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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1909)
UbWlftU BOtlW L tut * COSTER COUNTY REPUBLICAN. XXVIII BROKEN BOW , CUSTER COUNTY NEBRASKA , THURSDAY , AUGUST 12 , 1909 NO , 10 JUDGE A. R. HUMPHREY ADMITS CHARGES MADE AGAINST HIM. Declares That He is Willing To Stand on His Record. Says Railroads Were Satisfied with All His Decisions In Railway Cases. Judge Humphrey and his Re publican n o n-par tisau-Populist- non-partisati cry-near-Republi- can anything to-get-the-legals organ , on the suailiwest corner of the square , have up to this week failed to come out with any definite statements and have been beating about the bush throwing mud all of the time , so that I am glad to give space to the communication below from Judge Humphrey. August 9 , 1909. To the Readers of the REPUBLI CAN : It may be that I am emulat ing the example of Balaam , as the famous story is recorded in the Bible , in talking back , but some statements recently made iu the REPUBUCAN seem to need a reply. The REPUBLICAN sajs it has made certain charges against me and that "my friends admit them. " I want it understood that I do my own admitting and denjing. It is quite possible that C. W. Beal , of the Beacon , /'i'jd . R. G. Moore , chairman of he Democratic county commit tee , will admit anything the RE PUBLICAN may say to help along a Republican row , but I do not wish to be bound by their aduiis. sious. The same charges made against me now by the REPUB LICAN were worn thread-bare 15 years ago by the Beacon. A Republican convention was never held in the county but that the Beacon said it was dominated and run by the railroads ; and every fighting Republican in the county was branded as a rail road helper of some kind. No one thought it worth while to deny or answer such stuff coin ing from the source it did , and many will think this reply is useless. I am about of that opinion myself. The REPUBLICAN says that I have been a railroad attorney. I have. When I was I carried transportation. But since I have been county judge I have had no connection with the rail roads in any way. It also says that I assist now in the selection of juries in railroad cases. This is not true. C. L. Gutterson is * - attorney for the railroad now and he needs no assistance. Lawyers here , and from all over the state , when here , trying cases to juries frequently ask me and others concerning men who are drawn upon the regular panel. I answer them. So does every other lawyer and person of whom they make inquiry. It isn't confined to the members of the bar by any means. While I have been county e judge I have tried nine railroad cases. In each case I have en tered judgment against the com pany. All appeals taken from suqh judgments have been by the railroads. Aud in no case that I have tried has the rail roads tried their case in the dis trict court. The company has paid the judgment and costs without trial in the district court. The case of C. T Orr vs the B. & M. is a case in point. * Mr. Orr sued the company for 8365.00. After a hard trial I en tered judgment in his favor aud against the company for $332.00. The company appealed and then paid the costs and satisfied the judgment without further trial. The REPUBLICAN talks of rail roads in politics. Long before the present management of the REPUBLICAN began the railroads ceased to be a factor in politics iu this county. Ask D. M. Ams- berry , for twenty years editor of the REPUBLICAN. He knows. And I am willing to be bound by what he says. Wheu the Myers boys were attending the Univer sity and coming home to vote on free transportation the railroads might have had something to say in politics. But the rail roads graduated from politics in this county about the time the boys did from the University. Since that time the Republicans of Custer county have run their own politics. Aud they are not looking for a boss now. The REPUBLICAN insinuates that I opposed county option in th'e county convention. I did not. I wrote the resolutions of fered by the committee on reso lutions and at the request of | the reporter furnished him a copy for the state papers. I had no copy of the resolution offered by Mr. Gadd for county option and made no attempt to get one. I am not in the news-gathering business. If the editor of the REPUBLICAN thought it was of such importance why didn't he attend to it That's his business. It is true I attended the Old Settler's picnic at Merna. I caused no inconvenience by so doing. I hbmesteaded 22 years ago west of Merna and I wanted to see the old timers there. Tliat's why I went to Merna. The cause of the REPUBLICAN'S noise arises over the legal noti ces that are published from