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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1902)
1 2 'TTIE OMAnA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1902. 17 CANDIDACY OF DAVID HENRY MERCER EOR A SIXTH TERM IN CONGRESS Sent Free i ' ft i! Full Stenographic Report of the Discussion Between Edward Rosewater and William F. Gurley at the Creighton Orpheum Theater, Thursday Even ing. May 29, 1902. Chairman R. W. Richardson Lad If t and Gentlemen: Under the rules governing t h Is discussion, tt agreed to by the respective parties. Mr. Rosewater will open the Ae tata with twenty minutes' time; Mr. Cur ia fallows with twenty minutes; Mr. Rose water then has fifteen minutes; Mr. Gurley follows In fifteen; they alternate then twice, with ten minutes each, and then al ternate four times at Ova minutes each, thus consuming one hour and a quarter each. Tha time for each will be called promptly. I am requested to ask tba friends of the respective parties, pleaae not to make Interruptions, because It takea the time from tha speakers" proportion Jut to that extent. Ladles and gentlemen, the gentleman for whom I officiate thla evening needa no In troduction. He Is well known to you all and la. Indeed, at this day. a national char acter. He is a veteran In forensic debate, medium In stature, but a giant In Intellect. Ha flgtta In tba open and wina by the force of logical facta. I now have tha honor of presenting to you the Honorable Edward Rosewater. (Applause.) MR. ROSICWATKIl. Mr. Chairman. Ladles and Gentlemen: Tor thla cordial and enthusiastic greeting I extend to you my most heartfelt thanks. At the very outset I must ask your very generous Indulgence with my Infirmities. I am painfully conscious of tbe fact that I am entering tba lists of debate with a man richly endowed with the rare gifts of elo quence, wit and superb manhood. He la a man who can with his beaming counte nance and seductive smllea entrance the ladles and make their hearts flutter. (Laughter.) He Is a man who can by his fervent appeal make a murder Jury cry and the Judge on tbe criminal bench smile whenever he Indulges In bis rare sallies of wit It la something presumptuous on my part to enter Into a wordy combat with a man who can spellbind and hypnotise his audi nce 1 know very well that I am not equal to the occasion and if I do not get tbe favor of thla bright and Intelligent au dience, composed as it is of the beauty and chivalry of Omaha, when I am wrest ling with thla Adonis of the Omaha bar. I will only beg you to remember that a man cannot control his own makeup. I am bound to ask you to bear up with my plain and commonplace English and plain spoken truths, which have gotten me Into troub'e so many tlmea. It seemed to me somewhat of an Imperti nence for Mr. Gurley to challenge me to de bate with him tbe propriety of giving David H. Mercer a sixth term In congress. It la an extraordinary proceeding. I claim to be an American citizen endowed with the overelgnty of citizenship and no man haa a right to question me In my choice of pub- lie servanta. That la precisely what I have been challenged. It la simply amaxing that anyone should be called upon to account for hla opposition to, or his preference for, public servants. But Mr. Gurley haa been In the humor of presenting himself here and I have indulged him. I am willing to discuss the candidacy of David H. Mercer, but I fear that It will be disappointing to tnar.y of you if you have come here to listen to pyrotechnics and view a mud flinging match from thla end. I propose to devote my time exclusively to the dlacua : den of the subject In hand and If I bring Mr. Gurley in personally It will only be when he la directly connected with David , H. Mercer. We must at the outaet look ' backward and see where these two gentle : men presented themselves for the first . time in the political arena. Although I have been intimate with poli tics in Nebraska, I was not aware of the ' prominence and predominance of either of these gentlemen until tbe leglalatlve as sembly of 18S7. That waa the first time that Mercer and Gurley were brought into prominence and are on record. From that record I propose to read to you and let tt come direct from Mr. Gurley. Tbe legisla ture of 1887 had two great functlona to perform; one of these was the election of a United States senator and the other waa .he regulation of railways, and the taxa lon of railway property on a level with he property owned) by all other corpora lone or Individual We find here in thla book "testimony be ore the United States Pacific Railway Commission." testimony taken within three nouths after tbe legialature of 18S7 had idjourned. You will find on page 1257 Mr. lurley'a teattmony, and I will read a por tion of It. I shall read from a copy.' It Sr. Gurley, or any of bis friends, want to leep pace with me tbey can take this book, ipen it at page 1257, and aee I am not mis quoting. OMAHA. Neb.. June TT. 1887. W. F. Our y, being duly sworn and examined, testl ted aa follows, the chairman. Governor ?attlsnn of Pennsylvania, questioning: Q What is your buElness; A. X am an tttorney. c . .. - - . . J The first necessity of athletics is a found stomach. . Food is the source of all physical strength, but to extract and assimilate the strength from food requires that the stomach and other orrana of digestion and nutrition should be in a coudition of good health. What is true 1 of the athlete is true of every man and woman ; physical health and vigor de- 'pend upon the digestion and aasimila- ' Lon of food. Dr. Pierce'g Golden Medical Discovery Cures diseases of the stomach and other organs of digestion and nutrition, and by enabling the perfect digestion and aaeimilatiou of food, builda the body up with solid flesh and muscle. ! I used tea bottle at Dr. Pierce's Gators Med. ,nl liucvmy and erveral vials of his ' truant 1 twlleu ' a yrar ago this epnag. a ad have had M I tenable enta