Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-19
SOME HARD NUTS TO CRACK
senstOr shsldon Hands Them Out to His
Demeoratic Auditors
OMISSIONS IN THEIR PARTY PLATFORM
Pledges Made by the Republicans, hut
Democratic Platform and Candi-
dates silent on Important
Issues.

ONEILL, Neb., Oct. lS-(Special Tele-
gram 20 Neill people were looking for
some thing good at the Sheldon meeting
tonight The senator made good. Though
pressed for time and weary from the strain
Of the campaign, he pressed whole lot
Of political gospel into an hours talk. The
court room was crowded to the utmost.
A notable feature of the audience was the
large number of stockmen and farmers.
Congressman kinkaid presided and spoke
on the achievements of our country under
republican administration. He showed
that while in 1894 there were 100000 labor
ing men. 100000 of whom were idle. there
are now 100000 of the same class, not
one of whom is idle who wants TO work,
and 100000 more could find Jobs.
w. f. Scott, candidate for county at
torney; Sam Green. for the Legislature,
and F. w Phillips. for state senator. also
spoke.
Sheldon took up the subjects of taxation
and freight and passenger rates. He said
he believed the state had the power to
compel the railroads to pay their taxes,
and compared the republican attitude to-
ward the railroads that are refusing to
pay the assessment made by the state
board with the democratic attitude. In
Holt county Mr. Sheldon said there had
been 50 per cent increase in the assessed
valuation of railroads since 1898 and . per
cent increase on land. He said the repub-
lican platform declares for and he believes
in it and is preaching it, the assessment
of railroad property according to its value.
the same as other property, while the fu-
sionists talk that way. too. he said they
To xrb in
Things Need Explaining.
In the matter OF freight rates Mr.. Shell
don said he did not understand why they
were go per cent higher on wheat in Me-
braska than in Iowa: why the railroads
and steamships will haul 100 pounds of
fiour from st. Louis to Liverpool for %
cents and, charge "a cents to haul 1t
across Nebraska: why 1t costs sG5 more
to get car of corn from O'Neill to
Omaha than from a point in Iowa the
same distance away; why coal was de-
llverd from Wyoming to Lincoln and
Omaha 81 a ton cheaper than at other
points 500 or 400 miles nearer the mines.
What we want. said the senator. is a law
that will sta on the statute books regu-
lating these things.
The democrats offer confusion of REM
edies in their platform. The republican
remedy is clearCut. The democrats say
enforce the maximum freight rate law
which every reputable lawyer in the state
says can't be enforced. Mr.. Shallenberger
says let the government own the rail-
roads. That would mean debt on Ne
brasks taxpayers drawing $4O0. 100000 an
nual interest and probably no reduction
in freight rates. THE republican remedy,
he said was to establish a railway COM
| In
unjust rate and establish a just one. That
is the idea in the national law and that
is what we want to cooperate with by
enacting a state law, he said. The only
way to get this is to eliminate railroad
influence from the legislature. The re-
publican party is striving to do this
We have done IL in the party. I don
know where the railroad supporters have
gone to, but you can guess. The rail-
roads are fighting us to the last ditch
| on this, but we going to stand or fall
on the everlasting truth that the people
must have a fair deal OH freight rates.
The audience was notably impressed by
| Sheldons speech and went wild with
| cheers.
Difference I'm the Parties.
BLOOMFIELD, Neb., Oct. E.-(Special
| Telegram. )-Although drizzling rain kept
many at home the republican meeting in the
opera house last night was well attended.
| Senator George L. Sheldon, Judge Nj. h.
Hopewell and G. w. Wiltsie spoke. Hon.
Sherman Saunders presided. Judge Hope
we'll who was the first speaker, dwelt upon
the necessity for railroad Legislation in the
state Referring to the pledges In writing
of the candidates for the legislature and
state Offices to stand by the platform, he
| hot mar ha nj
the reforms advocated therein would be
carried out. G. W. Wiltsie, candidate for
the state senate, was not only instructive
but highly entertaining, his humorous sto-
ries and witty applications brought forth
frequent applause. Referring to a speech
of 4. c. Shallenberger, delivered short
time ago, Mr.. Wiltsie said Shallenberger
in a speech the other night said that the
republicans reminded him of the Jewish
custom OF taking a goat and loading upon
1t the sins of the people and driving II
forth into the wilderness. carrying theiT
sins with It, so that they knew him nc
more forever. II is to be regretted that the
democratic party has never maintained a
scapegoat. 1t has sometimes been the case
that the scapegoat driven out of the re-
publican party has been adopted by the
democratic party and become a prominent
sheldon IN Convincing.
The earnestness and unauestioned sin
cerity of Senator Sheldon made profound
impression upon his hearers His presentu
ton of freight rates. 2.cent passenger fare
railroad assessment and other state issues
was clear and convincing. He spoke fol
over an hour and one who had nothing
to conceal or avoid lie struck out straigh
from the shoulder, and his arraignment o.
tax dodging corporations in Nebraska wa
fair and fearless. on railroad assessment
Mr.. Sheldon said In part;
''The democratic press and campaign
speakers are making much ado about moth
ing In regard to the assessment of Taif
road property in this state. ] want to cal
your attention to the fact that the rea
estate In this state In 1900 was assessed a
Sill, So and in 1903 IL was assessed a
$3.50, ,6i3,O5O an increase of about Il pc
cent. The railroad property in Nebrasks
in 1900 was assessed at 81. .442,294, and in 100
It was assessed at S47,927. OIL. an Increase o
81 per cent. hold that the increased as
sessed valuation OF railroad property wa
justified by the fact that in the year lgS
and other years about that time prior {;
the enactment OF the new revenue law til,
railroad property Ia the state was not as