Omaha daily bee., 1892-09-25
OPPOSED TO THE FARMER.
MIR. kem's Work in Congress Was Unfavor-
able to His Party,

aDie TO HIS Party
O'NEILL, Neb, Sept. 24.-lSpecIal Tele-
gram to THE BEE. This was unquestcn-
ably republican day in O'Nel. After. the
demonstration here today by the repu blicans
Of Holt county no man will be inclined to
assert that the grand old party has not q
large, earnest and enthusiastic following in
this section of the country. The
occasion which called forth this
demonstration on the part of republicans
was the joint discussion by Hon. Ames
Whitehead, the repu olican nominee for con-
gress, and Hon. y. M. KEN, the independent
congressman. Through the courtesy OF the
principals of the debate Mathew Gehring,
democratic nomiuee for attorney general,
was granted an equal share of the time.
Bv this arrangement Mr.. Whitehead was
placed under the disadvantage of having
two anti-protection advOcates to combat with
in the support of the doctrine of his party.
But to say that he proved himself equal to
this emergency is but to assert what every
body who knows Mr.. Whitehead, knows him
to be cipabie of doing. Mr.. Whitehead in
augurated the debate Besides ably cham
pioning the principles enunciated In the
national platform, he briefly referred to the
public record and votes of his adversary in
congress IN a manner which made the inde-
pendents vince.
MIR. Kem's Record Again.
He showed that Mr.. KEN Ia his vote
against the timber culture bill, which con
right to make proof within eight years
though the requisite number OF trees were
not in living, growing condition after
reasonable effort to comply with the
law had been mede, was In direc!
| opposition to tbs farmers Mr.. Whitehead
| said he had taken tile pains to write to the
| LAND offices in ~ sixth congressional dis
tricJ to ascertain ..nat proportion OF actual
| settlers or residents OF the state were
| affected by this measure and the re-
suit of his investigation was that tho
| ratio OF nonresidentS was 96 to 4 per cent in
! favor of the actual settler, and MIR. KEN had
| yored against the measure because an amend
| ment proposed by himself denying to the
| per cent nonresdents the same privilege,
] was not adopted. Ninety-six per cent of
actual residents were denied their well
| earned and deserved benefits of this proposed
| law because the per cent nonresident men
| were to receive the Same privilege
| He also produced bill which KEN had IN
| troduced that contemplated the unloading OF
| an old and worthless gas plant in Washing
| ton onto the government at an enormous
price.
Kept Busy Defending His Record
Mr.. KEN made an attempt to explain his
record in these matters, but it was
plain to tho audience that he
was In a bad state of mind
and very tight place. IN retaliation Mr.
KEN tried TO smirch Whltehead's record as
member of the legislation four years ago
but in his ten minutes closing Whitehead ex
planned his work and votes in that body Il
tte entire satisfaction of ali who heard him
and successfully refuted the charges
| Mr.. Gehring made very good presenta
tion Of his position and his party's on tine
tariff considering the bad case he had tc
support, but his references to General Var
Wyck elected the greatest applause.
1t was estimated by the best judges that II
the neigh borhood OF 1000 listened TO th,
speeches. One prominent feature was tn,
100 uniformed repub of the O'Neill Re
| publican CLUB. who headed the parade.