iadiceauoa eu.ee. writra Mr W. T. j T ban peon, of Townaend, Uroedtreter Cotiaty. Mootaaa s Ward (a J la trll bow thenklal I , aa lor thr relief aa I had suffered aa mack and ' aeesaed that the dorturt could do me ao gaud. f roi w a in vtiUt to m pound!, and fti Dot V you inn at an. now l weura atari dsy's work o (he bra 1a and .v a guod word le eey for lr. Becucaijea" Nn Sense Medical Adriaer. en in ttatier covers, is sent ol si one-cent stamp to . mailing only. A4dreea I -r- v - . Q Have you had any business relations with tbe Union Pacific Railway company? A. .No. sir. Q. Were you ever employed by them? A Not by the company. Q By whom were you employed con nected with the company? A. I have been employed at different timee by Mr. Thurston. y Were you employed by Mr. Thurston to visit the capttol during the session of the legislnture in the Interest of the Union Pacific Hallway company? A. I waa em ployed by Mr. Thurston one time to look after certain matters at Lincoln. Q. What were they? A. I looked after railroad bills there, to see what time they came up, of what nature they were, that la, whether they related to railroads or not. (j When were you employed, how long ago? A. I was there last winter. Q How long were you there? A. I think I was there ninety days W Was that the entire session? A. Tee. sir, that covered pretty near the en tire session, I guess. J. What bills were pending before the legislature that the Union Pacific Railway company waa especially interested In? A. I don t know, I am aure. Q. What did you do there? A. Well, as I say, 1 looked after the bills to aee when they were Introduced and to see what their nature was, and looked after them gen erally. ' M Did you see the bills? A. Well, gen erally made up my mind what the Inten tion of the bill waa. y What were the bills? A. There were quite a number of them; I could not atate siieciflcally sny particular bill. y. Can you name any one of them? A. I don't think I could, sir. y Who was associated with you at Lin coln In watching the Interest of the Union Pacific company? A. I don't know what other parties were doing there. I know what I was doing. There were a great many people down at Lincoln. y. Do you know of anybody else work ing with you in connection with the inter ests of the Union Pacific Railway com- rany? A. I waa working alone ao far aa was concerned. Q What kind of work did you do? A. Well, I have tried to state. As soon aa a bill waa Introduced I endeavored to And out when it waa liable to come-up for discussion and pasaage and to look after it in a general way. y. What did you do to fix the members of the legislature with relation to bills? A. Nothing mora than talk in regard to the bills. y. Did you talk to the Individual or did you talk to them collectively? A. I talked to them Individually, not collectively. Q. Did they have a room In the halls of the legislature known as the oil room? A. I have heard of such a room, but I never saw It to my knowledge. Q. Where did you hear of it?. A. In the papers, principally through The Bee. y Aa an actual fact you do not know of any such room? A. I don't know of such a room, no, sir. y. What did you hear about the oil room through The Bee? A. I simply heard that there was such a room. I never un derstood what they meant bv It mvself. Q What was it reported that they did In that room? A. I don't know that I can tell. y Did they have drinking materials? Was that the allegation? A. I don't know, really. Q Were drtnklna- materia la aa a matter of fact provided anywhere In the halls of tne legislature? A. 1 cton t Know of any. Q Or in the vicinity? A. I could not Sly as to that. Q How were you paid? A. I waa paid by different parties. I was paid by Mr. Thurston for the work 1 did for him. I had other work there toy other individuals that I waa paid for. . y. How much were you paid by Mr. Thuraton? A. I don't remember the exact amount. Q- Were you paid 1100 a month? I am speaking of the Union Pacific legislation. A. I don't remember the exact amount that Mr. Thurston paid me. Perhaps something like KuO or 1400. Probably about (4(0. I guess. Q That was the total amount, was It? A. No. that waa what ha paid me. They paid my expenses. Q What expenses? A. Expenses while I waa at Lincoln, living there. , Q What expenaes do you mean by liv ing? A. I mean my living expenses, my board and that kind of thing. Q Did you do the lobbying for the union Pacific Railroad company at the capltol? A. What do you mean by lobby ing? Tha Chairman I am examining you. The Witness I know, but I want to un derstand the question fully. The Chairman t put the question. Did you do the lobbying of the Union Pacific Railway company at the capltol during the session of the legislature? The Wltneas I hava stated fcf T employed by Mr. Thurston to go down there mm imia aner ineae un is. xney were rail road bills. 1 did so. The emolovment via from him. Q Did you ever appear before any com mittee? A. No, sir. Q How did you convince the members? A I don't know that I convinced anv of them. I very often diacuaaed bills that were pending. Can you name one single bill that you discussed with any one member of the Ne braska legialature? A 1 don't believe that I can name a single bill now. There were a great many of them. Q It didn't make much of an Impres sion on you at the time? A. It might have at the time, but it haa eacaped my memory now. Q Did you ever succeed In convincing a member of the legislature that he ought to change hla opinion? A. I don't know that I ever convinced any of them. I am sure. y.-Dld any of them afterward change their opinion? A. I cannot tell Q How did you obaerve the result of u.r,w5r V Llnin? A.