Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-19

joined with them in
n general assault on the whole docu.-
ment. Religious denominations attacked
the provision taxing ail property exceeding
8, 900 In value and every pulpit was turned
into an opposition stump. These elements,
the election machinery of the
state, openly boasted, weeks in advance of
the election, that the constitution would be
defeated by ut least 1000 majority. Devel-
opments after the election proved that they
had deliberately organized and successfully
carried out plan to set aside the verdict OF
the people. The schemers withheld the re-
turns from western counties ia the Omaha
postoffice, changed the figures, ana thus
brought about the defeat of the constitution
by u fraction over thousand votes. This
outrage OH the ballot was confessed later by
one of the leaders. Had the registered will
of the voters been fairly and honestly
counted, it would have shown strong
majority for the constitution, and spared the
state the expense and distraction of q second
contest three years later.
The Federal Brigade.
The steady growth and spreading influ-
ence of THE BEE not only alarmed the
filled them with ill-concealed wrath. The
Republican was then the organ OF a
compact federal ring which had control of
public land surveys and a vast amount Of
patronage. Smarting under the exposures
of THE BEE, the mercenaries sought to crush
Anonymous sheets filled with scurrilous
assaults and personal abuse of the editor
were issued from the Republican Office and
scattered every week through the city.
Instead of injuring The BEE, they recruited
supporters from all classes and advertised it
as the foe of venality In official life
Blackguardism and abuse having failed, the
federal brigade was enlisted for the avowed
purpose of chastising the editor and dis
gracing him IN the eyes of the public
During the winter of TIP they began sys-
tematic raid on tho paper by delaying and
sometimes refusing to deliver its mail and
by annoying and bulldozing outside subscrib-
ers Complaints of non-delivery of the paper
BEE charged the postot1ice officials with con-
spring to violate the postal laws and delib-
erately destroying the papers delivered at the
Omaha office. The exposure reused the
wrath OF the federal 1unta and the editor was
threatened with severe bodily pain unless
relented and repented. Threats did not
frighten him nor change the policy of the
paper, and a new tack was taken. They
concocted a yarn that he had violated the
postal laws and endeavored to have him in
dicted by the federal grand jury, but the
scheme failed. THE BEE continued the fight
vigorously, while the federal ring improved
every opportunity to insult the editor and in
iure his business. Rival papers, as usual
applauded their efforts and encouraged them
with fulsOmo praise.
On the Goth of December, while Mr.. Rose
water was receiving his mail in the postofce
he was assaulted by tho money order clerk,
G. g. Sperry, who pretended to be mortal
ly offended at paragraph referring to gam
blers which appeared in THE BEE. In reality
he was commissioned to commit the outrage
and was rewarded for his disgraceful work
by promotion. Sperry and Deputy Post
master Yost We're arrested aud taken before
Police Judge Porter. Sperry was fined $50
and costs, and Yost S5 and costs. This was
the time that Yost penned the historic check
~.
"Pleaso pay school fund or bearer for as
sault on Christ-killer $50. 100 and charge
my account"
During the month OF February The BEE
unearthed the theft of mail bags, which re-
suited in the Indictment Of Postmaster Grif-
fen by the grand jury. He plead guilty to
the charge on May 81, was fined SlO0 and
costs and retired from office.
The hump Legislature.
The impeachment of Governor Butler by
the legislature in 1871 elevated William H.
James to the governorship, and made our
| own Isaac 5. Hascall next in the order Of
succession. James was vcritable pudding
| for the iobbers and corporate schemers.
| He was haoitually dissipated, aud his orgies
| at the capital became public scandal and
gave James the title of the SIN
ebriate governor" State affairs
| exposed and denounced the disgraceful con-
! duct of the governor, which spread to other
| departments of the government and for a
| time threatened to wreck the state. James
did not confine himself to periodical whisky
| baths. He went further and stretched his
| power for the benefit of corporations. Among
| other acts which make up his unenviable ca
reer was donation of 100000 acres of state
| land to the Brownville & Ft. Kearney road
| and 10000 acres to the Midland Pacific
| These amounts were given in addition to the
| lands granted by law. The BEE charged hin
with having msappropriated 5000 of state
| funds and Of being knowingly guilty OF the
| most damnable and corrupt acts, or having nc
mind Of his OWN, is tho ready tool Of any and
| every political hack whose services are
readily secured by large corporations for 9
| paltry contingency"
The BEE voiced the demand Of the public
| for an extra session of the legislature, but
james paid no attention to the clamor. The
profits of the position were too great to bt
sacrificed by calling the legislature together
| as that meant impeachment and loss Of
power. But his opponents We're active ant
| vigilaEt. During the temporary absence o.
james from the state in the fall Of III, j. S
Iiascall assumed the duties of governor and
issued a proclamation convening the legisla
turo on the first Tuesday Of January, 1872
James ATTEMPTED To annul tho call, but failed
The legislature assembled on the day desig-
mated, and organized. The legality of tn,
meeting being questioned, it WAS submitted
to the supreme court decision declaring
tho call Illegal was handed down by two of tn,
his term undisturbcd.
The Kourt House Khan.
The Douglas county campaign Of 1878 wa
short, sharp and decisive, and one Of tn,
hottest local battles fought In this vicinity
The democrats had control of all county OF
fees, and naturally schemed to continue il
power TIE Be. attacked what wa
dubbed tho "Kourt House ISlan," and mad'
the campaign SO lively and interesting be
fore the conventions were held that the dem
ocrats resorted to the subterfuge of "a peo
plcs convention" The managers of tn,
convention were such veterans rs DR.. Mil
Ter, Tom Riley Charley Connoyer, JohI
Rush, w. Fl. liams and the smooth Charlie.
Byrne, aud . microscope was not necessar.
10 determine the political complexion of th'
ticket. The campaign turned mainly oil
Grebo, who was seeking n third term. Hi
republican opponent was Alfred Burley
The opposition TO third term was not Il
itself sufficient to defeat Grebe, stronl
| and popular man, but numerous side issue
were sprung, which created dscords in th
ranks OF the khan. His election and that o
the entire ticket seemed assured, when, OF
the eve Of the election, the following sensa
| tional dispatch was published in The BEE:
OSAKA. oct. 49, s. II. II. Clark or II. l.. Kim
ball. Denyer: The vote OF the shops Will prot
1 .I... 49, -. a