Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-16
nIrs oF MAsHINeroN L1rn.
Minor scenes sna incidents sketched
on the SPOT.

mander-in-chief of the British army snC
member OF the House OF Lords, threw +,
war scare In that body during a debst,
last December. He asserted the nation hat
an inadequate army for home defense, and
as now constituted. was insufficient to re
pei Invasion. 1t was possible, in his opin
ion. for Germany to eiude the British navy
on the North sea and land an army OF 200,
900 men on the sacred soil OF England AnC
scatter the handful Of relocated home
guards like chsff before a stiff breeze. A
once the depths Of national fear were
sounded and the wheels started whereby
the hoped-for increase OF British recruiting
will be achieved. Some American army Of
ficers, emulating Lord Roberts. believe the
best way TO reach the national treasury
for an appropriation lie TO throw q war
scare" among the people. Members of the
general staff OF the War department, in a
special report sent to congress, assert that
the harbor OF San Pedro, near Los Angeles,
affords a tempting landing place for a
hostile army and that S3.656.0o would place
the harbor in shape to repel the enemy
and make him swim back home. The
alarming situation Is outlined In the report
as follows: Recent study discloses the
fact that, assuming there we're no effective
naval opposition, a certain oriental power
could. within a month of the time its hos
tile intentions began to be even strongly
suspected "a formal declaration OF war
would no doubt come a good deal later,
land on our Pacific coast an expedition OF
an estimated maximum Of about 10000
men, and that such a force could be aug
mented, by the end OF two months more,
to a total OF possibly 100000. The ease
with which San Pedro harbor. unfortified,
and through it the entire Los Angeles coun-
try. could be seized is apparent"
Republicans in Nebraska have the be.
lief that William ]. Bryan wants to come
to the United States senate. and that he is
behind the proposition to pass a law in
Nebraska similar to hat of Oregon" said
George A. Meade of Fremont, Neb.,
quoted by the Washington Post. The
democrats, on the otte hand, declare that
Brysn does not want to come to the sem
ate, and that his friends are the ones who
are urging the passage of such a measure.
Il do not believe that Bryan could be
elected to the senate even with a primary
law such as that of Oregon. because 1 do
not think the majority of the people OF
the state are favorable 10 him. 1t is true
that he carried the state, but 1t was not
because OF his popularity but because Of
the fight against Governor Sheldon and
other candidates for state offices. Bryan
got the electoral vote by a comparatively
small plurality; Governor Sheldon was
beaten by a larger plurality. and other
candidates for office received varying ma
%jorities. 1t was because OF the fight on Shell
don, / believe, that Bryan pulled through
on the national ticket.
"If conditions in the republican party
had been normal, 1 am confident that
Bryan would not nave carried Nebraska,
but because the republicans were engaged
In a fight on their own candidates the
presidential candidate was enabled to pull
through. Therefore, I say, il the demo-
cratic legislature should succeed in pass
ing a primary law similar to that in effect
oregon, and it were left to the people
Of the state to express their preference for
a senatorial candidate. Bryan would not be
the choice of the people"
A southern tobacco srower was before
the ways and means committee arguing
that a higher tariff should be placed upon
Egyptian tobacco. He said the American
industry needed more protection.
isn't It a fact that the reason Egyptian
tobacco is sold in such great quantities
is because so many people rave cultlNateu
a taste for it?" asked Champ Clark, leader
OF the house and member Of the com
mittee.
We'll, l suppose that lie true admitted
the southern advocate.
And wouldn't they insist upon getting
this Egyptian tobacco in their cigarettes,
even II it cost more?"
Yes admitted the witness Reluctantly
well, then, what good would a higher
tariff do you fellows?" asked Clark.
ooh, il would do the country generally a
lot of good. Think of how much revenue
1t would mean to the country"
9Th country would be a whole lot bet
ter off," said Clark, III tobacco were done
away with all together-if they did away
with the whole thing, cigars, pipe and
plug"
Maybe you would not think so IL you
were a user of it," said the witness.
i've got a good chaw OF 1t in my mouth
this minute" said Clark, carefully direct
ing the overflow into a cuspldor. Don't
know what / would do without It," he
added, when the laugh had subsided.
The most persistent OF knockers against
nnre food laws. particularly the crusade