Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-10

Illuminate n canutuate LOT senator, Out tnc
people had nominated him.
MERGERS attempt 10 subvert the will OF
the people was. In my Judgment AZ least,
as great a crime against the people as
would have been his attempt to persuade a
presidential elcctor to desert the candidate
Of his party. That was precisely what he
did. He did not wait until the members
Of the legislature had assembled and en-.
deavored TO discharge their duty. He did
not wait until those members had registered
their votes in accordance with the instruc-
tion5 Of the people. so that they could at
least excuse themselves for the betrayal Of
their trusts. But he approached them and
had them approached and worked upon be-
fore that legislature ever met and before
one senatorial ballot had been cast.
Carries Tales 20 Washington.
Before starting for Washington he gave
II out cold in Omaha that he had not de-
cided to be a candidate. although a very
great number Of people we're urging him to
become a candidate. But when he reached
Washington-in order to excuse his own
despicable treason to the people OF his own
district-he made out that | had endeav-
ored to defeat William Mckinley and part
OF the republican ticket In my personal In
terest. But he found little credence at
Washington. l sent him a scathing letter,
and mailed a copy Of II TO the speaker Of
the house and to Senator Hanna. And the
speaker wrote this In reply: II regret that
you have so much diseord in Nebraska, but
l feel sure that sometimes II r. we'll to use
the olive branch and sometimes the ham
mer." (Laushter.) This is precisely what
David b. Henderson wrote. did not have
to explain to President Mckinley that l
had been loyal TO the party. He under
stood II well enough and at the last inter-
view / had with him he complimented me
highly on my course. or course. Il was all
nonsense, because l had already stepped out
and am out for good-but he said, You will
get there yet. You made q noble night out in
Nebraska; you carried the state; you ought
to have been elected" That is precisely
what he said to me. (Applause.)
Now. let me review MERGERS senatorial
campaign. He gave It out In Washington
that he was being flooded with letters from
members of the legislature asking him to
become a candidate. There Is not one soil
tary letter of that kind In existence. When
the legislature met he received on lonesome
vote, on complimentary day, and that was
given as a joke. The man who voted for
him would not vote for him in Joint con-
v%entlon. A great many scattered on COM
pllmentary day. l am not sure but Judge
Julius Cooley was among those honored. But
In the seventy-two days that the legislature
was in session. voting from day to day. no.
body voted for David H. Mercer. And yet
Mercer claimed at Washington that he was
the choice OF a large portion OF the legis-
lature.
MERGERS Play for s~peakership.
To show what little faith can be placed
in him and what little honor he possesses:
II. - a6na
Reed had resigned from congress. II be-
came apparent that a new speaker would
have to be elected. A telegram was sent
to me by the Chicago Tribune, in about
these words: Are you in favor Of q
western man for speaker of the house, and
would you favor the election Of Mr.. Hop
kins Of Illinois" And l responded: IT
am In favor of a western man for speaker,
but my preference is for David B. Hen
derson, believing him to be the most cap
able and the most worthy man now sitting
In congress representing the western
states" (Applause.)
That was before Henderson had an
nounced himself. had already supported
Henderson when Connell was in congress.
Within three days after Henderson an
nounced himself. which was a few days
later, our Washington correspondent an
nounced that Dave Mercer was going to be
a candidate for speaker. The idea Of Mer-
CT for speaker was simply ridiculous.
Presently I received a letter from Hender-
son and he said: ''well. what do you think
Of Mercer being a candidateG" wrote
him: II do not think he means II; I do
not think he is serious, but he simply
wants to be chairman OF his old commit
tee" Well, the fight went on, and here
was Ohio pronouncing for Dave Hender-
son, then came Wisconsin, then came
Illinois, and then came Massachusetts,, but
Nebraska was still holding back.
finally wired down to Burkett: where
does Nebraska stand?" and Burkett re-
piled: II am for Henderson. I am an
Iowa man. but l made an agreement with
Mercer not 70 go to anybody until he
comes" In the meantime Mercer was non
eet. You could get no trace Of him He
had not been seen In Nebraska for months
and no one knew where to nnd him.
Case of UnexampIed Brass.
Finally / received a telegram from Hen
derson saying: Where does Nebraska
stsnd?" And l wired him Nebraska will
stand with Iowa. Nebraska Is for Hender-
son for speaker" l took the liberty to do
that because 1 did not want Nebraska
placed in a false light. When Mercer finally
turned up l said to him: Il have taken
the liberty of assuring Henderson that you
were for him. 1t would have been shame
full with Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets in favor Of Henderson for Nebraska
to hold back. You could not afford TO stay
out" why" said he. "that. is all non.
sense. / have been on the ground floor
with Henderson all OF the time. / have
been for Henderson all of the time" Mer.
Ger evidently did not suspect that l had
in my drawer q letter. received only three
days previous, In which Henderson said:
II depend on you to look after Mercer"
CLaughter.) l did not say to Mercer you
are a blank f~alsiher, because that would
have been disagreeably truthful. But /