davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

IMPROVING INLAND WATERWAYS.
Urging congress to make liberal APP
preparations for the improvement Of
the waterways OF the nation. the Wash
inston Post asserts that IF this gov
eminent should appropriate and provi-
IDENTIFY expend on its waterways ten
billions, the system-area considered,
the number OF water courses taken
into computation and the needed canals
taken into account-would not nearly
attain to the degree of perfection of
the French waterways
Very much would depend upon the
manner in which the $4,000, 900 900
was expended. IL the old plan we're
followed, that Of dumping thousands
and hundreds Of thousands into mud
holes and winding creeks to please the
wishes of some congressman, the
amount referred to could be spent
without giving the nation anything like
the waterway system of France. On
the other hand, IL the money to be ex-
pended is devoted to the development
of a systematic plan of improvement
the nation may have a waterway sys-
tenn equal to that of any country in the
world with the expenditure of much
less than $4,000 0O, 900. France has
expended only S1,25O,o0O, 900 on her
waterway system and waterway i'm
provement is a part of the fixed policy
Of the government. The result is that
freight rates are less in France than
in any other nation.
The leading men of the country who
are honestly in favor of waterways
Improvement are hoping that congress
will adopt a general plan and then
make annual appropriations for the
prosecution of the work. The National
Rivers and Harbors congress, which
will meet in Washington on December
s, has adopted as a platform "A policy;
not a project" The old plan was to
pursue a project, instead of a policy.
Congress can we'll defer the making of
any appropriation until 1t has adopted
q fixed plan of Improvement that will
have for it's purpose the development of
the enormous inland trade and COM
merce of the country, Strict adher-
ence to such a plan, when once
adopted, will make the development
Of the inland waterways only a aues-
ton of time, with a result that will
more than repay any expenditure that
may be made for the purpose.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
THE GRAND LnRYS REPORT

The present grand jury has achieved
one record, at least. in the number of
indictments returned. but as prac-
tically all of the cases are predicated
on minor ofrenses ordinarily dealt with
by the police courts the expense of the
grand jury Is not justified by its list of
true bills found. 1t would seem that
the taxpayers Of Douglas county might
tire of footing the bills for this fad.
AS yet neither of The successive grand
juries has developed the existence of
any unusual state of affairs in Omaha
or South Omaha, and the moral atmos-
phere of these communities is no purer
after than before the session.
The ordinary machinery for the en-
forcement Of the law is adequate to
deal with matters that have generally
occupied the attention of the success
sive grand juries. No state of public
scandal or Of rampant crime has been
developed in Omaha. although all man
ner of rumors have been sifted
through the inquisitorial mill. The
Bee has expressed this opinion before
and now merely reiterates its convic-
ton that under existing conditions a
grand jury for Douglas county is a
luxury which can well be dispensed
with. If the prosecuting attorney and
his assistants and the police court at
~torneys of Omaha and South Omaha
will attend strictly to their business
nothing will be presented to another
grand jury unless 1t is the well
founded rumors" that have been Sc
often discredited.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
PERSONAL NOTES.

