Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-24

p. ST. wrote yesterday that we had ne
water here except from the Snake river,
How l lied! 1t commenced raining last
night at midnight and has poured till noon
today. The people are wild with astonish-
ment. 1t will insure feed for millions OF
sheep and cattle for a year, and add more
to the wealth OF Idaho than free coinage
for twenty years. e. p.
THURsToN SEEMS WELL SATISFIED.
He Declares McIsinIcy's strength il
Growing Every Day.
Senator John NJ. Thurston returned yester-
day morning from Washington. He will remain
during the remainder of the week, or until
after the local convention, when he will re-
turn to Washington. The senator was some
what late in arriving at his office, which was
tenanted meantime by a number Of local
politicians who awaited his appearance.
In speaking of the political situation Sen
ator Thurston waxed enthusiastic over what
he considered the growing sentiment in favor
of Maj-r Mckinley. Mckinley is as good
as nominated at this moment" he said de-
liberately, and then he spoke Of the signifi-
cant action of the conventions that had al
ready been held in states that had never
been counted in the Mckinley column. Min
nesota and Illinois would, he said. be for Nc
Kinley at heart and 80 would New England
after they had cast a complimentary vote for
MI. Itstu. iNtlNc Out ant Out EhCfNllley
delegates had been chosen in New York and
Mckinley would have two-thirds, at least. of
the southern vote. He might not be nomi-
mated on the first ballot, but his strength
would constantly increase. This is going to
be a campaign of the people," added Senator
Thurston, and the people are for Mckinley
everywhere. Even in New York if a secret
Informal ballot could be taken today McKn-
ley would get four votes to enc for all the
other candidates combined"
With regard to the situation In Nebraska,
Senator Thurston had but little to say. When
1t was suggested that there was a tendency
among some of his supporters to ignore the
terms of the agreement with the, friends
of General Henderson and instruct the Ne
braska delegation. for Mckinley first, last
and all the time" he said that he was aware
that a feeling Of that sort existed in some
quarters. but second thought would prevent
any such action. He was certain that so far
a1 Douglas county was concerned, the terms
of the agreement would be carried out to the
letter. He insisted that this agreement had
not emanated from him. He had merely ac-
cepted it on the representations of his friends
as a means of harmonizing all elements.
In reference to the probable action of the
national convention on the silver question
Senator Thurston said that while the terms
might be somewhat more clearly defined the
general principle of the money plank of the
previous platform would be unchanged. He
thought that the expression of Major Nc
ihiiiiNy vi NV ~ thS VI Nth
banquet in Chicago would make an excellent
substitute. The republican party was never
in favor of the so-called free coinage of
silver because it believed that such action
would have an effect opposite to that which
was claimed for it by its adherents. 1t was
not in favor of any action that would put a
single deprecated dollar in the hands of the
public, but 1t did favor the greatest pos
sible use of silver consistent with that
doctrine, and he believed that legislation
could be secured that would create a market
for what silver was produced in this
country.
The senator declined to discuss the prob
abilities of a settlement of the Union Pacific
matter during the present session. Ife
thought there would be no further post
ponemen of the bridge case and that 1t
would be argued on the date now set.
RECEPTION TO THE SENATOR.
The Fourth ward republicans congEegated
at Washington hall last night to give an
Informal reception to Senator Thuraton. AS
a lumber Of other ward meetings were a2hed-
uled, the attendance was largely confined
to members of the club, and tho remarks Of
their guest were largely in the nature Of a
general talking over Of recent events to
his personal followers.
Senator Thurston was greeted with pro-
longed cheering when he was introduced by
Major ID. II, Wheeler, and he explained at
the outset that he proposed to merely talk
a few minutes and reserve his speech for
the following evening. He expressed hip
appreciation OF the manner in which his
friends In Nebraska had stood by him dur
Ing the past few weeks, and added that this
signified that the people were united In
their adherence to Major Mckinley, and any
effort Of political bosses to deny their hope
and wish was bound to fail.
The speaker alluded to the fact that for
many years he was the representative of
great railroad interests. In that capacity
no performed his duty, but now he repre-
scented the people Of Nebraska, and he pro-
posed to serve them with the same fidelity
with which he served his other clients. 1t
was alleged that he owed his election as
senator to the influence of a great cor
porate interest, but this was utterly and en-
tirely false. He was elected, not because he
wao a railroad attorney, but in spite OF it.
II the time should ever come when cor
porate demands should stand on enc. side
and the interests of tho people on the
other. he would cast his lot with the peo-
pie, at whatever cost.
Senator Thurston then proceeded to Justify
his action in regard to the selection of the
Nebraska delegation to the national conven-
tion. His remarks were largely a repeti-
tion of his previous public utterancos on
the same subject, with some additions In
details. He complained that for some reason
the newspapers of Omaha had persistently
misrep. esented him. For some reason the
newspapers had never been with him in any
- hiS hSHAas ~ htiitu THAI " ever uSh0u
a man to be "A delegate from Nebraska. He
simply endeayored to ascertain what the
people of Nebraska wanted. and ne wac in.
formed on every side that they were prac-
tically unanimous for Mckinley. In every
step he took he had the expressed approval
Of Mr.. McKinley's confidential advisors. He
had no political machine at his command
with which to dictate to any one. His only
strength, il he had any, lay in the fact that
tho republicans Of Nebraska We're animated
by the same desire that filled his heart.
Following Senator Thuraton, John 1. Web
ster spoke briefly, occupying most Of hin
time with humorous hits at political issues
and a few stories which he applied to the
pending contest,
John C, Wharton follo-r TO reply 10 Sen
ator Thurston's remarks. express the appro-
bation Of his constituency of his course and
generally eulogized his conduct ana person
ality.
DECLARES HE rs NO DICTATOR.
At the meeting Of the Eighth ward club in
Sanders hall last night John III. TlurstDu