-I don't know that I did observe the result very closely. Mr. Roeewater A series of questions were then asked as to the persons asso ciated with Mr. Gurley. smployed by the Union Pacific in conaectlon with legislation at Lincoln and afte Mr. Gurley had testi fied that he did not remember a solitary person associated with him in the railroad j lobby he waa asked, "Was there a man mere by the name of David H. Mercer?" Answer Yea. U Waa he employed In the aama a. racily with you?. A. I don't know what me employment waa. e never told me. Q Did you hare a conversation with him when be was there in connection with legislation of the Union Pacific? a i have had a number of conversations with nun. i uon i rememoer wnat tbey were. Now, then, when Mr. Gurley comes up to ten you the magnificent record that Mr. Mercer made you must take It with aome grain of allowance. He Is afflicted with aa impediment Is his memory snd distressing lapses of veracity. He had theaa defects already fifteen years ago. (Laughter.) Ha did not remember one solitary railroad bill that he handled only alaety days after the session. And yet I hare here a Hat of more than twenty or thirty. The moat lm portent measure waa the charter of Omaha, la which be, with others, labored arduoasly to destroy the work of our delegation act log under instructions of cltiaens of Omaha and pledged to enact a law that would re quire taxation of railway property on an equal footing with other property. They succeeded la destroying that portion of the charter and also the provision granting the right of eminent domain In the acqulaltloa of parks. It has cost us more than half a million dollars to get a plot of park land which we could have had at that time for leaa than . one huadred thousand dollars. And yet Mr. Gurley did not remember en tbe t7th of June what happened on the 10th of March, leaa thaa ninety daya previously. His memory was not good, but other wit nesses are la that book. George Crawford, for example. Crawford, a fellow lobbyist remembered very distinctly how be enter tained the legialature. He entertaind them. he said, someUmea with bad stories, soma times with cigars, sometimes with wina. and sometimes he would sing te them. I suppose Mr. Ourlty was ths man whs as slated la ths singing. (Laughter.) And yet he could aot remember. Now, I regret to recall this aacisnt his tory, but It Is part of what Is ts be said hers tonight with retard to Mr. Mercer sad explains why I personally eppqeet hla nomination when he was seeking the nomi nation for congress the first time. MR. 6oa. I notice many standing. It waa tbe agree ment, I believe, that after 8:15 all seats that were not occupied should be filled by the first comers. Bome ticket holders hsve not taken tbelr seat here (Indicating) sod there are others in the balcony. Those who are standing may take them. Ladles and Gentlemen: In tbe earlier daya of the republic, when newspapers were scarce and the other agencies for dissemina tion of knowledge were fewer than they now are, it waa the custom for those who were advocating opposing men and measures to meet in Joint debate and discuss them. The same principle applies. In a sense, here to night. Mr. Mercer is a candidate for there nomination for congress. Mr. Rosewater Is opposed to him. Mr. Roeewater, aside from bis strong personality, has a powerful news paper, both of which everyone concedes to him the liberty to use as he pleases. Mr. Mercer baa no newspaper. Mr. Gurley Is Mr. Mercer's friend. He challenges Mr. Roscwatet to discuss the proposition before tbe public. Mr. Roeewater accepts, and here we are. I wish thst we had a dollar a head from this fine audience to apply to tbe uses of the republican county central committee of this county, and I made up my mind that if this should be a success tonight, aa It ap pears to be from this fine audience, and as I suspect from the suggestions of the first speaker It certainly will be (laughter), we shall ask the gentlemen to go on the road and allow us to promote tbe shew. We shall cbsrge a dollar a head and make enough money, perhaps, to carry on the next campaign. Not a national campaign because there would not be money enough but Just an ordinary atate campaign. Ladies and gentlemen. It does me great honor tonight to preside on bebslf of my friend, a gentleman endowed In a large de gree with a combination that Is not at all usual tbe force of logic and the grace of speech. He is here tonight not to defend Mr. Mercer, but to advocate his cauae. I have the pleasure of presenting to you Mr. William F. Gurley, who will now speak for twenty minutes. (Applauae.) MR. CI RLE Y. Mr. Chairman, Ladles and Gentlemen I was somewhat embarrassed wben my distinguished opponent commenced his opening remarks, for while he speaks so beautifully of me, so kindly, he praised me so thoroughly that I was very much afraid that It would be em barrassing for me to discuss the Issue which we are here to debate. But he did not remain very long In that kindly mood He proceeded to discuss my personality and devoted some fifteen to eighteen minutes of his time to discussing me. Now, fellow citizens, I am not a candidate for congress. (Applauae.) I am not now a candidate for public office, but If I ever am I ahall be glad to know that my dl tlngulsbed opponent can bring no more serious charges against me than he seeks to bring by reading my own testimony. (Applause). It has been said that I am the friend of David H. Mercer. That Is true. I am his friend; I was his friend In 1887, and from that day to this I know not aught of the man which ahould deprive him of the friendahip of an honest American citizen. (Loud applause). My distinguished opponent says that when refer you to Mr. Mercers' magnificent record, he wants you to make allowances for my memory. Tou need not do It, fel low citizens. When I refer tonight to the magnificent record of David H. Mercer I will support It by the record and by the testimony of some upon this platform. Then let him deny ft If he can. What Is his magnificent record? Let us see. In an editorial published In The Bee July 2, 1896, Edward Rosewater, my distinguished op ponent, says: "It would pay the people of this district better