Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, October 27, 1910, Image 6

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    SUPPLEMENT TO BROKEN BOW ( Nob. ) REPUBLICAN
AI i\
ALD
ALDRICH AT HOME.
Dnvld City , Neb. , Oct. 1. A canvass
of the people who know C. II. Aid-
( 'rich as follow townsmen and neighbors
during the last twenty yearn hus just
l > een completed for the purpose of
letting the state know something def
inite about the personality and prl-
Tate record of thd republican nominee
lor the governorship. The opinion of
the community will bo given In the
words of reprcsontatlvo people com
prising It. They will show that Mr.
Aldrlch Is a man of substance and fine
reputation , whoso private and public
life can bo Investigated to the bottom
without disclosing a flaw.
A correspondent going from store
to store , and from ofllco to office
around the public oquaro of this thrif
ty and high grade county scat town ,
found the business and professional
men ready to give out their testimony
In such a hearty and positive manner
as to leave no doubt as to their con
fidence In their townsman , that , ho Is
not only able , not only sincere , but
enthusiastic to carry into the execu
tive office at Lincoln the high purpose
expressed In the republican otato pla'
form and In his own public utterances.
What Hlo NelQhboro Say.
Across the street from the Central
National bank is the general merchan
dise store of Mr. George Schweser.
Mr. Schwcser , being himself a suc
cessful business , man , was asked to
nrnko a statement for publication of
hlu Judgment of Mr. Aldrlch from the
business man's point of view.
"I judge Mr. Aldrlch's business as I
do those of other men , from what he
ehows up for himself. Ho came to this
county n poor boy , fresh from college ,
taught school at Ulysses , ono of the
towns in this county , came from there
here with his young wlfo whom ho
married there , came hero to begin lils
career as n lawyer , has been hero over
elnce , nearly twenty years , has prac
ticed law and been successful In that
profession , engaged In other lines of
business on the side from time to
time , succeeded In the other enter
prises , provided well for his family
nil the time , schooled his children , four
eons , has now a profitable law busi
ness , ono of the good homes hero , has
a 320-acro farm a few miles out in
the country , some other property , and
Is , on the whole , not rich , but well to
do , and prosperous. I call that success
from a business standpoint. "
"Mr. Aldrlch is broad-minded and
progressive in his views of public af
fairs. Ho wants tlie best schools , the
latest and best methods and appll
nnccs In public institutions , but ho is
no visionary , no experimenter , nor
waster of public money. I believe he
would give the state a first-class and
clean administration. "
The next man interviewed was Al
folnus Eberly , a banker and retired
farmer. "I have known Mr. Aldrich
nbout twenty-five years , " said Mr. Eb
rly. ' "When I was on the farm , I
used to bo called on the Jury. A farm
er Juror watches the lawyers in court.
Ho learns to judge tholr character and
methods. I learned from that expert
ence to know Mr. Aldrlch as a liard
fighter In a trial. Ho is plum full of
energy , always in dead earnest about
everything , but In the trial of a case
ho fights with all his might. He
wants to win his cause. I have always
admired him for his courage and his
grit as a lawyer. "
"But , Mr. Eberly , you arc a bank dl
rector now , as well ns a farmer , and
you are a part of a 'big business' that
is more or less jealous of the progrcs
elvo laws and of aspiring politicians
nnd public men who cater to progres
Hive public sentiment. Is Mr. Aldrlch
a fire-eater , who wants to attack busi
ness for the sake of being popular
. with the masses ? "
"No , not a bit of It. He is too much
of a business man himself for that.
Ho prospers in his own business af
fairs , wants every other business man
to prosper , but ho Is a stickler for-the
law. He wants the business Interests ,
fclg nnd little , to respect the laws , and
ho wants the laws to bo made so that
wvery man , rich or poor , will have an
even chance. Both the farmers nnd
the business men of this county will
bave confidence In Mr. Aldrlch it he
Coos to Lincoln. "
The next business man seen was
O. W. Gates. Ho said : "Mr. Aldrlch
is a good citizen. I want to say that
about him , because It is true , and the
people of the state have a right to
know It Everybody here , even his
tnoet active political enemies , will
egret ) to that. Mr. Aldrich is enter-
Arising and public-spirited. That's
good point in his favor now. Ho
( wants the best conditions in the city
affairs hero where he was mayor for
B time , and in the public schools ,
where ho has been a member of the
chool board for years. Ho l.ns had
tot * 4 experience In our public mat-
tors of this town nnd county and wo
know him as a leader who leads to
wards better conditions all the time. "
Mr. Benlson , a business man , said :
"I have known Mr. Aldrlch a good
many years. From what I know of
him , I would have absolute confidence
In every promise he would make. Ho
Is no ready promisor. On the whole ,
I should say ho is thoroughly depend
able nnd will not disappoint the public
nor betray the people If ho Is elected
governor. "
George Wanser , hotel man : "I
knew Chct Aldrlch when ho was a
young follow teaching the school at
Ulyssco. I knew Mrs. Aldrlch when
she was a girl there before they were
married. They have lived an Ideal
llfo , and have a fine family of four
bright boys. The boys worked out on
the farm when they were not In
school. Aldrlch is a clean homo man.
