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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1902)
I t TIIE OMAHA DAILY HEE: SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 1002. CANDIDACY OF tor me In this county were democrat!. Kren If thin were true, does not he know thnt over 5,000 republican voters expressed their preference la the republican primary? Didn't the republican primaries squarely, by more than 2 to 1, instruct the re publican candidates from this county to Tote for Edward Rsjewaler? Isn't that the factt After I had aubmltted at the re publican primaries and bad won out I was not content to leave it there, but submitted the quest Ion to the people. I declared in a public meeting, held prlof to the primaries, that I would not represent the people unless the people wanted to be represented by me, and I would certainly not have accepted an office against the , will of the people. Dut Mr. Mercer audaciously turned In and wrote letters to very man elected to the legislature ask leg him for his support, and then be went to Washington and gave It out in the Washington newspapers that he bad been Importuned by the members of the legis lature to stand as a candidate, but when I he vote waa taken he never received one LolUary rote; during the aeventy-two daya W Joint convention not one vote was cast Cor him. It la to the highest credit of the delegation from Douglas that they were loyal from beginning to ead. Now, let me read to you what I thought about the b- trayal of the people In the choice of senators In 1887, and I hav nov c....ut.a fcny mind. Here Is the letter I wrote January 17: For the first time In the history of the country the test Is to be made whether the will of the people as directly or indirectly Oppressed shall be represented by their representatives in the legislature by their choice of United States senntor. Our sys tem of elective government will either prove Itself a sham and farce, or worthy f confidence and respect. I remember well how powerful popular sentiment was In favor of giving: the peo- le a chance to vote their choice for 'nlted States senator when our present constitution was being framed. It is a natter of record that the first legislature convened under the present constitution airs out unanimously passed a memorial to coiwress demanding an amendment to the cenfctltutlon that would make the office of XTnited States senator elective, the same asthat of congressman. Vopular sentiment on this question Is mire intense today than ever. The people off Nebraska will have their choice as In dicated by their polls and conventions, or t y will know the reason why. Not only Iran people of Nebraska, but thoBe of the whole country, are anxiously waiting to hear the result of the balloting. In every respect the position of members is the same as those of presidential electors. The attempt to tamper with members who were elected on the Van Wyck issue, Is Just as Iniamous and villainous as was the effort to purchase Cronln's vote for Bam TUden ten years ago. After the senatorial contest the outrage was denounced by me In this language: The political history of this state pre sents no parallel of dastardly disloyalty to the people and to a leader who had the people's confidence. In the seven sena torial contests which Nebraska has wit nessed no such defection was ever at tempted at that stage. Van Wyck, with a popular endorsement such aa no man ever riad, a republican following nearly three time as large as that of any other candi date and a reserve of twenty-five to thirty democrats elected and pledged to support the popular choice, found himself face to face with poltroons, mutineers and traitors on the first day. This band of conspirator in constant and close communion with the enemy helped to work up its caucus scheme and Anally went so far as to change their votes In open session whenever Van Wyck re ceived votes enough to elect. , Just as Joint session was about to con vene I stepped up to Whltmore and asked film whether It was true that he had greed to change his vote for Van Wyck or somebody else In case Van Wyck re ceived votes enough to elect, lie gave an evasive answer. t "For God's sake," said I, "don't do this (thing. You will ruin yourself and disgrace Waii when vau mttrm endorsed by the work- in rf" IMA." "Well," sald Whltmore, "I don't know what I will do." i By the side of Whltmore at that moment, and through the entire session, sat Thurs ton's man Friday, W. F. Gurley. That la precisely as It was written in 188T. It was discreditable to subvert the will of the people and destructive to our form of government In 1887, and It was equally discreditable and criminal Is 1900. For myself I appeared before that legis lature after It had elected your two repub lican Senators. The gentleman says it was all a Joke, but they voted for me for seventy-two days. I stated publicly that I had absolved my supporters and withdrawn as candidate and waa content because I was not a statesman out of a Job. And so far as I am concerned, it la not a question of personal revenges to gratify. I am battling for a principle that must be vindicated. The paramount lasue In the candidacy of Mercer la whether the people of this dis trict will endorse a man who violates the fundamental principles of self-government, of republican government, by trying to frustrate the will of the people, conspiring to undo what the people have decreed. They had declared themselves la emphatlo terms and It was his duty to abide their choice. Now, fellow cltUens, th la a much more grave question than any that has ever been presented to the people of this congressional district. It reachei down to the bedrock of free government. A free people have a right to name their rep resentatives In national and state leglala ture and be repreaented loyally by them,' or else we have no free government. 