William Campbell, recently Installed in
Edinburg as judge OF the new Scottish
court OF sessions, is the first Roman
Catholic appointed TO the Scottish bench
since the reformation.
In a choir quarrel in Atlantic CITY. N
the tenor played a base trick by treadlng
on the toe OF the soprano. However. II
this failed to inspire her to a high nots
such a note must be beyond her reach.
While Mr.. H%ohenEollern will not be quite
so ehesty In the future, you must not junp
TO the conclusion that he will, therefore.
tind II necessary to dispense with a few OF
MS glittering decorations when on dress
parade.
Or. Robert Simon. a scientist OF Paris.
who is the discoverer of a succession
method Of combating cholera infantum
with infections of sea water, is in America
70 teach his colleagues in the medical r. \
iession his methods of treatment.
Governor Magoon, In response to a sue
eestion by Secretary Wright Of the wan
department, cables that he will be IN
washington early In December to see the
secretary concerning plans for the with
drawal OF American troops from Cubs.
hon W. s. Fielding, Canadian minister
OF finance raises and spends S1Oo.OOo.Ooo a
year on a 1900 salary. Mr.. Fielding Is the
only prominent member left OF the old
cabinet that gathered about Sir Wilfrid
Laurier in 1895, having held this position
twelve years.
To celebrate the birthday Of King Edward
the BritiFh Naval and Military association
OF Boston unveiled a life size bas-relief
OF KIM Edward, which was executed by
Hugh Cairns. The bas-relief is sxs foot
and Is inclosed In a gold frame surmounted
by the British coat-of-arms and bearing
In the upper corners the harp OF ireland
and the thistle OF Scotland, and in the
lower corners Tudor roses. The king is
shown In the uniform OF a field marshal
The city Of Nottingham, England. ao-
cording to a report sent on by JJn,ted
states Consul Mahln, made a profit las,
municipal year of Jas per cent on its cleo
trio light plant, 81 per cent on the gas
plant, Ill per cent on the street railway
and 81 per cent on the water service-an
average OF 9s per cent on the capital en-
pioyed In these various municipal under
takings. And this is after due allowances
have been made from current earnings for
depreciation and taxes, paid to the city as
though they were private concerns. The
city treasury was helped to the extent Of
S2S2,2o from the profits, without which the
taxpayers would have been called on for 20
per cent more than they paid.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
THE NEW posTMAsTER GENERAL.

THE NEW POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The official announcement that Mr..
Frank H. Hitchcock will be the post
master general in Mr.. Taft's cabinet
will be pleasantly received by repub-
licans generally and by all people who
are familiar with Mr. Hitchcock's ca
pacity for organization and his marked
business ability.
1t has long been argued that the
P~ostofice department should have a
business man at its head. 1t Is the
one department of the government
that comes into closest direct business
touch with the people, and the one
that must be run nearest to the lines
employed in the conduct of a big
commercial enterprise. The depart
ment has suffered in the past by lack
Of men with business ability and ca
pacity at its head, Mr.. Hitchcock
possesses all the qualifications needed
to place the department on a business
basis, and his record shows what he
can do in that direction. When he
began work IN the government service,
in the Department of Agriculture, he
reOrganized the statistical and consular
reporting divisions Of that department
and made them OF real value to the
public. AS Mr. Cortelyou's chief clerk
he organized the working force Of the
new Department of Commerce and
Labor and made 1t the model for the
other departments. AS first assistant
postmaster general he began the work
of systematizing and reorganizing the
postal service. a work he will o be
In position to complete. He has q
genius for work himself and his pres
ence in any branch of the government
service is the signal for the elimination
of all the dry rot and most of the
department red tape. AS postmaster
general he will have an opportunity
to render the public a distinct service
ana there is no doubt he will take
fullest advantage of the opportunity
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

The intent Of the law Is certainly
plain, however faulty the letter of IL
may be. and there is little doubt that
the supreme court of the United States,
to which an appeal has been taken by
Delk, will reverse the finding OF the
circuit court Of appeals. In the mean
time Delk must wait for more months,
possibly years, before he is finally
compensated for his injuries and the
railroad company will have con
tributed another chapter to the volume
on '"The Laws Delay"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

A Guess Rt the AEsregate ost Of
Late TRlkfest.
~PhIladelphIa Press.

Philadelphia Press. I
Political campaiensf come high. In .
dition to u.e5.Do expended by the rept :
ican national committee. and $4,000 by N
democratic national committee, the repub\
icsn state committee IN New York die
bursed $s1S 200 the New York county com
mittee put out about nsa,0o0 the demo
cratic state committee expended s9Okeool
and Tammsny reports an expenditure Of
sss, 800.
These do not take into account the larg'
amounts put out by local organisations IL
the different counties OF the Interior, which
added to the money used by the state
committees would IN ali probability bring
the amount expended In the New Yorh
state campaign well up to sl,oOo.OOo. outsidD
OF any money handled by the national con4
mittees. '
On top OF this must be put the many
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars expended
IN such states as Ohio, Indiana, illinois anc
a dozen others where more or less lively
contests were wased. either for national OF
state tickets, or both. As there are no
laws In many states requiring reports 20 b,
made. very few OF these accounts will eve,
see the light.
Taking the information actually at hand
as an indication II would be making a very
moderate estimate to say tina between
100000 and $~5,OOoyOoO was expended in the
recent campaign. And yet It cost less than
many previous campaigns.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
WHEN BABY's HAIR WAS CUT.

