Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-22
MERCER IN QUEST OF HONE
Seventh Ward Republicans Fail to Provide
Proverbial Fattsd Cali.
THEIR APPLAUSE GOES TO P. BREtN
shouts for Mercer Come from Black
b~urn-JOrdnn Force in Rear Of
Hall - O%ratorical Attempt
of Congressman.

Dave Mercer undertook to find a home
last night and he was anything but pleased
with the result OF his quest. Away from the
City Of Washington, far from his friends at
Atlantic City, more than crying distance
from Minneapolis and with memories Of a
more pleasant summer on board a govern
ment transport In the Orient, the gentleman
who occupies the seat belonging to the Sec
ond Nebraska district in the halls Of con-
gress sought to make himself at home in
the Seventh ward Of the city of Omaha.
The occasion was the meeting Of the Sew
enth WardsR Republican club, and the par
ticular spot was the hall at the corner of
Twenty-seventh and L~eavenworth. Indeed,
Mercer was the prodigal son returned; but
the proverbial fatted calf had waited so long
that those not in the immediate family Of
the prodigal had been given and had taken
the opportunity to sharpen It's long grown
horns for an unexpected thrust at the Wis
itor.
The home people we're there in force, for
never before has the Seventh Ward Repub-
lican club held such a largely attended
meeting. Aside from the republicans Of the
ward some fifty or sixty lusty lunged shout
ers from the First and Ninth wards crowded
In the hall and did what they could to cheer
~ ~ NAoANOA LlOm NhG bdbNs AOh DIAM
burn Of the Ninth and Dick Jordan Of the
First were the conspicuous leaders Of the
nonresident visitors that endeavored to
make the ~prodigal feel at home.
But It was woe to Dave. When invited to
speak the congressman knew only too well
that the shouts and plaudits that greeted
him came not from the Seventh warders, but
from the Blackburn-Jordan forces In the
rear of the hall. And when John P. Breen,
the real home candidate for the congress
sional nomination, occupied the rostrum
Dave observed only too keenly for his own
comfort that the applause and cheers came
from the home people. Veritable worm
wood, too, did Mercer find the spontaneous
cheers given at the conclusion of the schol-
arly and eloquent address given by his Sew
enth ward competitor for the congressional
nomination.
Among the remarks made by Mr.. Mercer
were these:
''since 1 saw you last 1 have not s~prouted
any horns or formed any bad habits. Every
man thinks pretty well of his stomach and
mine is getting along first rate. l have been
preserving my strength Sc as to keep right
on getting you people all the public build
ings you want. If you keep me in congress
long enough l will have the capitol moved
out here to YOU"
at was playing 1t pretty strong when 1
s0t that public building foE Blair. Tom
Reed was speaker Of the house then and he
was against 1t and its a pretty hard game
to go up against the speaker. Reed went to
Matt Quay, who was chairman of the senate
committee on buildings, and told him that /
was trying to get a public building on every
100 acres Of ground out in Nebraska, and 1t
would have to be stopped. When Quay met
me he said 1 was going too strong, and 1
just told him that II l didn't get the Blair
building he couldn't have one that he
wanted at New Brighton, Pa. The result
was that the buildings went up at both
Blair and New Brighton"
IF there is anything I dislike 1t is a cam
paign full of personalities. but II it's nee
essary to get into that kind of a battle you
will find me a pretty good fighter. AS long
as my opponents treat me like a gentleman
/ will treat them like gentlemen. Some
people around here will be sorry that l
didn't stay in Washington or Minneapolis"
John Breen is a good fellow and after 1t
is all over John will come to me and say
that he was for me all the time. l expect to
carry every ward in the city unanimously"
Mr.. Breen preceded his discourse on ma
tional and International topics by remarking
that he did not approve of the gentle
manly campaign indicated by a cartoon
which Mr.. Mercer had already began to cir
culate. He produced a copy Of the objec-
tionable print, which showed Mercer with a
string of public buildings in his hands and
three ours barking at his feet.
"On what meat does this man feed,"
asked Mr.. Breen, that he becomes so great
and powerful that he assumes to stand
astride of this congressional district and
characterize as yellow dogs the citizens who
question his right to stay in congress for
ever?"
After the meeting adjourned Mercer
pushed his way through a crowd on the side
walk to reach President Thomas and inquire
the name Of the treasurer Of the club. 81
suppose II you put up that tent you'll want
some money! explained the congressman
in a tone so loud that his generous offer
fioated into the ears of every man within
the distance Of q block.