this office in estate matters. Last fall the editor , Mr. Herbert Myers , came to the office and de manded that I publish all the notices from this locality in his paper. I turned dowu his de mand. If I had published these notices exclusivel } ' in his paper I would be a "good lellow" in the eyes of Herbert today. But I did not and I will not. County option and railroads do not in fluence him. It takes legal no tices to make him happy. He has been in town six months and he has stood for legal notices ever since he landed here. lie is grouchy because he says I do not treat him fair in the matter of legal notices. Since last Sep tember I have published 29 no tices in the REPUBLICAN ; 19 in the Chief and 1 in the Beacon. Isn't this fair treatment ? I rec ognize the papers of the town and county as factors in the de velopment of our business , com mercial and social interests and have tried to aid each communi ty by sending to it such legal notices as belonged to it. It is noticeable that no other paper in the county has taken up the fight for "reform" that the REPUBLICAN has started. It may be that the other editors of the county , having spent years at the case , have not yet learned how to run a paper and "pro- gressiveness" smothers them and they do not know it. But "a man from college" can jump into the editorial chair and have things "reformed" in six months. The principal thing to find out is that book-learning don't make sense. It's a good fertil izer , but it must have a base to commence on. But what the reader of this paper is interested in is whether or not the county judge has at tended to the business of his office and brought to its duties a sufficient amount of intelligence to do the work. On that ques tion ask any one who knows aud be guided by what you can learn and cast an intelligent ballot aud tbo present incumbent will be satisfied. Respectfully. A. R. HUMPHREY. Judge Humphrey opens his statement by saying that he doesn't think there is any use in replying. No , there isn't Gus , unless you can deny the charges made against you and your state ment shows that you are unable to do that. I am glad to have you admit that you have been a railroad at torney and that you have carried free passes. You deny that you have as sisted the Burlington railroad at torneys in the trial of their cases in the district court and then in the next sentence you admit that you have. You say that attorneys ask you questions concerning the jurors and that you answer them. The result of the trial of a railroad case de- pcnda in a large measure upon the jury. Doesn't advice as to what men will make the best jurors for the railroad constitute assistance in the selection of the jury. Your statement is a frank admission of the charge that you do assist in the selection of the jurors. There is another t'hiiig , too , Gus that always puzzles me a little. When you go into the district court room and get your heaft up ne'xt to that of Attorney Bishop and whisper in his ear and he whispers in your ear , what are you doing ? Are you there using your influence with Attorney Bishop for the railroad company to try and see that he doesn't take any advantage of your constituent whose interest is at stake , or are you just an swering his questions as to what is the best course to pursue in the trial in order to defeat a res ident of this county ? You say , Gus , that you have tried nine railroad cases and that none of them have been appealed and tried in the district court. They could not be appealed and tried in any other court so the railroads must have been very well satisfied with your decisions It is a well known fact that a railroad company with all its financial backing and its corps of corporation attorneys never fails to appeal a case to a higher court if there is any chance of getting better results. The trial of nine railroad cases with the decision of all of which the rail roads were satisfied would make a real good record for a railroad judge. Don't you think so your self , Gus ? When you talk about the Myers boys cuuiing home to vote on free transportation you are talking about something that you do not know anything about. The Myers boys never came home to vote while they were in the university and con sequently they couldn't possibly have used free transportation. Whenever you make any charges Gus , you better stick to the facts. You seem to know that free passes were being used to bring in voters at that time. I am told that you handed out a few to your friends , too , about that time. When you were handing out those passes , Gus , did you feel that the railroad company was furnishing them purely and simply to accommo date you and your friends or did [ Continued oe