Nebraska Newspapers

    TWELVE PAGES rr HE OMAHA DAILY BEE TWELVE PAGES
ESTABLISHED JUNE in , 1871. OMAHA , MONDAY MORNING , SEPTEMBER 17 , 189-1-TWELTE PAGES. SINGLE COPY FIVE CENTS.
Earnest Appeal to ITie High Moral Benso
of Nebraska Voters ,
' 'REPUBLICANISM ' VERSUS BOODLERISM"
iJ Tom's AssaviUa Upon the Eti'o's
Financial Credit.
MAJORS AS A CORPORATION CAPPER
Shall Railroad Managers Control the State
Government ?
tHE EFFECTS OF RAILROAD DOMINATION
. Bit of Unwritten History About
cat d Richards.
FORGED CENSUS CERTIFICATE
1 Fart ia the Abduction of State Sen
ator Taylor.
THAT TAYLOR SALARY VOUCHER
jtfnjora1 Subserviency to 1bs Beck of Railroad
Lobby'st ? .
HELPED TO DEFEAT A MAXIMUM RATE BILL
Congressional Cotmnit'oa Report Branding
Majws as a Falsifier.
RECOMMENDED FOR INDICTMENT
tCho Ballroud Fight Against t'ie State Con
stitution of 1871.
SOME INTERESTING POLITICAL HISTORY
fendlesa Struggle ii TLwart the Power of
Corpraton7. !
THE STATE MUf BE REDEEMED
Complete Stenographic Itcport of .Mr. nose-
water's I'roinont Spoerli , llolnc the OpenIng -
Ing- Gun In Ills Campaign Against
Majors nail Itallroadlsni.
Saturday evening Mr. E. noscwater de
livered n political address at Fremont upon
the subject : "Republicanism versus Uoodlcr-
lam. " Love's Opera house , the largest aual-
| orlum In tlie city. was crowded. The audi
ence was composed of representative men ol
nil parties democrats , populists , prohibi
tionists and all hinds , of republicans. Then
, Vfas also n fair springing of ladles present
It was a representative meeting of represcn
Jatlvo : people , who listened to the speakci
with , most respectful attention , accorcllni
plm generous applause at frsquent Intervals
> i Hon. Bamuel Maxwell , formerly chief jus
tleo of the supreme court of Nebraska , li
Introducing the speaker , said :
"Tho gentleman who will address you tlili
evening baa been n citizen of this state foi
jpiore than twenty-five years , and has laborcc
earnestly and continuously for the prosperltj
pnd upbuilding not only of Omaha , but tin
ionUre stale ; a man who from the first hai
bdvocated government of the people , by tin
tocoplo , for the people , and Insisted that tin
government ol the state shall be conductci
in business principles , nml that boodllng am
boodlers shall bo excluded ; a man who 1
fearless In the performance of what lie be
llovcs Is his duty , and an earnest champloi
if what he believes to be right. I Introduc
Ion. Edward Rosewnter , editor of The Omah
eo. "
Mr. nosevvatcr advanced to the front of th
Jtafio , and was received with cheers by man ;
.enthusiastic admirers. Ho spoke as follows
Mr. Chairman , Ladles and Gentlemen , an
Fellow Citizens : The large gathering whle !
confronts ma hero tonight , and the pro
longed greeting which 1 have received n
Irour hands , ore abundant proof that the pec
\i\o \ \ of Fremont and the- citizens ot Ncbrask
nro taking a deep Interest In the Issues tha
nro pending before us in the present can ;
palgn , The Issues enunciated as a text to
jno tonight nfe , "Republicanism , or Hal !
rondltm. " I propose to address myself llrH
llo republicans , to republicans who ar
ptanch nml conscientious advocates , nil
, \vho bellovo In the fundamental doctrine
end principles of the found ra of the part )
I propose to address myself especially t
young republican ? , and the young men w"i
nro about to cast their ballots this full , pci
Jiaps for the first time , or wlo ( , nt any rat <
nro not contaminated by the pernicious tr
Jlucnccs that have sapped the very vital
of republican Institutions and prevent th
pcoplo from exercising a free , untrammole
cliolco of our public officials and represent.-
tlvea In tlio Interest of good governmen
I Rhall appeal to republicans who bclle\
In the right of every man to cast his ball <
os his conscience dictates , and art ) oppose
1 to any despotism that enthralls the pcop
and deprives them of the right of sclf-goi
crnmcnt for which , tha revolutionary fathti
struggled and staked their lives and to
tunes , and for which the soldiers who vvei
to the war front 1851 to ' 05 fought , and ( <
which today , when they are roused and b <
ccme conscious ot the Issues , they -will agal
etrlko a blow for liberty by resisting tl
corporate power that seeks to dominate th
commonwealth.
Now , to begin with , what Is a republli
'According ' to Webster. It Is a governmci
by the people , through representatives electi
fry their choice , acting In that behalf ,
Are the peopls of Nebraska so govcrnet
tfhat Is the question that confronts us todn
Mow what were tha doctrines and the canlln
principles of the republican party , enunc
nted by Its founders and by successive m
tlona.1 conventions ?
HEPUnLICAN DOCTRINE.
'As far back as 1800 , following the aJmlul
Iratlon of Washington , the true republics !
of America expressed In a. very few won
the principles that animated them In orgai
Itlng the first republican parly : "Tho Jrccdo
ot speech nnd of ( he press , and j > pposltlo
1 here for * , to all violators ol the constitute
to silence by force and not by reason tl
Complaints , or criticism. Just 01 unjust ,
our citizen * against their public agent
freedom ot religion and opposition to i
inanouvcrs to bring about o legal atcenJmi' '
Ht cno sect over another. "
Tha liberty platform of 1813 reads as re
lowi : "nrsolved , That freedom of speec
end d ( he cress , and tne right ot trial I
jury , are sacred and Inviolable , nnd that all
rules , regulations and lawn In derogation of
cither are oppressive , unconstitutional , and
not to bs cndurtd by n free people. " The
free soli platform of 1852 and you must re
member that the liberty party , the free
sellers and the abolitionists formed the
ncuclcus out of which the republican party
of our day was formed the frea Boll parly
made this declaration : "Uesolred , That
wo Inscribe upon our banner , frea soil , free
speech , free labor and free man , and that
under It wo will fight on nnd fight ever. "
That flght Is going on as much today as It
went on nt the time that this declaration was
made. ( Applause. )
The platform ndopted by the republican
national convention held In Philadelphia in
1850 declared : "Resolved , Thai the main
tenance at the principles promulgated In the
Declaration of Independence , anil embodied
In the federal constitution , Is essential to
the preservation of our republican Institu
tions. " This resolution was also reiterated
In the republican platform of I860 , by the
convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln.