'MR. GIRI.KT. Fellow cltUens, the gentleman reads from n editorial which he says be wrote in 1887, wherein he dlacusses the sacredneas of the ballot box, and I waa wondering while he waa reading that editorial whether he also had In his pocket a copy of the testimony of the chief of police of South Omaha, .(Laughter and applause.) to the effect In aubstance that my distinguished opponent wanted htm. Miles Mitchell, to hire several robust Individuals to kick over the ballot boxes. And while that testimony was being taken, and while that waa testified to by the chief of police of South Omaha under oath, my distinguished opponent, although knowing of the hearing, and the testimony being taken in his own building, beneath Cleanliness and Germicidal Precau tions Paramount la the brewing f MILWAUKEE There's not a facil ity lacking to Injure absolute oWanllatss during the process. The aalauteet detail from malt-house to nillng-room Is rigidly watched In this partis alar. A fixed ruls for over half a century. BLATZ MALT-VIVINE (Non-Intexleant) Tonlo. Druggists or dtrct. VAL BLATZ SKEWING CO, Milwaukee. OMAHA HBkAllCH. MIS I-sis . Tw. Mttl. BLATZ BEER DAVID HENRY his own office, never came and testified. So much for the sacredness of the ballot box. My friends, my distinguished opponent says that be opposea Mercer on principle). Now, when a man says that he opposes an other on principle we have a right to In vestigate his political record and aee whether he la consistent as to that proposi tion. In 189, when Senator Hayward was Dominated for the senate, but before he wss nominated, my distinguished opponent admits that he wrote the following letter. The letter I quote from now was published by him In the columns of The Ree after he had been charged with writing another let ter which contained something that thla letter does not contain. The parties who made the charge claimed to have aeen the letter, but unfortunately they were unable to get the original. My distinguished op ponent published what he calls a copy, and I suppose in newspaper offices whenever they get copy they always consider they have a right to edit It before they publish It. But I will give It Just as he published it. He said In an editorial shortly after the senatorial campaign: I waa invited to define my position on national Issues and compiled with the fol lowing letter, which la the only statement I made. When my distinguished opponent comes to reply will he kindly state who Invited him. He waa invited, and as a result of that Invitation he complied. That letter came into the hands of Oovernor Poynter of this state. Governor Poynter told me yesterday over the telephone from Lincoln that that letter was brought to him direct from my distinguished opponent. (Laughter.) That it waa placed in Oov ernor Poynter'a hands for the purpose of exhibiting to fusion members of the legis lature that they might understand that my distinguished opponent stood with them upon all the fundamental doctrines of tbelr party platform. This Is the copy which my distinguished opponent publishes: OMAHA, Jan. 23, 1899. Hon. T. F. Mot Inger (he was a populist member of the legislature): Dear Blr Your request for an expression of my views on Issues being of vital moment to the American people, and especially to the people of Nebraska, Is cheerfully complied with. Then he goes on, I haven't got that part of the letter, and says that he haa always been an Abraham Lincoln republican and always expects to remain so. Of course he understood when he said that that a great many of our fusion friends were claiming to be Abraham Lincoln repub licans about that time. But to get down to the meat of this, he states his platform. He says: I am opposed to corporate monopolies snd trusts. I am In favor of national legis lation for the control of the former (that la corporate monopolies) and restriction and suppression of the latter (trusts). And yot only a few weeks ago, In a con troversy with the World-Herald over the beef trust, my distinguished opponent In an editorial commended President Roose velt for the prosecution of the beef trust, and then denied there waa any beet trust whatever, and then roasted the World Herald for attacking the beef truet. He then 'eferf the World-Herald to his well known views on trusts, published two years ago In the report of the trust conference at Chicago. (Laughter.) Wherein he said, mark you. that trusts were the outgrowth of natural coalitions and the result of the in evitable tendency of civilization, and yet he writes a letter to this gentleman stating that he favors the reversal of national laws, that is, It he could get un office. He favors overturning the Inevitable tendencies of modern civilization and I auppose If he could bavo got fusion vote given to him he would have favored blotting out the sun and moon and stars and would have cheer fully agreed, if elected, to become the light of the world. (Laughter.) My time Is nearly up. The next proposi tion: "I favor tti postal , telegraph and postal savings banks; I am opposed to re tirement of the greenback." Is that In keeping with the gentleman's