The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1900-12-14
-. E. Thompson.

that even among loyal republicans Mark
Hanna was regarded rs bad man, n
"man with horns" But that was be-
cause we did not know him. and because
we had unconsciously absorbed pre-
judice against the gentleman from read
ing democratic newspapers. This year
the people of the west had m opportun-
ity of seeing Mark Hanna, and they
found him to be man wholly different
from tho one imagined He is not the
grasping, avaricious fiend that had been
pictured to- us, but on the contrary il n
kindly, courteous gentleman. While he
il rich man OF affairs and gives con-
Htsnt employment to more than 5000
men, he does not oppress them, but
treats them as fellow workers with him
self, and as the result of this kind of
treatment there has never been strike
nor labor trouble Of any kind among his
men. His face denotes the cordial
wholesome disposition Of man with
whom one would be glad to be Oh terms
of intimate acquaintance.
The South Platte candidate who will
be before the Nebraska legislature for
senatorial honors, may be compared
with a strong degree of likeness to Mark
Hanna. Two years ago when ID. Il.
Thompson of Lincoln was an aspirant
for the senate, he was regarded with
aversion by probably two-thirds Of the
republicans Of the state. Since that
time, however, the people Of Nebraska
have begun to know ID. e. Thompson
better, and they have come to the con.
olusion, as in the case Of Mark Hanna,
that he is very different man than the
one pictured. He is man of strong
will, backed by good sound common
sense, and he takes decided stand up.
on every question. He is not hasty in
arriving at q conclusion, but after he
has carefully weighed the pros and cons
Of subject he reaches decision, and
then he Is firm as Gibraltar. He has
never been known to forsake friend or
break promise, in which he is essenti-
ally different from many OF politicians.
Mr.. Thompson is self made man in
the fullest sense Of the word. He began
life in the menial position of a truck
man in the b. g. NJ. depot at Lincoln 2S
years ago. BY sheer force Of will, un-
Tagging industry and commanding
power of intellect, he was rapidly ad.
vsnced to brakeman on freight train,
then to conductor and later was made
division superintendent. Ten years ago
he resigned that position, and has not
been connected with railroads since.
BY industry, perseverance and the exer-
else Of good Judgment in making in.
vestments, he has acquired enough to be
accounted one Of the rich men of Lin.
coin.
While he has accumulated consider.
able wealth, he has ever been lavish in
the expenditure Of his money in chari-
table enterprises, and no worthy cause
has ever been turned away by him.
His most celebrated public act was his
loan Of SIC, 900 to the state of Nebraska
to bring the First Nebraska regiment
home from San Francisco, and this after
the governor had exhausted every means
within his power to raise the money tC
pay the transportation of the boys home
Over l5 years ago he began helping the
poor of Lincoln and has systematically
continued the work since that time
Each Christmas from one to three car,
OF -four are distributed among the needy
of the capital city.
These are the things that closer ac
quaintance with the South Platte candi
date and his mode of living have beer
discovered to the people of Nebraska a
We speak Of him as the South Platt,
candidate for the reason that it is con
ceded that one Of the senators to b,
elected will come from the southern
part of the state and the other from tn,
northern. Throughout the whole Soutl
Platte country, where he is best known
the demand is for the election of d. Z
Thompson, and this rallying Of his &C
quaintances 70 his support is Of itsel
sufficient evidence that he is popula
among his fellows. With practically
the solid support Of the South Platte
the indications are that Mr.. Thompson
viii develop at the outset the creates
strength of any candidate in the field
AS the situation appears now, the fgh
will be over the North Platte senator
with Edward Rosewater, Geo. o
Meiklejohn and Lorenzo Crounse tn
leading candidates. This situation j
decidedly may and no man can wit
any degree Of accuracy foretell the ou,
come.
About the only thing now left for hi
enemies to attack him upon. is the a
legged fact that when d. +. The mpso
was superintendent of the B. d M. b
discharged men belonging to labor O.
ganizations. That there is very lit
in that accusation is proven by the IA,
- III