Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-12
In Western Nebraska.

SCOTS BLUFF, Neb., Dec. ITO the
Editor of The Bee: 1 was truly glad to
note In your issue of December 3 that there
was at least one great daily in the state
which would publish the sentiments of "a
western Nebraska lawyer" even If 1t did
not endorse them. 1 think, however, that
1t would be a good Idea for your paper to
raise the banner of western Nebraska, and
show us that you recognize us as a part
of the great commonwealth to which you
belong. And / believe 1t would be good for
Omaha. / do not see why "a western Ne
braska lawyer" should have expected Shell
don 70 appoint a western man to the SUI
preme bench. 1t would not have been in
keeping with his prior conduct. Did he
show any signs of gratitude in making his
appointments when he was elected gov
ernor? Did he while a member of the
senate or at any time during his official
career show any sympathy with the great
common people, or show the least signs of
gratitude for what they had done for him?
1t is true that owing to the conditions
that exist in western Nebraska we sorely
need a member of the supreme court who
understands our needs. This being an
irrigation country renders 1t necessary that
the state have ar irrigation law, which we
have. But no Judge who lives in any other
than an irrigation county can so well UNI
derstand the laws as one who lives In an
irrigation county and comes in contact
with them all the time. Yes, one of the
supreme Judges should have been from the
Sixth district and surely as far west as
North Platte. And there is good timber in
abundance.
Yes, Sheldon's action in making these
appointments was bad, was damnable, but
no worse than the action of the Nebraska
legislature for the last eighteen or twenty
years in refusing to redistrict the state.
For the last twenty-five years one-third
of the territory of the state has been and
is yet represented in the senate by two
senators and in the house by three repre-
sentatlves. Even now a large portion OF
the state is not recognized as a part of the
state government. And a county which In
the near future must be recognized as the
equal of any part of the state is still
designated as 1.-THE unorganized territory
west of Logan county This is a burning
shame. And no longer Hgo than the las.
session one Of the finest counties in the
state had its representative stigmatized by
Hon. Joe Burns Of Lancaster as the gen.
tleman from the unorganiaed country west
" OboAs . - 'ANA
market for a large appropriation for the
state university, the state prison, the asy-
lum or some other institution kept up by
the entire state for the benefit Of Ian
caster, then the representative from the
unorganized territory is all right also. Oh,
yes, western Nebraska is expected to come
up to the scratch and shell out TO pay for
all public buildings and all public institu-
lions and see all of them located within
100 miles OF the Missouri river. And have
all the officers, both state and national,
selected from the same territory.
Is it any wonder that the western stock
men are beginning to look for a market
for their stock in Denver instead of Omaha?
Is It any wonder that the idea OF cutting
the panhandle off Of Nebraska and annex
ing It to Wyoming is a popular idea In
western Nebraska. 1t Is too bad that such
a feeling should be allowed TO grow up in
the west. But how can anything else be
expected so long as our eastern brethren
deny us proper representation. and so long
as we are compelled to hear our senators
and representatives say when they do
condescend to come out and see US: why,
1 never dreamed that you had such a coun-
try out here" How can the state expect
the people in the western counties to be
very enthusiastic in their loyalty TO either
compel them TO be represented by one-halt
the state or to the political parties which
the representation they should have and by
men who live so far from us as to be COM
PEELED to say to us: II never dreamed that
you had such a country out here" East
ern Nebraska and the great dailies of
Omaha and Lincoln had better wake W and
recognize us as a part OF Nebraska, OF
some day you may find a large volume OF
trade going somewhere else. We love Ne
braska. bit We must feel that 1t loves US,
or we may be weaned. We will do our
share to take care OF Sheldon when he
comes out for the senate. and We will be