past political record T Haa he not favored the retire ment of everybody and everything he could not control T (Laughter.) And why sow in heaven's name should he balk on green backs la more than I can understand. (Laughter.) But agata he says: "I am opposed to the annexation of the Philippines." Now he eaya that was before the ratification of the treaty, but after the ratification of the treaty he opposed the annexation of the Philippines and he did not fall In line until some time afterward, when he evidently thought he waa getting upon harmonious re latione with the national administration. Now I understand and will the gentle man tell us now I understand he Is la fa vor of having the American Bag stay put wherever it Is put. Is that co, or Isn't it? (Applause.) MR. ROSE WATER. I , I came here at the Uvltallon of Mr. Gur ley to discuss the candidacy of Mr. Mercer for a sixth term. I am here still to discuss It. I am not here to answer any of his Im pertinent questions. I am willing to father everything I hive written and every senti ment that I have uttered. What sentiment ha he got that la not openly in the mar ket? What sentiment have these people who are always defending criminals, de fending everything and anything, and will ing to destroy the very foundation of. gov ernment so long as they have a retainer? (AppUuse, hisses and groans.) well, gentlemen, you will have your In nings when Mr. Mercer returns. He will discuss all of these things. He is a gentle man so proficient that he can discuss every vital question with the foremost leadera of the nation. We all know that we have heard his views In congress. We have heard his voice on the atump. We have heard It very much as they heard the cry of "Beef! beef! beef!" from the revo lutionary army when Washington wss down la Valley Forge. All we hear from Mercer la that he wanta another term. Let ua aee whether he is entitled to it. He never is known to talk for anybody but himself. What more can he do, this gentleman wanta to know, and repeats the question? Have we now got all the public buildings we are likely to get In the city of Omaha or In the district for a generation to come? Have we not men brainy and energetic enough to nil Mercers place creditably? A congressman from Dakota says that Mercer Is very much In favor of every western Interest. How did he stand on the beet sugar Interest? Did he not vote against the Interest of this state and' dis trict when the beet sugar question was up In congress a tew weeks ago? The state of Michigan bad a solid republican delegation voting tor the intereat ot Michigan but Mr. Mercer would not vote for Nebraska, although two-thirds of the delegation did vote for Nebraska. He stood out for the east, and be will continue to stand there because be la not identified with ua In any thing except the drawing of his pay. Mr. Mercer has been In congress, or will have been when he finishes this term, 120 months. Out of these 120 months he will have served fifty-six months In active aer. vice at Washington, forty-nine montba at pleaaure resorts and In voyaging aa a trav eler all over the world, and the remaining fifteen mootha In Nebraska. He haa been everywhere except in bis district. He has deigned to live wish us fifteen months in tea years, campaigning most of that time for himself. And he has given all the bal ance of these montba and years to enjoy ment, entertainment and travel with the money that he haa drawn aa congressman irora this district. It ha has done work and performed it well ho haa been well paid tor It. And no good MERCER FOR reason has yot been presented why he should be retained for a sixth term. I will ask the gentleman once more to answer me whether or not Mercer expects a seveuth ttrm and an eighth term. I want to know whether he expects to be retained in con gress during the full term of his natural life. I want to know whether If he is ln dispenslble now why bo waa not Indlspensl ble two years ago when he was willing to leave ua and go Into the other house with out the consent of his own constituents. I a ant to know why it Is, for Instance, that he pockets $100 a month that properly be longs to some young man of Nebraska In addition to hla salary of $5,000 a year, be cause congress has made an allowance of $1,200 a year for a congressman's clerk. The committee on public buildings has a secretary; that secretary Is obliged to do the private work of Mercer and Merc;r pockets th $100. I want that explained. I want to assure this audience that I am not ambitious to fill Mr. Mercer's shoes. I desire to say emphatically that I do not want to be a candidate and would not accept the nomination. There are a number ot men 4n this district amply qualified, and It is not Mr. Ourley's business to demand ot me which one I prefer. I would have Just aa much right to ask him whom he pre ferred. That la not my business. It is his business. We have Individual rights as citizens that belong to us, and our choice of public servants la aa sacred a right as our right to caat our ballot In the ballot box and express our will through the ballot box. We have been told that Mercer can do great things and only a week ago Sunday three columns appeared in the Washington Post, with a beautiful portrait of Mr. Mer cer and a carefully prepared sketch showing how much Mr. Mercer has done for Ne braska and what he has done for the Dis trict of Columbia. Upon Investigation I discovered the mainspring underneath that picture. It is simply this: Mr. Mercer