l st page ] NOTHING AGAINST OLD RESIDENTS. This Paper Opposes Judge Humphrey Simply on His Record. A. R. Humphrey has , iu the campaign for the nomination for county judge , appealed to the older Republicans of the county to get their vote on the state ment that this panel's opposition to him is aimed at all of the older Republicans and that they must stand together for him because the attack on him is aimed , at them all. He is thus misrepresenting the facts because it is to his own advantage. The editor desires to make his position in this matter clear and he is willing to stand or fall on the facts. This paper is not opposing Mr. Humphrey because of his age , his twenty yjears residence in Custer county , or his twenty years in Custer county politics. Judge Humphrey says that he is willing to stand on his record and this paper is willing that he should. This paper is opposing him purely and simply on his record as a politician and as an office holder in this county. If , when they know the facts , the Republicans want him to be their nominee then he should be nominated. If they believe that bis record shows that he is not deserving of further recognition then he should be defeated. This paper takes it as its right and duty to state the facts and and on the facts rests its case. 'This paper has said that he is the OM TVPK of politician. By this was meant not old in years jut old in style , i. e. , a man who has used and still uses the old methods in politics , the man who has catered to the interests and does so today. The people of today aredemanding that their representatives be free to serve : hem honestly and conscientously. This is the NEW TYPE or style politician and the style to which Humphrey does not belong. This paper has nothing what ever to say against the older Republicans who have a clean record. We have some of them in office now and they deserved the recognition they received. John Cavenee has made a good treasurer , George Mair has been an excellent clerk of the district court and Jos. Pigman has made an obliging and efficient county clerk. Their age makes no difference so long as they are deserving men and have com mendable records. JUDGE HUMPHREY ALWAYS WEAK MAN Has Never Polled Full Vote of His Party. The REPUBLICAN has taken the position from the beginning of the primary campaign that it is not advisable to nominate A. R. Humphrey as the republican candidate for county judge be- cauee his record makes him- weak man on the ticket. The campaign this fall promises to be a warm one and the Republicans must put their strongest men up or loose the election. That the REPUBLICAN is right in this is shown by the figures printet below. It must be concedet that Custer county has been in the Republican column since the election of 1902 and the vote shows that Humphrey has never cast the full vote of his party and has , as a usual thing , come out considerably behind the other candidates. In the 1902 election Humphrey was a candidate for county at torney against C. II. Holcomb and won out by 1U8 votes when Prout , the Republican candidate for attorney general of the state , carried the county by 253 votes aud the other candidates won by an average majority of about 300. 300.In In 1904 the county camlidafct > carried the county by majt j ft i.u [ that averaged about 500 11 kilt the highest Roosevelt elector defeated the strongest Parkc elector by 1600 and Humphrey came out 15 votes behind A. P. Johnson as a candidate for county attorney. How is that for strength -lost the election wheu the county went Republican by 1600 and his fellow candidates won out by 500. In 19Q5 Humphrey appeared again as a candidate , this time asking that the people make him county judge. He was elected by a bare majority of * 94 votes when Letton , the republican candidate for supreme jirtfpe carried the county by 448 \ .f1 . In 1907 he was again a Cfer.,4" ! date for county judge and wus next to the lowest man on the ticket at the general election. H. M. Piuckucy came out with the smallest majority which was 325. Humphrey came next with 491 and VanAntwerp headed the list with a majority of 1403. It It is ordinarily supposed that a candidate for supreme judge will poll about the party voto. M. B. Reese carried the county by 935 votes. According to this Humphrey fell about 450 votes behind his party vote the last time he was a candidate. When you go to the primaries next Tuesday vote for a man with a clean record and one whom the party can elect after he is nominated. KI.BOTInN OF 1005 , A. 11. Humphrey , county Judge 1806 II. J. Stilnii , county Judgu 1712 Humphrey's majority 04 C II Letton , Bupremc Judge 1077 W U Hastings , supreme Judge 1520 Letton'u majority 4)8 ) ui.tccrnoN oi' 1907. H M Hlnckury 2704 1C i : Itlchards > yn I'lnckneys majority 325 A It Humphrey 2775 I. J Shlnn 2284 Humphrey's majority 401 1 V Kennedy ZB03 C U lUchardson a326 Kennedy's majority 537 4 K Cole 2f fl J II Morrow IBUJ Cole's majority 731 Gee n Malr , 2S72 CTOrr ami Malr's majority HH : H lleesu , supreme Judge 2t87 ! Q L I.oomls , biiprume judge 1752 Keese's majority 035 -1 K VanAntwerp 21U3 M \t iamb ism Van Antwerp's majority 141H KI.KOTION OK 10il2. Frank U. I'rout. Ally , den 1827 Jefferhon 11. Uroady , Ally. ( Jen I57 1'rout's majority 2511 A. It. Humphrey Co , Ally 17W1 C H HuHuiiili , Co. Ally i Has Humphrey's majority los KI.Kt.liON OK I&OI. Itonsevelt Klerlor , ( lilgUt-st ) 2 < I58 Parker Kleetor , ( higlifii ) JOSH Majority icm ) A It Uumptey Co. Atty 2101 A I * Johnson co. Atty 2I7D Johnson's majority 15 To the Republican \roters : When you go to the polls for tbo primary next Tin a Jay remember aie as a candidate for coroner Heinember , also , that a live nun does nol need an undertaker and a dead man dooa not need u doctor. Remember , too , that wheu an in quest is Loiuf/ held over a deac body and the coroner and jury deem an autopsy necessary the law say that two competent doctors bball be called in and that the coroner can not ba one of them BO that if the coroner ! H u doctor it will not BHVO the county any money. money.L. L. E. C'OI.E. Thursday evening witnessed a moat gorgeous sunset. The heav ens were brilliantly lighted , as if l > a great and awe inspiring cocflagra tion , Crowds of people witnessed the grand spectacle aud no on viewed it unmoved. PURCELL MAKES FREQUENT CHANGES. Changes Politics Oficn linotiffh to k'ccp in Line for Legal Notices. Brother Bcal took occasion in ast week's Beacon to ask Brother Purcell of the Chief some ques- s concerning his attitude in primary campaign. Brother ccll politely side-stepped , re fused to answer them , and sug gested some questions that should be answered by the editor of the REPUBLICAN. The sub stance of these questions is taken up in Judge Humphrey's com- nuuication printed in this issue of the REPUBLICAN and are answered in the REPUBLICAN'S reply to Mr. Humphrey. In this connection it may be ntercsting to refer to a few > ages of Brother Purcell's politi cal histojry. Brother Purcell atarted his first Custer county * t ? vspaper in Merna. This was .t led the Merna record. It was established in the latter part of he ' 80's , when the county was Republican and some of the old settlers who are in a position to enow say that the Merna Record was considered to be a Republi can paper. Old settlers will remember that he Populist party began the lat er part of the ' 80's and the early 90's to gain strength and proui- scd to gain control of the county. Brother Purcell estab- ished the Chief in 189L during this period of .change and he seemed to be a little uncertain ust what the political couiplex- on of the county was going to be so he started the paper as a non-partisan paper. The Populists continued to gain strength and Bro. Purcell saw that it would be advisable inancially to announce the Chief as a Populist paper and in 1893 , after a conference in the Kealty Block in which II. II. Hyatt and Jim Halland played a prominent > art , Bro. Purcell catne out as a opulist paper and began pub- ishing legals issued by the offi cials in the county that were con- rolled by the populists. Emerson then became one of he leading factors iu the Popu- ist councils along with the 'Big Four" in the Populist party and was made chairman of the 'op central committee. The Republicans , however , be gan to show signs of getting back into the hainess from 1896 to 1898 and Bro. Purcell seeing .hat he was in danger of losing .he county legals began to show indifference to the Populist in terests. When the Hepublicans began to get control of some ; of ; he county offices that hand out legals Bro. Purcell changed poli tics again and again announced his 1891 non-partisan doctrine so that whether a Republican , a Pop , or a Democrat was elected * he could go up to the court house and hold out an anxious hand asking for legal notices. If the county board is Republican Emerson wants the legate , if it is Democratic he wants the legals. It has been legals with Emerson ever since he started his Merna Record about twenty years ago and he has made a v cry good record as a legal get ter. When the county is Repub lican he wants to be a Republi can , when its Pop he wants to be a Pop and when it is uncer tain which party controls the legals he likes the word "non- partisan" to appear at the top of his paper. Mrj. Patrick Sexton , of Eddy- rille , WAS taken bo tore the insanity board Wednesday and found to bo insane.