r
THE COURIEB,
h
A
MR. THOMPSON A POPULIST.
Wny should republi-uns ba asked or
expected to vote for a legislative ticket
that is pledged to support a roan for
the United Stntes senate who would
sign a cjntract disavowing all allegiance
to the republican party and denying
vital republican principles.
The candidates and their friendB say
that unless good republicans vote for
this ticket, the democrats will be elected
to the legislature and there will be a
reapportionment and all 6orts of at
tsnddnt fatalities. Nothing is worse for
a party than unworthy success.
If treason to the party is reward
ed by the highest gift of office in
the state, republicanism in Nebraska is
better dead than alive. Mr. Thompson
signed bis name to the following agree
ment, and by that act severed his con
nection with the republican party for
ever. Republicanism today means hold
ing on to the Filipinea until peace is
established there. Mr. Thompson
ranges himself with Mr. Br) an. Re
publicanism means sound money; Mr.
Tnompson says: "I will oppose the re
tirement of the greenbacks and the
issuing of currency by banks, and will
favor an increased use of silver as
money. Republicanism means orderly
government; Mr. Thompson sajs, "I will
oppose government by injunction," and,
finally, "If elected, I will remain out of
republican caucuses." Here is the
agreement, sworn to by fourteen mem
bers of the legislature. Taere is occa
sionally a nun who will swear to a lie.
It is impossible to believe that there are
fourteen men willing to swear to the
same lie:
THE AGREEMENT.
"I, D E. Thompson, pledge the
fusion members of the Nebraska
legislature my solemn word of 2
honor taat if by their votes I am
elected to the U. S. senate, I will do
J as follows:
First I will oppose the policy of
imperialism and entangling alliances
2 with other nations. e
Second I will oppose any increase J
in our regular army.
2 Tuird I will oppose the retire-
ment of the greenbacks and the issu- J
ance of currency by banks and will
J favor an increase in the use of silver 0
2 as money! 2
Fourth -I will oppose government
2 by injunction, and favor an income
2 tax.
Fifth If elected, I will remain out
0 of republican caucuses.
2 (.Signed.) D. E. THOMPSON. 5
5 !
SENATOR SMITH'S STATEMENT.
State of Nebraska, Antelope County,
--is. J. F. S. Smith being duly sworn
1 deposes and says, that he resides in
the county of Antelope, state of Ne
braska, and has so resided there for
the last sixteen years. That he was
elected as a member of the senate of
Nebraska legislature for 189S. That
on the day Senator Hayward was
elected United States senator by the
state legislature of Nebraska, and af
ter he had been nominated by repub
lican caucus, this affiant was Impor
tuned to vote for D. E. Thompson for
United States senator, and was told
that Thompson had agreed to support
various principles of the fusion party,
and as evidence he was shown a paper
signed by D. E. Thompson in which he
substantially agreed to pretty much
all of the principles of the fusion par
ty, and in which he pledged his solemn
word and honor to the fusion members
of the legislature that if elected Unit
ed States senator by their votes he
would oppose the policy of imperialism
and entangling alliances with other
nations. That he would opposcany
increase in the regular army. That
he would oppose the retirement of the
greenbacks and the Issuing of currency
by banks, and would favor an In
creased use of silver as money. That
be would oppose government byjn-
junction and favor an Income tax; and,
if elected, that he would remain out of
the republican caucus.
That substantially a copy of said pa
per so signed by the said D. E. Thomp
son and circulated among the fusion
members of the Nebraska legislature
at said time with a view to get them
to vote for him for United States sen
ator. Is hereto attached, marked "Ex
hibit A," and made a part of this affi
davit. (Signed)
J. F. S. SMITH.
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn to before me this 29th day of
May, 1900.
C. W. PRIESTLEY, Notary Public.
SWEARS TO THE SIGNATURE.
State of Nebraska. Lancaster coun
ty, ss. I, E. E. Hairgrove, being first
duly sworn, depose and say that I am
a resident of Sutton, Clay county, Ne
braska, and have been a resident of
said county and city for the twelve
years last past. That I am personally
acquainted with D. E. Thompson of
Lancaster county, Nebraska, having
known him for about five years. I fur
the state that during the early part
of 1899, I was In Lancaster county,
taking a part in the campaign for the
election of United States senator to
succeed Hon. W. V. Allen.
I further state that on the morning
of the day on which Hon. M. L. Hay
ward was elected, in the Lindell hotel
I had a conversation with one Ren
ton Maret, which said conversation
was in substance as follows:
Mr. Maret asked me how I would
like D. E. Thompson for United States
senator. I replied: "I do not like him
for United States senator or anything
else," to which he replied. "D. E.
Thompson will be elected this morn
ing. The fusion members of the leg
islature are going to vote for him
and that together with the Lancaster
delegation will give him a sufficient
number of votes to be elected United
States senator."
