.-
VOLUME
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, JUNE 6, 1912
NUMBER 12
PARTISAN PROGRESS
' Mr. Clark Terkins, erstwhile secretary of the railway commis
sion by reason of having rendered valiant party service as secretary
of the republican, state central committee, and now editor of the
Aurora Republican, claims to be a "progressive." . "While not
combatting his claims to being a "progressive" we are prepared
to insist that his "progressive" tendencies do not incline him be
any the less unfair as a partisan.
Under the caption of "Morehead's Reactionary Record" the
Aurora Republican gives utterance to a number of statements that
are wholly without foundation, utterly destitute of truth, and not
warranted in the editorial columns of even the most violently
partisan newspaper much less a newspaper whose editor claims
to represent progressive thought.
"Mr. Morehead," says the Aurora Republican, "belongs to
that faction of the democratic party which represents the corpora
tions and does whatever the corporations want."
From the ex parte decision of the biased Aurora Republican
we appeal to Morehead's lifetime record as a citizen beloved of his
neighbors and trusted by those who know him best, and always
known to be enlisted upon the side of the people. We'll take the
decision of the people of Richardson county, where Morehead has
lived for more than a quarter of a century regardless of their party
affiliations before we will the decision of the Aurora Republican.
t "He proved this," continues the Aurora Republican, "when
he lined up with those senators who did everything in their power
to defeat the initiative and referendum."
Morehead did not attempt to defeat the initiative and referen
dum. He was pledged to support that measure. He did not agree
with all the provisions of the bill drawn by the direct legislation
legue but neither did the editor of Will Maupin's Weekly, and
this editor was fighting for the initiative and referendum when the
- editor of the Aurora Republican was being pinned up instead of
buttoned up. Morehead voted for the measure as it now appears on
the statute books.
"Morehead was picked as the candidate of the brewers and
other liquor interests," continues the Aurora Republican.
But the Republican has even less warrant for that statement
than for its untrue statement that Morehead is a corporation tool.
There are those who dtnounce as "tools of the liquor interests" all
men who worship not at the shrine of prohibition or become frenzied
in support of every fanatical proposition to "destroy King Alcohol."
'Morehead is no man's man, as his neighbors of a quarter of a cen
tury have testified time and again. This newspaper happens to
know, personally, of two brewers who were violently opposed to
Morehead's nomination, and it has never heard it charged that any
brewers were active in his support. t
"No man," continues the Aurora Republican, "ever served in
the legislature whose record was more the record of a corporation
agent than Morehead.
No partisan newspaper recorded in Nebraska newspaperdom
ever made a statement more false, nor one that is so easily refuted
by the records themselevs. For thirty years the legislature of
Nebraska was republican session after session. And for thirty years
a riot of graft, corruption and corporation dictation prevailed.
When honest Nebraskans revolted and turned the republican party
out, those' in revolt found that men like John Morehead had
always been fighting these evils, and Morehead was not compelled
to change either principle or party affiliation in order to be in accord
with the men who had revolted against corporation dictation and
control. That is history vs. the partisan misrepresentations of the
Aurora Republican.
"Lee Ilerdman was Morehead's intimate advisor and campaign
manager in the late democratic contest," declares the Aurora
Republican.,
"The short and ugly word" is best applied. to that statement
Morehead managed his own campaign, made it openly and above
board, made no promises or pledges, an frankly stated his position
on all questions of public interest.
"In his letter to Morehead," continues the Aurora Republican,
"Metcalfe suggested that a fight be made for certain well defined
reforms. Morehead could not answer tiiis letter until he had held
a consultation with Lee Herdman and (other corporation advisors.
Then he answered it with a lot of glittering generalities."
Morehead's answer is a-matter of record, and this newspaper
is quite willing to put that answer alongside the Republican's silly
charge of "glittering generalities" and let unprejudiced citizens
decide for themselves. The charge that Morehead couldn't answer
until he had advised with "Herdman and other corporation advis
ors" is easily disproved by testimony that would be accepted in any
court in the land. The Aurora Republican seems to think highly of
Mr. Metcalfe and well it may, for he is one of the , best citizens
Nebraska has or ever has had. We gather from its eulogies of Mr.