Is a member of the District of Columbia commit tee and the publisher of that paper Is Just now engineering a scheme to sell the power bouse grounds at Washington to the gov ernment for $550,000, and he wants Mr. Mercer's support, and therefore Mr. Mercer suddenly looms up aa a great statesman. (Laughter.) Why did Mr. Mercer ask to be assigned on the District of Columbia committee? He Is a member of two committees, the public building committee and District of Colum bia committee. How and when has Mr. Mercer ever assisted Nebraska by being on that committee? That committee has a very scaly reputation at Washington. It Is said that it has Its hands out for a great many things. It controls the city government at Washington completely. Just as the mayor and city council do Omaha. That commit tee Indirectly controla the fire and police force at Washington. It controla contracts for paving, for grading, tor sewerage and every public improvement. It controls pub lic lighting and street railway franchises. It controls the parks and legislates on ev erything that pertains to the government of the district. Now, where does Nebraska and where does Omaha have any Interest In that committee, and why haa Mr. Mercer chosen that committee rather than any other committee In which he could have made himself useful? Why? Because it has such a vast amount of patronage and such vaat opportunities for speculating In Wash ington realty. That committee has a vast amount of patronage, but I would like my friend to name one single Nebraska boy, man or woman that has had any employ ment through the District of Columbia com mittee. Mr. Mercer could have readily had hla choice of committees. He could have been on the postofflce committee and helped the postal carriers and the railway postal clerks, or the rural free delivery. He could have been on other committees that control legislation to promote western Interests, but he preferred the District of Columbia com mittee. We have heard very much In a letter that has been read how Mr. Mercer got a little delivery station established. Why, I have never been In congress. I have never claimed to represent this district and yet I secured the first supervisor of rural tree delivery for Nebraska, through an appoint ment made by the postmaster general wlth out the aid of Congressman Mercer. I have never had much difficulty in securing rec ognition for Nebraaka without being a member of congress or connected with the department- I have been accused here of falsifying In 1896 because I stated that Mr. Mercer waa credited with many things that 'others had also helped to do. That cannot neces sarily be termed falsification. It Is merely an overeetlmation, that Is all. All the other men, Senator Allen, Senator Thurston, and the Iowa delegation, all had a very great deal to do with getting the appropriation for the exposition. I personally went to Senator Gear, to Speaker Reed and Sen ator Oear asked aa the first favor he bad ever asked the speaker to have the Trans- mlsslsslppl exposition bill reported. Sen ator Allison followed Mr. Oear and also made It a personal request. The bill waa first Introduced by Senator Allen and passed the senate. Mr. Mercer had nothing to do with that and Senator Allen had to help him a great deal with popullstic and dem ocratic members in the house. I do not think It is worth while for me to answer this letter. The letter contains nothing that I am ashamed of. They were the sentiments I entertained then. I don't think It worth while to discuss them. This Is true, however. In everything connected with my career in public life I have acted as a republican. I became a republican from choice when that party was born and I have kept faith with the republican party aa a republican, but I have been down on boodlers, I have been down on lobbyists, and I am detested by them cordially and will continue to be. MR. GIBI-ET. Fellow citizens, I do not know that I bave any apology to offer for defending upon occasions men charged with crime, and I might aay in this connection that It might be very unfortunate for aome gentle men If they were deprived of the right to be repreaented by counsel In criminal cases. It la a right guaranteed by the law of the land to every man charged with crime, be he Innocent or be he guilty, and aa a aworn officer of the court I should violate my oath and my duty aa a lawyer and a man did I fall to defend those men, when they come to me, to the very best ot my ability, which I alwaya do. The gentleman says that he has always been a consistent republican. (Laughter.) There are aome- words In the English language which are very simple and easy to understand, at least for the ordinary person to understand, and yet my dis tinguished opponent has such superb egotism that he Imagines every other man's Inconsistency his own consistency. He imagines every other man's subterfuge his own Integrity. He Imagines the fallacy of every other man's argument hla own inex orable logic. Oh, yes, he has been a con sistent republican! Ha says he baa alwaya been down on boodlers and they fear and despise blm. Does the gentlemen bellevs tor a moment that the only men he ever attacked In this state have been boodlers? I would like to re4 ths list, call the long roll, living and dead: ''Frank Welch, E. K. Valentine, James Laird, Church Howe," a man whom my distinguished op A SIXTH TERM ponent vllllfled and maligned year In and year out, and yet he was appointed by President. McKInley consul to Palermo