The platform of 1850 also declared : "That ,
while the constitution ot the United States
was ordained and established In order to
form a mere perfect union , establish justice ,
ensure domestic trnnqulllty , provide for the
common defense , promote the general wel
fare and secure the blessings of liberty , nnd
contains ample provisions for the protection
of the life , liberty nnd property of every
citizen , the dearest constitutional rights of
the people have been fraudulently and violently
lently taken from them ; their territory has
been Invaded by an armed force ; spurious
and pretended legislation , judicial and ex
ecutive ofllccrs have been set over them , by
wJioso usurped authority , sustained by the
military power of the government , 15 ran-
ntc.il and unconstitutional laws have been
enacted and enforced ; the rights of the
people to keep and bear arms have been In
fringed upon , test oaths of an extraordinary
and entangling nature have been Impcstd aa
a condition of exercising the right of suffrage
nnd holding odlce ; the right of the people
to be secureIn their persons , houses , papers
nnd effects , against unreasonable searches
and seizures baa been'violated ; they have
been deprived of life , liberty and property ,
without due process of law ; that the freedom
of speech and of the press has been abridged ;
the right to choose their rcpiceentatlves
has. been made of no effect. "
SHALL. CORPORATIONS RULE ?
This arraignment was directed against the
Invasion of Kansas.by slave-holding hordes
of ruffians , and the attempt to convert Kan
sas and Nebraska Into slave tcrrltoris , was
Just forty years ago , when they were carved
out ns territories , and with the creation ot
Nebraska Into n territory n struggle began
and ended with universal freedom on Ameri
can soil. Shall It be said of Nebraska , shall
It be said of you today' , that the principles
and objects for which the pioneers of this
Btato had to fight , and for which the republi
can party ivas the champion , shall be repudi
ated and discarded and th ! government of
this stale surrendered to. the railroad cor
porations , which manipulate jour conventions
and foist upon the people candidates who are
absolutely under their control I I do not
believe that Nebraska has become BO recre
ant to the early lessons taught by her pie
neers. ( Applause. )
Now , the republican platform of 18C3 was
framed by the convention that nominated
Ulysses S. Grant , for president , and was
this : "We denouncs all forms of repudia
tion as a national crime , and the national
honor requires the payment of the public
Indebtedness In the uttermost gObd faith to
all creditors at home nnd abroad. Hot only
according to the letter , but the spirit of the
laws undsr which It was contracted.
"This convention declares iUelf Iti sympa
thy with nil oppressed people whfi are strug
gling for their rights.
"That we recognlzs the great principles
laid down In the Immortal Declaration ot In
dependence as the true foundation of demo
cratic government , and we hall with gladness
every effort toward making these principles
a living reality on every Inch of American
soil. "
I desire you particularly to note this
declaration relating to the credit of the- na
tion , because , as wo get along further , It
will be made evident to you that the gentle
man who has been placed upon the republi
can ticket as n candidate for coernor Is
committed entirely to n different policy , Judg
ing by Ills legislative record.
The republican platform of 18J6 , In the
centennial anniversary of American Inde
pendence , declares : "When , In the economy
ot providence , this land was purged ot human
slavery , and when the BtrenKth of the gov
ernment of the people , by the people and
for the people , was to be demonstrated , the
republican party came Into power. Its deeds
have passed Into history nnd we look back
to them with pride. Incited by their mem
ory to high alms for the good of our country
and mankind , and looking to the future with
unfaltering courage , hope and purpose , we ,
the representatives of the party In national
convention assembled , make the following
declaration of principles. "
THE RIGHT OP SELF-GOVERNMENT.
This was the preamble. This called attention
to the fact that the republican party was
organized for the purpose.of maintaining and
perpetuating the right of the people to gov
ern themselves. _ Now , mark the following
declaration In tKo same platform : "We re
joice in the quickened conscience of the- people
ple concerning political affairs , and will hold
all public officers to a rigid responsibility
and engage ( that means 'pledge' ) that UK
prosecution and punishment of nil who be
tray oillclnl trusts , shall bo bwlft , thorougli
anil unsparing. " .
Has this pledge been lived up to In Ne
braska. ? Point twelve months back only , li
you please , and see whether or not those
who were entrusted by the republican partj
of Nebraska with the care and management
of state Institutions have bwn loyal to tin
solemn party'pledges and faithful to tlioii
trust , and whether Justice has been metet
out to those who have failed to do their dut )
nnd who have betrayed a trust. Let ui
also remember that .If this pledge to prose
cute all who have betrayed tlic official trus
applies to men who hove held olTlce In thi
past. It must also apply to all men whi
aspire to be In office In Nebraska and win
want to be placed by your suffrages In con
trol of the state government.
The question heretofore nmong republican
has been ; "Aro your candidates capable
Are they honest ? " Today It Is simply
"Arc they willing to be faithful , pliant tool
of the railroad corporations , and particular ) ;
that railroad corporation which has assume !
to control tlif affairs of the state and takei
its destinies Into Its own hands for the tlm
being. ( Applause. )
SOMBWlIAT"PnRSONAL.
But before I enter upon further dlscussloi
of the relations of the citizens of Xcbraski
to those of corporate powers , of their Influence
fluenco upon our conventions , of their Inter
ference -with your rights and my rights
and of their attempt to subvert our govern
merit. I want to square myself with regar
to the- campaign that was fought some year
ago , In which one ot your eminent citizen
was a candidate for governor , It hod bee
charged by this gentleman and by hi
friends , and this charge has been reiterate
from time to time , Hint his defeat was du
almost solely to foul play at my hands an
at the bands of The Omaha. IJee. tie ha
carried a bandage" upon his head ever sine
he met that defeat , and the scalp wound
that have been cut seem to have been kci :
wide open by his friends , as well as m
enemies , who have poured brine Into tlict
In order to keep him screheaded for a
time to come , by constantly agitating an
constantly denouncing tha method by whlc
he- was defeated. ( Applause. )
Now , let us ee what proof there Is c
foul play or. treachery. I came here toda
to face him , and I sent him an Invltatlo
thi * afternoon , In courteous language , to b
liere present , and It I shall say anything tha
Is not true , I want him or his friends t
rise hpre and contradict mo. ( Applause
It has been asserted on behalf of Ml
Richards , ( for I might as well name him
and by himself and his editorial and pollt
cal friends , that The Omaha Dee did nc
give him tha right support. Not enl
lhat , but that The Dee had opposed hit
openly and : covertly , that It hod failed t
do Its duty In that campaign with regar
to himself , and that. I had entered Into
conspiracy to bring about his defeat and th
election of James B. Doyil.
Now , what are thi facts ? Mr. Richard
was nominated on the 24th of July , 1890 , I
was a delegate to that convention. The dele
gation from Douglas county did not support
Kir. Richards ; It supported Dr. Mercer as Us
candidate. My vote was cast for Dr. Mercer.
