davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
In Time of Peace.

The War department, It appears. lis
so much concerned about the nation s
lack Of preparation for war that pub
lie statement on the subject is with
held from congress for fear of the in
jury it might do our military prestige
abroad and the effect 1t might have in
stimulating the lingo spirit at home
This action is taken by order of the
president, himself, intercepting a re-
port from the secretary Of war Just in
time to keep it from getting to the
public by way Of congress.
People who have heard the cutlery
against the nations so-called head
long plunge into militarism must be
surprised at this disclosure. For
years the government has been
charged with squandering millions in
munitions of war at a time when the
world is preaching peace. It has been
accused Of trying to surpass all the
great military powers Of Europe and
thus fostering the war spirit. And yet
we are told that the War department
considers the United States land forces
wholly inadequate and that If a war
should come this country would be
caught in a desperate condition of
appropriateness Its coast defenses are
likewise deprecated so far as their
adequacy is concerned, Nor can this
warning be charged up entirely to the
alarmist, since the president in his
message points out the need for re-
Mobilization of the military forces.
What he and other conservative men,
bers of the administration are de-
sirous of, though, is to avoid giving
undue alarm over the state Of affairs.
Rather, they believe in proceeding
quietly to make the necessary inn
provement
Evidently the protests against pro-
militarism have come either from de-
Hibernate or ignorant motives to de-
ceive. We see no war clouds hanging
over the nation, and yet the old adage,
I'm times of peace prepare for war"
has not lost it's force. 1t is well to
withhold alarming reports from the
public, but, with all due respect to our
world-peace propaganda, this nation
cannot afford to let its military re-
sources decay, while other nations are
furnishing up their arms.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
Parcels Post and the Farmsr.

The country retail merchant must
not be lured by express company sirens
into believing that the parcels post Is
one-sided in its advantages and does
not benefit his interests. When car
ried into effect the parcels post will
bring the farmer and the retailer
closer together and foster trade be-
tween them in a way that cannot be
done better by other means. The At
lanta Constitution, quoting from a
Georgia farmer journal, presents this
phase OF the parcels post. which ought
TO be of general interest:
The establishment OF a rural parcels
post would mean a great deal TO the
farmers and a great deal 20 the city men
The farmer very often has a dozen
eggs a chicken, bunch Of onions few
pounds of cabbage, potatoes, beans or
lettuce that me would send to someone
In the city. The man IN tho city would
be glad TO have such vegetables for his
dinner, taken from the farmers garden
that morning
The farmer cannot afford to hitch to
small 'rle, but a. hts friend in the city
could call him up In the morning and
say, Send me so-and-so by the next
post the farmer would be glad to nay
the postage and send In the desired farm
produce
Then, If he wanted a small package
from the city. he could easily get Il by
the pest ana save a trip 10 town.
The farmers and the city consumers
are entitled 70 this service. II can be
conducted ira such a manner as to benefit
an parties and to turn a great amount
OF revenue into the Postoffice depart
ment
These advantages might not appear
as great to the retailer in the larger
city as in the smaller town, but most
farmers are near to some town. I'm
doubtedly they and the retailer would
reap great benefit from this delivery
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
The Model Farm Village.

While Mrs Russell Sage is building
her model town on Long Island, the
government is doing an excellent work
in founding twenty model country viii
lagos in the vast stretches of the Sun
River valley in Montana. 1t is q work
which, for a new country, ought to
prove a veritable boon. The towns
are being built six miles apart, which
brings every farmer within easy access
of the school, the church, the store,
the office and gives him and his family
advantages which many people are
leaving the farms to get. II ought to
have direct bearing, therefore, on
the back-to-the-farm" movement.
These towns are to be connected by
trolley and telephone lines and
equipped with electric lighting facili-
ties Their success is vouched for by
similar arrangement in southern
Idaho, which has existed for some
years, 1t is most prosperous section
of country and the people are said to
be happy lot. One of the influences
taking so many people from the farm
to the town or city is the desire for
the better advantages the urban COM
munity offers. They grow lonely and
restless in the country and, where sue
cessive years of large crops have made
them prosperous, they do not always
long restrain these ambitions. The
result is a growing tendency of popu-
lation toward the city. 1t works last
ing hardships upon economic condi-
tons. The government has courage
ously undertaken to check the ten
dency and reverse it. This work it is
doing out west ought to contribute
vastly to that end, OF course, it may
not be feasible to introduce the system
in older sections of the country, but 1t
can be extended over a wide area of
the new west, where towns are being
arbitrarily located nearly every day.
Such examples of practical utility as
these constitute redeeming qualities
of expanding government activity too
frequently overlooked.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
Now for the Practice.

