Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-09
BLACKBURN PLEADS IN VAIN
Nsrcsrs Political Manager Fails to Reconcile
Organised Labor Men.
CANNOT ATONEfO R TIE BROKEN PROMISE
Representative Of Union Labor De-
cIsres MERGERS Arrogant snub
VIII Not BE Forgotten
At the Polls.

The Mercer machine is finding IN organ
lied labor one Of the most dificult obstacles
1t has yet encountered. It sticks right in
the middle OF the track and refuses TO bulge
even for the terrific jolts OF a double
header. Since Governor Savage came up
from Lincoln Tuesday and gave the com
missions to the four men who constitute the
Mercer IRE and police board Congressman
Mercer and his chief engineer. Tom Black
burn. have been trying by various methods
to remove this obstruction from the way
which leads back to Washington.
Tom Blackburn paid a visit yesterday
afternoon to Labor Temple. the FIRST visit
he has paid there since Mr.. MERGERS board
took it's seat. He probably will not forget
his reception very soon. Mr.. Blackburn.
according to the word Of A. J. Glenn. w.
Richelieu and other organized labor men.
has tried in vain for the last three days to
induce some Of them to enter his once for
q consultation over the police board mat
ter, and the same effort has been made BY
Mercer, the men say, with the same re-
suits. Finally Blackburn. in hts anxiety to
clear" mis- chief Of the responsibility Of
naming the new board, despaired Of the men
calling 1T his once OF Mercer's headquar-
ters and went to Labor Temple.
H. Stevenson. business agent Of the
b~ricklayers, was the hrst man Blackburn
met. They held q very warm session on the
pavement in front OF Labor Temple, which
was witnessed BY a reporter for The Bee
and others who were in that neighborhood.
The burden Of Blackbufa's plea was that
Mercer was not responsible for naming the
new board and he did not want organized
labor men to hold his chief to account for IT,
Questions Aerosr's word.
'Tf Dave Mercer was not responsible sor
that board. why did he not keep his word
to meet our committee and 60 with It to
Lincoln to. confer with the governor and see.
az he specifically promised to do. that
organized labor got a representative on the
boardf" was asked By Stevenson.
But It was too swift for MERGERS be-
wildered political manager. and he had "a
let It pass and try 70 swing onto the next
one. hoping that it would come 4 little
slower.
NOV" agreeing to tax the laboring men
into his confidence just a little. Blackburn
said, "ITl tell you. Nj. Stevenson that
board was not named by Mr.. Mercer At
all and 1t was not named OF decided on IN the
city Of Omaha, but It was selected and
slated right over there at ManaWa last
saturday,
You'll have TO show me-" said Steven
son.
But Blackburn did not show him. nor ala
he explain just how IL Was that he Black
burn) knew anything about where and how
and BY whom the board was named.
Il thought" rejoined Stevenson. ''ths
board vas to be named BY Governor Saw
age; ! didn't know Il Was to be slated at
ali and l don't see Why the governor OF
Nebraska should TAX the pains Of going
clear over into another state to name the
board"
Although the day vas exceptionally cool,
beads OF perspIratien we're standing out on
the aorid brow q the perplexsd politicians