Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-21

The expected action Of the House OF
Commons in approving the draft OF the
constitution for the united states OF South
Africa marks a mighty step In the prog
ress Of the dark continent and In British
empire building. The substance Of what
the followers Of Dom Paul Kruger fought
for is embodied in the organic law OF
the forthcoming federation. Beaten on
the field of war by superior numbers and
superior resources, the Beers are vic
torious on the fundamental issue OF self
government. Action on the constitution
is yet to be had in the House OF Lords,
but the unanimity Of all party divisions
In the Commons foreshadows like action
by the peers. In a few weeks all formal
ties will be completed and the imperial
proclamation will launch a new self-gov-
erning colony under British auspices. The
result is a happy outcome of a fierce
racial struggle for supremacy and takes
rank as an epoch in empire building. The
event possesses greater significance than
its local bearing. The four states Of the
Transvaal, Cape Colony, Orange River and
Natal are directly affected by the con-
stitution. In a larger sense, every self
governing colony flying the union Jack
must feel the Influence of the act and the
impetus it gives the movement for a
closer working union Of the principal di-
visions of the empire,
zee
In finding moral reasons for the con-
quest of the Transvaal much use was made
by the leaders of the British war party
ten years ago of the unequal treatment
accorded to the white and the colored
races under Boer government. Mr.. Cham
berlain, in particular, was distressed by
President Kruger's political oppression Of
the blacks and 1t was strongly urged that
the negroes Of South Africa could hope for
equality of opportunity only under the
British flag. How hollow the talk was
became clear years ago, but the other day
in the House of Common Mr.. Balfour, one
OF the leaders of the party that waged the
Boer war, declared, with no want Of pre-
cislon, that the political discrimination
against the oolored races, contained in the
constitution OF the new South African fed
GRAFTON, conceded entirely with his own
views. The dispatches put it strongly in
saying that Mr.. Balfour denied that 1t
was intended to give the colored races
equality with Europeans and maintained
the opinion that 1t would be impossible
for the higher forms Of civilization to sur
vive If equal rights we're granted to the
NAN "a NiN NOuAlNASs
A summary of the German Industrial
census Of 1907 compiled by the Imperial
Bureau of Statistics shows a marked
tendency toward concentration in the lead
ing industries Of the empire. In the year
named there were employed in the 4,O25, 591
Industries of Germany a total Of 14,34S, SS9
persons, of whom $3.50, 466 were women.
OF these concerns g. 23, 645 were Independent
or main concerns and 601,946 were branch
shops or factories. In 1896, the date of the
last previous census, the total number Of
employees was 10, 269, 269, an increase Of
4,079, 120 for 1907. The railroad, postal, tele-
graph and telephone employees are especi-
ally excluded, but city tramway employees,
employees in the railroad shops, farm la
borers, foresters. clerks, statesmen and
even the employees Of the army canteens
are included. These figures indicate a
constant tendency in manufacturing toward
the development of larger concerns. In
other classifications both the number Of
concerns and the number of their employees
are increasing in about normal ratio. Re
garding the figures as a whole, during the
last twelve years QS95-1gOO the number Of
employees has increased in a ratio about
four times that of the concerns employing
them, and the proportionate increase Of
leLldle SllplOSdS Is Sui greater.
j, $50
Some 1900 square miles of Siam, ad-
Joining the British protectorate known as
the Straits Settlement, have recently been
? added to the British dominions. The ter
ritory embraces four provinces, the fine
harbor of Langkawi, and contains a popu-
lation of $4,000. The acquisition OF this
territory is expected to greatly affect the
trade of the far east, for Siam agrees not
l to cere or lease to any other power or
foreign government any Of the lands to
the north of the territory acquired by
T Great Britain. Furthermore, Siam con-
/ tracts not to permit any foreign govern
ment or company to establish coaling sta
tons or docks or to acquire the exclusive
occupation of any strategic or commercial
harbor there. The provisions of the treaty
= give formal sanction TO what England
S would have insisted upon in case any river
g power attempted TO establish itself between
Burmah and the Straits Settlements. In
return, Siam receives Jurisdiction over
: British subjects in that country In place Of
the international jurisdiction which has
hitherto prevailed.
l The railroad is slowly but surely spread
ing its net Of track over India, and ac-
cording to the report OF the Indian rail-
way boards for the last year, there is now
a total mileage of 3O,576 miles Of track.
During the year GIG miles OF new line was
put into operation, and some 5000 miles
more is under construction. For the first
time in some years the state lines were run
y at a loss, the deficit amounting to about
n 1880, The death from accidents worked
out at .Ss per million.
, WHrshIps and AirshiDs.