London Answers,
The day they cut the baby's hair
The house was all a'idset:
Such a fuss they made, YOU would have
He was a ~king-the midget.
Some wanted this, some wanted that;
Some thought hat Il was dreadful
To lay a hand upon one strand
OF all that precious headful.
While others said, TO leave his curls
Would be the height OF folly,
Unless they put him with tbs girls
And called him Sue or Molly.
The BARRIERS shears went snip-a-snap.
The solden fluff was flying;
Grandmother had a trembling lip
And aunt was almost crying.
The men folks said, why, hello, Boy,
You're looking five years olderl'
But mother laid the shaver head
Close up against her shoulder.
All. well. the nest must lose IS bird;
The cradle lose its treasure;
Time will not stay a siugle day
For any pleader's pleasure.
And when that hours work was weighed
The scales were even, maybe;
For father gained a little mar
When mother lost her baby.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
CURRENT POLITICAL COMMENT.
earth of Democratic Newspapers
Conspicuous In the North.

OoheptcuOua In the North.
St Louis Giobe-D Democrat (rep.I.
Five Chicago democrats have been found
who say they are willing to sink $4,000 In
starting a democratic paper in that city.
In the recent campaign Mr.. Bryan had no
supporter OF any consequence among the
newspapers Of that town. Nor had he any
In New York In the English language.
Herman Riders Stats zeitung was on
Bryan's side, but the fact that Mr.. Taft
carried that democratic town shows that
Riders paper had as little Influence
toward deluding voters TO support Bryan
as Ridder himself had to square his anti
Bryan record of the pre-convention days
with his laudation of Bryan after the con-
vention forced him upon the party.
The democratic party was never 50 poor
in journalistic supporters In all its previous
history as Il has been since Bryan seized
the party's machinery. The Hearst papers
were the only journals Of any consequence
In New York City which supported Bryan
in 1895 and 1900. They were against him
in IeS. East Of the Mississippi and north
Of the Potomac and the Ohio he was
Stunned this year by nearly all the demo-
cratic papers OF any influence. except that
the New York World, which opposed him
for the nomination. fell into line for him
in a faint-hearted way after the conven-
ton. The peculiar character of It's sup
port, however. had an adverse rather than
a favorable influence, II II had any in
fluence at all.
A democratic daily paper in Chicago.
under present conditions, would probably
have difficulty in establishing itself. II
could hardly show that II met a long-felt
want. There is no tangible evidence that
there Is any such want.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
A SCARE.

Lord Roberts has started a furore
in England that is running even more
wildly than that caused In Germany
by the kaiser's recent interview, by
declaring that England is wholly un-
prepared to successfully resist an JIM
vasion by German forces, and that
the nation will be at the mercy of its
1000, 900 is provided.
This is in complete contradiction to
the long established belief of England
that its navy, IL sufficiently large,
could protect the country from all the
fighting forces of Europe. This belief
has been accepted generally by the
English people and millions have been
voted in support of the Asquith plan
Of making the English navy greater
by 10 per cent than the combined
strength of the French and German
navies. British premiers have con-
WINGED the British people that this
two-power fleet is the surest guaranty
of national safety, and therefore worth
all that 1t costs to build and maintain
1t. Lord Roberts upsets all such
claims, and paves the way for more
appropriations by insisting hat the
navy would be practically worthless,
in the defense of Britain, without a
mammoth standing army.
Lord Roberts is recognized as one
of the greatest living military au-
thorities, and his statements are
naturally accepted as alarming and
startling by the British people. If he
is really convinced of the danger con-
fronting England, the British taxpayer
is faced with the proposition Of having
his burdens doubled or have all the
millions that have been spent on the
navy counted as wasted money and
his country's safety far from assured.
Lord Roberts declares that Germany
could land 10000 men on British
shores in spite of the British fleet
and with such a force the English
army, as now constituted, would not
be able to successfully combat. He
adds that the $4,000 Germans now in
England would promptly rally to the
support of the invaders and thus
place England at a still greater handi-
cap. Unless proper precautions are
taken, Lord Roberts asserts, Great
Britain may some day find herself in
the hands of the invader and be forced
to submit to the most humiliating
conditions"
1t is difficult to determine how much
of Lord Roberts statement is war
ranted. The suspicion grows that
there may be more politics than real
Justification for fear in the picture
of England's helpless condition. The
army is always jealous of the navy.
and Lord Roberts represents the army
faction. The navy has been pampered
and petted. The army has been neg
lected. The taxpayers, already under
heavy burdens, would resent a plan
for vast appropriations for the army
without some terrifying reason. The
English common people hate Germany
and the Germans, and 1t may be more
than probable that the army advo-
Gates have taken advantage of the
feeling to work a big appropriation
for army expansion. The conclusion
is not very c~reditable to Lord Roberts,
but 1t appears more reasonable than
his prediction Of Britain being invaded
and subdued by the German army.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Moneycd Fools Easily trimmed.
Washington Post.