to put all the small bore aspirants for congress on a pension of $5,000 a year rather than to retire Con gressman Mercer at this all Important Juncture." (Loud and continued applause). Further, fellow citizens. In the same edi torial he aays: "Will the citizens of Omaha permit Mr. Mercer to be turned down for ataying In Washington and at tending faithfully to tbelr business Just because aome picayune pettifogger has been deluded into the belief that he is big enough to hold down a seat In congress?" (Applause.) Picayune pettlfoggert Fellow citizens, who were the opposing candidates to Mr. Mercer at that time? Tbey were two able, distinguished, reputable member of the Douglas county bar; men of unimpeachable character, men of unimpeachable Integrity; friends of mine then, although then I was tor Mercer. Friends of mine today, al though today I am for Mercer. They were Hon. Edward J. Cornish and Hon. John L. Kennedy. (Loud applauae.) Oh, yes, but at that time those gentlemen were not supporting my distinguished op ponent At that time they were opposing hla behests . and therefore they were picayune pettifoggers." What Is Mr. Cornish today? (Loud and continued ap plause.) I know what Edward J. Cornish Is today. A manly and honest man. I knew It then; I know It today. My dis tinguished opponent knows tt today snd will admit It; knew It then and denied It (Laughter.) He said to you. my fellow citizens, that you will have to bear with his plain spoken truths which have often gotten him Into trouble. (Laughter.) I propose to read one or more of the plain spoken truths of hla, which have gotten him Into trouble, (Laughter.) In an editorial on July 5, 1898, he says: The anti-Mercer crusade la a moat Arm. ptcable exhibition of vind!ctlveness and want of loyalty to the vital Interests of me community, i ne men wno nave mined in It would rather aee Omaha a heap ft ruins than foreco their Deraonal ratifica tion or political advantage. The same day In an editorial my distin guished opponent says: The turning down of Mercer would not only be an exhibition of base Ingratitude to a man who haa rendered more efficient service to the cauae of labor than any other man Nebraska has ever sent to congress, but would prove disastrous to the Interests or tne worKingmen. Tbeae ars but a few of tbe things which he said about Mr. Mercer. He alao gave Mr. Mercer the credit the eole credit for paaslng the exposition bill in the house of representatives. He gave him the eole credit for that. He gave him the eole credit for the Indian supply depot. Mercer, he said, was the man. It would be baae In gratitude to turn him down then. He re peated theaa endorsements in 1898, when Mercer had been nominated tor the fourth term. He told the cltlsens of this congres sional district that ha waa ons of the best representatives thst Nebraska ever had. He said hla Influence waa widely expanded, he was becoming a national character, he had more power for good, for the people of Nebraska, thaa any legislator we ever had from thla district or any other dtatrlet from the atate of Nebraska. Wben did the gen tleman change his mind? (Laughter and applausa.) I want to aak my distinguished opponent when It waa that the scalea 9 rat fell from his eyes? (Laughter.) I would ask my distinguished opponeut when waa It that your vision first became unobscured? (Laughter). I waat to aak my dtatlngulaehd opponent to tell thla audience when it waa that he had a change of heart? (Laughter.) Waa it, could It have been oh, perish the igaoble thought eould It have heea whea tas offices at tjL.beadquarters of the De partment of the Platte were transferred ' from The Bee building to tbe old postofflce? (Laughter and loud applause). Could It have been when from nine to tea thousand dollars a year were taken out of the cefiers of The Bee Publishing company or build lng company and turned Into tbe treasury of the United Etatet? Could It have been on account of this that my diatlngutshed opponent changed his mind? But there are other candidates for congress snd my dis tinguished opponent In a speech In the Eighth wsrd the other night ssld that he admitted that Mr. Mercer had done great work for this district and this state, but be said he was a hustler, and he said we didn't need a hustler any longer. (Laughter). He said that Mercer had gotten all the appro priations for public buildings that could be gotten in this district and therefore we did not need him any more. I suppose in view of the amlsble acquiescent and somewhat negative support my distinguished opponent Is giving to hla congressional asaoclates he does not recognize in any tine of them a hustler. (Laughter.) But. fellow citizens, there are Just two classes of men who have influence In the congress of the United States. One class la tbe wldeswske, active, energetic busi ness man, the other class Is comprised of men versed In tbe science of politi cal government, eloquent la speech and like my distinguished opponent, Prince Ruperts In debate. (Laughter and loud applause.) Thty are few In number. I want my distinguished opponent to tell us which of these other statesmen who are opposing Mr. Mercer have his support. 