and then to Sheffield, England, and has today one of the best records In the consulate department of this government. "Davll H. Mercer." My distinguished opponent fought him when he waa a young man, when he waa unknown, fought him with the power of hla great paper, and yet Mercer was elected triumphantly. The trouble with my distinguished opponent Is he has gotten in the habit of attacking ao many republicans who will not yield to his control that a censure from hla paper has come to be a vote ot confidence. (Laughter and applause.) "James W. Dawes, Thomas J. Majors."' My distinguished opponent wss a member of the national committee and resigned that position to enter the contest to defeat a republican candidate for governor of a republican state. Voices: That is what. That 13 what. "W. I. Iese, A. S. Churchill, Loren Clark, Charles H. Gere, H. C. Russell, O. L. Laws, Thomas H. Benton." And we could go down the list of district judges in Douglas county an! you would acarcely miss one of them that at aome time or other be has not fought, either at the polls, at the primaries, or through the columns of his paper. It will not do for him to say that he has always been a consistent republican. Wby, consistent republicans, my friends, who want to see the success of the republican party, are not always attacking republican candidates and office holders. Wby, It Is only last September that my distinguished opponent was Interviewed In the World Herald and made an attack upon the fed eral office holders of this state, and he charged that the federal office holders In this state, men who bad received commis sions from the president of the United States, bad to receive money to support the ticket. That Interview was published in the paper; that Interview was never denied. Did the gentleman enter any charge against these federal office holders on account of that? Did the gentleman bave any of these federal office holders brought before the grand Jury on account of that? Let him an swer when he comes to reply. Let him tell who these federal office holders are and were, who he says wanted and received money in order to obtain their support for Wil liam McKInley. Now, he says that Mr. Webster really never had this delegation at the time he broke In. (Laughter.) Well, It waa gen erally understood that It was Webster's delegation. Gentlemen who were upon that delegation, Mr. Olmstead and Mr. Meyers, have told me that that delegation was pledged to John L. Webster, and it was a fact while they were still voting for Web ster that my distinguished opponent had circulated among them a paper asking them to agree that when fifteen republicans had signed it they would vote for him, and be stated that when he got fifteen repub licans to sign that paper he had fusion votes enough to elect him United States senator. (Laughter). Now, why talk of treachery on the part of Mercer. It seems to me, fellow citi zens, that before I would humiliate myself In that way the gentleman talks about boodlers, he talks about lobbyists but be fore I would humiliate myself as did my distinguished opponent at that session ot the legislature, before I would seek to se duce men from their allegiance to the one to whom they had pledged their support and who had beaten, me in a fair fight, be fore I would do that, I would travel the pathway of life clothed In rags, wearing wooden shoes and go down to my grave untitled and unsung, yet maintaining be fore Qod and the world my manhood, my honor and my self-respect. (Loud and con tinued applause). MR. ROSE WATER. I would appeal to my friend to address his last sentences to David H. Mercer. He alone is the man that ought to put on the wooden shoes and the ragged clothing and march out somewhere into the political wilderness to bemoan his fate. There never was any instruction given Mr. Webster's delegation by the people of Douglas county. There never was any auch thing submitted and Mr. Myers and Mr. Olmstead assured me during the campaign that they were not pledged and so did every other man on the delegation and I never attempted to pursuade them to desert their colors. I want to remind my friend again of the fact that he haa not answered any question that I put to him concerning David H. Mercer. He Is still discussing the candidacy of Edward Rosewater for United States sena tor. (Applause.) It la well, however, that while I am here and on this floor to denounce the men who put up that roll, circulated for a bogus republican league when there was no auch league, scoundrels who did not dare to sign their own namea and surreptitiously circulated this scandaloua dodger through the mails before election and around the legislature after election. It Is not true that I ever opposed Mr. Welch after he waa nominated, and while these reprobates have circulated the report that be waa driven Into bla grave by me, as a matter of fact he died of apoplexy and I aurely was In no way responsible for that. He waa on friendly relatione with me during hla entire term in congress. They talk about Church Howe. Church Howe was punished and Justly so because he came before the presidential electors of this state after this state had been car ried for Hayes and Wheeler and attempted to have one of the electors barred on technical grounds, so that Samuel J. TUden should be elected president. This district was good for 7,000 republican majority. Church Howe was defeated In tbla district by more than 7.000 majority. Does it atand to reason that my individual