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'TTIE OMAnA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1902.
17
CANDIDACY OF DAVID HENRY MERCER EOR A SIXTH TERM IN CONGRESS
Sent Free
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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
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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
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The remedy haa a peculiarly graterui ei
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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
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No, madam, NO your
woolens and flannel will
NOT shrink if you wain
them with
Use it according to direc
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from the tub as toft and
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Three rises laundry, toe 1
bath aad toilet, jc; oval
taiict, jo.
Cudoaaa primer, coataia
hg directions (or Cndoaia's
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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
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Mrs. M. A, Cowan, of the Woman's
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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
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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
