The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-10-13


the republican caucus.
That substantially copy of said pa
per so signed by the said ID. E. Thomp-
son and circulated among the fusion
members of the Nebraska legislature
at said time with a view to get them
to vote Tor him for United States SEN
ator. is hereto attached, marked "Ex-
hibit A" and made a part of this aft
davit. (Signed
]. +. S. SMITH.
Subscribed in my presence and
sworn to before me this 10Th day of
May, 1900.
C. w. PRIESTLEY, Notary Public
SWEARS TO THE SIGNATURE.
State of Nebraska. Lancaster coun-
ty, SIS. I, E. E. Hairgrove, being first
duly sworn. depose and say that / am
a resident of Sutton, Clay county. Ne
braska, and have been a resident of
said county and city for the twelve
years last past. That | am personally
acquainted with ID. E. Thompson of
Lancaster county, Nebraska, having
known him for about five years. fur
the state that during the early part
of 1899, | was in Lancaster county.
taking part in the campaign for the
election of United States senator to
succeed Hon. w. V. Allen.
| further state that on the morning
of the day on which Hon. NJ. l.. Hay
ward was elected in the Lindell hotel
| had a conversation with one Ben
ton Maret, which said conversation
was in substance as follows:
Mr.. Maret asked me how | would
like d. E. Thompson for United States
senator. | replied: Il do not like him
for United States senator or anything
else to which he replied. ID. E.
Thompson will be elected this morn
ing. The fusion members of the leg
islature are going to vote for him
and that together with the Lancaster
delegation will give him a sufficient
number of votes to be elected United
States senator"
stated to him that he knew that
was not true, or words to that effect.
to which he replied by taking from his
pocket two papers. one of which pur-
ported to be an agreement by the flu
sion members of the legislature to vote
for ID. E. Thompson for United States
senator. upon certain conditions. This
paper purported to be signed by the
members of the legislature. as to whe-
Their it was their signatures or not |
am unable to say. but to the best of
my knowledge it was.
The other agreement was signed by
Mr.. ID. E. Thompson. | am well ac-
quainted with the signature of ID. E.
Thompson and know that the sigma
ture to that paper was the signature
of d. E. Thompson. This paper signed
by Mr.. Thompson in substance prom
Used that if he was elected by the flu
sion members of the legislature that
he would oppose the policy of i'm
perialism and entangling alliances
with other nations; that he would op-
pose any increase in the regular army.
and that he would OPPOSE the retiring
of greenbacks My recollection also
is of the paper signed by Mr.. ID. f.
Thompson that he promised and
agreed to keep out of republican eau
cuses if elected to the United States
senate.
Mr.. Maret in conversation with me
at that time informed me that the flu
sionists and the Lancaster delegation
had been holding a conference nearly
all night and that the Lancaster dele
cation would not be in representative
hall at the time of the commencement
of the calling of the roll on vote for
United States senator and that the fu-
sion members would vote for ID. f.
Thompson, and Mr. Maret at that time
offered to bet me $50 or any amount
that should name, that ID. E. Thomp-
son would be elected.
I further state that after Senator
Hayward was elected, in a converse
ton with Mr.. Maret he informed me
that had it not been for one member of
the Lancaster delegation, and also one
fusion member, d. E. Thompson would
have been elected. (Signed)
E. E. HAIRGROVE.
Subscribed in my presence and