I stated to him that he knew that
was not true, or words to that effect,
to which he replied by taxing from his
pocket two papers, one of which pur
ported to be an agreement by the fu
sion members of the legislature to vote
for D. E. Thompson for United States
senator, upon certain conditions. This
paper purported to be signed by the
members of the legislature, as to whe
ther it was their signatures or not I
am unable to say, but to the best of
my knowledge ,it was.
The other agreement was signed by
Mr. D. E. Thompson. I am well ac
quainted with the signature of D. E.
Thompson and know that the signa
ture to that paper was the signature
of D. E. Thompson. This paper signed
by Mr. Thompson in substance prom
ised that If he was elected by the fu
sion members of the legislature- that
he would oppose the policy of Im
perialism and entangling alliances
with other nations; that he wquJd'op
pose any Increase in thrtUlar army,
and that he would oppose the retiring
of greenbacks. My recollection also
is of the paper signed by Mr. D. E.
Thompson that he promised and
agreed to keep out of republican cau
cuses if elected to the United States
senate.
Mr. Maret in conversation with me
at that time informed me that the fu
sionists and the Lancaster delegation
had been holding a conference nearly
all night and that the Lancaster dele
gation would not be In representative
hall at the time of the commencement
of the calling of the roll on vote for
United States senator and that the fu
sion members would vote for D. E.
Thompson, and Mr. Maret at that time
offered to bet me $50 or any amount
that I should name, that D. E. Thomp
son would be elected.
I further state that after Senator
Hayward was elected, in a conversa
tion with Mr. Maret he Informed me
that had it not been for one member of
the Lancaster delegation, and also one
fusion member, D. E. Thompson would
have been elected. (Signed)
E. E. HAIRGROVE.
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn to before me this 5th day of
June, 1900. C. C. MARLAY.
Notary Public.
REPRESENTATIVE MORRISON.
State of Nebraska, Thayer county,
ss. J. R. Morrison, being first duly
sworn on oath says, that he Is a resi
dent of Thayer county, Nebraska, and
that he has resided there for the past
forty years. That he was elected as a
member of the- house of representa
tives of the Nebraska legislature for
1899; that on the morning after the
republican members of said legislature
had voted for M. L. Hayward for
United States senator, this affiant was
Importuned to vote for D. E. Thomp
son fcr United States senator, and was
told that said Thompson would sup
port various principles advocated by
the fusion itarties. In support of this
argument he was abown a paper signed
by D E. Thompson in which he agreed
If elected to the United States senate
by the aid of fusion votes, that he
would keep out of republican cau
cuses, oppose the policy of imperialism
and agreed to support various other
principles contended for by the fu
sion party.
On the said morning before the Joint
session of the legislature at which M.
L. Hayward was elected United States
senator, nearly all fusion members of
the legislature had congregated in the
board of transportation rooms in the
capital building to consider the advis
ability of voting for said D. E. Thomp
son for United States senator and the
matter was discussed by various peo
ple and members, and this said paper
was circulated among some of the
members of the fusion party, includ
ing myself, for the purpose of convinc
ing them that said Thompson was
willing to support certain of the fu
sion principles In order to obtain the
fusion votes for United States sena
tor. Affiant says that it was urged by
some that It might be better to help
e'ect a man who would accept some
Important fusion principles than to
permit the republicans to succeed In
electing the republican caucus nominee
who was pledged to oppose all the
principles advocated by the fusion par
ties, but the proposition to throw the
solid fusion vote to D. E. Thompson
for United States senator was not ac
cepted. (Signed)
J. R. MORRISON.
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn to before me this 8th day of
May, 1900. LOUIS HOMPES
Notary Public.
REPRESENTATIVE FULLER.
State of Nebraska, Pewartl county,
ss. George AV. Fuller, being Urst duly
sworn, oii nis oath sas. that he re
sides in Seward county. Nebraska, and
has resided in said county for the
past thirty-one years; that he was
Ii ctrd as a member of "he house of
representatives of the. Nebraska legis
lature for the yeir 1899.
Affiant rays that after the contest
for United States senator In said ses
sion of the legislature had continued
for a long time and the republican
caucus had agreed to support M. L.
Hayward for United States senator, It
was urged by some that it would be
Letter to cast the votes of the fusion
members of said body ror some repub
lican who had proposed in return for
such votes to support some important
principles advocated ty the 'lemocratic
and poj.ilist parties, than to permit
the republicans to succeed in uniting
on M. L. Hayward who was under
stood to oppose all the principles of
the fusion forces.
On tht morning after the republican
caucus bad agreed to elcc said M L.
Hayward United States senator, the
fusion members of the legislature- met
for conference in the board of trans
portation room In the capitol build
ing to consider a proposition to voto
for D. E Thompson for United States
senator, and this affiant and the other
fusion members were urged to vote
for hhn for United Stages seu'itor and
were tcid that he would support near
ly all of thf fusion principles.
