The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07


than a third of century one of the
most prominent figures in the life of
this commonwealth. 1t was a great
tribute, but it was a fit one.
Edward Rosewater has been re.
moved from Nebraska life. His sud.
den passing away, following the re.
cent hard campaign for the nomina.
ton as United States senator from Ne
braska, came as a distinct shock to
the people all over this state.
Pathos, and almost touch of the
tragic, attended the expiration of Mr..
Rosewater, and for this reason the
shock was felt all the more keenly by
the state with which he has for so
many years been conspicuously identi-
fed
His personality, dynamo of power
and energy, built up through a long
series of hard struggles one of the
best known newspapers in the coun-
try, did much to build up Omaha and
Nebraska, and kept the veteran editor
an inseparable factor in the political
life of his state until the very moment
of his life's ending.
Edward Rosewater named his news
paper "the Bee" 1t was fit term to
apply to the institution in which he
gave his life energy For only by that
constant, tireless and persistent indus
try which characterzes the construc-
tive efforts of the honeymakers, did
Rosewater build up his newspaper
business into it's recognized potency.
The power of that journal and the
splendor of the building which is its
home in Omaha, stand side by side as
monuments to his untiring zeal and
industry.
The life of Edward Rosewater may
well be taken by any young man am
bilious for success, as one well worth
considering. He came to Nebraska
more than thirty-five years ago with.
out funds but with brains and energy
and hope.
He founded the Omaha Bee at that
time. 1t is told of him that in the
early days, when he lacked the money
with which to buy telegraph news, he
brought his ability as a telegraph OBJ
orator into successful play by going
out OF town, climbing the telegraph
poles and tapping the wires that sent
news on out to the coast That was
enterprise, and Rosewater's enterprise
is what made him. Years before he
was able to build a handsome edifice
for the Bee, Mr.. Rosewater had his
eye and his heart set upon the corner
where now stands the Bee building.
He would take his friends up past
that corner and, pointing it out, an
nounce that that spot would one day
be the home of the Omaha Bee.
Edward Rosewater proved the adj
of going into debt. The Bee
building was erected at a cost far
beyond his means, and he borrowed
money to put it up. He had kept his
credit clean, and was thus enabled to
get the loans desired. And so, for
years, he has been under the burden
OF a constant debt, but that debt has
given him constant motive for con-
tinued effort and has given his sons
a work to do. And, with a quarter
million dollars life insurance which
he carried, that debt will now be lifted
and the Bee building Will come into
the estate with clear title.
Edward Rosewater was aggressive.
He was never still, and he never al
lowed things to lag for one moment.
He was also ambitious. The one
bright hope in his life was that he
might, at some time, represent the
state of Nebraska as United States
senator. But his aggressiveness and
his ambition did not go well together.
A politician who hopes to win can not
take the aggressive life, it seems, and
on various politicians and public men
whom he did not approve, cost the
veteran editor the toga which he
sought.
Not every man can be honored with
the fierce opposition with which Ed
ward Rosewater was assailed. The
Fontanelle club was organized in
Omaha to fight him to the last ditch
in things political. And many a man
who went into the recent republican
state convention, had no other object
in view than 'to beat Rosewater." 1t
was not because the ability of Rose
water was not recognized. None can
be found who deny that he was pow
erful as thinker and a doer. His
enemies respected his brain, and
feared his fOrCeful pen But once