Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-10

OF lBOl by an overwhelming mal0r1t
demanded the recall Of the BARLEY
parole. the aspirations of Ezra p. Saw
age for a popular endorsement Of bis
accidental state administration received
a shocking jar. Prompt compliance
with the demand Of his party had q
tendency to smooth the rufled temper
OF the people. But while the popular
tempest was s~ubsiding. the wrath OF
BARLEY was on the rise, and well-de'
fined rumOrs were circulated that he
was about to make damaging disclo-
sures. The threatened eruption brought
on a crisis and for several days every
roadway leading from Lincoln to the
pepitentiary was lined with carriages
filed with visitors anxious to placate
Barley. But according to reliable ac-
counts the star prisoner would listen to
nothing less than an assured full par
don. A council was thereupon held by
the parties in distress and an emissary
enlisted In the person Of United States
District Attorney Summers to employ
Aho pchounoiNc baaThuo upoA OO'SAhOA
Savage and induce him to issue the
necessary pardon
As a preliminary to the negotiation
Governor Savage was promised In the
name Of the potential persons for whom
Summers was ambassador his much-de-
sired nomination for governor al the
hands of the mex republican state con-
vention. What other inducements en-
tered into the deal has not been d.
vulged-sufice 1t to say that BARLEY
received his unconditional freedom on
New Years day, while the governor
found himself in possession of a gold
brick that proved to be absolutely
worthless when assayed. That the
bunco man and his hackers had not the
remotest intention to deliver the goods
was painfully manifest to the governor
long before the convention and his
withdrawal from the race created no
surprise anywhere.
But It seems hat one gold brick did
not complete the governors collection.
And 80 be grasped at the first opportu-
nifty to get another. The decision OF
the supreme court In the police COM
mission case furnished the hoped-for
opening. This time the game was
played by a brace of bunco men-John
N. Baldwin ON one side Of the table and
David H. Mercer on the other.
In this instance the play was even
more bold than the frat and the assay
showed more brass to the square inch.
The prize package handed to the gov
ernor by Mercer and Baldwin as the
consideration for allowing them to name
the police commission contained nothing
less than a guaranty Of a federal ap-
pointment for Mr.. Savage Immediately
after the expiration or bis term nexI
January with a salary Of not less than
$4,000 a year attached. To secure this
lucrative job for the great pardoner
Mercer promised the active backing Of
Senator Willard as well as Of himself,
and John N. Baldwin pledged to REIN
force Willard and Mercer by Secretary
of the Treasury Shaw, Secretary Of
Agriculture Wilson, Senators Allison
and Dolliver. Speaker Henderson and
other members Of the Iowa delegation,
who, he said, would march or drive up
to the White House with Savage to Inn
press upon the president the magnitude
of his services to the party and country.
The only possible obstacle. to cashing
this political draft will be encountered
with a man by the name Of Theodore
Roosevelt, whose signature is essential
to make it pass muster In the great
political clearing house. President
Roosevelt moreover, Is known TO en-
terrain very peculiar views about ex-
ecutive clemency to embezslers and we
feel sure that it win take a great deal
more influence than can be piled up by
the Mercer-Baldwin alliance 70 convince
him that Ezra p. Savage is ht to I'LL
any position within his gift. even II
5000 appointments should be as thick
as b~lackberries IN midsummer. Presd-
dent Roosevelts view OF the Savage
brand Of governor vas declared within
the presence Of Senator Dietrich and
the editor Of The Bee last fall when
he expressed his gratincation that the
republicans OF Nebraska had succeeded
In putting the ~embezzrng state treas
urer back into the penitentiaFy. It win
take a great deal Of high pressure TO
induce President Roosevelt to ratify the
bargains by which Governor Savage has
been buncoed into giving BARLEY the
keys Of the state house and Broatch
the keys OF the police commission vault.
THE SEACoAST DEFEEsss.