Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-11
THE sENATORSHIP.
Editorial Correspondence Of The BEB.
"REMINISCENCES.

Editorial Correspondence Of THE Ben.
"REMINISCENCES
LINCOLN, January 10.--This is the
fourth senatorial contest in which /
have taken an active part. / was a
comparative novics in politics when l
came to Lincoln for the first time
twelve years ago as a republican men,
Der Of the lower house. My constitu-
ents from Douglas county we're over
whelmingly in favor of the re-election
of General John M. Thayer to the
senate, and l regarded myself as in
structed to support him to the end. l
died with Genoral Tnayer, and | am
proud OF my record 1t 10 more hon.
orable for a representative to GO down
with a rue and trusted leader than to
betray popular confidence by q COW.
ardly desertion Of his colors for tho
sake Of being with the victorious fac.
ton. General Thayer's defeat in 1871
wss accomplished by
BRIBERY.
A man By the name of Joseph III.
Mlllard, then, as now a prominent
banker, is reparted to have come down
to Lincoln with a satchel containing
$22, 600, which, with other sums found
their way into the pockets Of twelve
members Of the Legislature, whose
votes vera needed to elect General
Thayer's SUCCESSOR. Ia those days
the whole legislature was composed Of
only 50 members, and ~ votes elect
the senator. Intense popular indig-
nation followed the OUTRAGE, and had
it not been for the fact that Thoma.
w. Upton had gone over to the dem
ocrats, the charge of bribery would
have been laid before the United
States Senate, and
THE ELECTION ANNULLED.
In Kansas, whore a millionaire by
the name of Caldwell was elected by
downright bribery during the same
year, al investigation followed that
compelled Caldwell to vacate his seat
by resignipg rather than be forever
disgraced by being unseated.
Ia 1875, when A. S. Paddock was
struck by senatorial lightning, the
contest was purely personal between
the two leading candidates, Thayer
and Dundy, and the outcome was
brought about by the treachery OF
Barnacle Barnes and ono or two other
pretended supporters of Thsyer and
the consequent pooling of all opposi,
ton votes on Paddock. Six years age
the men who perpetrated the infamy
of 1871 made q desperate effort to
perpe,uate the corrupt political dY-
nasty they had established BY the use
of federal patronage, They came tc
Lincoln with an ample supply O.
money and the powerful support OF
JAY GOULD AND THE UNION PACIFIC
against this unholy combination O
patronage, corporate influence aut
money. The people Of Nebraska hac
been aroused during the campai q
which preceded the Legislature session
and when the legislature met a lsrg,
majority of it's members came her
under pledges to oppose the senatorea
incumbent. By that time the legisla
ture had been increased from 90 t.
ia members, and 1t was no longe
practical to elect by buying a few
votes. Those who were on the groun'
with me during that momentous con
test will remember what an array Q
ORGANIZED CORRUPTION
and bulldozing had to be overcome
The U. p. forces were picketed fror
the depot to the capitol, the corr
doris of the Commercial and Ticheno
house swarmed with cappers, strikers
bulldozsrs and spies. Members wer
dragged into dark closets and over
whelmed With promises of spoils an
substantial rewards. Every feeders
f ioeholder Of prominence had place
his resignation at the disposal of tn
outgoing senator. Samuel j. Tide
himself put in his plea through D.
Miller who exhorted the democrat
to break their lines and G
over in a body under promise thu
Tilden should have the support OF tn
senator In case the presidential r,
turns came before the United Stat
senate. Fortunately for the cause
honest government, congress passe
the electoral commission bill befol
legislature began voting for senate
made the individual support Of Tide
by the Nebraska senator needles
The democrats In the legislature T
manned firm, and although a few co
rupt and weak.kneed republicans d
succumb to the pressure and Il
promises of spoils and greenback
the great majority remained true
their pledges and
THE CORRUPT DYNASTY WENT DOW
Joe Mlllard lost the only chance
ever had OF ever will have to
United States senator. He was he
then as a pretended hacker and gu
porter of Jay Gould's candidate, b
in reality he was waiting patient
for the hour when HIS candidate won
throw up the sponge. Mtllard "
playing q deep game, but he failed
take advantage at the right no
when the prizs vas within his grs'
and went back to Omaha with t
swearing train. There may have be
very little gain to the anti monopc
cause in the election of Alvin Saund,
but it was
"A MORAL VICTORY"