After Mr. Richards had been nominated , and
when the motion was made to make his nom
ination unanimous , a number ot the delegates
from Douglas county protested nnd refused
to have that nomination made xinnnlmotts.
1 addressed myself to those delegates and
Implored them right there on the floor not
to make a epcctaclo of themselves , but to
join In and make the nomination unanimous.
That fact cannct be truthfully gainsaid. So
much ns to nly personal action In that con
vention ,
On the- day following Hint convention The
Dee said editorially , and here -want to call
your attention to this- package ( exhibiting
package ) . They are typewritten copies cf
editorials en behalf of Mr. Richards and the
ticket that appeared In The Bee during that
campaign. I cannot read them all , but will
read a portion of them lo sli-iv whether or
not Richards had fair support. The day
after hl& nomination , on July 25 , the follow
ing editorial appeared :
"The HoDUbllcan Ticket The republican
party enters the campaign ot Nebraska this
year with a ticket that will In the main com
mand the hearty support cf tha party. The
obstinate nnd shortsighted refusal of the r *
publican alliance farmers to lake an active
interest In the primary elections conventions
rendered It next to Impossible to * eliminate
the railroad clement and present n ticket
free from corporate Influence fr.tn top to bottom
tom and In every respect equal to the de
mands of the hour.
"Dut , while the party could and should
tmc clone better In Its choice of some of the
: ancllHtcs , It might have done very much
iv-rse.
'Mr. L. D. Richards , the nominee tor gov-
trnr , Is > a man of high standing nnd flrst-
: laRB exccuthe ability , Ills colleagues' on the
Icket arc all known to possess the requisite
inalincatlons for the performance of the du-
les that will devolve upn them.
"It now remains for the party to organize ,
make n carcjul survey ot the field , and pre
pare for n Etruggle that will tax the best
nergles of Its lenders , and require the loyal
upprt of the rank and flic to lead It to vie-
.ory In November. "
WAS RICHARDS A PROHIDIT1ONIST ?
On the Aty following the republican state
invention the Omaha Republican , which at
.liattlmo had espoused the cause of prohlbl-
lon , charged that HIchards was a prohlb'.tion-
st. On the very next day , without consulting
illchards or conferring- with him , knowing
hat tills charge would prejudice him In the.
yes of many republicans , the following was
written by myself :
"Not a Prohibitionist The assertion made
by the Omaha Republican that the nomlna-
lon cf L. D. Richards assures the adoption
f the prohibitDH ! amendment is an unwar
ranted conclusion and tends to place Mr.
Richards In a ( also .llcht before the people
of this state. It creites the Impression that
he Is a prohibitionist and will use all his In
fluence to promote the adoption of the pro
hibition amendment. Mr. Richards Is n tem
perate mnn , but he Is not a prohibitionist
and has never committed himself to the
proposition. "
If I had been scheming to defeat Mr. Rich
ards I certainly would not have written this
article , without even waiting for him to re
quest such a denial. It was maijc In his In
terestand , any friend cf his must i > ce that
It was made for the benefit of the candidate
and not to his detriment.
Now comes < an article of August 12 : "The
Duty of Republicans The republican cam
paign In Nebraska has not been formally
opened , but the opponents ot the party arc
already busy with detraction and In efforts
to allenato these who have always faithfully
followed the standard of republicanism ,
"The only danger to the republican party
n Nebraska Is from the defection of repub
lican fanners , who may be Induced to ex
press their dissatisfaction by either voting
with the democrats or ssslstlng- that party
by giving support ta the so-called Independ
ent movement. The duty cf every repub
lican In the present exigency Is to stand by
his party. Whatever reforms he- may believe
necessary there w.ll be better chance of se
curing from the republican party than from
any other. " This Is merely an extract ; the
article Is somewhat lengthy.
Now comes one of September 20 : "Opening
of the Campaign. " And right here le't me
cill your attention to some facts , Although
the nomination cf Mr , Richards had been
made In the latter part of July , the. cam-
rnlfin uas not opened until the 20th of Sep
tember. It was at my suggestion that we
had an early convention , In order that we
would meet the organization of the Inde
pendent party ct that tlrte half way and
prevent It from making the Inroads Into the
rank and file of the party which It was Hablo
to make II they had the field all to tliem-
itlVcs for the whcle summer. Ilut sir.
Richards taw fit In his exuberance to go
down to Vermont and New England , and
there to Introduce hlmeclt ( o his friends and
relatives as tlie next governor of Nebraska
( laug'titcrery ) much the- same as Candi
date Majors has been doing. ( Laughter. )
A BIT OF POLITICAL , HISTORY.
And what was the result ? ttlchards did
not return until early In. September , nnd .we
had to wall with the campaign until the 20th
ot September before It could be opened ,
thus losing Mm the opportunity for fore
stalling some of the work that was done
when lie was away In the east.
"Or < ; nlrig of the Campaign The- republican
campaign In Nebraska will be formally
opened today , and thereafter until the day
of election In November will be carried on
with earnestness and vigor. "
This editorial Is concluded by an
appeal to republicans to remain faith
ful and stand by the ticket ,
And now about that formal opening , Mr ,
Richards came to Omaha , on the day on
which the formal opening took placeat the
Exposition hall , In which he spoke , nnd 1
followed in a speech appealing to republicans
for support of the ticket , himself Included
Rut before- those speeches were made a prl-
vato meeting was held by the republican
state central committee. At that mectlnf
Mr. Richards was present , nnd so were Johr
M. Thurston and John L. Webster. Thf
question was asked , how much majorltj
will Douglas county give against Mr. Rich
ards ? Mr. Webster and Mr. Thurslor
thought that It would not exceed 3,000 , ant
I told them that It would exceed C.OOO. Thej
ridiculed my statement , and said that I was
way off In my estimate. I told them that :
knew Douglas county pretty nearly as wel
as anybody else , and warned them agalnsi
a big landslide. Was there anything in thai
that showed treachery or Ill-will ? Had thej
acted upon my advlco Richards would no
have met with such a Waterloo ln > Douglai
county as ho did on November 4.
