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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1895)
THE COURIER i . i . j POINTS IN POIdITIGS. 7T N interesting rumor in political circles is to the effect that (5Vv a ea' ias een niae looking to the nomination of JL JL Lieutenant Governor R. E. Mooro for governor noxt year and tho nomination of J. Calhoun Fremont McKesson for the ollice of auditor of public accounts, now so acceptably tilled by Eugeno Moore. It has been known for some time that Mr. Moore, the lieutenant governor, is ambitious, and the announcement that ho is aiming at the governorship will not surprise some persons. Mr. McKesson is a diminutive politician with an ambition as Ixnindless as it is absurd, and a nerve that commands a certain amount of admiration oven from thoso who are disgusted by his acts. Two years ago McKesson was in the house of representatives; now ho is in the senate, where, according to his own statements, he is the moving power, and ho makes noise enough to delude some people with the idea that ho is a person of some importance. Tho truth Is that there isn't a bigger nonentity in the legislature than this same McKesson who protends to represent Lancaster county. It is too bad ho ever left the quiet of his now neglected farm; ho might havo made a passable success as a tiller of the soil: as a would be states, man he is a dismal and sickening failure, and the other members of the legislature who have put any credence in McKesson's statements that he, McKesson, is a power in this county, are hereby warned that Senator McKesson's statements are largely made up of wind. It will be a very chilly day when McKesson is nominated for auditor. It begins to look very much as though the tight for the republican nomination for clerk of tho district court would narrow down to a contest between Charley Waite and Sam Low, provided Low gets what he wants in the Fourth ward, where unusual complications exist at the present time. Fred Beckman, who will bo a candidate for renomination forcoun" ty commissioner this summer, is liable to encounter some lively opposition. There is no longer any doubt that Samuel Maxwell, of Fremont, intends to shake his antediluvian self and come forth from his hole and attempt to contest the reelection of T. L Norval, Judge of the supremo court. In fact, it is openly asserted that plans are al ready partially matured whereby the venerable affliction yclept Maxwell is to be given a fusion nomination. It is argued that fusion having been proved to be a success in the last campaign the democrats and populists will again get together for the purpose of foisting the aged demagogue upon the people. Maxwell has served his time and has already acheived such distinction as a public nuis ance that the people are very generally disposed to insist on tho ex judge's remaining in the quiet and obscurity which his peculiar official course has earned for him. Maxwell is not likely to remount the bench where he was for so long a time a disturber of the public paace, and in descending gavo joy to the people of the state. Judge Norval has given eminent satisfaction during his first term and there is no reason to suppose that he will not be re-nominated and reelected. T. C. Munger is reflecting credit upon Lancaster county in tho lower house of tho legislature. Ho is regarded as one of tho most able and efficient members of that body, and in all probability Mr. Munger at the close of the session, if he hasn't been able to savo much of his salary, will have erected a reputation that, while it may not bring him immediate wealth, will be a source of satisfaction in the spring and summer evenings as he leans out of the casement and reflects on his brief career as a statesman. Elias Baker, populist, will undoubtedly be re-nominated for clerk of the district court. MDf all the abominations that hinder the progress of the republic party"In"thi9 state Walt Seeley is conceded to be the worst. See: hcan party in this state Walt Seeley is conceded to be the worst. Seeley stands for all that is corrupt and base in politics, and his exploits have been so numerous and so disgraceful that his presence, even in the outer halls of the party council chamber, is a depredation. To admit him into the inner circles of official privilege and power as the present republican senate has done, i's a critno. Pubfic sonti niont in Nebraska long sinco demanded tho retirement of this per son Seeley and tho republican party and'therepYiHli'c'ahVenato in tolerating his presence among the' attaches of 'the'so'-fcalfed foolect branch of the legislature a'ro makings grave Inmtake, ono' that loth may be called upon to'answer for. Tvoycarshgd'SeelejVwKo-nas for years possessed somo mysterious ho'd on Tom Majors; waS 'tho hit ter's privato secrotary during thu session of tho legislature", rlespito the protest of the people. The office was an irregular ono and Scel ey's name did not appear on the pay roll, neither, did he'recoive, directly, any pay from tho state. Hut there is little doubt but that he drew on tho state treasury, nevertheless. It is known that sev eral persons drew pay surreptitiously by having boiuo of Xbt .regular employes draw double pay and then "whack up," or. by having ficti tious names placed on the pay roll. Seeley probably worked this game. Nobody supposes that Lieutenant Governor ,Majora paid him out of his own pocket. Majors is not given t,o. Unit sort of thing. At the commencement of ihe present sossipn, Seeley an nounced that tho senate could not get along without Jiit services, and he said ho would be employed. In collusion with Clerk. -Barber and others ho made a desperate effort to bo made bookkeeper, a position that would give him access to the bills and Sedoy's ob ject is to keep close to the bills. Meanwhile ho coolly took posses sion of tho rooms used by the lieutenant governor and force was al most required to dislodge him. R. E. Moore, on assuming the office of lieutenant governor, refused to appoint Seeley. Tho latter there upon entered into some 8Drt of arrangement with Senator Caldwell of Hall county, whereby ho was to "instruct" the clerkd of the com mittee on enrolled and engrossed bills; but his namo was not to appear on tho pay roll. Seoloy had tho effrbntery to have keyB mde for the room of the committee on enrolled and engrossed bills, giving him access to the bills, and also to the other offices and rooms in the capitol. He carries an immense bunch of keys and it is said that he can enter nearly every room in tho build ing. The clerk of the committeo refused to accept Seeley's assist ance, and immediately had a new lock put on tho door or the com mittee room. Sinco Thursday morning of laBt week Seeley has been denied admission to this room; bnt ho has continued to hang around, not on the outside but on the inside, and with characteristic assumption he ordors employes around as if he were tho presiding officer. Ho has a connection of some sort; but nobody seems to know exactly what it is. Senator Caldwell, whoso protege Seeley is, and who says Seeley knows more about running the senate than any other man in tho state, could probably tell all about his contin ued presence in the senate. The presumption is that Seeley is tho paid representative of some interest that is maintaining a lobby in this city, and that he is expected to "take care" of some- special bill that may be passed. It is whispered that it is tho South Omaha stock yards company that he represents. In any event he should bo removed from the senate, bodily if other means fail. Lieutenant Governor Moore and Senator Caldwell and the senate should insist on his immediate dislodgemtnt. AMPLE COMPENSATION. "Will you kindly take off your hat?" said the gentleman behind the girl with the mammoth headgear. "I wont seo my 81.50 worth of the show if you don't." "No, sir," replied the girl, amiably, as she turned around and smiled serenly upon him "You may be deprived of a show worth $1.50, but please to remember you are permitted to see a hat worth 135." AVARICIOUS. The old man with one foot in the grave and tho other on a cushion, suddenly aroused himself from his reverie. "I suppose," he observed, "you would like to have- mo cremated when I die, and keep my ashes always with you?" The beautiful woman who had shaken a law clerk and a grocery salesman in order to bless his declining years with her love, came and laid her damask cheek upon his bald spot. "Why speak of it?" Bhe whispered. "Oh, I only thought you were .expecting all my flust," ho replied. And when lie laughed hoarsely she" remarkotl'to-lierself with satis faction that he was aging rapidly and that it couldn't last much longer. , ,-, tH ' 1 i I M fl i il