Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-25
REMINISCENT INSTRUMENTATION.

body, not even a dark horse. The at
for former Governor Crounse is per-
fectly legitimate. but the attempt Of the
Lincoln Journal to create a political sen
sation by coupling the Crounse boom
with reminiscent transformation is a
piece Of inexcusable im%posture. In this
gem Of fiction the Journal recalls the
fact that ten years ago Lorenzo Crounse
held a position OF great honor and
responsibility in the United States treas
ury and continues:
President Harrison was president and
ambitious to succeed himself. Edward
Rosewater was straining himself to break
into the cabinet as postmaster general. He
had presented a diagram Of his modest am
bition to President Harrison for the guild
ance OF that distinguished gentleman and
of1cial when he should COM to make up
his second term cabinet.
President Harrison evidently believed
that 1t would be we'll to make this conces-
sion to Nebraska as the surest way Of
keeping the state in line on the national
issues. but was not disposed to allot SO i'm
portsnt a position to the state as long as
Lorenzo Crounse held his also important
place in the treasury. In order to crafty
the ambition Of Mr.. Rosewater he would
have to get rid Of Mr.. Crounse in some way.
One fateful night there was a banquet Of
leading republicans in Omaha, given to in
augurate DR.. MERGERS boom for governor.
That same night Hon. z. X. Valentine
arrived in Omaha to see Mr.. Rosewater.
II was not because the ex-congressman was
particularly partial to Mr.. Rosewater as q
friend and fellow republican. He came as
an emissary of the president to suggest a
way to get Crounse out Of the treasury.
The method proposed was to nominate him
for governor. Mr.. Valentine had to await
Mr.. Rosewater's return from the Mercer
gubernatorial boom banquet that he might
lay the enterprise before him
The effect was as pronounced as a work
Of magic. The next morning, so. runs the
tradition. The Bee showed that the banquet
champagne had begun to sour by announce
ing in tones OF unmistakable hostility that
the nomination Of DR.. Mercer would simply
mean a doodle campaign" That is where
DR.. Mercer got 1t where the pullet OBJ
structed the cleaver-in the eck-in con-
sequence Of which he has never since been
able to assimilate any Rosewater medicine.
Probably few people have ever imagined
that Governor Crounse was nominated for
governor to advance the aspirations of Mr..
Rosewater to shine as a member Of the
cabinet. 1t will be readily recalled, how
ever, how the name Of Lorenzo Crounse was
borne abroad through the state as the mod
ern Moses until he was nominated.
The power that controls events is some
times cruelty inconsiderate, and ~necessi-
tates a mighty bad finale to a mighty good
story. 1t is recalled and recounted as a
conspicuous example Of the irony Of fate
that Mr.. Crounse was triumphantly elected
governor of Nebraska, while Benjamin Har-
rison's pretensions in the direction Of the
presidency for the second term were shat
tered. and Mr.. Rosewater's cinch on a cab
met position went with them.
This would be mighty interesting read
ing, if it were only true. AS a matter
Of fact, Lorenzo Crounse occupied the
highly honorable position of assistant
secretary of the treasury, as he had
other honorable and lucrative positions
previously, through the influence and eff
forts exerted by The Bee and its editor.
1t is true that Benjamin Harrison was
president ten years ago, but nobody ever
solicited or suggested to him that Ed
ward Rosewater be made a member of
his cabinet. Rosewater never had any
aspirations to be In Harrison's cabinet,
McKinley's cabinet o any presiden-
tia cabinet. Rosewater did not strain
himself to break into the cabinet. He
was at that time chained to his post as
n6ifnp of fhn nnnar hA bod oaNolIf.AoI
and which he desired above all things
to make a heritage for his children.
The truth is that Rosewater regarded
CrOunse as the only available man who,
as the standard bearer of the republican
party, could match Van Wyck, and the
first suggestion, inviting Crounse to
head the ticket, came from Rosewater.
The assertion that e. X. Valentine
was dispatched to Nebraska as special
envoy from President Harrison is too
absurd even to pass muster at a camp
fire meeting. There was no necessity
for sending Valentine or any one else to
communicate with Rosewater, who had
talked the program over fully with
Judge Crounse. and had his assurance
that he would accept the nomination If
it came without any effort on his part.
The story about the Mercer boom is
equally stupid, If not idiotic.
The irony of fate defeated Benjamin
Harrison for president, while Lorenzo
Crounse was elected governor Of Ne
braska, and the irony Of fate that made
Tom Majors lieutenant governor kept
Crounse out of the senate. That part of
it at least is historic. The political
resurrectlonists ought to keep within
the narrow limits of truth.
NrERNlnInNI cnnnnrc1Ec