial club has been the chief
factor of the marvellous growth and
prosperity of that city. That this was
a revelation to the man of the east goes
without saying, for he wakes even more
enthusiastic as he continues:
1t is not merely in the bringing Of new
manufactures to employ labor, utilize raw
material and distribute pay rolls; II Is not
merely IN the development Of plans for ex-
banding mercantile connections that this
organization is industrious. Along those
lines 1t does wonders, but its field is
broader. Not less conspicuous in its char
acter is the campaign waged constantly for
municipal cleanliness. Through It has
started plans for a public park system great
in acreage and greater still in its developing
1AoG0 ~ N1rNNNnNVO a a.
ready been invested In It, with $4,000, 900
more to be speedily available. Fair record
this for a western river tow whose assets
and credits we're texts for POPULARITY a
decade and less ago.
The writer goes on to tell how under
Kansas City's leadership every town
and hamlet of consequence in the south
west has hastened-and that enthusiast
tically-to establish home championship
organizations Of the same type. "In
twenty alert towns of western and
northern Missouri, of Kansas and Okla
homa and Texas, and even in the quon-
dam Quietude of A~rkansas-in towns
that ! have been personally visiting
this Commercial club idea is not merely
accepted but has come to be controlling.
Thus Kansas City has actually stem.
cilled the whole southwest over"
1t is not with the special intention OF
paying tribute to Kansas City as the
home Of live and hustling business men
that The Bee calls attention to this de
lightful description. 1t is to remind the
business men Of Omaha of the opportu,
mites their Commercial club can have II
it's members will only cut loose from the
strings that have held them to inaction
In too many matters OF vital concern to
the we'll being and progress Of Omaha.
If our Commercial club will only sci
about it it can furnish a text for eastern
newspapers as well as Kansas City.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

The citizens Of Omaha are rightly
aroused over the attempt on the part
Of the franchised corporations to snug
gle into the new revenue bill a provi-
sion that would undo all the reforms
accomplished in the direction Of the as
sessment of municipal franchises that
previously escaped taxation. The pro-
posal to make the assessment basis for
the franchises Of these public service
corporations one years gross receipts in
stead Of the actual market value has
nothing whatever to commend 1t. 1t is
purely arbitrary and fictitious and di-
rectly c%ontravenes the letter and spirit
of the constitution, which requires all
properties and franchises to be assessed
e~quitably and uniformly.
There is no more reason why one
years gross receipts should be taken
to represent the value of the franchise
of one Of the public service corpora
lions than that six months earnings
should be taken, or that two years
earnings should be taken. The gross
earnings of such a corporation has no
definite relation to the value of it's spe-
cial privileges. Two corporations with
the same amount of tangible property
and the same gross receipts might, in
fact, be worth on the market the one
several times more than the other. This
much 1t is safe to say, that If the pro-
posed change did not mean that the
franchised corporations would escape
some of the taxes they are now com
PEELED to pay they would not be advo-
eating a change.
This is a matter that affects not only
Omaha but every city in the state and
it affects not only the people of the
cities, but the taxpayers everywhere.
All this property enters into the grand
assessment roll of the state, and to
allow any part of 1t to avoid assess
ment on the same basis as the other
property simply shifts the burden of
taxation to other property wners. II
the Joint revenue committee has acted
ignorantly in this matter it should re.
consider and retrace its steps. If the
committee persists in reporting the bill
with the provision for the substitution
of gross receipts for market values as
the basis Of franchise assessment, it will
devolve upon the legislature to strike
out the obnoxious clause when Il comes
up before the two houses.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

question and need not be discussed here.
II is equally obvious that school districts
cover every foot Of railroad I'm the state
and as far as concerns the assessed valus-
tion Of raftHoad property the distribution"
for school district purposes is Just as COM
plete as It is for county purposes. But
city government does not cover probably
to exceed a tenth part Of the miles Of rail-
road line in the state, and the "distri-
button" theory is obviously wrong-even II
we concede II right for other purposes
because at least nine-tenths OF the great
terminal values in tho larger cities wholly
escapes paying city taxes anywhere.
Harrington Herald: The city Of Lincoln
and Lancaster county seem to be abso-
lutely under the control. politically, OF the
railroad crowd. The latest evidence Of that
fact is the open alignment Of almost the
entire Lancaster delegation In the legls-
lature with the railroad lobby and its de-
mands. The only one Of the delegation
having the manhood to stand for the In
%terests Of the large majority OF his con-
stituents is Senator O'Neill OF Lincoln. II
is at least refreshing TO know that there
Is one oasis in the Lancaster Sahara.
Omaha fondly imagines that the Douglas
county delegation is free from railroad
NOMINATION.. some time ago, however, We
noticed, that when an earnest member. dis
gusted with the brazen e%ffrontery Of the
railroad lobby, offered a resolution which
made the lobby quake in its boots, deny
ing the lobby the freedom of the state
house during the session Of the legislature.
It was a member of the Douglas delegation.
who with that most effective OF all weap-
ons-ridicule, compelled the house TO al
most unanimously table the resolution.
The discouraging feature Of the whole busi-
ness is the evident fact that the members
OF the house were either too dense TO see
that they were being worked by a tool
OF the lobby or else we're afraid or un-
willing to Danish the lobby. h Herald
hoped for great things at the hands OF the
present legislature. We say hoped" ad-
visedly. AT the outset we predicted a bust
ness session. Thus far II has been anything
but a business session. The time Of the
greater portion OF the session has been
fooled away with very little important
work accomplished. Soon the inevitable
rush Of bills will come, with little or no
time for careful examination. Then the
lobby will have it's inning and then the
thousands OF small tax payers in the state
will, no doubt. have good reason to quake
in their boots.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
INoORRIGIBLE INVESTORS.
Will Publicity Reduce n Number of
DuPeE of Fake COncernss
ChFcAPo Tribune

