Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-24
STORIES TOLD IN WASHINGTON.

Washington is said to be the center
Of good stories. Perhaps it is be-
Cause they are told by men of ma
tional impostance and seem to read
ers liz estting them first hand. II
public men were not quite 30 seri-
GUS, thers would be many more sto-
RES floating about the country credit
ed TO thsm. Here is one told by
Charles E. Magoon, who was governor
of Cubs during the last Intervention
by the United States:
Some years ago when was prac-
tising law in Nebraska, in the days
when people were anxious for railroad
extension and other forms of devel-
opment, there came to the state one of
those men that have genius for get
ting their living easily. He was a
sleek, well fed, and we'll dressed, i'm
portant, and full of business. In a
short time he organized railroad
of your small con-
Germs, but one with title that was
high sounding like the Midland q Pa
cific, or something like II.
The Midland u Pacific procured
right Of way free, secured free grants
for terminals and sidings, turnouts and
stations. and also townsites. Legisla-
tive charters were granted and state
bonds voted. More than that, ever.
other form of bond was al4o literally
bestowed. County bonds, city bonds,
village bonds, township bonds, school
district bonds, in fact every kind of
binds that could be issued, were turn
ed over to the Midland & Pacific and
its enterprising promoter.
Then the railroad itself was booded
for the cost Of construction and roll
ing stock. Stocks equal to the amount
Of bonds were issued and sold to any
person who had the money or could
mortgage his property and obtain
money.
Some sort Of road was graded, some
track was laid, enough TO call for the
delivery of the securities and insure
marketing them. Then the whole thing
collapsed. Many suits were instituted,
and the promter was brought into
court as witness.
when did you come OF this state ?"
he was asked.
"Ten years ago." was the reply.
"Why did you come to this state? ?"
was another question.
ITO do the people good" was the
rather unctuous reply. =
well, you certainly have" remark
ed the attorney.
Oscar W. Towner was a boomer in
North Dakota back in the territorial
days, and was extensively engaged in
raising wheat. One spring. he was
returning from Missouri to Dakota
after one of those seasons when crops
had failed and prices had fallen. On
the train was man returning from
Florida who was exuberantly enthu-
siastic over the possibility of fortunes
in Florida orange groves. He cons
pared orange growing with xpeet
raising, and pointed out the profits
that would surely follow Investments
Towner listened with interest and,
looking far away across the melting
snow on the Dakota prairies, said, "A
man ought to have q big wheat farm
in North Dakota where he can spend
his summers, and . big orange grove
in Florida where he can spend his
winters" And after a pause he added,
"And a national bank at st. Louis
so that he could draw both ways"
Every politician feels that he 10
competent to discuss the tariff. Ev-
cry editor can write on the subject.
And yet the most expert tariff makers
will confess that they do not know
all about it. Oscar W. Underwood,
chairman of the ways and means
committee, has. formula.
"The Ariff is not an exact science"
remarked Mr.. Underwood. II have
been devoting much of my congress
sional life to the subject and find that
in writing tariff bill all you can do
is to get all the facts you can, study
them closely as you can, get the best
expert opinions you can, and then
guess as close as you can"
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