In support of this argument this af
fiant wa'o shown a written proposition
from D. E. Thompson in which he
agreed, if elected to the United States
senate by the assistance of the fusion
votes in the legislature, that he would
remain out of republican caucuses in
the United States senate and that he
would oppose the policy of impTial
Ism, would oppose the retirement of
the greenbacks, and made certain con
cessions in favor ef the Increased use
of silver as money and agreed to sup
port other principles advocated by the
fiision parties.
This paper was circulated among the
fusion members including fiis nlilant
at said meeting on the morning before
the joint session at which M. L. Hay
ward was elected United States sena
tor, for the purpose of convincing
them that D. E. Thompson was will
ing to work for the accomplishment
of certain fusion principles, in order
to obtain the fusfon votes for United
States senator. (Signed)
GEO. W. FULLER.
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn o before me this 2nd day of
May. A. D., 1900. J. J. THOMAS.
Notary Public.
REPRESENTATIVE GROSVENOR.
State of Nebraska. Hamilton county,
ss. J. II Grosvenor being duly nv.vrn.
deposes and gays, that he rsld-s in
the county of Hamilton and state of
Nebraska and hn.s so resided for thr
last twenty seven years; that lie wi
elected as a member of the house of
representatives of the Nebraska legis
lature for the twenty-sixth session at
the. general election in 1S9S.
That on tho day Senator Hayward
was elected United Stntes senator by
the state legislature of Nebraska, and
after he had been nominated by the
republican caucus, this affiant was im
portuned to voto for D. E. Thompson
for United States senator, and was
told that Thompson, if elected, would
supoprt various principles of the fu
sion party, and as an evidence of such
agreement ho was shown n paper
signed by D. E. Thompson In which he
substantially agreed tc support many
of tho vital and Impoitant principles
of the fusion parties, and In which
he pledged himself that if olected
United States senator by their votes
he would oppose the polity of Imper
ialism and entangling nlliarccs with
other nations. That he would oppose
Increasing the regurlnr army. That
he would oppose the retirement of the
greenback That ho would favor an
Increased use of silver as mony That
he would oppose government by in
junction and would favor an Income
tax law. That if elected by the aid of
fusion vote he vjiiiil stay out of the
republican caucus (Signer)
J. If. GROS ENOR.
Subscribed and sworn to before
me this 7th day of June, 1900.
FRED JEFFRIES.
Clerk District Court.
SENATOR HOWARD.
State of Nebraska, Hamilton county,
ss. F. M. Howard being duly sworn
deposes and says, that he resides in
the county of Hamilton and stajo of
Nebraska and has so resided there
for the last eleven yoars; that he was
elected as a member of the senate of
th Nebraska legislature for the twenty-sixth
session at the general elec
tion in 1898.
That on the day Senator Haywird
was elected United Strtes senator by
the state legislature of Nebraska, and
after he had been nominated by ibe
republican caucus, this affiant was Im
portuned to vote for D. E. Thpmpson
for United States scnatcr. and was told
that Thompson had agreed to support
various principles of the fusion party,
and as an evidence of such agreement
he was shown a papjr signed by D. E.
Thompson in which he substantially
agreed to support many of the vital
and important principles of the fusion
parties, and in wiiicn he pledsed him
self that If elected United States sen
ator by their votes he would oppose
the policy of imperialism and entan
gling alliances with other nations.
That he would oppose increasing the
regular army. That he would oppose
the retirement of the greenback. That
he would favor an Increased use of
silver as money. That he would op
pose government by injunction and
would favor an income tax law. That
if elected by the aid of fusion votes he
would stay out of the republican cau
cus. (Slgntd)
F. M. HOWARD.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 7th day of June. 7300.
J. H. GROSVENOR.
Notary Public.
REPRESENTATIVE GRELL.
State of Nebraska. Sarpy county, ss.
Claus Grell, being first duly swern on
oath says, that he Is a resident of
Sarpy county, Nebraska; tnat he has
resided there for the past seventeen
years; that he was elected a member
of the house of reprsentntlves of the
Nebraska legislature for 189S, and was
re-elected to said legislature for 1899;
that on the morning after the republi
can members for the said session of
1899 had made M. L. Hayward the re
publican caucus nominee for United
States senator, this affiant was asked
to vote for D. E. Thompson fcr United
States senator and was told that said
Thompson would sjpport a number
of the principles advocated by the fu
sloq parties. In support of this argu
ment he was shown a paper signed
"D. E. Thompson" which stated that
if elected to the United States senate
oy the sid of fusion votes he would
refuse to go Into republican caucuses,
would oppose the policy of Imperial
ism and agreed to support various oth
er principles contended for by the fu
sion parties. On the said morning be
fore the Joint session of the tecfsla-
