Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-23
THAT BANNER EPISODE.

are threatened with the punishment Of hav.
ing the republican state headquarter,
moved from Lincoln.
Humboldt Leader: Isn't there room in
Lincoln for banners OF both political par
tie. Shame on the petty controversy which
resulted in partisans Of one side tearing
down a banner erected by their opponents.
Such action can result in no good to the
perpetrators, who are despised alike by
fair-minded men Of all parties.
Bradshaw Republican: This editor has
always favored Lincoln as the proper place
Tor headquarters for the republican state
committee, but II the people Of our state
capital have so far degenerated from the
true spirit of Americanism that a political
party is not allowed to display its party
banner before its headquarters, we say re-
move the headquarters somewhere else.
Even old Omaha would be preferable.
Aurora Republican: Not for years before
have the republicans Of Aurora been so
thoroughly aroused as they we're by the act
OF vandalism which destroyed the Taft ban
ner in Lincoln. They have no sympathy
with the spirit of a party which would toll
crate such a deed and their teeth are set
in determination to avenge the insult to re-
ny NdiINlnB hanllllOn county
for Taft and the whole republican ticket.
Exeter Enterprise: Some crazy fool cut
down a Taft banner in front of the repub-
iican state headquarters at Lincoln and a
Few mot many republicans are attempting
10 make political capital of it. Such at
tempts to give prominence to an event of
this kind certainly show a lack OF argu-
ment on the real issues in Nebraska. II
the act Of vandalism was committed by a
democrat he was a weak minded fool to
whom no attention should be paid. II by
a republican 1t was done to stiffen up party
lines which are said to be getting quite
weak in the capital city.
Neigh Leader: All good citizens will re-
greet the tearing down of the Taft banner at
Lincoln by vardals a few days ago. 1t
was stretched across the street from
the republican headquarters and threats
of its destruction had been made; yet no
one thought they would be carried out.
event has called forth a storm of in.
dignation from every section of the state
ard country, and the democratic party is
justly censured for containing an element
that so readily appeals to the gumen of
the outlaws and toughs. Yet is was sun
posed that Nebraska was largely free from
the faint.
Sidney Telegram: If the Lincoln demo-
cratic followers of Bryan endorse the
dastardy outrage in that city in the tear
ing down of the Taft banner on July s,
they will lose votes for their chief in
every state where the news is read. Silence
VIII betoken their approval of the midnight
vandalism. 1t Is now the part of the
democratic press to denounce the insult
10 the city of Lincoln and the state Of
NEBRASKA without regard to party or poll
Tics Happily most men are loyal citizens,
whether democrats, republicans, or of the
younger parties and, praise God, most men
are gentlemen whether day laborers or re-
tired bankers. Because of these facts II
Is a pleasant thought that probably as few
people knew of or took part in the Lincol,
affair as are usually interested in any
lawless mob rule; still for the sake of
the world at large 1t is the duty of the
Nebraska press to d%enounce the outrage.
To tear down the banners or portraits Of
the opposite party Is peurile, unavailing
and insulting; to erect banners and nor
traits of ones own candidates is perfectly
proper and the legitimate method for at
tracing attention away from the enemy.
There are ethics in politics as we'll as IN
drawing rooms.
Aurora Republican: The republicans of
Nebraska are saying a strong amen" to
the words Of Chairman Hayward in his re-
tusal to haul down the Taft banner. The
city which is not big enough to permit the
floating of a Taft banner from the head
quarters Of the state central committee at
all times is not big enough to hold these
headquarters. The republicans of Ne
braska would not insult Bryan or any other
presidential candidate. Neither
are they disposed to stand for the insult
flounted in their faces by the tearing down
or the Tart banner. Bryan, personally, is
not responsible for the insult. 1t is the re-
suit or that silly sentimentality which has
developed in Lincoln because of the dollars
those pilgrimages to "Bryan's town" have
promised to bring, And in so far as the
Lincoln republican press is responsible for
this sentimentality 1t is responsible for the
banner outrage. Nebraska republicans are
proud to have a Nebraskan head the demo-
cratic ticket, but they are not going TO
abandon all the political principles and ira
ditions by which they nave been inspired
from the time of Lincoln to the time of
roosevelt, by voting for Mr.. Bryan, and
they are not pleased to see the republican
state central committee handicapped nv
Lincoln people, in its attempts to carry on
the campaign which they have placed in its
hands.
Beatrice Times: A loyal citizen wbo
thinks for himself inevitably experiences
two distinct sensations in looking at the
down of the Taft banner in Lincoln
a few nights ago. One is that the cause of
Taft and his supporters Is furthered bv
this act of vandalism, The other is that
this furtherance OF the cause OF the repuh-
lican ticket is shrouded in shame at the
thought that there should be In a state Of
the north a man or set of men to do such
violence to the well-nigh unanimous senti-
ment OF this portion of the union that the
right lawfully to support ones choice Of
for office shall not be oues-
toned. Had this event occurred in one OF
the democratic states Of the south nothing
In particular would have been thought of |
Il. Mr.. Bryan enters the political contest.
as he has done in two other national cam
paigns, with the electoral votes of the cot
ton states as good as already cast for him.
II Is the trampling upon the rights Of free
speech and Of the press which has placed
democracy in unquestioned control Of
the several states Of that section. But I'm
the north the spirit Of fair play is Just as
clear and strong as the spirit of political
and oppression is in the south.
And the incident at Lincoln, while hurting