chicago Tribune.
Judge Grosscup' said some time ago that
we ought to "peopleize" the great indus
trial corporations Of this country. By
which he meant this: Keep a govern
mental eye on them; give all their opera
tions the widest possible publicity; then
all will know exactly what is doing; will
have confidence In their securities and in
vest their savings in them, instead OF put
ting their savings in banks.
The two pillars Of this idea, II will be
seen, are publicity and confidence. But
is not a searching light thrown on the
publicity and confidence idea by the re-
cent history of "get-rich- quick" concerns
in Chicago? People are so anxious to in
vest that no amount Of lack of informa-
ton deters them. They seem to regard
business as a kind of great magic" an
a~lchemist's crucible, an Aladdin's lamp, a
department OF the occult. They want to
put money in a slot and by some bewilder-
ing and awesome process see dividends
handed out to them on a tray. Hence the
curious fact hat to so many of them the
difference between the firm that offers 4
per cent a year and the firm that offers 4
per cent a month seems to be in favor of
the latter.
Nor does a burned public dread the fire.
Three years ago Chicago was the scene Of
revelations similar to those which are now
taking place. The newspapers said then:
THE game is exposed; the public is here
after safe; in vain is the net spread in the
sight of any bird" But here came in the
difference between bird and human intelli-
gence. The net was again spread and in
vestors walked into 1t with as much equa-
nimity as on all former siLlilar occasions.
which drives the observer 20 the depress-
ing conclusion that the fact that people
do not invest In industrial securities is
not due t. any lack of information or
lack Of confidence with regard to them,
but because no industrial corporation
promises to pay such dividends as the get
~rich-quick" concerns, which pretend to
operate on stock boards or race tracks
say they will pay. There are men and
women whose money can always be had
by the sharper who will o1er 4 per cent
a month.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

General James B. Weaver is already
casting about with a view to. landing
the democratic nomination for governor
of Iowa next fall. General Weaver has
been a standing candidate for about
everything IN the political calendar. If
the Iowa democrats find themselves
compelled to fall back on this perennial
office hunter they must be in hard lines
indeed.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
OF DEBATE

There was an interesting and some-
what instructive discussion in the Uni
ted States senate a few days ago on
the old question of unrestricted debate
In that body. 1t was brought about
by a proposition that the senate agree
upon a time for closing debate on the
statehood bill. While the discussion
was not general, there was enough to
make plain the fact that a large ma
jority Of the senators are opposed to
placing any restriction on debate. Men
Of both parties favor the largest lati-
tude Of discussion. Senaor Spooner and
Senator Lodge advocated it ON the part
of the republicans and the views they
expressed were concurred in by such
democratic senator's as Cockrell and Ba-
con.
Senator Lodge said that when he went
to the senate from the house of repre-
sentatives he was strongly prejudiced in
favor of vigorous and prompt methods
of closing debate. He had since reached
the conclusion that the practice of the
senate is on the whole a wise one and
the safest system for the country and for
the general interests of the government.
Senator Bacon said there are three dis
tinguishing features of the senate which
justify terming 1t the greatest delibera-
tive body in the world and the chief
Of these is the right to unlimited de-
bate. The arguments of these senators,
however, were not entirely convincing,
for they were compelled to admit that
under the prevailing practice the will
Of the majority may be defeated and
this is certainly not consistent with
doubt that the statehood bill, If brought
to a vote, would pass, but the minority
has kept up the discussion of that meas
ure with the avowed purpose of talk
ing it to death. In the case Of the Pan
m canal treaty the right of unlimited
debate is delaying ratification and this
delay is due almost wholly to a single
senator, there being no question that
more than the necessary 'two-thirds of
the senate would vote for ratification.
In this the popular will as well as
that of a majority Of the senate is be-
ing bafled, yet as long as Senator Nor
gan is able to talk he can obstruct ac-
ton on the treaty. 1t is pretty diff.
cult to find any sound defense or justi-
tication for such a system in a re-
public.
But it will be adhered to until, as
was said by Senator Mason, "the PEG.
pie of the United States so shape thei-
constitution that the senator's will owe
their seats to, and answer directly to-
the people, who ought to elect the sena.
tors" The time will assuredly come
when the people will insist, in a way
that cannot be dlsregarded, that there
shall be some limit placed upon debate
In the senate, so that a few senators
shall not be able as now to obstruct
and even defeat legislation favored by
the majority. The fact that the exist.
ing practice has prevailed for nearly q
century is no justification Of 1t and does
not relieve 1t Of the charge of beine
essentially unrepublIcan.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