Everybody knoWs that. Ho Is a great
horse man. Ho used to own come of
the fastest horses In the state. He
has had lots of experience In fine
horses and fine cattle. He has a herd
of white-faced cattle now , aomo of them
the best in the state. Aldrlch has
been a mighty busy man hero. If he
gets to bo governor , ho will bo a
worker. Ho can't keep still. He is
right at something all the time , and
ho makes it go. "
James Prater , druggist : "If you ask
mo about Mr. Aldrlch , I will say this :
He Is a good worker , a good thinker ,
and a man of good purposes and good
principles. He has an active mind.
Now , I say that about him because
It is true , and it's a good recommenda
tion for a man who is going to bo put
In a responsible public position. Then
I want to say another thing : He is
a common man who puts hlmnelf on
the level with the common people and
thinks of them and of their interests.
Ho gets this characteristic from his
early life and ho Is too independent
to change himself now. If he goes in
to the governor's ofllco ho will bo
square with the interests of the com
mon people. His head Is all right , his
heart Is right , his Judgment Is right ,
and his sympathies are in the right
line. "
W. C. Buchta , Jeweler. "I believe
Aldrlch will bo ono of the very best
governors the state ever had. He Is
keen-minded to see things , sees them
correctly , and wants to succeed In
whatever he undertakes. He Is pro
gressive nil the time In his political
vlows , but Is no fault-Under nor
chronic howler of calamity. He will
not persecute an interest , unless It Is
something he thinks is positively bad ,
and then he'll fight It , no matter what
the consequences are to himself. "
Mr. Myaat , banker : "If you want mete
to make a statement about Mr. Aldrich
I will Just say that I know him well ,
know his business methods , his politi
cal history and his work hero In a
public way , and from that knowledge
I would say ho would bo a thoroughly
safe man for governor. Ho isprogres
sivo , but ho's a bullder-up and not a
tearer-down. That's the way I would
put it. You '
can't wheedle Aldrlch nor
procure him nor bluff him. Mr. Aid-
rich is an open kind of man. He se
cretes nothing. Whatever he is , every
body knows. He'll undoubtedly make
mistakes If he gets to bo governor ,
for they all do , but Aldrlch will never
got tangled up In any manipulations
that will discredit him. "
J. G. Ross , banker : "Aldrlch made
hlo own way through school , came out
here to Nebraska and succeeded. He's
a self-made man. Ho Is not visionary.
Ho don't got rattled. I have had lots
of business with him and have always
found him on the square. I believe
that ho will bo elected and that he
will make a splendid governor. If I
did not think so I would not endorse
him. "
C. O. Crosthwalt , banker : "Aldrlch
has the qualities that have made Gov
ernor Folk famous. Ho Is quick to
see , to judge which is the right course ,
and ho moves straight forward with
energy and ability. Ho IB like Cover
nor Hanlcy of Indiana , full of seutl
nient nnd full of enthusiasm In any
cause. If ho is elected governor , I
shall expect him to grow into genera :
favor with the Nebraska people. "
Gene Wright , business man : "I can
not say now that I fully agree with
Mr. Aldrlch In his county option views.
But I am bound to say that I have the
utmost confidence In his sincerity and
In his ability as a man , and that if
elected his administration will be
clean and competent. Every one hero
who knows him will say that of him ,
whether they agree with him political
ly or not. "
Democrat Gives Support.
J. F. Ammond , hardware store" : "I
used to be a democrat. But I am sup
porting Mr. Aldrlch now. I know
him well ; know him to be an
upright man , a progressive man ,
ono who cannot be awerved from
his duty to the public. Ho Is neither
a coward nor a trimmer. The people
of the state ought to know him from
his legislative record. Ho Is what I
call a man of the people. "
Ex-State Senator Hastings , attor
ney : "I am not agreeing with Mr.
Aldrlch In everything , but I want to
speak fairly of him. Ho Is a good
lawyer , a good business man , and ho
is competent to handle the public
business as governor. He is ambitious ,
I think , wants public applause , but
ho will do what he says ho will do.
