Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-01

for me in this county we're democrats.
Even II this we're true. does not he know
that over 5000 republicans voters expressed
their preference in the republican primary?
Didn't the republican primaries squarely,
by more than 2 10 1. instruct the re-
publican candidates from this county to
vote for Edward Rnsewater? Isn't that the
fact7 After / had submitted at the re-
publican primaries and had won out l
was not content to- leave It there, but
submitted the question to the people. l
declared in a public meeting, held prior
TO the primaries. that l would not represent
the people unless the people wanted TO be
represented by me-, and / would certainly
not have accepted an office against the
will OF the people. But Mr.. Mercer
audaciously turned in and wrote letters to
every man elected to the Legislature ask
ing him for his support. and then he went
TO Washington and gave 1t out in the
Washington newspapers that he had been
amportuned by the members of the legis-
iature to stand as a candidate, but when
She vote was taken he never received one
solitary vote; during the seventy-two days
%. Of Joint convention not one vote was cast
for him 1t is to the highest credit OF the
delegation from Douglas that they were
loyal from beginning to end. Now. let me
read to you what I thought about the be-
eraysl Of the people in the choice Of
senators In 1887, and l have not ch.ne.u
my mind. Here is the letter 1 wrote
January II:
For the first time IN the history of the
country the test is to be made whether the
will of the people as directly. or indirectly
Tepresentatives in the legislature by their
choice of United States senator. Our ,sys-
tenn Of elective government will either
prove itself a sham ana farce, OF worthy
of confidence and respect.
sentiment was in favor Of giving the peo-
pie a chance to vote their choice for
Bnited States senator when our present
constitution was being framed. 1t Is a
matter of record that the first legislature
convened under the present constitution
congress- demanding an amendment to the
constitution that would make the Office of
United States senator elective, the same
Popular sentiment on this question is
mbre intense today than ever. The people
OF Nebraska will have their choice as In
dcated by their polls and conventions, or
~ will know the reason why; Not onIy
hear the result OF the balioting. In every
same as those Of presidential electors. The
attempt to tamper With members who
just as Infamous and villainous as was the
effort to purchase Cronin's vote for Sam
Tilden ten years ago.
After the BeQaLOTldl contest lne uulTdBc
was denounced by me in this language:
The political history of this state pre-
SCENTS no parallel of dastardly disloyalty to
the people and to a leader who had the
torial contests which Nebraska has wit
messed no such detection was ever at
tempted at that stage. Van Wyck, with a
popular endorsement such as no man ever
had, a republican following nearly three
date and a reserve Of twenty-five TO thirty
democrats elected and pledged to support
the popular choice found himself face to
This band OF conspirators in constant
helped to work up It's caucus scheme and
finally went so far as to change their votes
in open session whenever Van Wyck re-
ceived votes enough to elect.
Just. as Joint session was about to con;
S si%e w ! sseRRPedl it up Ra TO M tTne tSst ana he as RsG
agreed to change his vote for Van Wyck
for somebody else in case Van WICK re-
Deived votes enough to elect. He gave an
FOR Gods sake said I, don't do this
our county. Remember that l vouched for
Sou when you were endorsed by the work.
9hwell. said whitmore. IT don't know
what / will do"
and through the entire session. sat Thurs
toms man Friday, w. F. Gurley.
That is precisely as 1t was written In
1887. It was discreditable to subvert the
will of the people and destructive to our
form Of government in 1887, and It was
equally discreditable and criminal in 1900.
For myself appeared before that iegis-
aature after It had elected your two repub-
lican senator's. The gentleman says 1t was
all a Joke, but they voted for me for sew
enty-two days. l stated publicly that l had
absolved my supporters and withdrawn as
candidate and was content because / was
not a statesman out of a job. And so far
as am concerned, 1t is not a question of
personal revenges to crafty. ! am battling
for a principle that must be vindicated.
The paramount issue in the candidacy OF
Mercer is whether the people OF this dis
trict will endorse a man who violates the
fundamental principles Of self government,
OF republican government. by trying 20
Illustrate the will Of the people, conspiring
TO undo what the people have decreed.
They had declared themselves in emphatic
terms and 1t was his duty to abide their
choice. Now, fellow citizens. this Is q
much more grave question than any that
has ever been presented to the people OF this
congressional district. 1t reaches down to
the bedrock of free government. A free
people have a right to name their rep
resentatives in national and state legisla-
ture and be represented loyalty by them
or else we have no free government.
MR. GURLEY.
Fellow citizens. the gentleman reads from
an editorial which he says he wrote in 1887
wherein he discusses the sacredness OF the
ballot box. and l was wondering while h'
was reading that editorial whether he also
had in his pocket a copy Of the testimony
OF the chief OF police OF South Omaha
daughter and applause.) to the effect II
substance that my distinguished opponent
wanted him Miles Mitchell, to hire severa
robust Individuals to kick over the ballo
boxes. And while that testimony was beinl
taken, and while that was testified to b!
the chief Of police OF South Omaha unde
oath, my distinguished opponent, although
knowing Of the hearing. and the testimon,
being taken in his own building. beneath