After the speeches had becn made at Ex
position hall someof the friends of Mr
Richards proposed to go down to Ed Maurer'i
and see the boys and treat them to beer. !
advised Mr. Richards not to go , stating , ai
he was not a man who made a practice o
visiting saloons. It would do him no good
that taloon keepers had no respect for met
who came only about election time , asklni
their support. But he did not take my ad
vice , and so I followed along. ( Laughter. )
I am not a patron of saloons , but , of course
I am not a prohibitions ! . I want to ea ;
that much to you , for probably there an
thousands of people in this city who- con
cume more liquor In a week than I have li
all my life. ( Laughter. ) We went down then
nnd there were about twenty-five or thlrtj
men called up to the bar. The barkeepei
poured out the beer , every man took up hi :
beer mug , and one of the gentlemen callec
out : "Now , here's to the next governor o
Nebraska , Mr , Richards , " And the bar
tender , who didn't seem to know what thi
was all about , cried out : "What ? Richards
Why. Jim Iloyd Is goingto be the next gov
ernor of Nebraska. " ( Laughter. ) This wa
the- beginning of the campaign the opening
( Laughter. )
Following the opening of the campaign
here come ? an editorial , September 3 , tbrc
days after that meeting : "Stand by th
Party No leader ot the so-called Independen
party and no democrat has yet given a slngl
sound reason why any republican farme
of Nebraska should not stay by the part ;
In the present campaign. There Is no rea
con that is worthy a moment's conslderatloi
of any Intclllcent man who can und rstam
tha utter fallacy and futility of the Ir.de .
pendent movement , and who knows the his
torjr and the alms of the democratic party.1
And then tallows ri loig ) editorial on that
score.
"Push the Canvass. " iThls editorial wound
Up RB follows : "It Is n ces.snry to say
plainly that the republican party ot Nebraska
cannot hope to win iiuKsa the canvass Is
pushed mere vigorously nml earnestly than
It has been thus'far. The exigency calls for
an honest view of the situation nnd frank
counsel , nnd The Dee deems It Its duty to
spur campaign managers' ' and candidates on
to greater activity. " '
Then comes another that reads : "Mr.
Richards' Campaign. "
Now , Just llstfn to , tha ! one and see
whether The I3ce gdvb him fair support :
"Mr. Richards carries on his canvass for the
governorship with a modesty and dignity
characteristic of the ihair. Reports from
the various parts ofUhb Vtatc which he has
visited show that h J has everywhere won
popular respect and impressed tlic people as
n man who could be < rtisted to administer
the affairs of the state honestly , wifely , and
In accordance -with the platform promises of
his frhnds. Ills speeches arcplain ,
straightforward statements of the record and
Tirlnclplcs ot the republican party In relation
to their Issues in the present campaign , They
nro admirably adapted to the situation. "
And finally concludea as follows : "Mr.
Richards represents in hie lit' and character
the best citizenship of Nebraska. His cam
paign Is a good index .of the sound and
honorable administration which might be
c.\pectcd of him as gqvtrnor. " That ap
peared In The Omaha IJce on October 16 ,
1890.
1890.Here
Here Is another : "An Ovation to Richards
Last night a grand o\atlon to Hon. L. D.
Richards Is the answer of the republicans
of Douglas rounly to those who have said
they would provo lukcw'arm In their support
of the giibernatorl.il candidate. Douglas
county republicans have not thrown dawn
their guns and run aw'ay. " That was Octo-
Inr 21. Here Is anotljer ; "Stand by the
Ticket The republican ticket , nominal-d by
a thoroughly representative convention of
the parly. Is entitled t3 the tleudfast sup
port of every repiibl can In Nebraska.
Every consideration of party loyn'ty and duty
d'nmnds of republicans that they shall en
dorse nt the ballot box the action of their
convention. " Then thlb closes with an ap
peal for them to stand [ by the entire ticket :
"The Next Governpr.V There Is another
article. "Nebraska has ne er had a demo
cratic governor , and , ih spite of the loud
claims of Mr. Uoycl'g friends , there Is no
reason why one should be chosen this jear.
There never was a time when the repub
lican party had better reason for desiring a
republican In the executive chair , nor a time
when the party had on abler or purer man
for Its candidate. No 0110 who IMS been a
republican should vote against L. D. Rich
ards , directly or Indirectly. " Now , does
that show any hostility to Mr. Richards ? I
should think not. The- article winds up as
follows : "The republican candidate Is
equally deserving of loyal support on personal
grounds. Ho Is a line of the strong , car-
nest , successful men vho are developed from
honest material by western life. He lias
maflo his way from the bottom of the ladder
to distinction -\\lthout the aid of fortuitous
circumstances. He has been true to every
rust imposed In him , public and private.
There Is nothing In his career to call for
in apology , from the time he went to war
as a boy of 14 to the tlmo when he became
he candidate of the republican party for
ho highest office in the gltl of his state.
These considerations : should mak the clec-
lon oC Hon. L. D. Richards certain In a
state that has a natural republican majority
of nearly 30,000. "
Does that show that The Ueo did not give
Mr. Richards a cordial and warm tupport ?
WllAT MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE ?
Now , the last , on November 3 , the day
Before the election : "Stand by the Colors"
Hvcry republican In Nebraska should stand
jy his party ticket. In that course nlone
les his safety. An enemy that for twenty-
live years has sought vainly to win In a
fair fight seeks now to win by fostering dis
cord and distrust In ranks where harmony
s fatal to Uieir designs , ' " .And EO on.
I think I have read BUfQcient from the
columns of The Dee to satisfy any rational
person that nothing was left undone by the
paper during the campaign to hold the re
publican vote for Mr" Richards. Individu
ally , I was very much occupied. I had un
dertaken to manage the ant [ -prohibit Ion cam-
pit gn , anil for that reason could not give
my personal attention to the editing of the
paper from day to day- but only gnve it an
occasional supervision. I had lured Mr.
Smythe , who had been the editor ot a le-
publlcan paper at Kearney , and paid him
$200 a month during that campaign to con
duct the political columns of the paper ; and
Mr. Smythe was a personal friend and a
warm friend of Mr. Richards , so that Mr
Richards could have commanded him at any
time.
time.Now , what happened during the campaign9
Mr. Richards did not see fit to pay but the
smallest attention to tlie vote In Douglas
county. Ten days bdfore the campaign
closed I met him at Holdrego In the Re
publican valley , where il was engaged In
campaigning against prohibition. I asked
Mr. Richards what ho was doing thcro and
why lie was not in Omaha , nnd ho bald he
was looking up his "fcpces" In the Repub
lican valley , but would get to Omaha pretty
soon. I then told him that 1 would be back
within a very few days , and would then
personally make a canvass and Introduce
him to many business men with whom 1
was acquainted , and try to- make them feel
that he was safe and sound on the question
In wh'lch they were very deeply Interested ,
but Mr , Richards never called.
niCHARDS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
On the- Saturday night bfore the elec
tion telegrams , were received by The llee
from several conntloa stating thnt { he
republicans in Interior districts would vote
for prohibition If Douglas county and
Omaha particularly , did not support Mr.