His career so far has been a success. "
Anton Ptacok , business man : "I
have known Mr. Aldrich about twenty-
five years. I know him at Ulysses
when he was a young follow. I know
that he stands high there now. Ho
got every republican vote but throe
or four there In the primary. Mr.
Aldrlch is a very outspoken man. If
he gets to bo governor , he'll offend
some people now and then with his
abruptness , for ho is decided in his
manner , but the public will respect
him when they find him out. Aldrlch
has a good deal of sympathy and sen
timent in his make-up. Anyone who
hears him spealc In public can tell
that. But ho's got lots of practical
sense. Ho's a close student. He has
in his homo one of the finest libraries
In the state and is a great reader. I
would sum up Aldrlch this way : He
is a good lawyer , a good farmer , a
good stock man , a good man in public
affairs , and lie is above all else a clean
homo man and a good citizen. "
Captain J. F. Zellingor : "Wo are
backing Mr. Aldrlch here because we
believe ho will make good. Ho has
proven himself here among us and wo
believe ho will make good 1 ! ho gets to
the state house in Lincoln. I want to
say this in particular about him : Ho
will carry out his promises. "
John Harper , merchant and for four
years treasurer of Butler county : "I
have been here thirty-six years. I
can sincerely commend Mr. Aldrlch to
the Nebraska people. They'll not bo
disappointed in him if they elect him
governor. "
L , C. Harris , a storekeeper : "We are
proud of Mr. Aldrlch in David City.
Wo are expecting him to be elected
and to give the Nebraska people an
administration that will not bo disap
pointing. "
A. L. Hughes , abstractor : "Put me
down for Aldrlch. I bellovo In him
and I conscientiously recommend him
to the thousands who are to vote In
the election. "
Ed. G. Hall , postmaster : "I know
Mr. Aldrlch thoroughly and I hope ho
will bo elected , not simply because ho'
Is a republican , but because I believe
ho will make good. Ho has right
ideas and ho will carry them out. "
Henry Bock , farmer : "I am in a hur
ry. I am in town only for a few mo
menta. I voted In the primary for
Shallenborger , for I am a democrat.
Iut I am going to vote for Aldrich at
the election. I don't want to see this
state cut loose from law and o/der
and everything that is decent. We
can't afford to do that. There's a lot
of democratic farmers In this county
who think Just as I do. Good-bye. "
William Kilgore , retired farmer :
I'm for Aldrlch. He's on the right
side of the case. He'll do what ho
says , and he.'ll do it right. "
Troy Eller , merchant : "We are
strong for Aldrlch here. We know
him and webelieve in him. Some
think he Is too radical , but he is just
simply in earnest , that's all. He wants
what is right In government and we all
want that. I think he'll be elected and
I believe he'll make a splendid gover
nor. "
COUNTY OPTION-ISrNOT PROHIBITION
County option does not put in a saloon nor take out a
saloon. On presenting a petition to the county board with the
legal number of signatures , all the voters of any county may
say whether they do want a saloon or whether they do not
want one.
At present all the villages , towns and cities in Nebraska
have option. The taxpayers outside the towns are required to
pay court expenses and assist in the maintenance of jails and
penitentiaries , thereby forcing them into the position of being
taxed without representation and virtually disfranchised.
Should the coming legislature pass the county option law ,
any county not voting on the proposition afterwards would
retain the Slocuinb law and 8 o'clock closing law as at present.
It is eminently fair to let Douglas county have what she wants
and at the same time let the outside counties have what they
want , which both could get by majority vote of their own
people. Let all the people rule.
The democratic platform stands for the initiative and
referendum , which will give all the counties the right to vote
on the liquor question the same as county option. Hence ,
county option does not restrict personal liberty ; it enlarges it.
W. A. Wells , lumber merchant : "One
trouble with public affairs is that the
men we elect to office are pulled away
from their duty to the public by the
men and the Interests who have axes
to grind. * The special Interests want
to use the officials and they manage to
get a good many of them. Well , I
ca.n say this of Mr. Aldrlch , they can't
use him. Ho's too independent in
character for that. They couldn't hold
him back when ho went in for that
freight rate law. We've tried him
here and found him true at every
point. He'll be just as square with
the public when ho is governor as he
was when he was state senator. "
J. A. Constant , editor of the Pee
ple's Banner , a republican paper : "Mr.
