THE COURIER-
Highest of all in Learening Powei Latest U. S. Gov't Report
AmSQUUTOX PUKE
POINTS IN POLITICS.
The newspaper in Omaha that is con
ducted by the person whose mental and
moral responsibility are in question, has,
"with considerable difficulty, been saved
from destruction by spontaneous com
bustion during the pleasant little con
troversy over the Omaha fire and police
commission. The most strenuous efforts
could not prevent a display of temper
that has added to the burden of ridicule
already resting on tho humped shoul
ders of Mr. Rose water. His venomous
attacks on Attorney General Churchill
and Mr. W. J. Broatch and others
would, perhaps, have received serious
consideration had they emanated from
a source of mental or moral responsibil
ity. Coming from Mr. Rosewater they
have had approximately the same effect
on the public mind as that of a drop of
water falling on the rolling bosom of the
ocean.
William J. Brcatch has managed to
get along and live measurably happy
under the displeasure of the afflicted
Mr. Rosewater, and as he reas in the
Bee that he, Broatch, is a "political des
perado," as "genteel a political pirate as
ever scuttled a ship or cut a throat," eta,
etc, I can imagine a pitying smile on
his ruddy face. Mr. Broatch is a gentle
man and a man of intelligence, and he
is not a man to be affected by the petty
shafts of doddering irresponsibility.
Jn the course of Mr. Rose water's more
or less frenzied editorial expressions,
he was abusive of certain persons who
presumed to criticize the governor. The
office of governor, contended Mr. Rose
water, is a high office and it should be
respected. This is an am using effront
ery on the part of the senile and irres
ponsible editor. Mr. Rosewater having
lost that full possession of his faculties
that makes one mentally responsible,
doubtless forgets that he has maligned
every governor of Nebraska in fifteen
years who has not yielded to his dicta
tion. Governor Thayer, if he keeps a
scrap book, could produce some Rose
waterisms directed against himself that
would show that the editor of the Bee
has about the same respect for the gub
ernatorial office that he has for the
truth; and it is not a matter of record
that he ever bestowed any consideration
whatever on the truth. Senility is a
dreadful thing when its manifestations
are perforce exposed to the public
The manner in which delegates to the
republican state convention are chosen
in this county is not altogether satis
factory to the rank and file of the party.
Indeed, if the troth were told, it is alto
gether unsatisfactory, it has been the
custom for some years past, for the
county convention to make the regular
nominations, transact other necessary
business, and then adjourn, leaving the
naming of the state delegates to a com
mittee, or, if the county has a candidate
for a state office, to the candidate.
Sometimes the delegation te not aiade
up until several days after the county
convention.
believe, three days after the convention
that he announced the names of the
chosen delegates. There was consid
erable fault finding. Mr. Moore was not
particularly at fault as he followed an
established precedent. Ihe question
was raised at the time. Were the dele
gates the proper representatives of the
republicans of the county? It was inti
mated that the right of the delegation
to a seat in the convention might be
be contested, inasmuch as it was
not chosen at the county convention.
The naming of a delegation in this
manner is not republican and it is not
necessary, and for the sake of harmony
and good feeling in the party, it would
be wise to return to the old plan and
select the delegates while the convention
is in session. It is urged as an an excuse
for the system that has recently been
followed, that the county's candidate
can make his own selections better than
the convention; that if the republicans
of the county are really for him, there
can be no harm in allowing him to name
the delegation. Certainly if the county
has a candidate and has instructed for
him that candidate ought to have some
thing to say a? to who shall go on the
delegation. But the candidate would
not lose anything by submitting the
names to the convention and having
them elected by the convention. Such
a course is more open, and more closely
in accord with republican ideas than
the other way.
The state convention this year will be
comparatively unimportant, and there is
no general desire for a place on the dele
aation. There will be no serious oppo
sition to the renomination of Judge
Xorval, and the two candidates for
regents will doubtless be selected with
out difficulty. Mr. Morrill has had
nothing to say as to his candidacy for
renomination; but it seems to be gener
ally understood that he will be renom
inated in recognition of hip valuable
services.
There has been talk of raising the
Rosewater issue in the state convention,
and should this be dune there would be
some lively developments. Then there
may be an attempt to force a free silver
resolution on the convention. There is
a considerable sentiment opposed to any
expression on this subject, it being an
off year, and the money question having
nothing whatever to do with the elect
ion of a judge and regents. But if the
free silver minority want something said
on this subjectand insist on it they will
doubtless be accommodated. If the re
publican state convention should go on
record it will not be in favor of Bryanism.
By many these off year state cam
paigns are regarded as a useless trouble
and expense, and it does seem super
floas to start up the entire party mach
ery of the state merely tc elect one
judge and a brace of regents. All pub
lic officers might just as well be elected
at the regular general biennial election.