- 49,
What suckers We greedy mortals be!
Here we nave one Meyer. a smart fellow,
late OF the Broadway metropolis. doing
Pittsburg and MISUNDERSTANDING them
TO a fraSzle. He was generous and dis
tributod with lavish tongue a story OF in
Innate financial association with the world
greatest bankers, ana impaired the highly
improbable information that he wanted 70
invest something between $l50.oO0.OOo and
500. 10000. How guilible and easy are
those who would get in on the ground
floor in speculative ventures that promise
something for nothing. or make borrowing
a pastimsl Meyer, In Pittsburg, and Eos
ter. the promoter, In New York. who had
the royal suite In a hotel on H,O0O.00o.o'
worth Of mines Of fairy tail authenticity
were both able to live on the best because
they found fools In plenty, who parted
with real none in the hope Of gettinl
rich quickly,
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Imposing Figures.

Eight billion dollars worth Of crops is
the estimate OF the secretary of agricul-
ture for the yield Of the farms OF the
United States this year. II is a fine total,
But as an Indication OF what the farmer
gets for his work the fact that there were
10, SOO.oOO persons engaged in agriculture by
the census of 1900, and probably several
hundred thousand more now, 1t indicates
that the average man in that industry had
somewhat less Than $500 a year out OF
which to buy material, live and pay ex-
penses. This permits an inference that
late Representations OF The farmers as roll
ing in wealth are examples OF drawing on
the Imagination for statements OF fact.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
when Worry DID NOt XIII.

Until John d. Rockefeller went on the
witness stand most persons probably did
not realize hat a hazardous thing the oil
business is. For fifty years" said Rock
efeller. I'VE have been prepared TO hear
the fire alarm day and night; we are deal
ing with a very explosive product" And
again. 'one could never tell when one
would awake and find the crude oil sup
ply exhausted" OF course, the profits
have been very observation-disclosures the
wonder Is, we must believe. that the Stan
dard magnates ave not all suceumbed e
nervous prostration long ago. It's a new
thtught
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Reciprocal FavOrs.

Governor Haskell was crowded out Of the
democratic national committee as treasurer
and Herman Ridder OF the st~aats-zeituns
succeeded him. His contribution and those
of his ser were especially generous. \
correspondent OF the New York Evening
Post now declares that copies OF his news
paper were sent out to the ~German-Ameri-
can citizens throughout the country in
great numbers and at a considerable cost
to the committee. showing that It's man.
ayers made zone hand wash the other
as the old saying goes, even after It had
changed hands.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
BIG HATS IN CHURCH.
Millinery Architecture PrOvOkes a
Shepherds FrOwn.
Rnzfon. Tranacrtnt

Boston Transcript.
Bishop williams of Omaha has a word
to say on fashionable attire that may be
heard in districts outside his own diocese.
Women must have their heads covered in
church.. the bishop says, but they may. not
wear for the purpose the big hats milli-
nsrs have prepared for the season. This
will make It necessary for ch~ureh-going
women 10 adopt the small hat for Sunday
wear, and its general adoption for other
days OF the week will naturally follow,
Furthermore. the bishop says that women
must come to churches over which he has
dominion in dresses of "a modest nature"
He does not go into particulars on this
point. His flock may interpret the order
as they will. so long as they conform to
any OF the many interpretations hat are
synonymous with the term 'modesty." II
the bishops recommendations are carried
out 1t may %tTuthfully be said OF congrega-
lions under HIS charge that they are
clothed and In their right mind"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Hearst Paid the FreiRht.

