Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-01


human nature. democracy. sanity and SYM
pathy for the man who was crushed be-
cause he was on poverty's roll. The result
is divided. On one side Rosewater mas
foes who will pervert his sincerest senti-
ment and pay premium for nire in which
to bury him. on the other side are lot
of people, numerically greater, who re-
spect, admire. give thanks and support,
bring the laurel, and. going away, wonder
IL what the other fellow said may not have
some truth In II, after all
II there is any one incident that throws
light on the character Of Edward Rose
water. it is this one. told by himself:
II called at the Everett House In New
York to extend greetings and congratula-
lions to Henry NJ. Stanley on his return
to America. Major Pond, who had brought
Stanley over from London where he had
been lionized and feted for a lecture tour
Of the United States, ushered me into
stanley's apartment. extended my hand
to him, but he would not shake.
Rosewater'n Reply 10 stanley.
You have discredited my discovery
Of Livingstone said he AS an Omaha
man you ought to have stood up for me,
anyhow
My dear Stanley said l, i am not
in the habit of writing what do not be-
lieve / did not believe that you had dis
covered Livingstone and therefore did not
credit you with the discovery. l believe IL
now because the Royal Geographical 30
ciety and Livingstnne's relatives have tuuy
confirmed your story
II had seen Stanley at his desk in
Omaha writing letters descriptive In detail
Of scenes and incidents in the streets Oh
Denver when he was not within nVe nun
bred miles of that town, and that Is what
caused my incredulity about his later eA-
ploits and discoveries In Central Africa.
After my explanation he became friendly
In the nature of humans there Is no
gainsaying that Rosewater has often been
wrong In his attitude toward men and at
fairs, but this story tells why as effectively
as it can be written. Once he has discov-
cred a weak spot he expects to see 1t
again.
In the territory where his paper Is can
didly credited with spending more money
for the improvement Of itself, OF oetter
representing the thought, prosperity ana
life of its readers, and in having more per-
suasive authority on political and otner
important matters than most OF the other
daily papers, you will hear what Rose
water says" ten times to what the Dec
says" once. This means that the news
paper has a personality, like all OF them
did several generations ago, and thar TINS
personality, good, bad, indinereh'' 10
centered in it's editor. Thereby the paper
has reminder of the period of Horace
Greeley, and there is more than one strik-
ing similarity between Greeley and the
New York Tribune, Rosewater and The
Omaha Bee. For instance, incessant ana
unfaRRing mental activity, readiness 10
take up a task and complete It at the
most inopportune moment, passionate con-
victions as to right and wrong, the same
blunt driving at the meat OF Things re-
aariless of who or what is concerned
| satisfying, IL not always agreeable COM
| mon sense and. ready facility In concise
! and suitable words.
Not SO brilliant nor so charming In MS
LITERARY qualities as Henry Watterson'
about the only other survivor Of the ego
| Journalist, Rosewater controls a more sta
BILE influence in his own sphere.
few years ago Rosewster wanted to be
a United States senator. He never held
| but one Office that Of mesnber OF the lower
house of the legislature. about the time he
| founded The Bee. He had made and de-
| throned scores of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
congressman. governors. mayors ana the
like. He had represented his state In
| nominating presidents and had run the ma
tional republican campaigns in Nebraska
several times. He was the best known OF
all the candidates. His bitterest enemies
admitted that for ability no one in the
state would make a better senator.
Rosewater was endorsed by popular vote
| submitting his name on the ballot In con-
sistence with his long cherished advocacy
| OF direct election Of senators, but in the
| legislature he reaped a left-handed harvest
| of the years OF battle against railroad tax
Sinking and railroad political domination
the pursuit OF grafters and corruptionists
and their friends. and the knocking down
| of mercenary ONCE seekers. He was moi
elected senator. He wished to be, very
much It was his great ambition.
He has not compromised with the rail
roads and the corruptionists. The wal
goes on Just the same. Every year little
is gained-a few more dollars in the pub
Ito treasury, another dishonest oficei
placed in stripes or dishonored, a little
more decency in government and public
affairs small and big.
eff Rosewater would quit fighting tht
railroads." said a well known man, re
Gently. there IL nothing political in Ne
braska he could not have"
There are no indications that he will quit
as referee and Is still at 1t. There is hatred
in the breasts OF men In the city and state
against him. as malignant as can be re-
strained. Very early In his newspaper
career Rosewaters ONCE was burned b,
an incendiary. supposed TO have been actu
ated by politicians. Later the editor wa,
murderousiy slugged on the streetSby two
negroes, who so far as known. had no per
sonal grudge to satisfy. Every now and
then a new story replete with falsehooC
and malice Is set in circulation about him
He is attacked through the avenues o.
person scandal and blackmail woman
has just finished serving term for al
offense OF the last-named kind. Court rec
ords are filled with stories OF futile at
tempts Of men who admitted they hoped Z,
consign the editor to the penitentiary, 4
they could prove criminal libel. Jurie
and judges have not complied with thei
desires.
J Close to half a century of such a mael
strom life has left Rosewater a gentle
voiced. white-haired. alert. keen, refreshing
old gentleman. His wealth Of experienc
! and cultured knowledge cause his CONVEX
sation to be peculiarly stimulating. To hi
two sons. Victor Roseweter ana Charlie
I c. Rosewater, he has handed over the su
pervision OF the editorial and business de
J partments OF his paper. but the soul O
| ae-NsI Lib mNNl