1 want him to tell us which one of these gentlemen, all friends of mine, are more thoroughly In accord with republican prin ciples and republican policies than David H. Mercer. Tbe fact Is, fellow citizens, he will not name them. He has no candi date. His mission in this campaign Is not to build up, but to tear down; not to create, but to deatroy; not to raise, but to ruin, and I am sorry thst my distinguished op ponent has never learned the lesson which haa Its ''confirmation strong aa proofs of holy writ," that from the political ruin of hla own handiwork no ladder can rise upon whose rounds he may lawlessly scale to the perch of his "winged ambitions." There Is, however, a large sized and respectable rumor afloat to the effect that my distinguished opponent expects, after be bas killed -eft Mr. Mercer and by his chilly support freezes bis associate candi dates to death, to rise in hla lofty majesty snd take the biscuit himself. (Laughter). What a glorious sight that would be! (Laughter.) How valiantly he would fight and battle for republican principles and tbe succesa of the ticket. How he would hurrah for the permanent annexation of the Philippines. How he would favor putting the American flag wherever It could be put to stay there. What magnificent epithets he would hurl at the miscreants, political assassins and republican renegades who would have the temerity to oppose the ticket. Consistency, thou art a Jewel, but If my distinguished opponent ever owned that Jewel he placed it In pawn years ago and forgot to redeem it. MR. ROSEWATER, Chairman Goss, who presides for my dis tinguished friend, has suggested that subscription of one dollar per bead be raised from this audience in order to as slst the republican county committee In carrying on its work. Why not apply to Mr. David H. Mercer to pay the assessment which was levied on him and save this au dlence that email contribution. Mercer never was known to pay any money Into campaigns unless It was raised for him by his friends. We have been renlnded hers that In 1898 The Omaha Bee made fervent, and perhaps too zealous, appeala en behalf of Mr. Mer cer. But my friend forgets to mention that that was Mercer's third term, and that was at a period when Omaha was struggling with all her might and main for the sus- cess of aa enterprise upon which we all be lleved Its Immediate future prosperity de pended. I refer to the exposition. It was but natural that tboss who had a deep In terest la the success of the exposition should do everything they could to continue Mr. Mercer In congress, because the expo sltlon bill had to go through the committee of which Mr. Mercer was chairman. We dealred a friendly chairman In charge of that bill In order that it might pass with out serious obstruction. And this brings me to the claim Mr. Mercer has for the monumental work he has done. I do not deny him whatever credit be longs to him, although we have often given him credit for work done by others. But when it is assumed that he is the only man that can represent this district. I want to know upon what that assumption rests. want my friend to tell me whether Mr. Mercer would be satisfied with a sixth term and quit there. Would he be satisfied wtth a seventh term? Would he want an eighth term? Would he want to be there forever? But Mr. Mercer himself has shown that ha personally does not believe that be Is In dispensable. He has shown by his conduct that he was willing at the time, when he pretended that you needed him so much, to leave you in the lurch In the house or rep resentatlves. Two years ago Mr. Mercer presented him self as a candidate for a fifth term and waat to say right here tbat my anxiety to have him nominated for a fifth term was not very ardent. It was very clear that he had been rewarded way beyond all merit He had four successlvs terms In congress when no other man from Nebraska ever had more than three. He had also grsdu ally disengaged himself from association with Omaha and lost his Identity here practically altogether. He had become non-iealdent. Now, then, In 1900 Mr. Mer cer presented himself to the constituency of this district and was accorded upon the appeal of himself and his friends a fifth term. Tbe term for which he was elected to congress will not terminate until March 4, 190S. He was not only not content when he accepted that nomination and had the peo pie elect him to serve out that term, but what did he do? Within three days after he bad been re-elected he began to schems snd work to abandon that place and leave it vacant and have us put to the expenae and trouble of a special election in case of his own elevation to the United States senate. He began to vacate his own place when he pretended to be indispensable Now, If we eould have spared him during the past two years we might have man aged to get along with Inferior material, as Mr. Gurley thinks. We would have been compelled to suffer unless he himself per bsps had been nominated. (Laughter.) What aa awful altuatton, to be left for two years without that Indispensable man la the lower house of congress! It we could have dispenaed with Mercer oa the tth of March, ltOl. why cannot we dispense with him as well on the 4th of March. 1901? Mr. Gurley tells us of his loyslty to Mr. Mercer and be cites the tact tbat In 1887 they begaa together aad they have beea together ever since. There was nothing very creditable In tbelr being together In 1887. I muat return to that record, because I had not floUbed at the end of my first twenty minutes. I have the ledger here of the Capltol hotel of Llacola. Tbis book contains the bills which Jobs M Thurston paid tor ths lobby. It contains tZ.Ctl.ta hotel bill; l10 of that was paid for Mercer, Ourley - aad several other patriots, aad here you will find four hue drti aad sixty odd dollars for bar bills aad cigars, and that Is the nice kind of work Gurley and Mercer were engaged In. Now, I want Mr. Mercer to aaawer this question through his understudy: Would Mr. Mercer remain In Omaha if he was turned down? Would he remain snd retain his residence la Omabs If we should not nominate hla this tall, or re-elect him, or would ha go back to Washington and en- gags li tha old business in which he wss trained at Lincoln in 1887? Reference has been made here to my opposition to Mr. Mercer on account of the transfer of the headquarters of ths army Into the old postofflce building. That hap pened nearly three years ago. Now, tbo contract for locating the headquarters of tbe army was made In 1889, years before Mercer was thought of for congress. Did Mr. Mercer have anything to do with bring ing It there or keeping It there? The army headquarters was located In The Bee build ing before