Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-31
PLEADS FOR DAVE MERCER
Gurlsy Resorts to Court Tactics in Debate
with Mr.. Rosewster.
MAKES Jury PLEA. EvADlEe REAL ISSUES
GIorihes the NOn-Resident Congress-
man without Explaining lust
why-FRiIs TO Answer MIR.
RosewntcF'E Charges.

I'm
William f. Gurley pitted the eloduence
Of a persuasive criminal lawyer against the
stubborn facts in David II. MERGERS career,
as recounted by e. Rosewater, and a crowd
Of about 1000 people received the benefit
at the Creighton-Orpheum theater Thursday
night.
II was the debate invited by Mr.. Gurley
after the expose made by Mr.. Rosewater
at the recent meeting Of the Eighth Ward
Republican club. The attorney had asked
an opportunity to defend the congressman,
but the tactics pursued we're largely those
Of sidestepping Mr.. Rosewaters assaults
and delivering in return the fancy boxing
of one accustomed to thrill the occupants
of a courtroom.
NeEIects the Opportunities.
Mr.. Gurley talked Of his own honor and
told how. rather than ever have anything
happen to IT. he would walk through lonely
forests in ragged clothes and wooden shoes,
but he failed to answer the more material
question as to whether Mr.. Mercer wanted
an indefinite lease OF his present office in
Washington. He glorifed the Washing
tonian for having worked his way through
the University Of Nebraska, but neglected
to explain why the same son Of the plains
had given the lads Of his district no OPP
portunity to compete for the West Point
and Annapolis cadetships, but given those
favors to the son OF Campaign Engineer
T. w. Blackburn and some others to whom
he considered himself Indebted. He quoted
literally from the World Herald, but SHE'D
around the statistical statements found In
tho ledger kept by the Capital hotel at
Lincoln, when "Our Dave was assisting
in keeping three bartenders busy and many
legislators damp in the interests OF the
railroad lobby.
Finances He Doesn't Discuss.
He demanded that Mr.. Rosewater state
In advance what he intended to do in the
event Of MERGERS nomination, but couldn't
undertake to say what Mr.. Mercer would
do in the event OF defeat. He tried to
make It appear that The Bee Publishing
company had some sort of grievance be-
cause the army headquarters were moved
from the building and other tenants ad-
mitted, but dropped the matter Of finance
when 1t led to a query as to why Mercer
had not paid his campaign obligations in
his own district. He declined to have
the exposition's needs accepted as a reason
for The Bee supporting the perpetual can
didate in 1895, yet found in that same
exposition another glorihcation OF the nom
resident Statesman" VIII has spent fifteen
months in ten years in his own district.
He swore to the eternal heavens that he
is not a candidate for congress and ap-
peared somewhat aggrieved when the au-
dience applauded the resolution.
Mr.. Gurley insisted on digging up the
political corpses Of many years ago. but
insisted that 1887 was too remote a date
TO be considered when his friends and his
own Lincoln records we're involved. He
what Louis XIV said about
being the state, but couldn't explain why
his memory failed when he was before the
United States Railroad commission.
MIR. Rosewater's "~Treachery."
He found IN Mf. Rosewater's refusal to
support men VIGOROUSLY crooked a rank
treachery, but was mute when Mr.. Rose
water charged him with having failed To
vote a straight republican ticket In ten
years and with having instructed Johnnie
Wright of the Tenderloiu TO do as his
democratic partner. Ransom, directed. I
said that the approaching primaries should
be conducted with more honor than a
church rafie, but was too busy to go into
details. In fact, as will be disclosed when
the debate appears in full in an early issue
of The Bee, he answered practically every
question that wasn't asked and WASH
material, but shrouded himself In verbal
fireworks when 1t came to answering those
that were asked and were material. When
finally cornered on MERGERS smotherlnq
the quartermaster's supply depot bill he
took the one firm stand Of the evening and
declared It was because the far-seeing
David had a heayen-born intuition that u
the bill was passed the congress would
think Omaha was getting too much AM
would remove the army headquarters
ifallacy which Mr.. Rosewater punctured
with a dozen lines at his next opportunity
Audience IL Unusual One.
The audience was one of the most re.
mArkable ever seen at a political gathering
In Nebraska and was a most intelligent
one, with all trades and professions wei
represented. A congressional candidate
came through the door Immediately behint
q brickmason. A former governor of the
state was but two PAGES ahead Of a coach
man. Prominent leaders in the YounI
'Woman's Christian association work ant
in the Woman club, provided with tickets
by Mr.. Rosewater. sat with their husbands
or In groups. The superintendent of schools
and many Of the teachers were present
Councilmen dotted the audience In ever
part Of the house. There were many mem
bers of the Ja~cksonian club present, bat 4
was not conspicuous that they huddled to
,gether as brothers. Farmers and. villagl
merchants from all three counties OF tn,
Second district were visible. Old touches
elbows with young; women We'd with mel