animosity could have Influenced all these 7,000 re publicans to turn upside down? Surely not. ' I am not going to reopen the Majors campaign. He has been retired by his own people within his own precinct withlu the last ten days, retired from politics, repudiated. It la Just that claaa ot re publicans that have dragged the republican party ot Nebraska down and made it a populist stronghold. Now then, they have cited names of men who died of debauch eries and men who died after months and months ot mental derangement and I pre sume I am responsible and then they cite my opposition to Mercer. I have already read you from the ledger of the Capitol hotel. With that knowl edge and the other knowledge I bad that Mr. Mercer had betrayed his trust aa chair man ot the republican city committee In 1889 I could not In decency support him. That committee was selected to elect George W. Linlnger mayor of Omaha, from whom $2,000 had been exacted as a contribution to the campaign fund, the campaign treasury waa looted and the money paid in by Linlnger waa used by members of that committee, traitors and boodlers, to elect Cusblng, the democratic candidate , for mayor, while Mercer was chairman. Those men went to Linlnger bouse. They were there at a banquet at which Mr. Mercer presided. They raised their handa up and solemnly pledged them selves that they would stand by Linlnger to the end and wl;h treason in their hearts went out and began to knife him the day after, and kept it up until he was de feated. And Mercer did not sound the alarm, although he must have known of the conspiracy. It was sot In human nature IN CONGRESS that I should support thst kind of a man for an office within one or two years after that memorable campaign. i Fellow citizens, Mr. Mercer Is now our congressman. Let him explain, or let his friend explain for him why he should be retained there for another term simply because he can log roll through congress omnibus building bills. MR. GIRI.ET. Mr. Chairman and Fellow Citizens: I assumed up to the present time that we were debating here together as repub llcans, and of course we are. We are having our little warfare now before the primaries and the convention Is held, and after that preliminary skirmish Is over, ot course we will be found shoulder to shoul der, my distinguished " opponent and I, fighting for the nominee, whoever he may be. I assume that, of course, to be true, but my attention has been called to an Interview which my distinguished oppo nent had on the 28th day of January, 11)02, an Interview in the World-Herald. I sup pose he gave his Interview to that paper because he wished It to bave a large circu lation (lsughter), wanted it to reach en tirely over the district. In any event, Mr Rosewater says: It Is true that under certain conditions I will lie a candidate for congress irom the Omaha district. Not that I care for the office or Its honor, but I want to teach the present congressman a lesson or two, if Mercer secures the delegation to the congressional convention this fall I will run by petition, and I think I can beat him. If some other republican Is nom inated I will not run, but, on the other hand, will lo all I can to aid his election. Mercer must understand that he cannot represent this district another term In con gress. There spoke my distinguished opponent, muttering the words of Louts XIV of France to himself, "I am the state." "I want It understood that politically I have no aspirations to go to congress for the honor that would accrue to me." He does not want to go to congress for the honor. "My only object Is In the Interests of good government." (Noble sentiment) "And a desire to beat Mercer." When the primaries are held It Is pos sible that Mercer may manipulate them, but I think not, us he will be pitted against half a dozen or more good men. but if he should manage to secure the nomination, then he must take the consequences. As I have said before, I care nothing about a place In congress, but I have come to the conclusion that it is time for the people to select their representative. I have labored under the Impression, fortified by the paper which my dis tinguished opponent publishes, that Mercer has Deen the representative of the people, elected by them. of this district. He does not make it his home and seldom comes here. Not only this, but he has attacked me In and out of season. Now, I have one minute left, and I want to ask my distinguished opponent of course we are here as republicans, and of course we shall support the nominee I want to ask my distinguished opponent If David H. Mercer Is nominated by the will of the republicans of the Second congres sional district, will you support him or will you not? (Laughter and applause). Cries of "Answer It now; answer It now; answer It yes or no?" , MR. ROSEWATER. My very Inquisitive friend has declared to you that he la here to stand shoulder to shoulder with republicans In elect ing the republican ticket this fall. If Mr. Mercer is nominated, but he has not answered any of the questions that I put to blm as regards Mercer. Whether he would want a sixth term, a seventh term, an eighth term and a ninth. He has not answered me any of the other questions as to hlB proposed residence in case ho Is not re-elected. He challenges my republicanism when he has not voted a straight republican ticket in ten years. He supported practically the entire demo cratic ticket for the legislature the last time when he knew that its election would send two