Legislatures in many states will
soon be in session This condition,
with congress IN action, will afford
those railroad managers who have ad-
vocated Withdrawing from politics an
opportunity for practical demonstra-
ton President Mellen Of two New
England roads. President willard Of
the Baltimore & Ohio and other execu-
lives Of great transcontinental lines
have recently declared themselves for
a new policy Some western man
ayers have issued orders against the
old custom OF maintaining Hobbies at
legislatures, insisting that what pleas
their representatives make must be
made in open meetings directly to the
members Of the legislature. Naturally
enough the public will watch for the
practice of these splendid professions
Railroads, like every other legiti-
mate business enterprise that has in
terests affected by legislation, have
right to a fair hearing before the law
makers, but have no right to seek by
unfair or corrupt means to control
law-maker in his official conduct If
the railroads of the country have
finally determined upon this course for
themselves and decided to act upon it,
then 1t is a good omen Of better times.
OF course, some states have enacted
anti-lobbying laws, so that the awaken
ing, if it has come, may not be entirely
yoluntary-still it will be no less cred
table If it materializes.
But railroads are not the only cor
porations who have in times past ex-
erted a pernicious influence in legisla-
tons, state and national Some of the
most insidious elements have been
other private and public service COM
panies and, whether they have come to
their senses, resolved to turn over a
new leaf, as some railroads have, or
not, IL will not be too late for them to
wake up by the time the legislatures
get under Roadway, AS a matter of
fact, any reform on the part of the
railroads ought to have a good infiu-
ence on the other corporations and
help bring them into line, where they
do not come voluntarily.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
Endorsements.

1t is a sad, but true, commentary
on human nature that many of our So
called best people" will freely en-
dorse a notorious rascal or rogue for
appointment 10 public office whom
they would not, themselves, employ In
any capacity.
Some of the most fragrant crooks
and political mountebanks are able to
get commendatory letters from men
who write them in ignorance or
thoughtlessness, or merely to get rid
of Importantly, or perhaps because the
applicant is the first one making the
request.
We have known reputable bankers
to endorse the high business standing
of judgment-proof bankrupt for
whom they would not discount a note
for $50 without additional security.
Some people are willing, apparently,
to help load the public service with in
competent misfits and dishonest conf
dence sharks whose employment by
any other business institution would
make them distrust it.
Just what impels men to be so care
less of their endorsements for public
office, who otherwise are most careful
about their endorsements of CONNER
cial paper, is not easily explained. 1t
must be that they are susceptible to
the flattery implied in the insinuation
that their signatures TO a petition may
have weight with men in responsible
Office, whom they are the first to de-
nounce for misusing their appointive
power.
We have no doubt that Pat Grove
could within a short time and with
reasonable industry get a formidable
collection of autographs asking Uncle
Sam to make him custodian Of public
moneys. But If he had enrolled all
the names of every man, woman and
child in the community as against his
record OF crime 1t still would not make
him a mt person to hold responsible
Office.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
MIR. BRYAN's Suspicious.
Thoughts Suggestive of the Question,
'WhRt IL = DemOcrRtf"
L. L