Metcalfe that it regrets its inability to support him for governor,
and we have no hesitancy in advancing the opinion that the Aurora
Republican will be a long time waiting before it can support a
republican gubernatorial candidate who is Metcalfe 's equal in many
respects. And if the Republican is so positive that Mr. Metcalfe is
square and honest and a genuine reformer, what will it say in
reply to this newspaper's assertion that Metcalfe saw Morehead's
letter before it was made public, and gave to it his hearty approval?
"From his record," says the Aurora Republican, "we have
reason to believe that when it comes to stockyards legislation he
will take Frank Ransom's advice; when it comes to insurance legis
lation he will take the advice of J. H. Harley of Lincoln and other
insurance lobbyists who are fighting all insurance reform, f
Well, from theevidences presented by the Aurora Republican
of the unfair and bitterly partisan frame of mind of its edito, we
are prepared to believe that if the republican national convention
declares that the moon is made of green cheese, the Aurora Republi
can will be found denouncing astronomers as being either fools,
dupes, or tools of the yellow cheese trust.
Now a few words in closing, and relative to the Aurora Re
publican's charge that Morehead is a brewery agent and a tool of
the liquor interests; that he is the "brewery candidate." Will
Maupin's Weekly was the first Nebraska newspaper to mention
John H. Morehead for the governorship, and it advocated his nom
ination. The man who charges this newspaper or its editor with
being either in sympathy with or supporters of the "liquor inter
ests," simply lies or speaks ignorantly. The man who edits this
newspaper has been a newspaper man for thirty years, and has
edited newspapers in a half-dozen Nebraska cities, and in a couple
of Missouri cities. Every newspaper he has controlled and edited has
persistently and consistently opposed the license system. He has
suffered in friendships and in pocket - because of it. He wouldn't
support a "tool of the liquor interests" for any office, but he has
yet to be convinced that men who do not agree with him on this
liquor question are all "tools of the liquor interests." He leaves
that to men who find it easier and more convenient to let others
do their thinking for them. And he looks further than a party
label before he supports any man for any office. Mr. Perkins, editor
of the Aurora Republican, won something of a reputation for being
a leader in the revolt against corporation rule in the republican
party. That revolt occurred in 1907-8. The editor of Will Maupin's
Weekly beat the editor of the Aurora Republican to that revolt by
something like fourteen years.
We frankly admit that Will Maupin's Weekly is not up to
specification this week. Its editor is a member of the Nebraska
Press Association, and the week the association meets is his annual
outing. Then he foregathers with friends, eats to his fill, shakes
hands until his arm aches, talks "shop" and seldom goes to bed
until it is all over. And while the convention is in progress he
doesn't care a rap if his paper never gets out. This week is the
week ,and the paper shows it. Next week we are going to resume
the old ways, and for twelve months straight we are going to whoop
it up for Nebraska. "
f
Nebraska and
Her Resources
He History and
Possibilties
Chalk Talk Lecture
BY
Will M. Maupio
A lecture that will inspire love
of the state. Peculiarly adapted
for school and college meetings.
Should be delivered under the
auspices of commercial clubs every
where in the state. Full of facts
and figures about Nebraska, pre
sented in an interesting and novel
way. For terms and dates address
Will M. Maupin, Room 436
, Bankers Life Building
Lincoln, Nebraska
MEN AND MATTE RS
In his address to the graduating class of the University of Om
aha Governor Aldrich permitted himself to cast some reflections
upon the University of Nebraska something a man less given to ,
hasty words would have avoided, even though he may think as the
governor thinks. It certainly was bad politics for the governor to
sneeringly refer to the University of Nebraska as a place where they
"give degrees for taking a course in spring poetry or agriculture."