ever the building was con structed, under a contract with the gov ernment. During the democratic administra tion of Orover Clevelaad my republican and democratic enemlea exerted all their influence to have It moved, but Mr. La moot ssw through their motives ana sept It right thers becsuss Is wss recom mended by tbe commanders of the depart ment. The rent paid by the government was not unreasonable. We are getting more rent from tbe tenants tbat we have on that floor today than we got when tbe army was there. Will my friend inform this audience why he haa injected tbe army headquarters Into this debate? Was It to confuse tbe minds of the public? The truth Is that my opposition to Mr. Mercer can be plainly stated In a few words: First and foremost, republics are not un grateful, neither are republicans. We have done everything that could be done for this man. Ha has had fire successive terms, and that is more than any other man baa had, west of the Missouri river, but one. There la but ons man west of tbe Missouri river in ths lower house of congress that has been there longer than Mr. Mercer. Not one man In all New England haa been there longer than Mr. Mercer, and the men who have been retained from New York, Bereno Payne, the leader of tbe house of representatives, and Wadsworth, from New York. General Bingham of Philadelphia and Dalzell of Pittsburg. These are about the only men out of the entire New York and Pennsylvania delegations. Henderson and Hull from low are the only two men that have represented Iowa in congress more than five successlvs terms, and Hopkins, Hltt and Cannon of Illinois. Every one of these men Is recognised ss a leader, with whom Mercer cannot stand comparison. Out of tbe entire galaxy of democrats In southern states only firs have been there longer than Mr. Mercer. Now, then, let us admit that It was well and proper for ui to mske a struggle for Mercer In 1894 and give him a third term Let us admit that we gave him a fourth term for the rery simple reason that we had still many things unfinished. But why a sixth term? Let me call attention to the fnct that Mr. Mercer in his first term se cured the South Omaha postofflce appropri ation In a democratio house and wtth democratic president He was thers only oae term, snd It was not so much because It was Darid H. Mercer, but tbe pressure of John A. McEhane, the pressure of the packing houses and tha influences behind them gave ths appropriation to South Omaha, and Mercer took the credit. In the very first and only term that John A. McEhane served he got tbe appropriation for the Omaha postofflce and had one mil lion two hundred thousand dollars appro priated during that term. My friend don't seem to remember also that Senator Man dersoa had something to do with securing those appropriations. We all know that the approprlationa had been voted for the nurchaae of the grounda and a part of the Omaha poatofflce building when Mr. Mercer came In. Tbe government surely would not have left the building unfinished after It bad made such largs approprla tlons for the acquisition of the grounds and ths construction of the lower portion of tbe building. Mr. Gurley has said to us hers that he haa always been the friend of Mr. Mercer Thers Is a man by ths name of Johnny Wright, a colored man, who runs a house of about tbe same character as the notort ous Mldwsy la tbs lower end of the Third ward. That gentleman renta bis house from Mr. Gurley and from Mr. Ransom, two very Intimate friends and gentlemen of the same stock. Mr. Ourley, of course, claims to be a republican and Mr. Ransom claims to bs a. silver republican democrat. Mr, Ourley went to Mr. Wright when Mr. Mer cer was running for a fourth term, that Is, In 1898, and hs said to Johnny Wright "Whatever Ransom tells you to do, you do. Tou holp out wherever he wants you to, I cannot give you any directions." Wright, of course, had to take his In structlons from Ransom and Ransom was for Hitchcock, the demopop competitor of Mercer. Hers is loyalty for you. MR. GURLEY. Fellow citizens, again will I ask my dls tlngulshed opponent when was It thst he first discovered thst David H. Mercer had ceased to be a useful member of congress from this district? When wss It? Has hs given you any reason? He talks to you about our Introducing facts for the purpoae of confusing the Issue, snd then hs resd to you from tbe hotel ledger of the Cap! tol hotel of 1887. (Laughter.) Is that ma terlal to the lasue? I think not. Now, fel low citizens, he says that In 1898 he gave Mercer credit for many things which he did not do. He says tbat he gave Mercer credit for many things when others wers entitled to part of the credit. He said that la the Eighth ward; he says that sub stantially tonight. In other words, my fellow citizens, hs tells you thst In 1894 hs made falae statements about David Mer cer, knowing them to be false, for the purpose of clscting him to congress becauae he wanted him elected. It that Is so, Isn't It fsir to assume that tonight he would make false statements about Mercer, know ing them to be false, for tbe purpose of defeating him, becauae be wants him de tested? (Loud applauae.) If tbere ia any flaw In the logic of that statement, will my distinguished opponent point tt out when he eomee to reply? A Voice He can't do U. He said that ws wsnted Mercer In 'it because the lite of this city, la the opinion of many, was at stake. Yea, they wanted him then because we all thought tbat that exposition would be the salvation of tbs city of Omaha. Ws bad corns to tbs part lag of the ways. Ws realized that It would give aa Impetua to tbe metropolitan character of Omaha as a city, and David H. Mercur was given by prominent mem bers of congress the sole credit for paaatng tbat bill In the houae. Ex-Speaker Reed ao testified. The Omaha Bee so testified. (Laughter.) My diatlnguiahed opponent so testified. He saya In '98 we gave him another term becauae we had a few