Richards. These telegrams wore sup
pressed. The next morning I sent for Mr ,
Richards nnd also for Senator Mandereon
I met them in my office Sunday morn
ing nnd told thorn that thcso threats woulc
only irritate and arouse our people against
HIchards , and therefore should not be made
I said to Mr. Richards , then and there
"I have made a thorough Investigation
of the condition of the state with regard to
piohlbltlon. I have responses from 12,000
farm subscribers as to their proposed ac
tion upon the prohibition question , am
8,000 of the 12,000 are against It. " I as
surcd him that the amendment would be
defeated by over 20,000 , and advised him , tl
view of the feeling In Omaha , to have him
self Interviewed by Mr , Smythe and state
flat-footed that If prohibition was defeated
In the statehe would not sanction an act
of the legislature that would make pro
hlbitlan statutory. If It was carried , then
ht would have to do his duty as governor
lo enforce the constitution and the laws
Mr. Richards went from mo to the room
occupied by Mr. Smythe , and I saw noth
Ing further of him ; "but , the next morn
Ing , when I picked up The- Bee and reat
the expected Interview. I was chagrined to
find a wishy-washy article that was nelthei
flesh , fish nor fowl , and amounted to noth
Ing on tha Issue , and , therefore had nc
effect upon the voters of our county. ( Ap
plause. ) Now , I submit to you , gentle
men , whether , with the showing , there IE
any good' reason -why this man and Mi
friends should constantly continue to malign
mo ns an enemy of the republican party
as a private enemy of Mr. Richards , at
a traitor to him. and a treacherous con
splralor who sought to sell him out ? There
Is no truth whatever In It , and I defy him
to bring the proof.
Now , there Is another ( hlng that I want tc
call your attention to. If Richards had taken
the trouble , and he bai ) opportunity enoughh <
would have known ? Rugn to know whore tc
look for the cause ot Ilia defeat. It Is notorl
oua that In the convention that nomluatec
htm ( here was n contest between the Elk
horn Valley railroad fcnd tbe Burlington ate
to which should captUru and own the gov
crnor. The Ellihonj road was victorious
The Burlington lhn turned In for James E
Boyd , Czar Holdrege nvbrVed for htm wh ere
ever he could through Ibe republican railroad
ers , or railroad -republicans , In that way de
featlng Mr , Richards. ( Applauie. ) And her
Is the proof that itarii him In the ( ace. I
shown that 4n every county , from Dougla
county to the ColoraUa ! lln , Mr. Richard
was cut , ami fell bebintf ( he average. Her
we have , for inttancrf , Ad ami county : Rich
aids , 1.5J1 ; Allen , who wsk about medium or
ho republican Uck ° t , f r secretary ot state ,
ad 1-tKl , Buffalo county , Richards , 1,2 . " > ;
Allen , 1,401 ; Cass , 1.SG4 for Richards ; 1,901
or Allen ; Clay , 1,107 for Richards ; l,3Cr for
Allen , And so on clear down the list , and
lie total amounts t l.GIC votes. These 1,646
ote i rcprcient the republicans that are pll-
nt In the hands ot the Ilurllngton road , and
111 vote the democratic ticket one year and
tie republican ticket the next year , and the
jopullst ticket the next year , If fhcro Is a
lopullst thnt suits the 13. & M. managers ,
'liosc rnllroail republicans voted against
Llchards. Had they voted lor him ho would
tave been elected by over 2,000 plurality
vcr Boyd. That Is the true Inwardness of
its defeat' , and I hope from now on that
lie ledger Is closed , and that no more will
10 heard about Rosewatcr's conspiracy and
Is treachery and the base defection in the
ampalgn of 1R90. ( Applause. )
HAD A LBTTER FROM RICHARDS.
Wo now come to the question of the mis-
ule of the state by the railroads. I will not
undertake to formulate the condltl na under
vhlch this IK done , but leave It far n good ,
tralght republican , who has supported re-
iiibllcan principles and republican candidates
luring a lifetime , and who was honored by
he people of Iowa with the position cf gov-
rnor I rcf'r to Governor Latraboe In a
volume published last year known as "Tho
tallroad Question , " Governor Larrnbcs precuts -
cuts the issue of the railroads in p.lltlcs ,
nd I will read you a little from that book.
( A letter was , handed to Mr. Rosewatcr at
his moment. )
This Is a letter from Mr. Richards , but I
am not able to read It , because It Is a little
> lt difficult. It will be published , however.
had Invited Mr. Richards to be proscut ,
ml I presume "something" has prevented his
attendance. ( Laughter and applause. Cries
of "Rend it raid It" . )
You want me to read the letter ? ( Voices.
'Read it. " ) 0 , yes. If you are anxious to
lave me reaxl It , I am not afraid to read any-
hliiR. ( Laughter. )
"September 15 , 1891. Hon. E. Roscwator :
Sir Your Invitation to be present nt Love's
opera house at 8 o'clock to listen to your
political address , when you propose to dis
cuss the living Issues of the day and the
elatlons of The Omaha lite to my candidacy
n 1830 was received by me at 7 o'clock this
evening. It Is not probable that > ou will
say anythinc new , and I have no time nor
disposition to punish myself by listening 'o
a rehash of your stale chestnut. ( Laughter. )
Had you advised me In good time that you
Icsired by presence to discuss with you the
position of The Omaha Dee and Its relations
: o republican candidates nnd the republican
party during the past fifteen years , and
agreed to divide time , It would have glv < n nio
infinite pleasure to meet you before my
iownspcoplc , when I might be able to em
phasize your treachery. I have seen nothing
, n your conduct or that of The Bee since my
elter to you of December , 1890 , to which
you are respectfully referred , to change my
iplnlon of you as an alleged republican. Re
spectfully , L. D. RICHARDS. "
( Laughter. )
Well , I want to say right hero that I am
willing at any time to accommodate that gen
tleman to a debate. I am willing to dls-cusa
with him In the presence of the people of
your city on the policy of The Omaha Bee
itul my conduct toward any republican that
! have opposed or the paper has seen fit to
oppose within those fifteen years , and , if he
can shovy me that I have not had very good
ensoiiB. commendable , moral reasons , nnd
Jilgli moral grounds for talcing the position
.hat I did , I will agree to apologize to him.
[ will even apologize to Richards for saying
so much for him , ( Laughter and applause. )
[ cannot go any furthrr into this matter.
[ now propose lo discuss the relations ot
: he railroads .to th ? people , nnd If the gentle
men wants to ask me any questions when I
get through , I will bo very much pleased to
inswer them. ( Reading ) "Railroad * ) In
Politics , The question might be asked ,
How Is It possible that In n republic where
ths people nro the source of all power , and
where nil officers are directly or Indirectly
selsdtod by the peoplocto curry out their
wishes and to administer ths government In
their Interests , a coterie cf men bout on
pecuniary gain would not be permitted to
subvert those principles of common law and
public economy which from time Immemorial
have been the recognized anchors of the
liberty of th ? Anglo-Saxon race'
"Tho statement that under a free govern
ment , It Is possible for a few to suppress the
many might almost sound absurd to a
monarchist , and yet It Is true that for the
past twenty-five years the public affairs of
this country havs been unduly controlled by
a few hundred railroad managers.
