Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-23
MEIKLEJ0H GIVES ANSWER
Explains tn uidekoper Appoint
ment to Confusion OF the
Yellow Selpers.

LINCOLN, Oct 22.-(special Telegram)-- |
The opera house was crowded tonight 10
hear Judge Hayward and Assistant Secre-
tary of War Meiblejohn and it was the
most enthusiastic audience of the campaign.
number Of old soldiers and soldiers OF the
Spanish war occupied seats on the stage.
Judge Hayward opened the meeting with
a thirty-minute address that caught the
crowd.
Mr. Meiklejohn made magnificent speech,
covering most Of the prominent features of
national politics. and the issues brought for
ward by the recent war with Spain. In the
course OF his speech Mr. Meiklejohn paid
his respects to the yellow journals in the
following manner:
NY attention has been called to the hys-
terics of certain yellow journals regarding
the appointment of DR.. Huidekoper and
am asked why this appointment was made.
/ cheerfully comply with the request and
will do anything further in my power to re-
lieve the distress OF these unhappy journals.
DR.. Hudekoper was the surgeon general OF
the PENNSYLVANIA National Guard, having
held that position for eight years. In his
application for the appointment he had their
endorsement--that of the soldiers and OIL
GERS of the great state of Pennsylvania who
had been associated with him for years and
who knew his capacity and fitness better
than anyone else. Certainly the b,OOO,OOO
of people of Pennsylvania-the second state
| in the union-the state which had honored
him with a similar position. knew him bet
ter and could Judge of him more fairly than
the political unfortunates and intellectual
misfts who publish yellow journals. state
| positively there was absolutely no political
! pressure brought to bear to secure his ap-
| pontment. The considerations which gov
| erned the appointment OF Dr. Huidekoper
were precisely the same as those which con-
trolled the department in the appointment
of Dr. Gifin for like position from this
state and which obtained in the appointment
| of other officers from other states.
1t is a most significant fact, and one
which will not escape the attention nf every
! fair minded man. that after weeks of crit
/ icism, agitation and abuse on the part OF
these newspapers we have yet to hear the
first complaint as to either the ability or
conduct of Dr. Huidekoper In such circum-
stances | do not think these newspaper at
tacks merit the serious consideration OF
either the public or myself and | refuse to
dignity them by further attention.
In connection with these remarks the
following official telegram was read:
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-To Meiklejohn,
Assistant Secretary Of War, Lincoln: Huide-
koper graduated in medicine from the Uni
versty of Pennsylvania in 1877 and prac-
ticed medicine in Philadelphia for several
wears then went to Europe and studied
many He was a medical officer of the
National Guard of Pennsylvania for nineteen
years. From 1873 to 1894 he was brigade
and division surgeon. Recommended by
many prominent Pennsylvanians.
"STERNBERG,
... Surgeon General
This explanation of the Huldekoper Incl
dent was SO satisfactory that the immense
( audience greeted it with cheers.
After handling the Hudekoper matte
the speaker said he would ask the Ohian
paper question. When the paper change
it's politics and selected prominent cittzel
for cue of it's editors he would like to know
the street number of the firm in New Yor1
City which furnished the money
Mr.. Meklejohn spoke OF the importanc
at this time OF sustaining the presideLt
There would be little progress IN the treat
OF peace until after election, as the nation
Of Europe were waiting to see if the peopl
1 would stand by the DresilAa.. This made
i'aportant that Nebraska should sond Nc
kinney republicans TO congress. He also dt
g clarei that the loyal people OF the stat
y snould elect the republican legislature an
D state ticket.