Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-10
speeohof E. ROsewater to the Eighth Ward
Republican Club.
MERCER AND HIS HACKERS ARRAleSEO
Methods of the Men who support the
Prevent CoBEressman from the
Second Nebraska District
Exposed.

Speech OF Edward Rosewater Tuesday.
Ma 8, before the Eighth Ward Republican
club:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Republicans:
we are now again on the eve of a mo-
mentous political campaign-a campaign in
which the destinies OF the republican party
OF Nebraska will be determined BY the ac-
tion OF the individual members and the
character Of the standar nd bearers OF the
grand organization that brought Nebraska
Into the union among the sisterhood of
states.
Your chairman has announced that this
meeting was called for the discussion of
congressional candidates. 1t was not my
Intention to conhne the scope Of this dis
cussion to the congressional campaign.
Before entering upon that part Of the
program | desire to present a few reasons
why republicans OF Douglas county should
participate actively in the preliminary
work Of the impending campaign.
The state convention has been called By
the state committee to meet In Lincoln
June Is, and | presume the county com.
mittee VIII, within the next ten DAYS. meet
to fix the time for holding the primaries.
Whether these primary elections are TO be
held under the old system OF seleetips
delegates to the state convention by 4
county convention, or whether these dele
gates are to be chosen by direct election
by the so-called Crawford county sys>
tenn Is In the main immatertal. The
great question republicans must face IA
whether they will present a state tickle,
to the SURFACES OF the people, made I'm
OF the ablest men that can be selected from
the best element OF the republican party.
or whether they will court disaster BY
nominating candidates who have to be
apclogized for and defended.
Bigger Men Needed for Leaders.
1t Is as amazing as It Is deplorabIe tina.
the men who have been honored with lead.
ership and high position in recent years
are no match IN point Of intellect. moral
force and integrity to tho leaders and con-
didates OF territorial days. That fact was
forcibly called to my mind recently while
attending the funeral Of J. Sterling Nor
ton. Wa was associated with a galaxy of
Intellectual giants in the upbuildlng Of this
great commonwealth II is deplorable In
dfed that some Of the ablest and best men
Fithtn the ranks of the republican party
do not In late years participate actively in
our politics, or have been crowded to the
rear because the idea prevails that any,
body who has ambition can aspire to a
state ONCE, even though he is notoriously
incompetent, ignorant or disreputable, and
that anyDouy can go 10 congress, even II
he has not the ability to fill a position OF
city councilman. We remember that IN
1891 a well-digger, who had previously
scarcely touched a law book, was a can
didate for supreme Judge on the fusion
ticket Of this state, and was only prevented
from being elected to the highest judicial
tribunal OF Nebraska by the patriotism and
pride. OF the rank and file OF democrats and
populists, who did not want to degrade
the supreme bench.
In the present campaign we must en-
deavor first and foremost to select as our
standard-beare a man broad enough to be
chief executive Of a great commonwealth
that boasts nearly 1000, 900 population. 1t
has been stated semi-oficlally that william
Jennings Bryan will not be a candidate for
governor in the year 1902. do not. how
ever, consider 1t prudent for the repub-
licaA party to make its nomination for gov
ernor with the idea that Bryan will not be
mis- opponent. Bryan may be forced to
run. even against his own wish and private
interest. He is about the only democrat
who could command the united support
OF all Of the elements Of opposition to the
republican party.
No Defensive Campaign.
The republicans must nominate a man
capable OF keeping with any candidate the
fuslon reformers may rally under. A mar
whose record Affords a guarantee of un-
Improbable integrity and executive ability
OF the highest order. 1t Is gratifying In
deed that We are not compelled to enter
this campaign in defense Of the violation
OF one or the declarations Of the last re-
publicap state convention. That conven-
tion eThphatically declared against condor
ing esnbeEslement. and we will not be COM
peued. thank God. to stand up in the next
campaign to defend It. (Applauss.)
Now. Douglas county republicans have
little or no show for securing q nomina-
tlon for one OF their number to head the
republican ticket. l have lived here nearly
thirty mine years and do not remember a
single instance when a Douglas county re.
publican was nominated for the position
of governor, but we will probably have the
opportunity to secure the nomination of
some competent and able man for the POI
sition OF lieutenant governor. or possibly
Tor state treasurer. l presume there will
be no d~ificulty in finding men willing to
serve, but we should be very particular to
nominate only such a man for lieutenant
governor as would be able to All the posi-
tion OF governor creditably for himself and
the party.
Fourteen years ago Benjamin Harrison
carried Nebraska by about 2S, 900 majority.
and for nearly twenty years preceding that
campaign every nomination in a repub,
lican state convention was equivalent to an
election. Two years later. in 1890. James
r. Boyd was elected governor OF Nebraska
and from that time on Nebraska has con.
tinued to be a debatable state.
Causes of Party Defeat.
1t was not merely the folly Of submitting
prohibition that placed the republican party
in jeopardy. II was the misconduct OF men
II had placed In positions OF trust. II was
the peculation and iobbery that prevailed
In the statehouse for years by which an
e1ssperated people were impelled TO repu-
diate the republican party at the polls ana