more things to do. (Laughter.) Mercer bad saved tbe city, bat there were a few leaves we wanted him to clean up In tbe back yard and tbey are all out now. The gentle man aays there Is nothing more to be ac complished. He said, and It Is true one thing be haa stated tonight which la true, be says that Mercer got the appropriation for the South Omaha building through in a democratic congress while there was a democratic president, la hla first term. That Is so. Fellow cltlsens, I want to ask you, fellow republicans, candidly and soberly, how msny men do you tblnk could go to the congress of tbe United States with an opposition majority agatnat him, wtth aa opposition president la the White House, and In his first term get an ap propriation for a $100,000 building for tbe Ity of South Omaha? That ia wbat Mer cer did. (Applause). But he says tbat he Is going to stste In a few words his opposition to Mercer, snd I took It down. He says, "I am opposed to him because we have done all tor him that we could do. We have given him five terms. Does he wsnt to stsy there for life? In '94 snd "98 we had many things for him to do. We have nothing more for him to do now." I want to read to you a let ter which was banded to me yesterday by Captain -Palmer of this city, a letter which had been received by him from a congressman from South Dakota, dated May 21. CaDtaln H. B. Palmer. Omaha. Neb: My Dear Sir Mr. Mercer rendered us good service In connection with the aanitsrlum bill, and I want to speak a good word in hla behalf. 1 sincerely hope that you and your friends may be able to asalst him ery materially In nls canoiaacy lor re- lectlon. The fact Is that Mr. Mercer Is a ery useful member of the house of repre sentatives, particularly from the etanrt- polnt of the west. His piwltlon as cnair man of the house committee on rvubllo buildings and grounds place htm where he can be of very material service to all of the western states. He ts so tnorougniy western in his life and education, and so thoroughly posted as to our needa, that it wmilri be a arrest lnaa to tha west, in Tr-.V opinion, if he should be retired from public life. ir ne snouia noi remain in conem- we could not hope to have a western man chairman of that committee. The ranking member Is a New Yorker. Sincerely yours, ib(,N W. MAKll. (Applause). Here is another letter which I received today from a gentleman by the name of Blanchard. who la connected with Shelley Rogers company, live etock commission men of South Omaha, Hs says, under date of May 29: The nenTVle of South Omaha are very much interested In Congressman Mercer and desire to help him because he helped them. One Instance, May 4, 1901. Secretary of the Exchange Guild wrote Mercer that our people wanted a sub postofflce station at the Exchange building. South Omaha, vi v- is nr 14 e read In Associated Press dispatches. Washington, D. C. that the matter bad been preeemea anu wuuiu i granted, etc. I write you this to show again that he Is n th. interest nf hla neonle and goes right after anything they need. If you can use this to advantage in your debate. I ehail feel well IS d. (Applause.) But he says, or rather intimates, for he has not yet told us why It was thst he waa bpposed to Mr. Mercer, but he intimates that one of the reasons ts because Mr. Mer cer went to the city of Lincoln in 1899. bile my distinguished opponent thought he waa a candidate for United Statea sen ator. (Applauae.) Aye, that was an un pardonable offense for a congressman who had aerved six years eight years In this district, to aspire to the senatorshlp of tbe United States while my distinguished op Donent lmaclned that he had a show. (Laughter.) Why. of course, we all know he never did He charges Mercer with treachery because he aays that a large majority of the repub licans of this district expressed their pref erence for him for United States senator on the ballot. Not at all; not at all; my die tlngutehed opponent. It to generally known that a large number of tboae votes express ing preference for you were simply demo cratic votes cast to complicate the repub llcan situation. Voices, "Yes, yes." (Laughter and loud and continued applause.) Now then let us see. Was thst treachery? Mercer hadn't c6nteeted. It la true, for the delegation from Douglas county with my distinguished opponent And he says, thst Mr. Webster, after my distinguished op ponent beat him at tbe primaries, he says "Webster, be It to his honor, sblded by tbo result." Thst was In 1900. Does the gen tlemen remember the primary of '98 when John L. Webster carried the delegation from this county? Does the gentleman re member that after Webater carried thla county, tnd those delegates were pledged to Webster, he went down there and he cajoled and he persuaded and he threatened and he pleaded with them that they would forsake their honor, break their pledge and vote for him for United States senator? (Laugh ter and loud applauae.) Let the gentleman deny tbat If he dare, snd when I come to reply I will prove It- (Laughter and ap plause.) MR. ROSEWATER. I dsre deny thst I ever made an effort to take votes from Mr. Webster, and I declare that It Is absolutely untrue that any ons of these men was Importuned to leave Webster so long ss Webster had any show Gentlemen, I wsnt to call your attention to the campaign of 1898 and the difference between that and 1900. In 1898 there was no such issue as Webster and anti-Webster at the primaries. Tbe truth Is that tha majority of delegates to that convention were elected as my frlsnds and hot as those of Webster, but by a Juggle and trade i tne convention I or minor omces tne canal dates In thst convention were changed and other candidates were substituted, as I can prove. There was no issue here of Webater snd anti-Webster. The truth is, the sen storsblp was presumed to go south of the Platte. No one was voted for for senator at those primaries and nobody was asked to express a choice. No