Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
(From a STAN Correspondentl

(From a Stan Correspondents
LINCOLN, June 1S.--(Special Telegraml
| This ticket was nominated by the repub-
licans of Nebraska in one of the most nu-
/ merously attended, most enthusiastic most
stubbornly contested and most protracted
state conventions in the history Of the
party. There was the most extreme ten
! sion and at several points in the proceed
| ings 1t seemed that the chief prize, the
| governorship, was about to be snatched,
, now by this candidate, now by another,
until finally the award was made with al
most unanimity. The contest for the gov
ernorship gave room for a display OF po-
litical maneuvering and hnesse that called
into requisition all the shrewdness Of the
most astute and experienced politicians In
/ Nebraska. 1t was a battle royal, waEed
for more than seven hours, IN which the
forces were marshaled and deployed under
skilled generalshlp that seemed almost
/ equally matched on both sides.
One by one weaker candidates were
| forced on the field, one column advanced
and another pulled back. taxing the staying
qualities of the supporters of the different
aspirants to the very utmost.
The first ballot for governor disclosed the
different candidates about the relative po-
sitions which had been indicated by The
Bee in its forecast OF the convention. Rob-
ertson Of Madison led with 252 votes. with
Black OF Franklin close second, with 202.
mostly from the Fifth district Wilson of
Lancaster, Mickey of Polk, Jessen of otoe.
Sears Of Burt and Dinsmore OF Clay were all
punched close together between 100 and 150
Only three scattering votes were recorded
TWO OF them for Governor Savage, one OF
which came from his home county, Custer
and the other from Nemaha. The plan OF
action was readily visible. In the North
Platte Robertson and Sears stood to the
front, but while Robertson had his reserve
strength massed, Sears was unable 10 draw
In recruits and gradually fell behind. In
the South Platte while Black was in the
lead, all the others continued to grow and
Dinsmore soon took an impetus that made
him the leader over all.
Van Dusen Pulls Ont.
The second ballot eliminated Van Dusen.
| whose name was neatly withdrawn by a few
words by Judge Baxter. Sears remained
In the race until after the ninth ballot, and
| Wilson made his exit at the same time.
Dinsmore reached his maximum on the
sixth ballot, when he went up to 41s, al
though he regalned most of his strength
again after the supper recess, when he
reached 414 on the eleventh ballot Rob-
ertson's maximum. strange to say, was
also reached on the sixth ballot, when he
registered 382. from which he gradually
fell of until he finally withdrew In favor
OF Mickey when Madison was reached ON
the twelfth roll call
1t had been seen by the men behind Rob-
ertson that he could not make the goal
from the time that he began to lose. ana
all their efforts were directed to prevent
ing the success of Dinsmore, who was his
chief opponent. To do this a feeler was
put out for a rally behind lessen. Votes
known TO belong to the Robertson contin-
gent were sent to lessen, beginning with
the seventh ballot, and a few straggIers
from the same camp were planted with
Wilson. the Lancaster county candidate, to
make sure that no junction was formed
between Wilson and Dinsmore. The same
tactics were pursued with Black and
Mickey, the plan being plainly apparent
and well supported with organized rooters
in the gallery. lessen stock was on the
boom without question. on the eighth and
ninth ballots, just previous to the recess.
1t turned out, however, that the old soldier
} element outweighed the new soldier sle-
ment IN tht convention. Finding their ad-
vances not sufficiently encouraged when
the delegates reconvened after supper, the
: Robertson line suddenly broke on the
twelfth ballot and sent flying squadron
htat included nearly its entire force to
Mickey as a second choice. Under this
attack the Dinsmore forces wavered, but
they did not break. A number OF counties
changed their votes to Mickey. after the
roll had been completed. but before the
roll was announced.
For a moment II was thought that Mickey
had the necessary majority and cheer upon
cheer rent the air, but It was a false alarm.
; When the figures were added It was found
that he had stopped short at ATS and needed
another nifty votes TO insure a nomination.
} Strange to say. IL was the thirteenth ballot
that proved lucky for Mickey and unlucky
! for his competitors. His nomination was
inevitable as soon as the roll call pro-
ceeded, after Douglas county had swung
into the Mickey line with its entire ninety
fve votes, which had previously been
thrown practically solid to Dinsmore. the
rest would have been a mere formality. The
chairman Of Dinsmore's. Clay county. dele
! cation managed. amidst wild excitement, to
secure recognition from the chairman and
to move q suspension Of the rules making