New York World Cdem).
Democrats like wilson Harmon, Dix,
Foss, Baldwin and Plaisted may fool the
people, but they cannot fool William Jen-
nings Bryan. He has promptly torn off
the mask and revealed them as cham
pions of government dominated by spe-
csl interests"
Ostensibly Mr.. Bryan distrusts them be-
cause the World looks toward them hope
fully for sane, progressive leadership, but
the true reason for his suspicion is that
they have been elected to office. Mr..
Bryan knows one infallible test of democ-
racy. A true democrat is one who cannot
be elected a false democrat Is one who
has been elected The more any democrat
appeals to popular confidence the less he
appeals to Mr.. Bryans confidence.
Mr.. Bryan's notion of a democratic party
is a small exclusive club whose affairs are
controlled by him personally. The smaller
it is the easier he can control It. For four
teen years he has been actively engaged in
driving democrats out Of the party and
with a new democracy his domination
ends
Mr., Bryan asks US, What is the thing
the New York World calls Bryan socialism
from which in the Worlds view the party
has been emancipated?'' We shall tell him.
BY Bryan socialism we mean specifically
all that Capitalization hodge-podge which
populism through the agency of Mr.. Bryan
inflicted upon the democratic party We
include government ownership of rail-
roads, federal licenses for tame trusts that
do not control 50 per cent OF the product,
prohibition, government guarantee Of bank
deposits and the like.
Mr.. Bryan's theories of government, like
Mr.. Roosevelts theories are peternalistic
Both Organism and the new natlonalism
have their roots in socialism. When the
World says that the democratic party is
emancipated from Bryan socialism we
mean especially that in dealing with COR
poration abuses Anglo-saxon remedies are
to be substituted for sooialistic remedies
If we were seeking an illustration we
should say that the Bryan Roosevelt
schemes OF trust license are inherently
socialistic while the true democratic theory
Of dealing with all offenses against society
is embodied in three words Guilt is per
sonal"
The Worlds disinterested advice to Mr.,
Bryan is to get In step with progressive
democracy and give all the moral support
within his power to the new leaders. He
had his chance-he had three chances-and
each time the country repudiated him.
Even IL Mr.. Bryan were the soundest and
sanest of political economists, which he Is
not, he is so politically discredited that the
hope of the party can lie only in new
leadership.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
Our Birthday Book.
December II, 1910.


John GTeenleaf Whittier, the noted Amer
team poet and philanthropist, was born
December II, 1905, at Haverhill, Mass, He
was a Quaker and was regarded as the
poet Of the anti-slavery cause in the in
terest Of which he edited the Pennsylvania
Freeman. Most Of his poetry consists of
short lyrics.
Joseph Henry one of the most distln-
guished scientists this country has ever
produced, was born December ~, 1897, at
Albany and died in 1873. He was for many
years head OF the Smithsonian institution
at Washington and made many valuable
discoveries I'm the field Of electricity, shar-
ing with Morse the invention Of the cleo
tro telegraph,
Charles r. Henderson, professor Of
sociology in the University of Chicago, was
born December IT, 1S4S, at Coyington, Ind
He was ordained a Baptist minister, from
which he specialized in subjects OF soclol-
ogy and charity. and has written and lee
tured on these subjects
George n. Roberts, former manager Of
the Bsmis Bag company OF Omaha, but
now with that company in Boston, is So
He was born at Cambria g. Mass, and
graduated at Harvard. He was with the
Bemis company at ST. Louis for four years,
coming 70 Omaha in 1908 and taking his
present position In Boston few months
ago
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
POLITICAL DRIFT.

II cost the republicans OF Pennsylvania
SioaeSt to elect their candidate Tor gov
crnor with the opposition divided,
while exploring lamo duck alley In
Washington the other day, Governor Har-
man informed his escort that he had never
been up salt river"
A new York preacher. Rev. John Wesley
nm made the longest haul on the rcpub-
lican campaign treasury last month. Ills
speaking tour cost the committee S235O.
Charles A. Towne. the free silver trumpet
OF Minnesota, views with alarm" the SUI
perahundanoe Of democratic presidential
timber in sight. lie checks off seven avail
ables without winking toward Bryan or
himself
After q year of tortuous travel In the by
ways of justice In Philadelphia, five po-
utlcal pluggers were brought to trial and
actually convicted. The prosecutors were
as much surprised over the result as the
accused
Mark A. sullivan, appointed by Gov
ernor Fort to succeed the late James Il.
I'm on the bench Of the New Jersey court
OF errors and appeals, is the youngest judge
in the state. He is only 81 but has made
his mark both at the bar and in the leg
islature.
new ordinance adopted In Tacoma,
Wash, makes it a mlsdemeanor to buy an
Intoxicating drink for another person. rhe
old west is passing at rate which may
drive citizens I'm search of personal liberty
back to the effete east
The taxing valuation Of real and personal
property in New Jersey is S2,Oi5 S9S, ZlS
These are the midsummer figures, In the
springtime when New Workers are editing
their personal schedules, the Invisible
wealth OF New Jersey quadruples,
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