demo-popullsts to the United States senate. And why? Was It because any one of the men on that ticket were Incompetent or dishonest, or had a bad record as republicans or aa citizens? Not at all. Was It for any other reasons excepting that he did not want a republican elected United States senator whose name waa Rosewater? Is it not a fact that he waa banded with David H. Mercer and several hundred others who would rather have a vacancy in the United States senate 'or bave two demo crats so that Mr. Mercer could control the patronage of the state as the senior mem ber from Nebraska? That was the animus, and I can prove that Mr. Mercer made no secret of It when he talked to members of the leglalature and solicited tbelr votes. I have been asked to explain wby I had not proaecuted some of the federal office holders that had to be subsidized In order to support the republican ticket In 1900. Well, I had made complaints and the other day I was before the federal grand Jury and a member of that body who slta right here knows that I did testify and gave sufficient evidence, so far as my personal knowl edge goes, that that money was brought here and that It was disbursed. I am asked another question and that Is, would I support Mr. Mercer If he received a majority of the republican votes ot this district. I want to ask the gentleman another question: Will Mr. Mercer sub mit to the msjorlty? Is he willing to sub mit to It? Is he not scheming to Juggle the primaries, and hasn't he a chairman, with three or four postmaaters, and Mr. Gurley, who constitute the majority of the con gressional committee? Don't Mr. Mercer control absolutely the mode in which the congressional primaries are to be fought out, and is It not notorious here that he proposes to force his own renomlnatlon by plurality; that he wants primaries on the Crawford county system, based upon selec tion by minorities? Now, I will never support a minority candidate. Never. (Applause.) I want majorities to govern, and Mr. Mercer must come forward and get the support of the majority of the republicans, which he does not dare to do. After spending most of his time at pleasure resorts and junketing tours all over the world he knows very well that his absence from this city bars him from getting further honors from the republicans of this community. He knows very well that the people are onto htm now. (Laughter.) That they know that he represents corporate Interests rather than the Interests of his constituents. I want Mr. Gurley to explain also why Mr. Mercer defeated the quartermaster supply depot bill two years ago after It had passed the senate? Why be kept It la his pocket and smothered it when it was bis duty to have reported it to the house. Let him explain that, if you please. MR. GIRLEY, Fellow citizens, my distinguished oppon ent has asked me several times a question which I shall be very happy to answer. He wants to know whether Mr. Mercer will he satisfied with a fifth term, or a sixth term or seventh term. Well. I sm not a mind reader and I am not here to say whether David II. Mercer will want a seventh term after he has had a sixth term or not. But I am here to aay that I be lieve the rank and file of the republicans of the Second congressional district believe at the preaent time that David H. Mercer Is of more value to tbem, of more value to the republican party than any candidate whom my distinguished opponent has not named. (Laughter and loud applause). New he says that It Is rumored that Mer- Dewey & Stone Furniture Co. 1115-1117 Farnam Street. SECRETARIES, 'I ii HI ins SSaPBRSSSSBB-'' Single Oak. Book Case glass door- too "U 9.25 tl. m-.,A movable shelves nicely polished at...." t Single Oak Book Case neatly carved and polished size 27x54 inches at 13.50 Oak Book Case, large single door- movable shelves very neatly made and polished at 11.50 Si pi mmmMi Combination Book Case, with mirror and fancy top, in all the new de signs, at $13.00, $11.50, $15.50, $18.00, $19.00, $21.50, $24.50, $25.00 and up to $75.00. All values Impossible to duplicate. Dewey & Stone Furniture Co Plain Figures. One Price. Catalogue for Out-oMown Patrons. Only $45 California m Return... First class round trip, open to everybody, $45, from Omaha to Los Angeles and San Francisco via the Qreat Rock Island Route.' Ticket1 oat sale 'May 2T to Jan 8th. ' Good to return " (or 60 days. Special train will leave Omaha Tuesday, Jnne 3, at 4iSO p. m. with Standard and Tourist Sleepers. For further Information call at or address. CITY TICKET OFFICE 1323 farnam St., Omaha, Nib. ROCK ISLAND ROUTE $9.60 Omaha to St. Paul Minneapolis and Return June 1st to 14th. Return, October 31st. Fishing is best during Juns In the MINNESOTA LAKES. Particulars at City Ticket Offices, 1402 Farnam St OMAHA. Postal Card Will Get It SAMPLE COPT Or THE Twentieth Century Farmer The Best Agricultural Weekly. Ad eVeaa. Oinaha, Moo. DESKS AND BOOK CASES We have just rt-erived a large Dum ber of Bingle, two and three-section cases, also a number of Combination Cases and Desks -about 70 styles. These goods were purchased early in January, before the advance in price, mid this opportunity is Undoubtedly the last to purchase this class of goods at such prices as we have marked them. Anticipate your wants, is our advice, if you want to save money. Double Door Oak Book . Case quarter-sawed slie 40x65 Inches at 16.00 3-door Dwarf Book Caae, 6 ft. ( In. V t atw w Ilia 23.00 long, 43 In. high beautifully made and polished, for Oak Book