'To perpetuate without molestation their
unjust practices and prevent any approach
to an assertion of the principle
of state owtrol of railroad transportation ,
railroad managers have secured , wherever
possible , the co-operation of public officials ,
and , In fact , ot every semi-public and private
asoncy capable of affecting public oplnon.
Their great wealth and power have made it
possible for them to influence to a greater
or less extent every department of the na
tional and state governments. "
FIGHT FOU THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
Tlie railroad Issue lias be n wltli us for
a good many jears , nnd boullelsni has al
ways been with us. As far back as 1871 ,
when the people of this state sought to form
ulate a now constitution , through a conven-
tbn composed of our ablest jurists and most
prominent citizens , this struggle between the
people and the corporate power already had
commenced. That constitutional convention
framed an excellent organic law. It was
mo3ern In every respect. It rrovlded for
railroad restriction and regulation , and It
provided safeguards for our banks as re
gards the liability of their stockholders , In
the Interests of the depositors and In the In
terests of Investors. The railroad man
agers and the bankers were displeased with
that constitution , but they could not and did
not dare to openly oppose It before the pee
ple. There had been submitted with the
new constitution four separate amendments.
Ono of these was for church taxation. That
amendment gave tuem the kejnote. Imme
diately the cry wns raised that the constitu
tion proposed something unheard of. Placards
wcro In every town and village , headed-
"To your tents , Oh , Israel ; -will y u submit
to the taxation of the cemeteries and
churches ? "
On the one side the Catholic bishop. O'Gor-
man , who preached a crusade against the
new constitution , and on the other side Rev.
Mr. Delamatre. a Mcthcdlat minister , took
the stump against the new constitution.
Mor the first time In the history of the
United States , probabls' , the Catholics ani
the Protestants joined hands to oppose th <
adoption cf a constitution which was framed
for equal taxation nnd corporate control.
What was the- result ? The crusade was
carried on nil over the state. Railroad passes
wcro furnished to ell ot the preachers am
the- priests and hired speakers , nnd the
necessary funds were contributed by the
bankers. The constitution which the people
had sought to frame for their own protection
was declared defeated.
It never was defeated. With the audacity
that corporate managers are capable of ccr
tain officials wcro- subsidized and corruptcc
to tamper with the returns , nnd the constl
tutlon which actually had carried was countei
out.
out.Tho
The late General Strickland , president o
that constitutional convention , who was one
ot the officers charged with declaring the re
suit , was Implored not to make It publU
that the constitution was being counted , out
nnd a pledge was given then and there tha
If he would declare- defeated by a few
hundred majority , the legislature follownp )
was to bo allowed to resubmlt the constltu
tlon , omitting the offensive parts. This fac
has never before been made public.
The Omaha Bee was the only dally pape
north ot the Platte that advocated the ad op
tlon ot that constitution. All of the othe
papers had been bought oft by the corporal
conspirators. When the election was over ,
silver plate service , valued at $1,200 , wa
presented to Rev. Mr. Delamatro ns a teat !
menial of appreciation cl his services. Whei
the legislature passed a bill to resubmlt tha
conitltutlon/the governor who had given u
the pledges for Its resubmlsslon , and tvh
was one ot the parties to this gigantic Iraut
vetoed the bill. The Influences of the rail
road a and the bankers were so great that 1
It could not muster votes enough lo pass eve
the veto , That Is a matter ot history. Abou
that tlmo the granger agitation began al
over the west , liver/where Una were beln
patted restricting tb powws ot . publl
carrier , nnd when that constitutional conven
tion met In 187G , they were forced by public
sentiment to Insert n stringent provlshn In
regard to maximum ratts , with regard to
discrimination and pa ling. Hut that Instru
ment , constitution , docs not enforce of
Itself. It required legislation , nnd It required
faithful officers who would carry out the
mandate of the Instrument they wcro sworn
to ibey. For seventeen long years that part
of the constitution relating to railroad reg
ulation remained an absolute dead letter.
Wo fought over these questions tlmo and
again ; convention after convention was hold ,
platforms wcro adapted , pledges wcro in a do
only to be broken , until a great mass , of re
publicans In tills Btato became thoroughly
disheartened and disgusted , Yet II was the
germ of the populist party. Tlo : popul st
party ct Nebraska would not have contained
10,000 members today , scircely 15,000 at any
event , had It not been for the pernicious
interference , for the criminal conspiracies
that were constantly carried on by the rail-
read lobby at every session of the legisla
ture nnd at every republican convention , for
they wcro managing the republican party ,
because it w s the party In power In Ne
braska , Just as they manage the denvcrallc
party In Georgia , because that is the party
In power.
power.PEOPLE
PEOPLE ROSB IN REVOLT.
Well. It would be a long story to recite all
the railroad raids upon conventions and leg
islatures within the past twenty years , but
> ou will remember that In 1800 , Just prior
to the nomination ot Mr. HIchards for gov
ernor , there had been n conference ot lead
ing republicans held In the city of Lincoln ,
protesting agjlnst the course being pursued ,
and endeavoring , If possible , to bring the
party lo a realization ot Its danger. Jiibt
at that time the iKjpullst party was about
to be organized. Remember that In 1SS9 Mr
Merrill , the republican candidate for uni
versity regent , iccclved 95,317 votes In this
state , and the very next year Mr. Richards
received only GS.S7S , or n falling oft of 24-
4.9 votes In oneycnr , Now , what does that
signify ? Il signifies that there was a deep-
seated discontent nil along the line In the
republican party , and that a large number
of voters , prlnclp-illy farmers , nnd many
of them old soldiers. Just as loval nnd bravo
as any of the veterans of the union armies ,
had detached themselves trom the party that
had saved the union because they wanted
to save the state , nnd vvanttd to transmit
to their children nnd children's children the
free Institutions which the- founders of the
republic and 'the saviors of the republic had
established nnd saved for them. ( Applause. )
In 1SOO these resolutions v.ere adopted :
llesolvcd. Tluit we reiterate nnd cordially
endorse the fiimlnrnpntnl pilnclplcs of the
lepubllcnn party na enunciated by successive
nnilonnl republican conventions fiom ISM
to IbSS. and we believe the republican party
capnblo of dcallURwith e\eiy vltnl Issue
that concerns the welfare of the Ameilrun
] ) Lcpiowhenever the innk ami file of the
pnrtv are untrninmeled In the exercise of
their political lights ,
Resolved , That we view with nlnrm the
Intense discontent unions the republicans
of the- state , chiclly tlue to. the pernicious
nnd demoralizing Interference of corpora
tions nnd their attempts to control nil de
partment" ' of our Mate government legis
lative , executive , judicial anil we earnestly
appeal to nil lepubllcans who desire to
pieservc out Institutions to rally to the
icscue of our stale- from corporate domina
tion by actively pirtlelpatlnR in the primary
elections nnd nominating conventions.