candidate for the legialature who went before tbe people of this county In 1894 admitted that hs was pledged to Webster or against him. All were sailing under the flag of an unpledged delegation. The opportunities for Mr. Webster at that tlms were simply of s Incidental nature. There was a possibility of a deadlock and In that caae he might have had the delegation with htm, and can prove tbat for at least two weeks, or three, I had talks with members of tbe delegation from day to day snd when some of tbem wsnted to break sway from Web ster I said to them to remain there ss lon as It was possible for them to do so, but that was no moral obligation binding tbem to any man. They were not elected for Webster. Tbey did not claim to be for him. Id 1900 there was a senatorial contest this county and state. Let me assure you that my position Is aot Inspired by a per sonsl grievance; aot at all. In 1887, when my antagonist perpetrated that crime of bulldozing and cajoling the legislature to go back on tbelr solemn pledgee, he waa dowa there with Mercer doing everything he eould to prevent the honest sxpreaalon from the ballot box which Is tbe moat sacred right American citizens have. I made my remonatrance snd made It specific enough, and wbat ssld then spplies fully to every Instance of subversion of the popular wilL la 18 the people who framed the constitution of Nebraska were so wrought up by ths cor rupt msslpulstion of legialatures and out rags perpetrated In tba selection of United Etates senators that tha frsmers of tb organic law were compelled to insert I that Inatrument a provision that tbe peopl ebouia have a right to express their prefer eneea fr.r United Ststes senator and In struct tbe legialature whom they wanted, That privilege was not granted for fua or given merely as s Jest. It Imposed tbe most solemn duty which a member of tbe legis lature Is required to discharge. What right had Mercer or any other can dilate la this district to sttempt to subvert the will of tbe people- Mr. Gurley ssys thst a large perecnUge of the 10,004 votes cast to Men, Fres Trial Pnakaga of thla New Dis covery Mettled ta fcvery nun SenJIng Name and Addrea Vuickiy Restore Strength and Vigor. Frew trial rtackaeea of a most remark able remedy are being mailed to all who write the State MedlcaU Inetltute. They cured so many men who had battled tor JL E. ROBINSON, 1H. D, C. W. Medical Director eaxa arainat the mental and rhyaloai auf- rtng of lost manhood that the Institute as decided to dlatrtbute tree trial pacaaw- Sa to all who write. It Is a home tree- tnent ana all men woo runar wit a any orm of sexual weakness resulting irons outhful folly, premature loss of atrengtn and memory, weaJt back, varicocele, or maciatlon of Darts can now cure them selves at home. The remedy haa a peculiarly graterui ei fact of warmth and aeems to act direct to the dealred location giving strength and development Just where. It la needed. It urea ail tne ilia ana irouoiea i come rora years of misuse of the natural funct ions and has been an absolute suceeae In 11 cases. A reouest to the State Medical nstltute, 770 Elektroft Building, Ft. Wayne nd.. statin that vou desire one Of their free trial packages will be compiled with promptly. The Institute Is denlroue of reacning tnac grewi ciaes oi men wno are unable U leave home to be treated and the free aarnnle will enable them to eee s bow easy it la to be cured of sexual warn a V ness when the proper remedies are em-1 f'loyed. The Institute makes no restiio- I ions. Any man who writes will be sent a free sample, car- fully scaled In a plain 1 package so that K recipient need hare no 1 fear of embaraeem .tit or publicity. Read- 1 era are requested to writ without delay. I Is the greatest remedy known. It cures Poor Appetite. Sour, Hlnated Btomach, Dimples. BlotcheB, TMzelneee, Catarrh, Sleeplessness, les of Memory, Tired Feel ing In the Morning, Palpitation of the Heart and Rheumatism. Jo days' treat ment Zoc. All dniKglsta. No, madam, NO your woolens and flannel will NOT shrink if you wain them with Use it according to direc tions snd they will come from the tub as toft and "nappy" at when new. Three rises laundry, toe 1 bath aad toilet, jc; oval taiict, jo. Cudoaaa primer, coataia hg directions (or Cndoaia's anany uses, seal free ea re quest. The Cvdaht Packing Co. Omaha... Kansas Cry. DRINK tlUbu all White' Ribbon Remedy Ca.aa mm ..- - eslca elikuai palltil'i a.aaa wlee),. While Ribbon Kemedy will cure or de stroy the tixac4 ai-itU fur alcehoiio sUmuiauls, wheiuer Uie patient is a con firmed lutbriate, "a tippler," social drinker or drunkard, impuaaibla tor an. ons to have au appeuts lor aJuonulis liquors after using Vt nils fUbbun rtcaiedy. suuuoreeu uruiaiia ui v. a,, ay. airs. Moore, Preas fcluvenntendent of ths Woman s christian mpvrance union. Ventura. CaL, wriiaa: "I have toated Wniie Hiuoun Keniedy on very ouaUnate druua arda. and the curea have beeu many, la many cases the Kemedy was gives secretly. 1 cueerluuy rwcommena ana endorse vvtuie KlUbon Kemedy. Members ut our uulon are delighted to find a iiracucai and economi cal treatment to aid us tn our temperance work." Mrs. M. A, Cowan, of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, states: "i know of so many people reueesned from ths cures of driul. by the use of White Kibbun Kemedy ma; I -mmeaii request you to give It a trial.' brugglsia or by mall, U. Trial package free by writ ing or calling on Mrs. A. M. Tuwnsend (for years secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance union), )l Tremont St.. Bos ton. Mass. Bold In Omaha by SCHAEFER'S liUWW Phone 747, B. W. Cor. ISth and Chicago. Goods delivered FRES to any part t uty. Want Room? Furnished or i Unfurnished? With or Without Board? A list of The best furnished aad unfurnished rooms ia the city will be found en tha Want A4 Page. Cut the llat out aad take tt wit goti when you start te look tor a races. .aaBfcaV 111 5L II