Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-20
CAN MERCER BE ELECTED,

OAN MhhChh DE ELEtIADI
The republicans of this district are be-
ginning to realize at last that the nomi-
nation of David H. Mercer for a sixth
term means inevitable defeat for Mer-
Ger and a menace of disaster to the Leg
islative and county tickets. Even the
most ardent friends Of Mr.. Mercer con-
cede that under existing circumstances
his nomination would be an extra haz-
ardous risk.
Mercer would enter the race not only
handicapped by the fact that he is prac-
tically a nonresident and has had more
than his share of public favor by being
retained for five terms in congress not
w~ithstanding his disposition to shirk his
moral obligation to pay his way and
work for other candidates, but by the
pronounced opposition of the working
men and a very large percentage Of all
classes Of citizens, who resent the at
tempt Of the railroad corporations to
foist a congressman Of their own choice
upon the district.
Looking backward over the election
returns of the past ten years we find
that Mercer has never had a very large
margin to go IN. His first election in
1892 was secured by the intrusion of an
independent candidate.
The returns for 1892 show that out Of
the 25,390 votes polled in the district
Mercer received lass, or 1,2OS less
than a majority. His democratic oppo-
nent, George w. Doane, received 10,3SS
votes, or just 1,1OO less than Mercer;
the Independent candidate, Rev. Robert
Wheeler, 1852, and the prohibition can
didate, r. w. Richardson, 1852.
In 1894 Mercer was again elected by a
bare majority, receiving 12,946 votes,
while James e. Boyd, democrat, re-
ceived S,166, D. Glen Beaver 1882 and
Woody, prohibition, 1893.
In 1896 Mercer received 1881, Judge
Dufie 1926, with 261 scattering, Mer-
GERS majority over Dufie being 1915.
A change of 7SS votes from one side to
the other would have defeated Mercer.
although it was a presidential year.
In 1898, with the prestige and impulse
Of the Transmississippi exposition in
his favor, Mercer polled 1881. as
against 11,O23 received by G. NJ. Hitch
cock. With a majority or only J2o, a
change of 465 votes from n side to the
other would have defeated him.
Two years ago, with the momentum
of Mckinley prosperity, the popularity
of Mckinley and Roosevelt, a united
and harmonious party behind his back,
Mercer polled 1927 votes, as against
14,S07 east for Edgar Howard and 36e
scattering. Notwithstanding that lao
more votes were cast for him than
he had ever received before, Mercer
would have been defeated by a change
of 736 votes.
While it is not at all likely that as
large a vote will be polled this year by
the candidate of either party as was
polled in the presidential year 1900, Mer-
Ger is certain to lose anywhere from
$500 to 5000 votes that were cast for
him two years ago. And those people
will not shoot into the air, nor can they
be bought on to stay at nome,
While the democratic candidate for
congress is by no can the most popu-
lar man in the fusion ranks, Mercer has
made himself so thoroughly ~unpalatable
that but very, very few Of those now OPP
posed to him could be induced to swal-
low the dose. Even II the Union Pa
cihc strike should be settled amicably
and the Baldwin-Mercer police commits
sion should succeed in clubbing the sa-
loon keepers and the people who flourish
in the prescribed district into line for
him, MERGERS chances of election are no
better this year than was his prospec.
Of being elected United States senator
by the last legislature.