Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-19
NEBRASKA POLITICS
MR.. MERGERS FIGHT FOR RE-
NOMINATION.
Forces Arrayed Against Hfm-Situa-
ton in Other Congressional Dis
tricts-The Governorship.

Politics in Nebraska is extremely
chaotic" said Mr.. f. C. Snyder, Washing
ton correspondent of the Omaha Bee and
Sioux City Journal. who returned today
after week spent in looking over the po-
litical situation in the antelope state. Mr..
Snyders observations are Of peculiar in
terest and he has considerable to say re-
garding the fight now on in Representative
David Mercer's district I'm many partic-
ulars the fight which Dave Mercer has on
his hands is commanding more attention by
the press generally than any other contest
now going on. Representative Mercer is
making the race for a sixth term in the
House of Representatives. AS chairman of.
the committee on public buildings and
grounds he has become in measure ma
tional character. and as he comes more
closely in touch with the people by reason
of his position chairman it is but natural
that his contest should be watched with in
terest Opposing Mr.. Mercer is Editor Rose
water of the Omaha Bee, the leading re-
publican paper of Nebraska, and the fight
he is putting up against Mercer is one OF
the most strenuous in that doughty war
rior's busy life.
Labor Men Against Him.
"Union labor is arrayed against Mercer,
due in large measure to the recent change
In the board of fire and police commission
ers, the charge being made that Mercer
was instrumental in keeping a representa-
tive of organized labor off the board AS
to the truth or falsity of this charge I am
unable to say, but it is being used against
Mercer with effect.
''Three well-known young republicans are
ont after the nomination against Mercer,
and as they have measure of strength in
their wards 1t would not surprise me If
Mercer were beaten for the nomination.
Should he be nominated I believe his cleo
ton well-nigh impossible, he defeated
Gilbert M. Hitchcock, the editor Of the
Omaha World-Herald, and the nominee of
the democrats this year, four years ago by
less than a thousand votes when the repub-
lican party was united.
The congressional primaries will be held
in MERGERS district today and the conven-
tion meets in Omaha Saturday.
In Other Districts.
"As to the other congressional districts
in the state. the result is problematical. In
the first district Mr.. Burkett, republican,
will be reelected. In the third Mr.. Nc
Carthy, the republican nominee, Is well
liked in the district, but question whether
he is receiving the support of certain inter
ests which are essential to republican sue
cess. 1t is a close district naturally, with
the chances, In my judgment, favorable to
Judge Robinson, the sitting member. AS
to the fourth and fifth districts my i'm
preston is that they will remain as now
represented, although the republicans are
hopeful of success In view of the general
prosperity that prevails In Nebraska.
Judge Kinkaid. the republican nominee,
ought to beat General Rarry In the sixth,
and I believe he will. As to the guberna-
torial campaign in Nebraska. both candi-
dates are putting up splendid fight, the
chances being slightly in favor Of the re-
publican nominee, Mr.. Mickey, at this time,
but you know there is nothing SO 'unsartn'
as politics in close districts"