Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-23
GREAT FIGHT In THE FIFTH
Claire Adams Chances Of Defeating
Congressman Switzerland Are Good.
IS WINNING NEW FRIENDS EVERY DAY
Mr.. Adams, Senator ThurstOn and
other Republican Speakers Greeted
with Large and Enthusiastic
Audiences Everywhere.
IS WINNING NEW FRIENDS EVERY DAY

HoLDREGE, Oct. 22,-(special)-Ne-
braska is in the throes of the
biggest speaking campaign in recent years,
not excepting the meteoric flash of Colonel
Bryan through the state in the fall of 1896.
The populists and the allied forces OF fusion
are represented on the hustings by Senators
Allen of Nebraska, Pettigrew of South Da-
kota, Ex-senator Fred Dubois of Idaho,
George Fred Williams OF Massachusetts,,
and smaller fry who make the echoes in the
school districts ring with the microbe and
fever germ theory as to the sufferings and
death during the Spanish American war.
Opposed to this aggregation Of spellbnders
are Assistant Secretary Of War Meiklejohn,
Senator Thurston, w. z. Andrews. auditor
for the Treasury department, Judge NJ. L..
Hayward, candidate for governor and the
several candidates for congress on the re-
publican all Nebraska home talent, who
are putting UP the biggest kind Of speak
ing campaign. The Washington correspond
ent of The Bee has been with Senator
Thurston through the Fifth congressional
district, comprising the counties of Adams
Chase, Clay, Dundy, Franklin, Frontier
Furnas. GosDer. Hall. Harlan, Hayes, Hitch
cock. Kearney, Nuckolls, Perkins, Phelps
Red Willow and Webster, with a combined
population of 1863, ,459. The audiences which
came out to hear the junior senator from
Nebraska, according to the most reliable in
formation, have far exceeded those that have
listened to Senator Allen and his associates
Senator Thurston began his campaign al
Superior last Monday night, an audience
| which completely filled the house being
| present to listen to his defense of the ma
| tional administration and its conduct of the
| war, and his arraignment of the state ad-
ministIation in it's failure to enact long
promised railroad legislation.
In talks had with populists, silver repub-
licans and gold standard advocates OF Su-
perior the day after Thurston's speech was
delivered there was but one verdict, that the
senator had by far the best Of the situation
| the apathy of the fusionists in attending
meetings being especially commented upon
Inroads on Fusion Forces.
Nuckolls county for years has been hot
bed OF populsm A thorough canvass, how
ever. of eight precincts In the county shows
gain for the republicans of 20 per cent ovel
! the vote for justice of the supreme court ir
| 1897. Captain Claire Adams OF Superior who
! is the republican candidate for congress II
| this district and who is making a campaign
4 that has already sent cold shivers down thu
| hack OF his opponent Roderick Dhu Suther
| land. saws that IL this gain is maintained IL
the other counties OF the district his election
is assured In the populist year Of 1896, 81
far as Nebraska was concerned, with tn
spirit OF Bryanism rampant throughout tn
state and with local prejudice against An
drews. the then republican candidate 70
congress, Sutherland had but AN NOR
votes than Andrews. Now the republican
party OF this district is united as it ha
never been before. 1t has a magnificent or
ganiza;lon and is aggressively contestin
every inch of the district in order to sup
mort the hands OF the national administra
tion in carrying out it's policy.
Monday evening Senator Thurston wa
late in arriving at Hastings, but he foun
the opera house comfortably filled when