Kesolveil , That while we Ueslre to accord
to railroad corpoiutians their rights uiul
privileges as common carriers , we ilcirmml
that they Blmll go out of politics and Mop
Interfeienco with our conventions and legls-
Intuies.
Resolved , That railroad passes dlitilbuted
In this state for political inn popes me n
ppeclcs ot bribery pernicious In their in
fluence , and tending1 to undermine public
mornls , subversive to n free and unboilRht
expression ot the -\\lll \ ot the people in their
conventions. leKlMntuies nnd juries , and
we hereby demand the prohibition of passes
nnd free tiin. ° poitutlon in any fotni under
severe penalties.
ncsolvcd , That Nebraska hns for years
been subject to pxoibltunt lrnrti > oitntlnn
lates , disci ImliuitliiR against Tor | products ,
thus retni < lln her development , anil we
condemn the State HoniH fJi Transportation
for falling to c > eiclse thc-Ailthorllv vested
In them , and liy refuging to nfTord to the
people the teller they vveio pledged to give.
We therefore demand that the legislature
shall enact u maximum tariff hill covering
the transpoilatlon of our pioducts and prin
cipal Imports.
After the conference , by which these reso
lutions had been promulgated , n committee
walled upon Iho republican state commit
tee , of which Mr. Richards was at that time
the chairman. Wo recclvvd n very cour
teous hearing. , and the party ordered its
convention held early , at our suggestion , In
order to forestall the threatened defection
of republicans Into the populist ranks , The
convention of 1890 adopted a platform very
nearly similar to this declaration , and , more
over , they refused lo rcnomlnate John Steen ,
land commissioner , nnd Mr. Cow drey , secre
tary of state , and came within an ace of
dumping out Tom llcnton for auditor , al
though those state olllcers had only had
one term , and were , under custom , entltl d
to a renomlimllon. They were dumped
overboard because the republican party
wUPtod J.o respond to public sentiment , and
endeavored at that tlma to rebuke the
failure ot the Hoard of Railroad Commis
sioners to carry out the mandate of the
law. During that same summer Governor
Thaycr issued a proclamation calling the
legislature together In extra scsblon. and
providing that they should pass the maxi
mum rate law and abolish the State Hoard
of Transportation , That showed which way
the wind was blowing. It showed that Iho
republican rank and fllo of the state de
manded some- action ; but after all that
was promised and pledged in our plat
form nothing came of it.
BUILDING OP A CELL HOUSE.
Let mo now revert to the work of the
legislature of 1S93. Before that legislature
had met , during the summer of 1S'J2 , prom
inent citizens of Lincoln made charges In
the public' , prints against varlci-.is state
officers and state Institutions , charging that
there had been a general extravagance and
corruption In state institutions , that the
state was bcilng robbed , thousand ! * and
thousands of dollars wcro being squan
dered , that coal was being delivered to
private citizens nnd charged up to the
state , that materials that wcro Inferior
were being accepted and paid for ns first-
class goods , and that a wholesale system
ot plunder nnd spoliation was going on In
state institutions. These reports were at
first discredited , but when the legislature
lonvened these charges wcro Investigated
and found to be substantially true. It
also transpired that the Stat3 Hoard of
Public Lands nnd ttulldlngs , consisting of
the attorney general , the secretary of state
and I lie land commissioner , had gone Into
a conspiracy with the contractor ot the
penitentiary , the notorious Charley Moaner ,
nml that they had made a contract with
Mtsher to construct a cell house for $10-
000 , for which the previous legislature had
made an appropriation ,
Now , In the first place , the contracts
with William H. 11. Stout , which Moshcr
had assumed , provided that 2SO cells should
be built at the expense of the contractor ,
and the legislature Itself was violating the
contract , or rather giving away f 10,000
to the contractor , In making the appropria
tion. This fact was as well known to
those state officers as It Is known toyine.
Why was It , then , that these state officers
undertook to build that cell house ? Simply
because in their collusion with this man
Mealier , who is a boodlcr extraordinary
( laughter ) and a manipulator of legislatures
and conventions , there was provided liberal
lubricating material for the state house
ring. ( Laughter. )
This cell house was to be constructed by
Mosher , and the State Hoard of Public Lands
and Ilulldlngs appointed his own manager ,
1)111 Dorgan , as superintendent of construction.
Mere was o contractor who also acted for
the state as superintendent , There were no
plans , no specifications , and the contractor
was lett to furnish such building material
as suited him , charge what he pleased and
mok put voucher * for work and material
without furnlihlnc proof of what had ac
tually been done or expended. There were
$10.000" squandered fin that cell houit ; It wai
a gigantic steal. Tlie building cannot be
u ed ( or anything except storage , The board
drew $50& of that money and expended It on
a junket down east under the pretense that
they were Inspecting other penitentiaries
and a number of Institutions. The moat re
markable thing about It was that th <
vouchers showed that tbe exact amount paid
it I on tlmt trip was fGOO. They did not
pend IB cents less ; nor 10 cents more ,
laughter. )
DROUGHT ON IMPEACHMENT.
Now. then , the legislature , finding this
; camlnFous state ot affairs , passed resolutions
mpeachlne these ofllc rn. The vote on the
mpeachmcnt resolutions WAS almost unanl-
nous ; only five members recorded their votes
gainst them. Two of theto were , I believe ,
c-mocrats ; one of them James H. North , the
resent collector of the stata ot Nebraska ;
nd the other , If I remember right , wns
Senator Mattes of Nebraska City , who Is
raveling around In Hurope. nnd distributing
100 cnko to Iho Germans nt the Instance-
J. Sterling Morton. ( Laughter. ) Only five
lit of 133 members voted against these Im-
icachment resolutions , and yet It Is said that
hose resolutions wcro passed s n pltce of
iolltlc.il spite work. That seems preposterous
0 any rational man , for democrats , popu-
Ists nnd republicans voted together.