And it was certainly untrue in the sense that the governor expressed
himself. Will Maupin's Weekly is mighty glad that the Univer
sity of Nebraska is not teaching "religious principles.", Already
we have too many mothers and fathers seeking to shift their re
sponsibilities to the shoulders, of instructors in our public schools
and our colleges and universities ; too many fathers and mothers
who delude themselves into the belief that they have performed
their duty when they send their children to Sunday school one hour
a week. The University of Nebraska has no business talking
"religion." Its mission is to fit young men and women, for the
battle of life, and when it teaches them this , and teaches them to
play the game squarely and honestly, it has done its duty. What
thiscountry needs is less of religious discussion and morality dope
in public, and more of it in the homes. , ,
If Rev. Kid Wedge of Genoa fails to go on down the line and
whip the stuffing out of a lot of muttonheaded business men, well :
lose faith in him. A year or so ago Rev. Mr. Wedge was assaulted
by some roughs, put up to the job by a few "business men' who
had resented some of the minister's sermons. Having been a pro
fessional pugilist in his earlier days the reverend gentleman whipped
his assailants. Then he ferreted out the men who had employed
them, and proceeded to distribute a few more black eyes. He then
resigned his pastorate and went elsewhere, leaving his wife at home.
Misfortune followed and Mrs. Wedge, had to sacrifice her household.,
goods. Rev. Mr. Wedge returned to be at home when a little
stranger was ushered in, and despite his pleading to delay he was
arrested almost before the little stranger could . be welcomed, and -thrown
into jail at Fullerton. he arrest was made late Saturday
night soas to make the1 giving of a bond difficult if not impossible.
But friends rallied and got him out. Then Rev. Mr. Wedge hunted
up the attorney, who seems to have lent himself to the minister's
enemies, and when the minister was through with his argument the
attorney was on his way to the hospital. We doff our hat to. Rev.
"Kid" Wedge. We hope he goes on down the . line and whips to
a frazzle every sneaking son-of-a-gun who is trying to hound him
out of the country.
Every lover of clean politics and every defender of' popular
government is praying that Lorimer -he unseated. Every senator
who condones the methods that resulted in Lorimer 's election by
voting to retain him in the senate should be spotted and retired from
public life at the earliest opportunity. The unseating of Lorimer
will be final notice to the corrupt political bosses that their reign is
over forever and a day.
Elsewhere in this issue appears a letter frdm Hon. I. D. Evans
of Kenesaw. Mr. Evans writes with his usual frankness and clear
ness, but we are compelled to hold over until next week a few
comments of our own upon the matters mentioned by Mr. Evans.
But we seize this occasion to deny, most emphatically, Mr. Evan's
assertion that Will Maupin's Weekly .looks upon the direct primary
as an " abomination. ' ' We have never denounced the principle.
On the contrary we have always favored it. But we have said, and
we repeat, that the direct primary law of Nebraska, as now framed,
is not correct in application 'and provocative of irregularities that
are, as bad as those of the old-fashioned convention.
Col. Lafe Young of Des Moines admits that "standpatism" is as
dead as Julius Caesar. Misled by Taft's victory in Iowa, Young
thought he could win a senatorial nomination as a standpatter. He
didn't come within gunshot of it. Now he admits that progressive
principles are all right. The Des Moines Capital as a progressive
newspaper will look strange, but it will be welcome, just the same. :
We regret more than we can express the indignity heaped upon
the Nebraska newspaper men who had been invited to make ad
dresse at the Commercial" Club banquet last Wednesday evening.
That these guests of Lincoln's great commercial organization should
have been ignored by a lot of self-seeking politicians anxious to get
into the limelight is to be regretted. We want our visiting editorial
brethren to know that a majority of Lincoln people deprecate this
rudeness. ' Jnst as soon as possible to arrange for it a meeting will
be called of representative Lincoln people and the speakers so rudely
ignored will be given an opportunity to get those thrilling addresses
out of-their systems.
The "safe and sane" Fourth idea is all right. We ought to
get away from, the barbaric cannon cracker and the deadly toy
pistol. ' But we still insist upon the bonfire, the anvil, the skyrocket.
We want the old-time float representing the sisterhood of states, with
Columbia perched on top.' We want the. Declaration of Independ
ence read, and we want a good speaker. We who live in the cities
do not have the opportunities of our "country friends" to spend
the Fourth of July as it should be spent. "