Aldrlch is a man of strong will. JL
don't mean that he Is stubborn and
self-opinionated. He Is an open and
candid man , ready to talk out his
plans with everybody , and ready to
change his course If ho finds he's
wrong , but whenever he once sets his
mind on a certain course , after ho has
investigated nnd satisfied himself that
'
he lB rlght , then you can't move him.
Ho was that way In the senate. That's
why he Is popular here. Ho got every
republican vote but three or four In
the primary at Ulysses where ho used
to live. Ho got all but seven of the
republican votes cast here. Ho got all
but twenty-five votes in the whole
county , at the republican primaries.
He'll get a lot of democratic votes in
this county at the general election. "
I. E. Doty , bank president : "Every
fair-minded man who knows Mr. Aid-
rich well , as I do , will agree with me
that he is a man of most excellent
qualities in every way we measure
men. He has good ability , plenty of
courage and Is absolutely sincere and
faithful In whatever he undertakes. I
know a good many bankers and men
of affairs in this stato. I want to be
quoted as saying to them that I be
llovo Mr. Aldrlch qualified to bennd
that he will bo If elected , one of the
safest nnd ablest governors wo have
over hod. "
Well Informed populist leaders ,
who know the voting strength of the
party in the state and the general sit
uation , say the populist vote for Mr.
Aldrlch will more than offset the re
publican vote that will go to the demo
cratic candidate on account of the
saloon issue.
There Is no better authority as to
this situation than A. M. Walling , one
of the prominent citizens of David
City and now grand master workman
of the Ancient Order of United Work
men. Mr. Walling was seen at his
office. Ho had just returned from Lln <
coin , where the populist state committee
too had rejected the old fusion with
the democrats and refused to put the
name of the democratic candidate for
governor on the populist state ticket.
Mr. Walling spoke of the old union
that had existed for so many years be
tween the populists and democrats , but
said It was off now , so far as the clec
tlon of governor is concerned , on this
one question of county option , and that
In his judgment 90 per cent of the
populists would support Aldrich. They
are for Aldrlch , he says , not only on
account of county option , but because
they prefer the character of Mr. Aid-
rich to that of Mr. Dah'lman.
"It was a great day In Lincoln , " said
Mr. Walling. ' "Our state committee
turned down Mr. Dahlman , and while
we were doing that , that our voters
might be free to cast their ballots for
Aldrlch , the Hon. George I. Wright ,
prohibition candidate for governor ,
was resigning his candidacy in the in
terests of Mr. Aldrlch , and at the
same time , Mr. Bryan , loved by the
populists more than any other man in
the nation , was declaring himself
against the democratic candidate ,
Dahlman.
"It was a great day. It all means a
good deal for Nebraska. It means
that the people who want law and
order are getting together regardless
of party. It Is fortunate for the populists - -
lists , who as a rule are farmers , clean
and law-abiding people , that the repub
licans have put up for governor a man
that every good citizen can support
with a clear conscience. I have known
Mr. Aldrlch sixteen years. We do not
agree on everything political , but I
have found him square and sincere
and I like a man of that kind , even if
his views do not match with mine In
every particular. We are together this
year on the Issue that is before the
people and I Intend to support him
with all my might. The populists , so
fa ras I know , are practlcaly unani
mous for Mr. Aldrlch , and knowing
him well , as I do , I am glad as a citi
zen of this town , where he lives , to
recommend him as a man who will not
fool the people who trust him. Ho's
a splendid man In his public spirit. Ho
gets behind things , such as our new
library that we are building here , our
churches , our schools , our city affairs ,
and ho always works In a hearty and
manly way for the best things. "
Endorsed by the Ministers.
The last men seen by the cor
respondent at David City were the
ministers. They are not on the street
and so had to bo called on at their
homes. The Rev. Mr. Gettys of the
M. E. church , to which Mr. Aldrlch
and his family belong , was warm and
enthusiastic In his commendation of
Mr. Aldrich.
"I want you to say this from me , "
eaid Mr. Gettys , "that Mr. Aldrlch has
the confidence of the Christian people
of David City and of Butler county.
Whatever his political enemies may
say of him , they cannot truthfully say
that ho Is not a clean man , a good
homo .man , sincere and consistent as
a church member , nnd he Is a work-
I ing member of the church. The
1 other ministers here will tell you the
samo. There Is no sweeter homo than
his , nor no man who Is more loved
by his family. Everybody here knows
that I am not ouch a church , bigot
as to want him to bo governor of th *
state simply because ho bolongo to
my church , but I want to BOO clean ,
Christian men In public ofllco , for'
every state government ought to b
clean at the top at least. Go and sea
the other ministers and find out what
they think of Mr. Aldrlch. "
Rev. Mr. Klelhauor , pastor iof the
Christian church , is a son-in-law of
Dr. W. P. Aylsworth , chancellor of
Cotnor university. Speaking of Mr.
