The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-02-05
NEBRASKA'S MIDDLE.
THE RAILROAD COMBINES LAT
EST GAME.
Lieut-Gov. MeikeIjohn Sets Up Autor-
Graz of the Legislature-Stand of the In.
drpenients in This Contest for Law and
Order Against Usurpatiou.

Leut-Gov. NleikeIjohn Sets Up as Autor-
era. of the Legislature-Stando of the In
H. pendcnts in This Contest for Law and
Order Against Usurpation.
On Wednesday afternoon. when the
joint convention assembled. the plan of
the conspiracy between the Boyd crowd
and the railroad faction of the repub-
lican party was developed. 1t was for
Lleut.-Gov. MriEeljo John to claim the
right to preside over the joint rurvrn-
ton, and when the speaker published
the returns To declare Boyd duly elected
Boyd would then take the oath before
some itinerant notary and demand the
once. there to remain until Il tedious
process of law would Dust him. This
program the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at
tempted to carry out. but lie met Stun
bling blocks iii the fact that the Joint
convention was without rules; that the
plain intent OF the constitution is that
the speaker should preside. that Spca ker
Elder had the custody of the returns and
refused III the absence of any rule for
The convention to acknowledges Mr..
Meik.ljohu as presiding officer or aid III
any way to carry out this noustrous and
illegal program.
The adoption of the rules Of the last
Legislature by the two houses separately
does not adopt them FOR the Joint con-
Nention: and until that convention de-
cidcd otherwise those rules were not in
force
The proposition of the independents
was fair and manly. 1t was that COM
mittec Of the convention should be APP
pointed to whom all papers relating to
the contest should be referred, and that
il was not the intent of tie constitution
III eases of contest that the contested
officers should br seated before the evil
uence was examined and the facts as to
the election determined. This motion
was made. the question was put by
Speaker Elder, and it was fairly carried.
and is now Of record on the minutes If
the convention.
Iu pursuance of this vile conspiracy
Mrikeljo made the grusscst and most
arbitrary rulings. He ruled the motion
To adjourn out of order. He refused to
entertain any motion looking toward Il
reference of the contest IL a committee.
Never i'll the history of any state has a
more high-handed outrage been at
tempted upon the sacred right OF sUif-
rage. y little railroad aItorney-a
t:iird-rate shySter from country village
| sets himself up rs the autocrat and die
| ator 70 Is3 OF the chosen Inca of this
state.
We can not believe that any number
of republicans are in this vile plot. We
have too much respect for honorable
men who are proud of the name of re-
publican to believe it.
Some republicans think that the indie
pcndcntS intend, when they get the OPP
portunity. to unSeat the whole republi-
can state ticket by an arbitrary vote.
This is not true. Should this matter be
referred to Il fair committee, such "a
was appointed to-day, no man would be
unScatcd unless it was coHciiiSivcly
shown that he was elected hy fraud.
The independents are fair men, and do
not propose 10 make any precedent that
they will not be willing to face here
after.
The joint convention She I'D adopt
rules at once, among them one to declare
who should be its presiding officers. and
then adopt Il reasonable and fair mode
of procedure which would allow an
equitable decision cf the contest.
Mr.. Meikefjuhn refused to-day in the
senate to entertain Il motion to adopt
rules. and then refused to entertain an
appeal from his decision. This is gross
usurpti III. 10 chairman on earth can
legally deny the right OF appeal. Ey do
ing so he puts himsi.ff-in he position Of
Il dictator over the ~ of which lie is
simply the Seyant.
His only right To preside over the ioiit
convention is derived from il rule which.
that body has not adopted.
The independents stand in this contest
for law and order against cons pirac y
and uSurpatiou--for tn" purity Of the
ballot against ruftianiSm and mob rule.
They are making history. Let them
stand firm as the eternal hills for the
right. and their enemies will reSpcc:
them and every honest citizen appia nd
and sustain thcm.--LincojH iNcb.l Furnt-
ers' .lHiu1trr.