When this matter reached the supreme
ourt a trial was had. and the court was
trilled. The majority of the court acquitted
ho Impeached officers on the ground that
heir misconduct was a technical violation ot
he law only , although their method of doing
nislness was sever < ly ecnsured. Chief Jus-
Ice Maxwell voted them gullly nnd filed a
dissenting opinion , sustaining- the point
10 made , that they should have been dls-
nlsscd from the ten Ice. ( Applause. )
Now , under ordinary conditions , men
vho were acquitted under such pe
culiar circumstances. who were nc-
lUltted on n Scotch verdict , would
mvo been glad to He down and keep
Btlll nml tend lo their business and avoid
any further c-nsiire. Not so with these Im-
leachcd state oinclala and the boodle rlng-
stcrs ut Lincoln. They were bound to have
a vindication , nnd the nnly way to have
heir vindication was to depose Samuel Max-
veil from the supreme bench. In that they
uid no dllllculty In finding active allies In
he railroad corporations. It was a. most
dangerous nnd powerful combination. The
statu officers and their retainers , railroad
nercennrlcs , working night and day , to defeat
Samuel Ma\u.ll , who wax ono of the or-
tanlzcrs of the republican party of this state ,
vho had been on the bench for twenty odd
ears , nnd nuver had been charced with
altering in his duty , whatever else there
night have been said against him. ( Ap-
ilausc. )
Had Samuel Maxwell Indicated or Intl-
nateil that he wns willing to do the bidding
of one ot .those corporations , the ono that
s now dominating the state I me-an the D.
& M. railrojd and the czar , lloldregc he
would have been on the bench today.
HOW MAXWELL , WAS DEFEATED.
How was his defeat brought nbout ? Hy
ihlcnnory , coercion of railroad employes nnd
ioodl . In your own county a straw man
vas put up as n candidate to prevent him
rom securing a delegation , and the most
lastnrdly means and shameless trickery were
resorted to , Men who conspire to undermine
; oed government are more dangerous than
he burglar who breaks Into your house , or
he safe-blower who robs a bank. What
s money or property as compared with the
right of American citizens to impartial trials
n our courts of justice anil to the honest
and fearless Interpretation of our laws.
In.Douglas county ths general sentiment
of republicans was In fnvor of returning
Judge Maxwell. If no Interference had
akcn place he would have had that delsga-
lon solid and would havO been renominated.
low was the popular will thwartnl ? Ono
of our councllmcn Is a cornice maker. Ho
was engaged to do some work by the Hoard
ot Public Lands and UulUllngs on one of the
stnto buildings , and thereupon ho set to
work to vindicate them. Ho managsd to
pack his ward delegation with railroad cm-
> loyes , wlillo he was assuring mo personally
: hat they weie all right for Maxwell. Sim-
lar Influences wcro iited in other parts of the
city , but with all this Interference we had a
nnjority of delegates for "Maxwell when the
convention mot. Hut we could not overcome
coercion nnd boodle. 1 had been assured
that the Union Pacific railroad , was not mcd-
lllng. Just before our cohventlon met I
called upon the prebldcnt of that road , Mr.
lark , and asked him whether It wns true
: hat the company was not taking part in this
Ight and would not Interfere. Hq said
Lhat was the truth , that ho did not propose
to do anything against Judge Maxwell or
interfere In that fight. Then said I : "Mr.
Clark , will you bo kind enough to write on
1 pleco of paper that your employes are at
liberty to vote as they please ? "
"No. I cannot do that/ ' said he.
"We.l , " said I , "but why not ? "
"Why , " ho said , "that would bo a breach
of faith with the other railroad people. "
( Applause , )
Now , then , Just think ot It , fellow cltl-
zins. Hero was the president of a great
railroad , and a republican Kucli as republi
cans are , you know , on any railroad ( laugh
ter ) hero was the president ot a great road
that would not write down on n piece of
paper that his employes who wore del-gates
In a convention were at liberty to vote the
sentiment of the men whom they represented.
Call you that free government ? Or call
you that a republican form of RovornmentT
I say It Is xlrnply despotism , just ns danger
ous as any that has ever controlled Russia or
Turkiy.
What was the result ? The result was
just this tlmt thase employes did not dare
to votetho sentiment which they wcro
elected to express at the convention , nnd
they cast their votes , every ono of them ,
against Judge Maxwell. The ring of boodlcrs
at Lincoln was vindicated. It was vindi
cated by deposing Judge Maxwell , but It
struck n blow at the republican party from
which for years-It will not bo able to re
cover.
Resenting the outrageous Interference with ,
that convention , I refused the support of
The Omaha nee to the candidate nominated
by that convention. I have- been asked tlmo
nnd ngaln , "Why did you , who were the - national
tional committee-man , refuse lo support the
regularly nominated candidate of the party ? "
First and foremost , I refused because fraud
vitiates all things , and men who are co
erced In voting In a convention do not rep
resent the "will of the party. ( Applause. )
In the next place , I refused because I could
forseo that If tills outrage wns consum
mated and endorsed by the republicans of the
state , that In the year 1801 , when we want
to carry the state , a yellow dog ticket would
bo put upand that we would then be con
fronted with the one question , "Shall we
save the state from the dlsgraco and danger
of public pluderers In the state house , or
shall the republican party boldly step In
and administer a rebuke lo rallroadlsm and
boodlcrlsm by rebuking it and force the
nomination of clean , upright , capable men
In the year 1898 , a ticket that will represent
the will of the people and not the corpora
tion bosses ? "
HAS NO PERSONAL GRIEVANCE.
Thnt wan why I opposed the nomination
of Judge Harrison. It was not a personal
grievance ; It wag not a quarred that I had
with him , but It was a dcttre to save the
republican party from what they are now
having to go through , ( Applause ) ,
Just what I dreaded wine to pass. Not
that I dreaded It because of any personal
grievance against Colonel Majors , Ctr-
talnly not. Colonel Majors has publicly de
clared In the republican ntnto convention at
Omaha that for fifteen years I had been at
swords' points with him , and had been pur
suing htm malignantly and maliciously
through every campaign. There Is Just
about as much truth In that assertion as
there was In the forged census returns to
which lib swore nt Washington. ( Applause
and laughter , )
Mr. Major * and myself bad no quarrel up
to 18SC , when wa both opposed Church Howe ,
when ho worked -with me hand In hand to
defeat a candidate whom I considered an Im
proper person for the republicans to nomi
nate. I never aiked Mr , McSlinne for any re
ward , political or otherwise , because I did
that work concclenolously , as I believed. In
the Interest ot ( he republican party and ot
clean government. Rut Majors bad hi * re
ward. He had his brother properly tjvken
care of by Mr. McShnne and kept In one of
the land offices In the Republican valley
through Cleveland's first administration and
little later op , Myself and Mr. Majors had
no quarrel up lo 1890 , and there Is no truth
whatever In his statement lo the contrary ,
We traveled together in 1891 from Omaha tp
Washlncton , tn order to try ( o get th.1 pa *
tlonal convention located at Omaha , Tlitt
was the first trip he had made to Waihlo-
ton since Tuomai B , R d lubmltttd