Aldrlch , Mr. Klolhauer said : "I have
watched Mr. Aldrlch since I have been
pastor of our church hero In David
City. Ho is one of the leading men
here and I have been Interested in
his course. I find him a man of good
principles , true In his character and
clean In his life ns a citizen nnd as a
church member. Mr. Aldrlch planned
the 'dry' campaign here three years
ago when wo drove the saloons out of
David City. Ho went Into the fight
with the vigor and earnestness that.
characterizes him in everything he
undertakes. "
It was suggested that Mr. Aldrlch
as senator voted against county op
tlon.
"Certainly ho did , " said Mr. KIoU
hauer , "and we understood that hero.
County option was not an Issue when
he ran for the senate. If It had been
Mr. Aldrlch would have been defeated.
This county ns a whole is strongly
democratic and strongly against coun
ty option. When the county option
Issue was raised In the senate ho felt
that ho must vote a vote that would
represent the majority will of his con
stituents In this county , because they
had not considered that Issue when
they were voting for him and had not
had an opportunity to cast their voted
against him. But in order to puthlnv
self fair before the people of his owii
county nnd the people of the stata
when he announced his candidacy for
governor , he proclaimed it boldly that
ho would favor county option and ho
put it out plain so that everybody
could understand and could vota
against him on that Issue if they
wanted to. "
Rev. D. F. Flror , pastor of the Bap-
tlst church , was found in the basement -
ment of the church , helping to repali
the furnace. He seemed glad to bo
called upon to glvo his testimony for
his fellow townsman. "I have a high
opinion of Mr. Aldrlch , " ho said. " 1
got that estimate of him from my
personal acquaintance and from what
the peonlo here say of him. I hava
been hero onlv twn v nr > mt hnf i
long enough to learn that Mr. Aldrlch f" '
is held In high esteem by the church
people of this town. He has been a
consistent worker hero for the best
things. He is clean in his home Ufa
and has n fine family. "
Dr. C. S. Beede of David City , ft
prominent physician , was seen on tha
train on his way to Omaha. Ho was
very earnest in his endorsement ol
Mr. Aldrlch. "Mr. Aldrlch Is an en
thusiast , " said the doctor , "not of tha
visionary kind , an enthusiastic bulldey
up of any cause ho espouses. Ho Is 4
man who proclaims from the house
tops what he believes In the closet
You can always depend on what ha V
says. I mean by that , that ho will
keep his promises. If he changes hU
course at any time , It Is not for policy ,
but .for principle. He is no political
side-stepper. "
Mr. Aldrlch as an Executive.
"W. S. McCoy , formerly of David
City , but now with the Lincoln Saf
Deposit and Trust company of LIiv
coin , was asked for his estimate ol
Mr. Aldrich , from the standpoint ol
his former association with him as an -
js-
essoclato In olty affairs : "I lived In * "
Butler county thirty-two years. I wai
city cleric of David City twelve years ,
During that time Mr. Aldrlch wal
mayor and member of the city council
several years nnd was chairman of tin
finance committee. Ho has exception
ally good ability In handling publU
business. Ho is quick and accurato.
Ho was the one man In the city gov
eminent who gave close attention to
the accounts. As mayor he put out
the slot machines and kept them out
and kept order In the city. They had
saloons In David City then. Thor
was an ordinance that required them
to close at ten o'clock. This ordi
nance had never been enforced. When
the day came for the licenses to ba
Issued , at the beginning of Mr. Aid-
rich's administration , he called tha
saloon men In. I was right there at
the time , and he gave them a straight
talk. He told them before they pa'j
their money they must understait
that the ten o'clock ordinance woulj
be strictly enforced. A little late *
some of the saloon men appealed , to
him to let them remain open till
eleven o'clock on Saturdays. Thej
said their best trade was on Saturday
night. 'Yes , ' said Mr. Aldrich , 'if I
would override the law and say eleven
o'clock , then you'd want to leave tha
back door open until twelve o'clock. v
You want to violate the law and you \
want mo to Indorse your violation ,
which would make me a vlojator , too. "
I have taken an oath nnd you want
mo to violate it for your benefit. I'll
not consent to It. ' And he didn't. Ho
enforced the ordinance to the letter.
I mention this because it shows him
as ho Is , a man who respects the law
and feels a proper sense of responsi
bility. Mr. Aldrlch Is not a bully , noj
a tyrant , but he's n strong and posl-
tlvo man when ho is under responsi
bility. "