Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-24
SOIL BROKEN FOR MONUMENT
Short Speeches in Starting FOunda-
tion for Lincoln Monument.
POLITICAL TALK INCREASING
shalIenberRer AeitRtes Gossips by
Securing Filing DIHnks-RepOrt
Made that GIandcrs Is Being
Stamped out.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

zoo frosty TO be conducive TO long
speeches or elaborate ceremonies. even
81 such has been planned. which was not
tho case. Secretary OF state Wait gave
tho small crowd which had braved the
Iigors OF the weather a brief history OF
the movement which eliminated in the
event Of the day.
The idea had it's first real impetus in
a meeting of the Young Mems Republi-
can club held February 12, 1908, and was
designed to be a popular movement TO
erect q suitable monument to the liber-
ator OF the slave, the savior Of the
union and the man for whom the capt.
tai city Of the state was named.
The first subscription to the fund came
from the Union Veterans Republican
club and consisted of So The next was
Of the same amount and was from the
Ladies of the Grand Army Of the Re
public. In 1909 the legislature appropriated
$4,000 toward the project. In ali there
have been about 1000 individual con
tributors to the fund. the largest sub
sorption being $3.50. There have been is
sued 1850 membership certificates in the
monument association. The fund now
lacks about 5000 Of being enough to COM
plete the project. The foundation which
was started today Is for the pedestal of
the monument itself and the big granite
block which is to stand back of it, The
total cost win be approximately S9S.O00
Governor Aldrlch in his brief address
spoke OF the fttingness OF both the pro-
Ject and Of its erection in The city
which bore his name and in a state which
had always stood for what Lincoln repre-
sented He said he hoped to see the day
when there would be Lincoln monument
in every state capital in the union.
Association GratIfied.
II. NJ Hall, chairman of the monument
commission, was called on. He said that
the actual start on the erection OF the
monument was a qualification to those
who had labored To bring it about. He
said that the model of the monument
designed by David Chester French, the
great sculptor impressed him as being
the greatest portrayal Of the great char
scter yet moulded and that It would
stand as the masterpiece and trimupn
of the life work of its maker. Both in
pose. feature and stamp OF character. II
portrayed the best and noblest of the
great president
State Auditor Barton and Treasurer
George spoke a few fitting words and
the speaking ceremony was concluded
governors office in behalf of the Grand
Army of the Republic. MIR. Presson spoke
of the reverent regard of the soldiers for
Lincoln and that the monument would
be appreciated by them as by no other
class
Secretary of State Walt then threw the
first shovel of dirt for the foundation
excavation and despite urgings to con-
tinue with the good work left several more
shovels OF dirt to be removed before the
concrete men can take up their task
GIanders Being Eradlcated.
The state veterinarians office reports
substantial progress in stamping out
glanders in the state. The disease is prin-
clpally confined TO the north and north
east portions OF the state and the depart
nent hopes to have it entirely eradicated
in the near future.
ShaIIenbcrger Secures Blanks
Political gossips at the state house were
set to cogitating today by an inquiry
from Former Governor Shallenberger, who
asked for blanks on which to file as a
democratic candidate for the United
States senate. 1t had been generally
known for some time that he intended to
take such a step but certainty always
ADDS sest to a political situation. Among
republicans it Is taken TO indicate that
the democracy will have some political
sore spots OF their own to nurse which
will occupy a large part of the attention
which they have been devoting to the al
legged differences among the republicans
That Shallenberger is not 10 have the
field all TO himself was indicated by the
receipt today of a petition forwarded by
George Leidigh, formerly warden of the
state penitentiary, asking that the name
of Chris Gruenther of Platte county be
placed on the senatorial primary ballot
The petition was returned by the secre-
tary OF state because It was not accom-
panied by the receipt Of the Cass county
treasurer showing that the necessary $50
fee had been deposited to entitle the name
TO appear on the primary ballot.
When asked over the telephone at lis
home in Columbus about the filing Mr.
Gruenther said he would issue a state
ment within few days whether he do
sired TO be governor or United States
senator, or possibly that he did not desire
TO be a candidate for either position.
Further interest was added 10 demo-
cratic politics by the announcement from
York by Tom Smith that under no eondi-
tons would he enter the race for the
democratic nomination for governor. HIS
entry was indicated by former Steward
CARING OF the penitenuery under Smith,
and is taken to mean that the latter
would like to see his former chief in tie
gubernatorial chair as possible means
of landing the wardenship Of the peni-
tentlary for himself
Edward G. Simmons of this city and
formerly OF Central City gave democrats
something more 10 talk about by filing
his petition as democratic candidate for
railway commissioner. simmons was at
one time state engineer having been
elected by the votes OF Shailenberger and
Thompson, Land Commissioners COwles
voting no. Among democrats Il is under
stood that Simmons voted for Roosevelt.
and also voted against DahmGn for gov
ernor, and his candidacy Is not likely to
heal any sores In the democratic flesh
MHndnmus writ Issued.
The supreme court has issued an al
tentative writ OF mandamus returnable
December 26 commanding Judge Raper
OF the district court IN Gage county 10
show cause why he should not vacate an
order requiring that the custody Of EfGe
johnson be given 10 her uncle by 81
hary's seminary, Omaha, on the giving