Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-18
Aspirants and Supporters Surge Through
Hotel Corridors in Crowds,
STUEFER WlTHDRAwS FROM THE RACE
Issues Gard Saying He Declines to Seek Re-
nomination in Interest of Harmony.
PROSPECT FOR LONG SESSION GOOD
Contest for Governorship May Lead
to Many Ballots Before a Nomina-
lion IL Made aud So Pro-
long Convention.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

From a STAN Cores spondent)
LINCOLN, June 17.-(specal Telegram.)
At midnight Treasurer Stuefers ex-
pected withdrawal was announced in the
following written statement:
Deeming It to be for the best interests
of the party with which l have long anil
lated and which has honored me on many
,n,S,S,I oe,SSasionIs and to which l expect to con-
efforts and services, l hereby withdraw
my name from the list of candidates for
the nomination for state treasurer to be
| made at the state convention to be held
on & the 18th instant; During my incum-
best ability and Judgment / could COM
mand but now In the interest of harmony
and to promote the welfare of the party
| finally and positively retire as a candidate
WILLIAM sTUEFER.
on the eve of the republican state con-
vention more uncertainty surrounds tho
places Of the state ticket that are open to
competition than for many years. The
activity with which the nominations are
sought is attested not only by the large
number of candidates who have opened
headquarters, but also by the unprece-
dented attendance of prominent republican
politicians from all parts of Nebraska. The
hotels are turning away guests and hotel
corridors are scarcely passable because of
the surging crowds. II would be useless to
try to enumerate the well known people
who are here because the list would in
clude nearly everyone who has more than
local fame in politics.
Strength OF GubernatorIaI AapIrants
The gubernatorial row has signs out for
eight candidates ambitious to succeed to
the executive office. On the question most
frequently asked How do the respective
candidates stand? the general sentiment of
those whose opinions are worth having is
that Robertson of Madison will lead In
! the first ballot. Mr.. Robertson is expected
to have behind him the larger part of the
Third district and a good share of the
Sixth and ought to run up between 200 and
250 votes. For second place Black OF
Franklin is picked, with a substantial fol-
lowing from the Fifth com ngressonaI dis
trict, together with some scattering votes,
altogether not far from 200. Below these
other candidates are likely to be punched
| Sears of Burt will take the river counties
| OF the Third district and a large part of
| Douglas. Mickey of Polk will draw his
| strength chiefly from the Fourth district
| at first and Jessen of Otoe from the First
| district, outside OF Lancaster, which will
present II. H. Wilson, who will also have
support from neighboring counties and
some scattering votes. Dinsmore Of Clay
will cut into Black trihe in the Fifth
anu van Duoth may nave d lew votes IL
he persists in having his name presented.
Van Dusen has put up a sign on his
room, which is presided over by Judge Bax-
| ter, and tried to hold a caucus tonight OF
a few of his friends on the delegation to
| determine what course to pursue. He is
still talking of carrying a contest into the
convention to have himself seated in place
of the delegate who beat him out at the
South Omaha primaries. AS this is the
only case where the credentials are uues-
| toned, doubt is expressed whether the con-
vention will waste much time on 1t.
Successor to stuener.
Next to the governorship the treasurer's
nomination is occupying the center of at
tention. The withdrawal of Stuefer last
night adds to the interest In this contest,
even though his withdrawal had been an
ticpated. There are several active can
didates, including Peter Mortensen OF VAL
ley, John T. Bressler of Wayne. John ].
Johnson Of Saunders, Sherman Saunders OF
of Knox and Agie Axen OF Stanton. There Is
a whispered suggestion that II Lancaster
fails to win out on governor It will spring
its former county treasurer A. NJ. Sullivan.
AS a matter of fact, however, II Is con-
ceded that geographical considerations will
play a part in the allotment of this once.
II the governorship goes north, the treas
| urership is likely to come south, and vice.
versa. The desire to have some foreign ma
tionality represented on the ticket is likely
| also to have its influence.
For lieutenant governor the only avowed
candidates are Holbrook Of Dodge and Nc
Clifton OF Douglas but this ONCE is also
! subject to new conditions that may be pro-
duced by the outcome Of the gubernatoriaI
fight. Without any disturbing change the
outlook for McGilton is considered good
although 1t possible that some OF the de-
feated aspirants for governor might look
to the lieutenant governorship for balm.
First Session of Convention.
The convention will meet in the Audi
| torium at O'clock with Norris Brown of
| Buffalo as temporary chairman and Ed A.
| Allen OF Johnson as temporary secretary
| The arrangements for the distribution OF
| the tickets and the accommodation OF del
egates and spectators are decidedly better
| than usual. AS chairman Mr.. Brown will
confine his efforts to a keynote speech, to
which his tried eloquence is sure TO do full
justice. He will relinquish his gaveI to a
| permanent chairman and as Judge s. p.
Davidson is the only aspirant for this
honor, 1t will doubtless be conceded TO
him without competition.
People are looking for a comparatively
pIOloubeu NOultSl over tne BONernOrBhIp.
1t is likely that the afternoon session will
do no more than perfect the Organization,
adopt the resolutions and take an in
| formal ballot on governor, leaving the real
| balloting to an after-supper session. II
would not be surprising, especially in view
of the disposition OF deadlocks manifested
| In congressional conventions this year, II
| the state convention should indulge in the
luxury Of a goodly number Of ballots before
| centering majority on the winner.
Platform Prospects.
As to resolutions those relating to ma
tional issues will probably follow along the
lines laid down in other states where re-
pubicans have already held their conVen-
tions, but some reference TO local condi-
| tions is likely to be added. The most tick
lish question is that Of the plea for Cuban
reciprocity, on which there Is q divergence