Springfield (Mass.) Republican Qnd.).
Mr.. Hearst's party proves TO have been
entirely financed by him the last year. his
personal expenditure in running the HIsgen
ticket being $40, rs. The sale OF souvenir
medals brought In t2U more. and that was
all. The fact that no one else subscribed q
dollar showed good sense On the part of
Tom. Dick and Harry. They all knew per-
fectly we'll that the independence campaign
was Mr.. Hearst's personal merry-Eo-round
He gladly paid $4,000 to get square with
Mr.. Bryan. yet Bryan would have been
beaten II Hearst had trained hts mud bat
terles exclusively In his support. The one
visible profit for Mr.. Hearst is he now has
perfect social standing at the White House.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Now Richmond Pearson Hobson is
convinced that the United States will
have to go to war with China. AS a
press agent for the ship building con
Germs Hobson is little short OF being
q wonder.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Southern Paper bolts bryan.

t. NOElulh ANdsJ AAdAhOliAaAh NooAA(s
There Is no use in attacking the Ne
braskan for not renouncing voluntarily
all further honors of the standard-beaT
ing kind. The persons to blame are the
state leaders. particularly those In the
SOUTH, who nave been advocating tho
Bryan nomination, against their best
judgment, because they believed 1t the
easiest way to escape a contest at home.
Now these leaders will have to act differ
entity II they hav any instinct of self
preservation; for a continuance OF their
policy Of happy-go-lucky Organism will
turn their own bailiwicks over to the re-
publican party.
The Landmark serves notice that under
conditions similar to those which have ex-
i~sted-that is, unless the opposition candi-
date should be personally a menace, like
Cannon or Hearst-it will not support Mr..
Bryan II the democratic party commits
the inconceiveable folly of nominating him
a fourth time. The eloquent Nebraskan
has had as many nominations. without a
single victory, as any victorious presi-
dentiaI candidate ever had, and his defeats
have been heavier with each successive
candidacy. We shall gladly support any
good democrat whose record does not show
that the people regard him as unsafe. But
the Bryan business has become a farce,
unworthy of serious men, and this paper
does not intend to be dragged into It again.
There are doubtless other independent
democratic newspapers in the south which
feel as we do; and this is a good time for
them to say II.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

The clearing house statements show
very impressively the rebound of bust
ness when the pressure Of politics was
removed. The tremendous increase
reported from all the important indus
trial and commercial eentsrs OF the
country are due to a resumption of ac-
tivity resulting from the assurance
that established policies of government
will be maintained.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Joe Butler may get another whack
at the pie plate, but he is not, accord
ing to latest reports, to pass on the
suficiency of oil for Nebraska. 1t is
to be hoped, however, that ~disappoint-
ment will not AFFECT Joe's loyalty to
the cause or detract from his efficiency
as a cheer leader at the Jimsonian
meetings.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Carrie Nation has not decided where
she will spend most of her time while
in Europe. We suggest that If she
gets homesick for her dear old Kansas
she might find comfort by visiting the
Balkans,
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

1t now develops that superintendent
white of the School for the Deaf is
anxious to hang on 10 his Job. This
accounts for the cheerful willingness
with which he denies to the World
Herald having contributed to the re-
publican campaign fund. This course
ought to commend Mr.. White highly to
Governor Shallenberger.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Florida voters take memory with
them into the polling booth" says a
Jacksonville paper. II viii be better
for the Florida voters when they begin
voting for live issues instead OF voting
their memories.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30
Andy TALKED Too Much.
Kansas CITY Star.

The steel manufacturers have fastened
to assure the ways and means COMMITTEES
that Mr.. Carnegie didn't know what he
was talking about when he said steel could
be made cheaper in the United States than
abroad. What they mean, of course. is
that he shouldn't have said 50.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Two of the present Omaha city
council have declared themselves as
candidates for reelection. Some of
the people hope that the others will
also come out in order that the popular
verdict may be properly registered.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-30

Missouri ministers prayed for, in
their Thanksgiving services, the reten-
ton of the duty on zinc, showing that
the tariff is a religious as well as a
political economic issue.