Sometime the present law may be
changed.
on the jagged rocks of tuff luck. Here
Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Bryan get to
gether and arrange for the election of
Judge Hnlcomb to the executive office
of the state, andHelcombis elected, and
then, Io and behold! when the roll is
called he turns out to be Rosewater's
man instead of Hitchcock's. But Mr.
Hitchcock is accustomed to these poli
tical disappointments. One more doesn't
matter much.
s
' By the way, the World-Herald in a
recent editorial made use of a demagogic
expression that an alert intelligence
wouH have quickly blue penciled. Mr.
Hitchcock's paper said -We are always
on the side of the poor as against the
rich.'' The thought suggests itself that
when a newspaper is compelled to iter
ate such buncombe as this it must be
lacking in faith in itself, and fearful
of its place in the public's estimation.
The preliminary skirmish is over. The
precincts have expressed themselves.
It remains for the county convention to
select from the favorite sons and name
the ticket. There are good, strong men
among the candidates for every office,
and if the convention will be reasonably
careful in making up the ticket, repub
lican success is assured from the start.
There are those who believe that the
republicans will be successful in captur
ing every office, regardless of the candi
dates selected; but thee is a very gen
eral opinion that notwithstanding the
favorable outlook, some care is not only
desirable, but necessary, if the offices
now held by Judge Tibbetts, Elias
Baker and Freu Miller are to be reclaim
ed to the republican party. The indi
cations are that a ticket will be named
that will receive the cordial support of
the party and be successful at every
point.
The convection will be the most inter
esting county convention since the
memorable occasion when S. W. Burn
ham was first nominated for treasurer.
In the first place there will be a very
spirited contest over the judgeships, and
some acrimony may be exhibited at the
outset. The treasurer and commission
er will be nominated by acclamation,
and then will come the principal battle,
the fight for the nomination for clerk
of the district court. There will be
three formidable candidates and possi
bly more. Of course the nominee will
be selected from the city. There are, all
told, fifteen candidates for county clerk
and it may take several ballots to make
a choice. After the district court clerk
ship has been disposed of, the biggest
contest will be over the nomination for
sheriff, with two country candidates,
Trompen and Smith, and five or six
from the city. It is probable that the
nomination for county judge will be
made on the firetor second ballot, and ono
ballot will probably settle the nomina
tion for county superintendent. The
surveyor and coroner will go in easily.
In the city convention there will be a
considerable contest over the nomina
tions for justice of the peace.
The ante-convention campaign, up to
the last week, has been reasonably free
from bitterness. Within the past few
days, however, there ha been a spilling
of wormwood, and some of the candi
dates are now antagonizing each other
with a sort of warfare that does not
reflect credit on themselves or the party.
An afternoon paper has made charges
against Ed Sizer that have no founda
tion in fact, and has otherwise abused
this candidate. Then some of the can
didates have carried the fight into other
candidate's wards, thus breaking the
unwritten law governing the canvass for
primary elections.
Since Church Howe set the fashion
some years ago it has been quite the
thing for politicians to retire, periodical
ly, from politics. Tom Cco'ie is one of
the latest members of the statesmen's
fraternity to announce that he will, in
future, endeavor to keep away from the
grabbing crowd and the politician's in
fernal 6trif e. Tom has the privilege of
changing his mind at any time.
Mr. Baer, the county superintendent,
has been kept in his office by official
duties until the last week or ten days.
Lately, however, he has been giving his
candidacy some earnest attention, and
he finds a large and growing sentiment
in favor of his renomination.
Fred Beckman and Maxey Cobb, can
didates for renomination for county
commissioner and treasurer, have no
contests to look after but they are never
theless taking an active interest in the
primary campaign. Both have given
excellent satisfaction in their respective
offices and will be renominated by ac
clamation. Winnie Scott has filled the bill ac
ceptably as surveyor, and there is a
large sentiment in favor of his retention
in that office.
A. C. Wright, of Elmwood, formerly
of the governor's office, has been ten
dered a position with the state central
committee of Ohio. Mr. Wright will
next year serve the national republican
committee.
W. H. Thompson, of Grand Island, is
spoken of as a free'silver democratic nom
inee for judge of the supreme court-
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iVlflUlggft BOOKS-CARD CASE8
G.M. Hitchcock's political fortunes
Last year R.E. Moore was the candi- have generally been misfortunes. The
date of the county for lieutenant gov- craft of seeming success has very often
'rnor. The convection allowed him to drifted into the harboi of adversity,
name hk own delegation, audit was, I and left his hopes and hazards stranded
far summer tourists and oUir& LEATHER NOVELTIEat
Repairing a Specialty.
Old Trunks In Bxohange for New Ones.
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