Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-11
FIRST AND SECOND UNITE
Republican voters of Two wards Hoid
Mass Meeting ana cheer
Speakers.

Deafening applause from hundreds OF re-
publicans OF the First and Second wards
greeted Edward Rosewater when he APP
pearsd to address the Joint meeting at Thlr-
teenth and William streets last night. II
was one OF the biggest republican meetings
Of the campaign, those OF the Second ward
having met in their hall at Sixteenth and
William streets and come over in a body to
Join their ~neighboring brethren. Mr.. Rose
water was the principal speaker Of the even
ing. He said. in part:
This is not the first time have ad-
dressed you republicans Of the First ward
In this hall; II will not be the last; yet I
wish you to heed my words tonight as II
they were the last | we're ever to utter on
this earth. | appear before you tonight as.
first, an American citizen: second. as a re-
publican; as an American because l am en-
dowed as the rest Of you are with all the
privileges and rights Of free speech and &C
ton; as a republican, because that party
was founded to protect those very princi-
pies, and is maintained along the same line.
But it is better far that the freedom OF
Americans be maintained than the integrity
Of any party.
Il come here not as a candidate for any
once, but with a wish to awaken the con-
sciences of voters. l shall dwell on princi-
pies that go to the bedrock Of free govern
ment. So let me assert that the man who
hires himself out to an employer does not
thereby sell his conscience nor his right to
vote as he will. No employer can demand
this. I have never done 1t, yet I have spent
millions Of dollars in wages among you. In
those years l have employed hundreds Of
democrats, but not one was ever coerced in
his vote. l consider that there are just two
places on earth where the poor and rich are
exactly alike, one at the ballot box, the
other In the grave.
Nov / am told that the attorneys for q
certain great corporation have insinuated
here that the republicans Of this ward must
vote for a certain candidate for the congress
sional nomination, under penalty Of losing
your Jobs IL you do not. This is monstrous.
Only cowardice and fear will prompt any
man to allow such espionage to be exerted
ever him. A man who would permit Il de-
serves to be disfranchised forever. l shall
fight such methods TO the last. Omahans
should resent this interference with their
elections. We want citizens, not slaves.
The candidate for whom this effort is be-
ing made has represented you in congress
for ten years. II you want him to go there
ubAih gN0 hoNO "a AHbhN ~ hoNS hALA DhN
he has no right to force his way there
through corporation influence. l trust that
every voter OF the First and Second ward
will exercise wide freedom Of conscience in
this matter, and allow no man to dictate a
course"
Among the candidates for different Offices
who were present and heard were Judge
Blair, A. c. Troop and Judges Holmes for
district Judge; ]. L. Haley and w. A. De-
Bord for county attorney; Nelson c.. Pratt
and z. J. Cornish for congress. The latter
was in his own home territory and was
given en- ovatinn when he arrived. which
was late. He offered a strenuous appeal for
the support Of his own neighbors, and was
assured it with cheers upon cheers. He d.
lated especially upon the proposition that
the republicans should nominate a man who
can be elected, and asked why do the
World Herald and the, three democratic pa
pers in Sarpy county all boost Mercer II II
Is not that they know Hitchcock can beat
him?"
Later resolutions were adopted endors-
ing Mr.. Cornish, and another pertaining to
home rule. which read:
Resolved, That republican principles sane
ton home rule; that the citizens of a mu-
nicipality should be allowed to choose the
officers that rule over them; that a state
commission appointed to govern a munich
pality against the will of It's inhabitants is
un-American and contrary to the principles
upon which our government is founded.
At the meeting Of the Second ward re-
publicans early in the evening 1t was de-
cided to hold no caucus, but that all who
wished to serve as delegates should submit
their names on petition. A. c. Troop was
accorded the privilege OF naming his own
deleSatton to the tudician convention from
this ward.