The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-12
THE FIGHT TN NEBRASKA
New Developments in the Contest
fer the Senat0rship.
FusiORists Declare Against the EIec-
tion of ID. A. Thompson, the Lead
ing Candidate, Because OF an Al
legged Agreement Two Years Ago.
Strength of the Various Aspiruntz-

LINCOLN. Neb., Jan. I2-More than
| usual interest is attached to the Sena-
torial contest in Nebraska by reason OF the
attitude Of a small minority Of the Repub-
licans toward the leading candidate. D. A
| Thompson, OF Lincoln By reason OF the
, death Of Senator Hayward and the expIra-
ton Of Senator Thurston's term. there are
two Scholarships to be filed at this ses-
sion.
From time immemorIal the Platte River
has been the dividing line. one Senator
going to the north and one TO the south
Of the river. Thompson is the leading
candidate Of the south. In fact. he has
more than two-thirds Of the members
from that section His leading opponent is
E h Hinshaw. Of Fairbury North Of
the Platte there there are five candidates.
! Edward Rosewater. OF Omaha: Lorenzo
Croupz. Of Washington: George D. Meik-
lejohI, OF Nance; T. NJ Currie. Of Gus
ter. and David Mercer. of Douglas.
All OF the candidates. save a few weaker
ones whose only hope is in a prolonged
contest and the breaking up Of the lead
ers, favor an early caucus Efforts to Sc
cure the signatures OF enough men Ia
make il worth while to hold a caucus ara
being made with some show OF success
but it is difficult to see how a caucus VIII
relieve the situation.
Two years ago Thompson was second N
the race and It is charged by friends CT
the dead Senator that after the caucus
which nominated Hayward had been held
Thompson signed a writer agreement
with Populist leaders that, If they would
vote for him in conjunction with ten mem
bers who were loyal 20 him. he would not
attend the Republican Sena LoriaI caucus
IN Washington and would vote for certain
pronounced Democratic measures
These men have secured afidavits from
a number of FusioniSts backing up these
charges, and they now boldly assert that
Thompson is not a Republican and must
not be elected. They say that they are
numerically sufficient TO prevent his cleo
ton. even by fusion votes. and that they
win not support him. even though he Sc
cures the caucus nomination.
The Thompson men assert that the OBJ
jectors are but few in number and not
strong enough TO prevent his election.
They add that If they make It an issue
that Thompson must not be elected, the
Thompson men will make one that no
election shall be held until Thompson is
made one of the Senator'S This presages
a deadlock and the Fusionists hope that
matters may SO shape themselves that
they may be able to secure ere of the
Scholarships by a trade with some hard
driven Republican
The fact that i've Republican votes,
added TO the fun Fusion strength, would
elect makes this not an Iupossibility-
The strength OF the various candidates
is estimated as fellows: Thompson, 70;
Rosewater, Is; Meiklejohn, IS; Currie,
Is; Crounse, Z; Mercer, 6: Hinshaw, 10;
Hainer, 4: Howe, l. Merriam. g, with the
rema Inder scattering or unknown There
are Il Republicans. each with two votes.
II requires sixty-seven votes To eject.