The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-08-26

recommend and advocate the repeal
Of the oleomargarine iniquity or pro-
mote the effort to take the tariff off
hidess-Washington Post.
LINCOLN LETTER.
Lincoln, Nebr., Aug. "a, 1905
Money, money, give me money to
elect myself to the presidency" seems
10 have become the burden of Candi-
date Bryan's song on every possible
occasion. Not only was his noti6ca-
ton address on August 18th thorough
ly impregnated with campaign con-
tributicn" talk but his consultations
with party managers before and after
that event As reported by all the news
paper men, were SO per cent on the
subject of getting money out of the
people to spend in his campaign. Con-
sidering that Candidate Bryan's pri.
vate fortune is ten thousand times
larger than that of the average man
whom he asks to contribute the ques-
ton of the propriety of these insistent
appeals for money is rapidly percolat-
ing the democratic mind and sugges-
tions that Candidate Bryan pay some
of the freight ON himself is heard from
democratic sources.
A broad smile that has matured into
a genuine and hearty "horse-laugh" is
rolling across the state this week ever
the efforts of q frenzied democratic
newspaper at Omaha to defend Candi-
date Bryan's accumulation ofa fortune
while pretending to fight the battles of
the poor and downtrodden. The fren-
zied journal admits the accumulation
by Candidate Bryan of an immense
private fortune" but says in defense of
the perennial candidate, "he has earn.
ed this with clean hands" and therein
lies the humor that has caused the
broad and vociferous gufaw which is
rolling across the state. Most Ne
braskans, whose hearing is not seri-
ously impaired, have long labored
under the impression that Candidate
Bryan earned" his competence with
his mouth instead of his hands on 4
strict percentage of gate receipts"
Democratic politicians and news
papers are never quite happy unless
engaged in misrepresentation. Just
now both are busy trying to convince
the farmer that his land assessment is
high while the assessment Of railway
properties have not been advanced
under the new revenue law, thus Civ.
ing the farmer the worst of it. Moth
ing is farther from the truth as the
official records will show. The last
valuation of the railways in Nebraska
under the old Law was made in 1908
at which time the railways of the state
(including the Pullman Car Co.. were
valued for purposes of taxation At
81, 284, $4,000. This was on . total
mileage in the state of 5,777.1 miles.
For the year 1908 the railway Cinclud-
ing the Pullman Co., Is before) are
valued for purposes of taxation at
$53.47S.392.72, IN increase since 1903
of $26,193, 446.72 or yearly 81 per
cent The mileage had increased only
213} miles in this period, to . total of
5,99O.31 miles in the state, showing
that the increase was not on the growth
or advancing value of the railways
bnt practically on the same property
assessed in the year 1903.
The state debt of Nebsaska affords
= decidedly complimentary proof of
the ability, economy and integrity of
the republican party applied to the
problems of state administration.
When republican officials took charge
Of state affairs in January, 1901, after
years of misma.Aesnent BY the demo-
pop combine they found they had in
herited IN outstanding floating debt of
81, 75O,O73.82 and . profasion Of def
ciencies in stats institutions and appro-
priations that weald further add to
that sum - the obfgsEioas accrued
and were paid in warrants for the
Of which no funds were