system and The Postofioo department
would also be making good returns on
the trafic. The general results would
be, not merely to quicken the service
and lessen its obstacles. but TO in
crease the volume Of trade between
the town and the farm II is most
encouraging, therefore, that the presi-
dent included in his message to con
gress a recommendation for the ex-
perimentsl institution Of the parcels
post. The plan Of giving it a trial in
rural service first doubtless is a good
one. but there can be no question Of
its success, which means that in
short time it will be extended.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

A comparison Of the operating results OF
1908 with those OF 1893 shows truly won
derful increase IN the efficiency of opera
ton. The average revenue for carrying a
ton of freight during that period fell from
SllA to SLOTS; and yet, the amount OF
money paid to the capitalist as interest
and dividends increased from 1913 cents to
4s3 cents per ton of freight carried; and
the amount paid TO the wage Garner in
creased from 623 cents to 67.9 cents per
ton. Nor can this gain be attributed to
the growth of passenger business since
the passenger business tends to Grow more
slowly than the freight, and the margin of
profit in handling IT tends to decrease.
In 1907 the shipper paid the railroads
nearly Sl44OoOOOO less than he would have
done had the freight rates OF 1893 still pre-,
vailed, and even in 1908 nearly SS6OO,0O
less The railroads seem TO have largely
anticipated Mr.. Brandeis.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
MANY ECONOMIES POSSIBLE.
Railroads Lay Too Much stress on
Rnte Increases.


Rnte increases.
New York Financial World.
Il has seemed to. the Financial World for
some little time that the railroad man
ayers and presidents have been going about
with faces so long as to lack in some es-
sentiaIs the qualities of genuineness. These
gloomy countenances have been conspicu-
Gus at all the rate hearings. We have
contended that the railroads were, in all
fairness, entitled to increases in many
rates which have been maintained at one
level established years ago. when the cost
of living was not as great as now, and
the high price era had not come upon the
transportation corporations. The fair
minded public has also not been hostile
as evidenced by the testimony of many
large shippers But right here we part
company with the railway presidents, who
have been saying, with altogether too
much freedom, that our prosperity will be
seriously menaced If the Interstate Com
merce commission does not grant their de-
mands
In our opinion, no such outcome would
be likely, for the very good reason that
the railroads have the remedy in their
own hands for the bad balance sheets
which have been presented in the last few
months. In fact, one road, the Burlington,
has applied 1t already. This remedy con-
sists in going over the many departments
OF the road and looping off here and there
unnecessary outlays. For october the Bur
lngton succeeded in making a saving Of
s., 900, 600, and other roads may do the same
in proportion to their size and efficiency
Of management If they make a genuine
effort It certainly ought to have become
known 10 the heads Of our great transpor-
tation systems tina their gloomy, not to
say calamitous, outgivings will II con-
tinued, cause a great deal of unsettlemont
and uneasiness, because the public will in
the end accept their statements at their face
value and curtail their investments. The
railroad men have overdrawn the picture,
and they should know that they are play
ing with fire In doing SO.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
Truthful Labels on Fabrics.

THIIhueIpHid FttCOTu,
Representative Murdoch of Kansas has
introduced a bill providing that all fab
RIGS, especially manufactures of clothing,
shall be marked with their proper de-
scriptlon. In view of the enormous adult
terations Of wooden stuffs with cotton and
shoddy to the detriment of Ohio sheep
growers, General Grosvenor made a like
proposition to congress some years ago
and accompanied II with an elaborate
speech, but It created little interest on
the part OF the adherents Of protection,
who regarded It In fact as an insidious
attack upon the manufacturing interests,
There Is no good reason, however, why
authorizations OF wooden clothing should
not be treated by the laws in the same
way as authorizations OF food and drink
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
TALK NOT OF AGE.

