Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-06
STATE EMPLOYEES PAY BILLS
Men Working on Small Salaries Furnish
Money for Special Trains,
MUST PUT UP OR LOSE THEIR POSITIONS
Ponu'ist state Central Committee is
Spending More Money in'Nebrnskn
Campaign Than Ever Before
bright Republican Outlook.

bright Republican Outlook.
! LINCOLN, Nov 5.-(Specal )-since the
| present campaign opened there has been
| considerable speculation as to the probable
source OF revenue of the populist state CEN
trail committee. 1t is generally known that
more money has been spent in Nebraska by
| the populists this year than in any previous
| campaign, but 1t is not generally known
| where the money came from. Since the cam.
| paign opened the populist committee has
been sending immense quantities OF pop
| ullstic literature into every village and
| town in the state. Special trains have
| been chartered and speakers have been sent
out to tell the people how they are being
oppressed by the republican party Appar-
| emily no effort has been spared, nor has
| the expense been considered.
AS soon as the populist state central com
mittee was organized plans were perfected
and successfully executed to raise the
money necessary to carry on the campaign.
All popocratic employees of the state house
were called together in the Office of the
Board of Transportation in the state house
early in September and Chairman j. H.
Edmisten told them what they might expect
few protested, but they were given TO
understand that they would have to do as
the committee desired or they would lose
their positions.
At first the employees were simply asked
to devote their spare time during the cam
paign to the work of the committee. Later
the assessments were made and the same
pressure was brought to bear with the
same telling effect.
The meeting held in the board of transpor-
tation office was behind closed doors and
during the regular Office hours. Several
people not connected with the state admin
istration applied at the door for admittance,
but were showed away and the door slammed
in their faces The heads of all the de-
partments were present and the employees
dared not refuse to comply with the de-
mands of Chairman Edmisten.
The levying of the assessment against the
state house employees falls particularly hard
with quite few who were only recently
appointed and who need all the money they
can get Extra effort has been made to keep
the assessment quiet, but nevertheless con-
siderable complaint Is heard and one or two |
are understood to have refused to contribute |
any portion of their salary to the campaign |
fund
Expense of Bryan Train.
A special assessment was levied for the |
expense of the Bryan special train when it
was first started on the trip over the state |
but 1t was soon found that it would be i'm
possible to raise enough money in this way
to defray the entire expense and the plan
was given up. few of the state house en-
ployes who have complained of previous as
sessments were not asked to contribute for
the Bryan train, but majority of them were
compelled to pay S25 each.
Despite all efforts to keep the matter from
the public 1t is learned on reliable authority
employees are on a basis of 20 per cent OF
the salaries paid. This brings in revenue
to the committee amounting to several
thousand dollars and. if the same plan is
pursued in other state Institutions, the
amount will be many times larger.
In addition to the contributions employees
are forced to work during the evening at
the headquarters of the populist committee.
Deputy Land Commissioner Nelson, Charles
DeFrance Of the treasurer's Office and sew
eral employees from different state institu-
tions devote their entire time to the work
of the committee and at the same time draw
their salaries as usual from the state
The reports that are received in Lincoln
from various sections Of the Sixth district
indicate steady gains for the republicans. 1t
Is now conceded by the populists in that Sec
tion OF the state that the republicans stand
a good chance OF winning and the republicans
are more than ever confident that Moses p
Kinkaid will be elected by good majority
II. A. Babcock of this city returned last
night from trip along the Union Pacific in
the Sixth district and from the spirit mani
tested in the places visited he formed a very
opinion of the situation.
"There can be no doubt said Mr.. Bah
cock "but that Judge Knkaid will be
elected. In the northern and western coun-
ties the populists generally believe that
Neville is strongest In his own section of
the district and down there they expect his
strength to come from the other counties
Preparations are being made in all of the
counties to get out full vote. The cattle
men, / find, are taking unusual interest In
the election this year and all that / have
talked to are for Reese and the other re-
publican candidates.
"An unusually strong fight is being made
in Holt county" continued Mr.. Babcock
That county. as you know. went for Poyn-
ter last year by a good. safe majority. This
year the populists are making extravagant
claims some Of them even contending that
they will carry the county by majority of
500 or more. The republicans are just as
and although they do not claim
such majority the Indications are that the
margin will be a safe one.
"One thing Is very evident and that is
that Neville will not get a good vote in his
own section of the district. Judge Kinkaid
is far more popular with all classes, and so
far no one has assailed his record. He is
confident of success. He thinks that Reese
will get a good majority In the district and
that he will run about even with him."
PROSPECTS ARE GOOD IN ADAMS.
Feel Confident They VIII /
hnIr yI.tt ~ /.