The Washington times., 1902-10-20
ROSEWATER-MERCER
FIGHT IN NEBRASKA
Turns Omaha Editor From
Republican Ticket.
W. J. BRYAN STILL AMBITIOUS
Believed That He Would Like to Head
the State Delegation at
1904 Convention.
fsrecial TO The Washington rimes.l

LINCOLN. Neb., Oct. 19.-Once agail
Edward Rosewater, the editor of th
Omaha Bee," is on the warpath. Da
vid A. Mercer. chairman of the Hous
Committee on Public Buildings an
Grounds, is the object of his attack.
Mercer is having the fight of his lif'
for reelection. II he wins Rosewate
will be practically eliminated from Re
publican politics in the State. Th'
Omaha situation will be the determin
ing factor in the election this fall
Outside of the Second Congress dis
trict the Republicans Will probabl
have something like 1000 or $500 ma.
jority.
Omaha under normal conditions is Re.
publican by majority of 1.50o. 1t Il
conceded that W. H. Thompson. Of
Grand Island, the Fusion nominee fol
governor, will run far ahead OF his
ticket in Omaha. His opponent, P. H
Mickey, is being fought by the Retail
Liquor Dealers Association, and the
old anti-monopoly sentiment in the
State regards him with more or less
suspicion.
Not word has ever appeared in the
Omaha Bee" since Mickey's nomina-
ton favorable to his candidacy. The
last time Editor Rosewater left the
Republican reservation, Thomas ]. Ma
jors, the Republican nominee for gov
ernor. was slaughtered. and Silas A.
Holcomb. the Fuslonist. was elected.
Rosewater is more vitality concerned In
the result this fall than he was In the
defeat of Majors. Mercer has openly
derided him. The story is familiar to
everyone in Nebraska.
Rosewater Nurses chagrin.
Two years ago Rosewater wanted to
be elected to the Senate. He had the
united support of the Douglas county
delegation. and the convention had de-
clared him the choice of the party In
that county. Mercer came from Wash
ington and brought senatorial light
ming rod, which he stuck up in the
most likely place. He said that Rose
didacy simply meant that Omaha would
be robbed of the Senatorship.
Rosewater was defeated. Mercer's
candidacy did not affect the issues one
way or the other. But in his wrath, the
editor Of the "Bee' declared that Mercer
had served his last term in Congress.
Mercer returned home, captured the pri-
maries n Douglas county (Omaha), took
the local machine away from Rosewater,
and laughed at his impotency.
To retain his prestige, 1t became nec-
essary for Rosewater to fight. In or
der to defeat Mercer. he went to the
support of his old-time enemy, Gilbert
NJ. Hitchcock. Omaha, which has heard
of little else during the last decade but
the Rosewater- Hitchcock feud. has been
staggered by the revelation. The fgh.
between Rosewater and Hitchcock dates
back to the time of the father OF the
present candidate for Congress. The son
inherited his fight, and 1, has been con-
Quoted with such bitterness that recon-
ciliation seemed impossible. But with
Rosewater temporary truce is simply
war necessity. II Mercer can defy Rose
water in Omaha and succeed. no other
candidate for Office in the State will find
it necessary to placate him.
Mickey and the Railroads.
The Bee" is not openly fighting Mickey.
the Republican candidate for governor.
1t is the fient against railroad domina-
tion which keeps alive in Nebraska the
opposition to the Republican party.
Rosewater has always identified himself
with the anti-corporation element. I'm
der ordinary circumstances, it is said, he
could hardly give Mickey more than a
perfunctory support. But with the Mer-
Ger fight on his hands and the sore spots
left by his defea: for the Senate, he has
left the Republican State ticket to take
care OF itself
The Democrats and the Populists have |
effected In this State perfect fusion. |
Two years ago the Republicans enacted |
a law which was intended to prevent |
fusion. 1t has been ineffective. The |
Populists and Democrats met In sepa-
rate conventions at Grand Island, and |
each nominated the same candidate.
Each party Will print the same ticket |
on the Official ballot with a different
title. The Populist convention first
nominated W. H. Thompson, the Demo-
crat. When this result was announced
1t simply meant that throughout the
State In every Congress district and In
every county the Democrats and Popu-
lists would get together
Platforms Are Similar.
The Populist platform is an outspokeu
of hostilities TO the rail-
road corporations. and the fight in Ne
braska, SO far as the fusionists have
been able to shape the issues, has
turned on the railroads. The Populists
pledge themselves In the event OF sue
Tess to increase the railroad assessment
rom s2s.oo0.o 900 to $4,000, 600, and re-
luce freight rates in this State 10 per
cent
The Democrats did not name any fig
Tres In their platform, but pledged the
,arty TO an increase in The assessment.
rhe Republicans have done as little
aiking as possible about the State is-
Iuss, but have been extravagant In their
'raises Of Roosevelt.
William ]. Bryan is no longer feared
~ the Republicans in this State. He
1as made an active canvass, but wher-