Case and Desk very neatly rery neatly .8.50 made and polUhed a specially good thing at LEGAL XOTICUS. NOTICE. Notice la hereby given that there will be a special meeting oi the mayor and council ot ihd city ol Florence, .Nebraska, at the city nail In bald city of Florence on Wednesday, the 4th nay ot June, lituZ, at o'clock lu the evening, fur Iho purpuee oi equalizing; sldewalK assessments ana levy ing special asBesanieiUs to pay for repairs on the toliowing sidewalks during the iiscal year beginning the tlrst Tuesday in May, 1112, ana lu iront of the following lots and parcels of land in the city of Florence, as surveyea, plaited and lithographed. The following being a description ot the lots to be assessed and tile amount against eactt lot respectively, to-wit; Lot , block 3, a.i;; lot I, block 3, $3.97; lot 1 block u. .ls.w; lot 4 Olock 5, (14. lu; north lot u, omen a, Hv.lo; lot 2, block 'ii, iLi.gi; south 4x lot Z, biock 'U, k.6o, lot o, block 12, iol i. blo-.'k Zi. iiz.zi; lot 6, block ii, (14.11; lot 1, bloc 14, (19.4!; lot 2, block to, (17. id, lot i. block 2o, H 4o; lot t, block 26, iti.iS, lot o, block 06, (11.U2; lot 2, block 2, il.l; lot 7, block HA li cents; lot (, block &, (la.uo; lot 4, block 43, Ut.i; lot 8, block 44. (15.&4; lot u, block 4o, sui.t; lot 7, block 4a, (o7.06; north M reet, block lit, (II. IW; south litis feet, block tin, Jv.Si; lot 1, block 12, (20.4i. . Given Dy oruer of the mayor and council ot the city of Florence, Nebraska. CHAKLKS A. 6MITH. 4wks E&S city Clerk. NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that at a regular meeting of the mayor and council ot the city ot Florence, Nebrauka, held on the (tb day c: Ms, iiOZ, iho following estimate was made of the probable amount of money iu.-cessi.ry to be raised In said city tor current expenses, aa nvlow specified, during the iiscal year beginning tne first Tuesday in jslay, l'JW, and ending me tlrst Tuesday la May. 1Su3. whlcl estimate Is based on the entire amount of revenue of said city during the last fiscal year: titlTlMAT OF KXl'lSNdEd. For improvements of streets, public grounds and buildings $ 850 00 For Board of Health 24 DO For officers' salaries, im, ug For tire department 2u0 For city hall contract 134 For printing and stationery 35 00 For water rental 7 Incidentals l&uud 1 Total (3,278 ot For which an appropriation ordinance may be passed at a meeting of the council alter four weeks' publication of this notice. Given by oraer of the council. JOHN 8. PAUL. Attest: Mayor. CHARLES A. SMITH. 4wka E&B City Clerk. RECEIVER'8 BALE. I Clothing, hats and caps, gentlemen's fur- ; insning gooaB, iurniture and nztures. Notice Is hereby given that pursuant to the order of the United States district court, sitting in and for the district of Ne braska, in the matter of the Continental Clothing company, a bankrupt, on Wednes day, the llth day of June I!i2, at 10 o'clock a. m.. I will sell at public auction to tha highest bidder for cash at the northeast corner of Douglas and Fifteenth streets, in the city of Omaha, Douglas county, Ne braska, the entire stock, furniture and fix tures of the Continental Clothing company, said stock consisting of men's and Ln' clothing, hats and caps and gentlemen's lurriiBning go'jas. , All of said stock Is to be offered for sale In bulk and in parcels, and sold to the highest bidder for the property In bulk, or to the highest bidders for the different de partments, or parcels, provided the total bids for such parcels exceed the highest bid for the property in bulk. biock inventoried Dy order of court shows value of (24.lil2.94: furnltura an, I niium cost over $7X).0U. H. F. ROBERSON, Receiver M30dl0tM&E BONDS FOR BALE. Sealed bids will be received hv th trus- 1 tees of the village board of Rurwell, Neh., : up to 6 o'clock p. m.. June Kith. I'ju2. for the purchase of water bonds of said cltyi amounting to H.UO. Said bonds will be eltht in number, of (.") each, all nf which will be payable April 1st, 1832, with an op tional payment In five years, with Interest iiayable annually at 6 ner cent Aurll 1st of each year at Nebraska Fiscal Agency, New York, N. Y , in the curency of the L'nlted States. Bald bonds are dated on the 1st, day of April, 19ti2, and are duly registered? Didders are required to deposit certified, check, payable to the treasurer of the vlH luge of liiirwell. In the amount of (100 as guaranty that the bonds will be taken If bid is awarded. Each bid must be Inclosed in a sealed envelope, marked "Proposal tot Bids." The village board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. For general In formation address A. C. ALU Kit. clerk, Burwell, Neb. May5id4tM TO THE TAXPAYERS OF DOUGLAS The Board of County Commissioner, nl Douglas county, Nebraska, will sit as a Board of Equalization for the uu'ikjw n equalising the assessment or isougla county for the year lu2, in the commis sioners' chamber at the court hojse, Oinaha, beginning Tuesday, June 10, IV C, at 10 o'clock a. m., and continuing front day to day up to and Including June so IM (U days, not including Sundays). All persons owning real or personal properly subject to taxation should call and ex amine their assessment, that any errors as to valuation may be adjusted by said board as the law provides. By order of the Board of County Com missioners. HARRY C. MILLER Maya .I30t County Clerk. fur a your H. L Ramacclottl, r when yoa Deputy State and City V;intn wtom aud iartmaiARAlr. fries trwet, Cer. s( TeAepfeoiM) MS. via womer. 1 ) 1 V "r