Alfred Austin in the Independent
Talk not of age the waning years
Leave one more wise as they depart
And with them mingie smiles and tears
If one but young remains at heart,
The seasons come, the seasons go,
But with revolving days return,
TIL winters evanesCent snow
Melts In the laughing, leapinE burn.
And when the cuckoo calls again
The sap Of April floods ones veins;
And as ne flies from glen 20 glen.
Rejoicing ia springs sunlit rains,
feel as young as even he,
Seeking him near, afar, above,
Echoing his name in playful glee
OF faithless undOmesuc love.
Nor when deep summer silence rests
On MINDLESS thicket, sheltered lawn,
From thoughtful hearts and plOus breasts
Is natures sympathy withdrawn,
The faithful cushat, family heard,
Repeats the simple note Of home.
Teaching the lesson, wisest bird,
How blest are those not prone to roam.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

The city council is said to be dis
turbed over the apportionment Of
funds to the various municipal depart
ments for the coming year. The usual
rule is for the council to give these de-
partments just what is absolutely
needed to run them and keep the re-
mainder within reach for future con
tingencies, and the rule will probably
continue to be observed.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

Baltimore American.
A British agricultural expert says that
the blame for. the cost Of high living Is
to be placed upon the American farmer.
The unfortunate farmer is the scapegoat
for about everything except earthquakes
and the British peers veto power. The
high cost Of living has only got around
to him in its natural turn.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
An Important RuIIRE.
Boston Herald.

The more the supreme courts ruling 10
the Hein9e case Is studied the more i'm
portant IT seems as a dictum % the highest
authority. II establishes the constitu-
tlonaHty OF the 1907 law which allows the
government the right Of appeal IN ad-
verse decisions on preliminary pleas in
criminal cases.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
RAILROAD OPERATING EFFICIENCY
Comparison for Period OF Years shows
Good Results.

wall street Journal
Mr.. Brandeis' offer to show the railroads
where they can save q million dollars
day by more scientific management should
draw attention to the fact that they are
already saving much more than million
dollars a day by the great Improvements
I'm methods Of operating and management
which they have made during the last If
teen years. This may be clearly shown h,
glance at the changes in gross receipts
per ton Of freight carried and at the pro-
portions Of these gross receipts which Il
would require to pay the capitalist his in
terest and dividends, and to pay the la
borer his wages.
We give below the gross receipts per ton
OF freight carried, and also total interest
and dividend payments and total wages
per ton of freight carried:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

Next 10 the POSTMASTER of that New
York democratic banquet sat the Hon
cradle Richard Croker. and next to
him sat the Honorable Charles F..
Murphy, Guess the Old Guard of de-
mocTaey is not all routed.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17
The Greatest Ever.
Chicago Inter-Ocean.

The United States of America is the
largest republic that the world has ever
seen. Never before has popular self
government been even attempted on such
a scale. And the fact that TO the poor
and oppressed of all nations America is
still the promised land is conclusive proof
that in the judgment Of mankind no ex-
pertinent in human liberty has ever been
so successful.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

Our Nebraska senators will not have
any difculty in finding an honest,
capable and deserving republican to
take $1,000 job If they will draw the
line ON crooks and swindlers.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

While Uncle Sam through his Post
office department is going after swim
dlers who use the mails 10 defraud. II
would hardly look well for him
through the Treasury department to
invest a notorious .swindler with the
honor and emoluments Of the second
most lucrative federal job in Nebraska
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17


Postmaster General Hitoheock's abandon
ment Of the mere issue OF fraud orders
against fraudulent users Of the malls. easily
overcome by changing names, and his re-
sort to Imprisonment, points to him as an
ideal attorney general. Perhaps his plan
might get at the trusts that get around
the law by mere changing Of names and
methods.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

Sioux City Tribune.

Anybody who is undertaking to write an
obituary for T. r. should take note Of the
fact that he is preparing for another
tour on which he will &C
oept some Of the 5000 invitations to address
the people upon the affairs Of the day.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

That stranger in Chicago who was
robbed three times within an hour
after his arrival should consider him
self extremely fortunate to have es-
capped with his life.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-17

It was so thoughtful OF Mr., Carnegie
not to spend time counting his money
before he started on the long task of
giving It away.