The defeat OF the county commits
sioner bill means that the county court
house in Douglas county will remain in
the hands OF the democrats until the re-
publicans choose men as candidates for
commissioner who can command the
support of a majority of the people in
their W districts. There are plenty of
republicans in every one of the five dis
tricts, with possibly n exception. who
can carry their respective districts.
Douglas county republicans may as we'll
make up their minds now If they hope
to regain control OF the county offices to
put up the bars against weaklings for
these important positions.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

In a Chicago our a verdict for dam
ages has just been recovered against a
surgeon, who undertook to perform an
operation on a patient without first Sc
curing the assent Of the patient or law
ful representative, and the outcome of
the suit has stirred up a vigorous dis
cussion Of the lengths to which med
ical men may go in a professional ca
pacity in the use OF the surgeons knife.
All the experts agree that the patients
consent should by all means be a con-
dition precedent, except possibly where
his condition requires immediate action.
justifying the surgeon in using his W
Judgment and accepting responsibility
for his decision. At the same time there
is no question but that
TO use the knife is altogether too preya
lent in the profession and that the de-
cision in question should have a whole
some effect in putting the brake on rash
experiments.
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
A PRICELEss PARADISE.

Edmund v. Cooke in Saturday Evening
Post.
II some weird gnome should seek my home
Some genie, fairy, which,
To blink my eyes with every prize
o life, and ask me 'Which?' d.
I think I'd choose in half a trice,
This boon: to never ask the price.
I would not claim a gilded NAME.
Or be a ~hnancier,
Nor would / hold the wide world's gold;
And yet 1 somewhat fear
ia ask a Just sufficient slice
That l might never ask the price.
A coat-of-arms has meagre charms
To men OF modern views,
Yet were Il mine to make design,
I know which one I'd choose:
An open purse, with this device,
HE never, never asks the price,
Is heaven a state, a place, a fete,
A rapture, or a reBt1
The ouestion's old and each may hold
His own opinion best;
But my idea OF paradise
Is where one need not ask the price!
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
A NEGLECTED COMMERCE.

The official statement of the foreign
commerce of the United States for 1902
shows that no progress is being made
In securing South American trade. In
deed, 1t appears that while our imports
from the southern countries have been
steadily growing u exports to them
last year were not as much in value
as twelve years ago. Here is a great
market. from which we buy heavily.
the imports from South America
amounting last year to about $12O,OOO.-
600. yet our manufacturers and mer-
chants were able TO sell there only $685.
100000 worth of merchandise. or less
than one-third Of what we bought.
1t is very apparent that this market,
which is steadily growing in impor-
lance, is not being cultivated as it
should be by American manufacturers
and merchants, that they are doing lit
tie or nothing TO compete with the Brit
ish and Germans in South America. OF
else that they are at such a disadvan-
tage that their efforts are futile. There
is one important respect in which un-
doubtedly they are at a disadvantage,
which is the want of lines OF American
vessels sailing frequently ard regularly
to all the principal South American
ports. Mr.. Mckinley pointed this out
saying that "one OF the needs Of the
times is direct commercial lines from
our vast fields Of production to the fields
] Of consumption that we have but barely
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

Give the legislature credit for mani
Testing a disposition to insist on FIRE
proof construction in all new build
ings for state institutions. Nebraska
has lost enough by firetraps, to say
nothing of what is still more serious,
the exposure of the lives of helpless and
dependent wards Of the state. When
ever the state builds let it build in a
substantial manner
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23

Whatever may be done with the bill
to extend the life Of the supreme court
commission nothing should be done that
viii prevent the enlargement OF the su.
preme court by the addition OF two
more judges at the earliest possible
time. One Of the influences that helped
defeat the constitutional amendment In
~creasing the number OF supreme judges
In 1895 was traceable 10 the members
Of the old supreme court commission
who wanted " hold on
Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
PeriIa of Speculation.
Kansas CIV journal.

NdlASd ChS Ouihd
Our present prosperity is builded on a
firm foundation. But that foundation can
not permanently stand against rash spec
ulation. Whether the present conditions
shall continue depends much more largely
on the people than on the government. II
they persist in going into 'get-rich-quick"
schemes instead Of investing their saw
ings conservativeiy they are certain to lose
their savings; and II the tendency to over
speculation continues to grow, 1t is only
a matter of time until we shall run upon
breakers.