Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-11

method is in keeping with the character
OF a man who would father such an attack
on former friends merely because they as
pire to the once he holds. AS for Mr..
Hobewster, who is pictured as another OF
the dogs. you know yourselves that he is
emply able to take care OF himself. am
neither his close friend nor his enemy. but
VIII cay that he does more in a single
year Tor the laboring men Of Omaha than
David II. Mercer has done In his ten years
In congress-and the buildings Rosewater
gets for Omaha are paid for from his own
pocket, not the governments.
Somebody has said that I am a sort of
Tree lance in this campaign and that l
don't care a id whether I an or am
not elected. ] do care, but let me say that
when you vote for a congressman you may
De voting to sustain or change the policy
OF the nation, and ~ you consider some
other candidate stronger than vote for
him.
Mr.. Pratt spoke very briefly. emphasizing
the record OF the party and its work in be-
half OF colored men.
Mr.. Rosewater was called for and in re-
Spouse to many repetitions OF the invita-
ton walked out of the audience to the
chairman's side and spoke a few minutes.
interrupted constantly by applause and
laughter. He said in part:
Helped CoIored Men TO vote.
Nebraska went into the union with
Equality Before the Law" written on its
shield. but at FIRST there were some who
were inclined to deny the negro full privi-
leges. There were those who ventured to
declare that no niger should vote unless
ne Fought his way to the polls / was one
OF several white men who formed a COM
pany and went out against the crowd to
insure the negro his privilege. We formed
a guard and made II possible for the col
ored men to come In squads and exercise
their franchise. l lived in Tennessee for
some years and 7 don't believe any man
present has been witness to more Of human
slavery than 1. l was a friend then and I
am a friend now. John NJ. Langston was
the first lawyer I ever employed.
NOW, a mar must be judged by what he
does-by what he has done. Il doesn't mat
ter what his grandfather did. I believe In
helping the negro as much after election as
before. Don't rely upon a man who takes
you up onto the mountain and shows you the
promised land afar on. Neither rely on a
mar who gives no attention until election
time and then makes dazzling promises for
the future. Beautiful promises don't buy
groceries.
Congressman Mercer is the public's SER
want, not the public's master, and IL you
wished him here tonight to give an account
OF his stewardship he should have been here.
He should make himself available for the
men whose votes he expects. We do not.
| ne hn Nnnnltoa AL A. A.
time. When he has business In Washington
that Is the place for him, but we do object
to his taking long tours about the world.
'deadhead' or at government expense, when
the people Of his district wish to see him,
We do not approve of the sentiment that his
family should have nothing in common with
Omaha neighbors. II this is his home, why
has Mrs. Mercer been resident elsewher
ever since hve days after his return to
Omaha a few weeks ago?"
DupIIcity of Mercer.
Mr.. Rosewater also again explained the
fallacy OF the old story about the army
headquarters and the quartermaster's de-
pot. He recalled the time, too, when Mercer
aspired to be speaker Of the house instead
Of Henderson Of Iowa, and how, when he re-
allied the utter hopelessness Of 1t, pretended
to have been with" Henderson all along
this to Mr.. Rosewater. who had In his
drawer at that time a letter from Hender-
son not three days old asking him what
Mercer meant by his attitude and request
ing Mr., to take care of the I'M
certain congressman.
Go out anywhere in this district and you
Will find ten men h can testify to Mer-
GERS faithlessness. There are twenty-five in
South Omaha who still wonder why their
promised appointments as postmaster never
materialized. The paramount issue with you
voters is: DO you want for the future a mar
who has served you as this one has in tn,
past?'"
An emphatic moi" came from a dozer
mouths at once.
Mr.. Fink simply announced his candidacy
for ths legislature and invited the supper
Of the colored voters Of his ward, the Sixth
Because Of the lateness OF the hour A.. II
Willis confined himself to a few remarks OF
the abuse Of the negro's constitutions.
rights. NJ. F. Singleton was slated to speak
but declined to longer detain the audience