The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-21
Are Making a Hard Fight on a
Nebraska Repn bliean.
Trying to Defeat R. II. COrbett
For superintendent.
SERIOUS CHARGE.
Said to Have Refused to Keep a
Campaign Promise.
As a Result Mrs. NOts0n Killed
Herself and Children.

Omaha, Oct. 21-One of the most
unique features Of the campaign in Ne
braska is the crusade of the women
against H. r. Corbett, Republican can
didate for state superintendent Of pub
lie instruction. Prof. Corbett may suf-
fer at woman's hands for the wrong
done one of her sex. But, IN this case,
the offending one has a double force
to fear. for the laws of Nebraska per
nit women to vote for all school Off
Gals.
Mrs. Ida Remington Notson was a
prominent Omaha clubwoman. She
was active in the Kings Daughters,
church circles. the Womens Christian
association and all that now interests
the public spirited woman. For many
years she held the position of teacher
in the Omaha public schools. She was
a brilliant converse GOnalist, good
speaker and had the organizing ability
of politician. She was staunch Re
publican.
Although Nebraska is a Republican
state. their nominees of 1894 did not
have their usual confidence, for the
Democrats and Populists were uniting
forces H. r. COrbett was placed on
the Republican ticket for state super
intendent of public instruction He
was almost unknown to the politicians
of the state. the highest position he
had held being principal of the schools
Of York, a comparatively small town
NOtsOn canvassed the state in the in
terests of H. r. Corbett and brought
out his name where it had been moth
ing more than a mark on the state
ticket. She got the women of educa-
ton interested especially in the clubs
and societies to which she belonged.
To all her friends she gave the welcome
news that she was to be appointed Prof.
Corbett's deputy in the event of his be
ing elected. He had been known to
say to her. IF I am elected, I pledge
you the word of a Christian gentleman
that L viii guard your interests as
viii my own" And Mrs. Notson told
the more incredulOus of her friends
that she wanted no more assurance
than the pledge Of a Christian gentle
man.
H. R. Corbett was elected. Mrs. Not
son was not selected to be his deputy.
He fatty denied having promised her
the position. yet admitted that there
was some kind of an arrangem emit
He added insult to injury by saying her
work had not furthered his interests
Many prominent Republicans appealed
to his manhood in keeping his promise
to Mrs. Notson. among whom was
John L. Webster Of the national COM
mittee. Then Prof COrbett gave an
other excuse that every business wo-
man in the state took as a personal in
suit. He said for Mrs. Nelson's own
sake he could not appoint her deputy,
for 1T would ruin his and her reputation
It was late in November when Mrs.
NotsOn thoroughly realized that she
had nothing to hope for from Prof.
Corbett. She had spent the fall in
working for her candidate and had not
looked elsewhere for a position She
had contracted debts that she now had
no means of meeting, and creditors
were pressing her from all sides. Even
the most sanguine of her friends admit
ted that the future for her and her lit
tie ones looked hopeless. Mrs NOtSOn
confessed that she was desperate and
said she had risked her all and lost it.
on the afternoon of December 5 she
closed the last chapter of the story of
a disappointed life. With her two
children. Morrow. aged 6. and Dora,
aged 5, Ida NOtson wandered to River
side park, a lonely tract of land lying
east of South Omaha With her boy
tied strongly to her side and her baby
girl in her arms she plunged into the
Missouri river, running high and strong
with floating, muddy ice. The river
soon frOze and no one knew where Ida
NotsOn and her babies We're. They
were traced to the rivers edge, but the
public refused to believe that the deSper-
ate woman could have cast herself and
children into the muddy, freezing
waters. She left letters saying she was
to leave this world. and providing for
the disposition OF a $4,000 insurance
policy to cancel her debts. John Rush
prominent banker and educator, was
the executor.
Spring and the thaWing out of the
Missouri river brought all things to
light On May q, 1895, the bodies of
Ida Notson and her two children We're
found floating on the Missouri river
near the south side about six miles
south of Council Bluffs. Public SEN
timent ran very high against Corbett
and even the Republican press scathed
him without mercy.
The women then came out in a body.
Under the leadership OF Miss Mary
Fairbnather. the editor of the Women s
Weekly. the official organ of the State
Federation of Woraen's clubs, the wo-
men demanded that the state superin-
tendent resign. But he had no such
Intentions He had held Office under
all the firing that was brought to bear
upon him and announced himself can
didate for denomination The women
of the state did every hing in their
power to have the Republicans in the
state convention drop his name, but
they failed. Then all party lines dis
appeared and the women pledged them
selves to defeat COrbett at the polls