Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-10

could testify. that they we're marked With
Mercer and marked without Mercer pro-
miscuously, because we intended they
should be used where they could 70 the
best advantage. There was nothing inn
proper in that. On election day a lot Of
these ballots were taken to South Omaha
In a hack, occupied by Llewellyn. Collins
and myself. They were exhibited to Trou-
ten, Schulz. Wilcox and other South
Omaha republicans. and some were dis
tributed. But about 5000 Of these ballots
are still in my ONCE in the original pack
eyes, and will be exhibited in due course
OF time, TO show up the imposture by
which Mercer has tried to excuse his
treacherous course.
When the wolf wanted to swallow the
lamb he chraged him with rolling the water,
and that Is the way these people have
done. Within forty-eignt hours after the
election Mercer and his henchmen pre-
tended that they had found proof that I
had tried to defeat Mercer, and yet Mercer
knew that these ballots we're to go into
the hands Of democrats only. and could not
possibly have deceived any republican voter.
In a recent article. in which l also trace
Mr.. Blackburn, he said that about $50
votes were lost to Mr.. Mercer in South
Omaha by these tickets. What an impu>
dent fake. How could Mercer lose votes
through democratic ballots, circulated
among democrats? II the republicans had
voted these tickets he might have lost
some votes, but these tickets were demo-
cratic sample ballots and he certainly could
not have sustaised any loss among demo-
Gratis who voted for Howard. The charge
Is almost too absurd to require contra
diction. 1t was II Jumped up by Mercer in
order that he might find some justification
for his own treachery in trying to defeat
the republican legislative ticket and trying
to prevent the election of two republican
United States senators. (Applause.) That
was his purpose, and l can prove 1t by
credible witnesses.
MERGERS U~nFOunded Charges.
Now let us examine the situation and
the relation OF MIR. Mercer to the repub-
licans Of Douglas county. and to the re-
publicans of the district and state.
He was nominated in good faith. and sup
ported in good faith, and received the larg,
est vote he ever received in the district;
not the slightest detection anywhere.
II 1 had been disposed to waylay him
and help myself; IL 1 had given the tip to
the democrats that they could throw him.
as they could have done by appealing to
the supreme court to rule him of the re-
pupihSdh NiIhVAt dlu mdht nun u pcllllOn
candidate, l could have had all the help I
wanted for the republican legislative ticket
from the democrats. Through that entire
campaign l never approached a man con-
nected with Edgar Howard, much less
Howard himself, and he never dreamed OF
that-not until long after election. Gap
plause.)
Mr.. Mercer had no ground whatever for
complaint and he understood very we'll his
obligation both to the paper that l edit. to
myself and to the republicans of this city,
county and district. What were these OBJ
legations? This is a government OF ma
j~orities, and when the will of the majority
is expressed 1t is to be respected, and any
man who seeks to overthrow the expressed
will OF the majority is a political anarchist.
Verdict of the People.
II was known to all men that the sena-
torial contest was ~squarely between myself
and John L. Webster. Every sample ballot
at the primary election Of 1900 had either
my name printed at the head or that Of
John L. Webster. Mr.. Mercer was not
thought OF as a candidate for the United
States senate. When that fight was over
and the republicans OF the county by a
most decisive majority declared In my
favor Mr.. Webster. be 1t said to his honor,
accepted the situation and abided the re-
suit.
But that was not all. When the election
came the people OF this district and state
were given the privilege to express their
choice for United States senator. Under
the constitution OF Nebraska every citizen
has a right to express that choice on his
ballot, when members Of the legislature
are chosen that are to elect United States
senators. Now, then, the choice Of the peo-
nla urrn nvnraacnl NhNOttah tAA ~ YIAN hA-
at that election. In this county alone s,400
and some odd were credited to me on the
Official returns, but there were at least 800
or 700 not counted for me. l know that
because l was present at the canvass OF
the votes Of this county.
In the district nearly II, 900 all told were
cast for me. A majority OF the republican
vote of Washington county was cast for
me, and a majority Of the republican vote
Of Sarpy county was cast for me. As a
choice for United States senator Mr.. Mer-
Ger was not thought OF In this district. The
official canvass Of the state shows that only
Is votes we're cast in the whole state Of
Nebraska for David II. Mercer-not one OF
those was cast in the counties of Douglas,
Sarpy and Washington-not one. (Applause.)
MERGERS I~nexcusabIe Treacbery.
And yet Mercer had the audacity twenty
four hours after the election to undertake
to overthrow the popular will expressed
through the ballot box by urging those
who had been elected to violate their sacred
obligations to their constituents, and to be-
tray the trust conided in them by the
people who had elected them. What would
be thought of a man who would approach a
presidential elector and ask him to violate
his instructions and pledges implied through
the expressed will of the majority at the
ballot box?
You vote for president nearly in the same
manner that you express a choice for United
States senator. You did not vote for Nc
Kinley. CT Bryan, you voted for the presi-
Dental electors, and they were in honor
bound to vote for the candidates for presi-
dent and vice president nominated by their
party. In this instance the party did not