Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-05

support Of tho republicans OF our state In
advance OF the regular party conventions
reached Lincoln at o'clock on the even
ing OF the iith inst, and my views on the
subject speedily became known ! was Inn
medlately waited upon by representatives OF
a well understood political power In Me-
braska politics and advised that any op-
position on my part 10 the program which
had been arranged would be dangerous TO
my political future. / said then. ana L
say now. that in determining my action In
public affairs | do not permit myself TO be
Influenced by any thought Of my political
future Whatever position | take, l take
publically, without any attempt to evade
responsibility. Whatever political battles |
wage are In the open. before the people
and in eupport Of my convictions
Mr. Hainer claims that three-fourths OF
the state central committee favored the
adoption of n resolution presenting Ne
braska candidate. | am well aware OF the
fact that before | reached Lincoln the MEM
bers of that committee had been so effectu-
ally labored with that majority OF them
were counted as favorable to the adoption
of resolution. / am, however, ADVISED by
several members of that committee that
after the real situation became known u
them the proposed resolution, IL presented
would have been laid upon the table by
decisive vote.
In this presentation OF the facts l dsclaim
any intention of connecting General Man
derson or Mr.. Hainer with any OF the
efforts which were made to commit the
state central committee to any proposed
course of action.
1t is useless, however, to disguise the fact
that careful preparation had been made by
others to surprise the republicans of our
state by what would be Gained as an
official endorsement of a home candidacy of
which they had not previously been ad-
vlsed.
The question Is now submitted TO the
people. hope and trust that no fractional
ism will be engendered in the republican
party. II any is those who favor the nom
ination of William Mckinley are not re-
sponsible for It,
HIS FINAL ARGUMENT.
have not questioned and do not question
the sincerity of General Afanderson's can
didacy of Mr.. Haner's support But l
do know. and say to the people of Ne
braska that every republican who was op-
posed to Mckinley before. who was in favor
of any other candidate, is now arrayed
under the favorite son banner.
If the sixteen votes from Nebraska are
to be used In the ST. Louis convention to
assist In the defeat of William Mckinley
let it not be under the cover of any false
pretense which masks the real design.
If William Mckinley is defeated and the
those who participate in it must accept the
full measure of responsibility and Will be
held by the republicans of Nebraska to
strict accountability.
i believe William Mckinley will be NOM
mated in the national convention, with or
without the Nebraska votes. If he is nom
mated with votes we entitled to
some credit therefor. If without our votes
we are entitled to none If. on the other
hand, our votes become part of that COM
bination which. 1t is predicted, will produce
a deadlock and his defeat, the best that
can happen to such delegation will be to
join In the mad rush for the support of
whatever candidate the bosses select. l
hope no such pitiabe fate will befall any
delegates selected by the republicans Of my
state.
Believing as I do that the issue is. and
must be, between those who for William
Mckinley and those who are against him;
believing as / do that the rank and f,e of
the republican party in the state of Ne |
braska hope and pray for his nomination, /
appeal to every republican in the state t. |
see to 1t that the real wishes of the people |
are voiced in every convention to be held in |
the state, and to see to it further that the |
canvass Is conducted in the open field |
honorably, fairly. so that the result may be |
accepted without question by the united
party. -- JOHN NJ. THURSTON.