Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-01
CANDIDACY OF DAVID HENRY MERCER FOR A SIXTH TERM IN CONGRESS

nomination when be was seeking the nomi-
nation for congress the hrst time.
MR.. GOss.
] notice many standing. II was the agree
ment. / believe, that after Sis all seats
that we're not occupied should be filled by
the FIRST corners. Some ticket holders have
not taken their seats here (indicating) and
there are others in the balcony. Those
who are standing may take them.
Ladies and Gentlemen: In the earlier
days OF the republic, when newspapers were
scarce and the other agencies for dissemina-
ton Of knowledge we're fewer than they now
are, It was the custom for those who were
advocating opposing men and measures to
meet in Joint debate and discuss them. The
same principle applies, in a sense, here to-
night. Mr.. Mercer is a candidate for the re-
nomination for congress. Mr.. Rosewater is
opposed to him. Mr.. Rosewater, aside from
his strong personality, has a powerful news
paper. both OF which everyone comedies 10
him the liberty to use as he ~pleases. Mr..
Mercer has no newspaper. Mr.. Gurley is
Mr.. Mercer's friend. He challenges Mr..
RosewateI TO discuss the proposition before
the public. Mr.. Rosewater accepts, and
here we are.
/ wish that we had a dollar a head from
this fine audience to apply to the uses OF
the republican county central committee Of
this county, and l made up my mind that
IL this should be a success tonight as II APP
pears to be from this fine audience, and as
/ suspect from the suggestions Of the first
speaker it certainly will be Qaughter), we
shall ask the gentlemen to go On the road
and allow us to promote the show. We
shall charge a dollar a head and make
enough money, perhaps, to carry on the
next campaign. Not a national campaign,
because there would not be money enough,
but just an ordinary state campaign.
Ladies and gentlemen, IL does me great
honor tonight to preside on behalf of my
friend. a gentleman endowed in a large de-
gree with a combination that is not at all
ususl-the force OF logic and the grace Of
speech. He is here tonight not to defend
Mr.. Mercer. but to advocate his cause.
/ have the pleasure OF presenting to you
Mr.. William F.. Gurley, who will now speak
for twenty minutes. (Applause)
MIR. GURLEY.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentlemen:
I was somewhat embarrassed when my
distinguished opponent commenced his
opening remarks, for while he
speaks so beautifully Of me, so kindly,
At BAaAoNA ht SO OAeAA NAaN 4 was
very much afraid that 1t would be en-
barrsssing for me to discuss the issue
which we are here to debate. But he did
not remain very long in that kindly mood.
He proceeded to discuss my personality
and devoted some fifteen to eighteen
minutes Of his time to discussing me. Now,
fellow citizens, l am not a candidate for
congress. (Applause) l am not now a
candidate for public office, but II l ever am
l shall be glad to know that my dis
~tinguished opponent can bring no more
serious charges against me than he seeks
TO bring by reading my own testimony.
(Applause).
1t has been said that l am the friend
Of David H. Mercer. That is true. I am
his friend; I was his friend in 1887. and
from that day to this I know not aught OF
the man which should deprive him of the
friendship of an honest American citizen
loud applause).
My distinguished opponent says that wher
/ refer you to Mr.. MERGERS magnificent
record, he wants you to make allowances
for my memory. You need not do It. fell
low citizens. When l refer tonight to the
magnificent record Of David H. Mercer
will support II by the record and by the
testimony of some upon this platform
Then let him deny II II he can. What II
his magnificent record? Let US see. In ar
editorial published in The Bee July 2, 1895
Edward Rosewater, my distinguished op.
ponent, says: 1T would pay the people
of this district better to put all the small
bore Rspirants for congress on a pension
Of s., 900 a year rather than to retire Con.
gresham Mercer at this all important
1uncture." loud and continued applausel
Further, fellow citizens, in the same edi.
A. 49,
Omaha permit Mr.. Mercer to be turned
(down for staying in Washington and at.
tending faithfully to their business JUS
because some picayune pettifogger has beef
deluded into the belief that he is BIZ
enough to hold down a seat in congress p
Applause.)
Picayune pettifoggeri Fellow citizens
who were the opposing candidates TO Mr.
Mercer at that time? They were two able
distinguished, reputable members OF tn,
Douglas county bar: men OF unimpeachabl
character, men of unimpeachable integrity
friends of mine then. although then l wa
for Mercer. Friends OF mine today. al
though today l am for Mercer. They wer
Hon. Edward J. Cornish and Hon. John L
Kennedy. cloud applause.)
oh, yes, but at that time those gentlemen
were not supporting my distinguished op
ponent. At that time they we're opposinI
( his behests, and therefore they wer
' "picayune pe~ttifoggers" What is MI
Cornish today? loud and continued ap
plause) know what Edward ]. Cornis'
is today. A manly and honest man.
knew It then; / know II today. My dis
! tinguished opponent knows II today and vii
admit It; knew It then and denied II
!, CLaughter.)
He said to you, my fellow citizens, tina
= you will have to bear with his plain spoke
truths which have often gotten him int
trouble. Oaughter.) / propose to rea
one or more Of the plain spoken truths G
his, which have gotten him into trouble
. (Laughter.)
In an editorial on July 8, 1896, he says:
. The crusade Is a most des
picable exhibition Of vindictiveness an
o want OF loyalty TO the vital interests q
|. the community. The men who have toine
In II would rather see Omaha a heap G
e ruins than forego their personal gratilca
d ton or political advantage.
6 The same day in an editorial my distin
$ guished opponent says:
e Tit turning down Of Mercer would nc
/, only be an exhibition of base ingfatitud
u TO a man who has rendered more eficien
c service to the cause OF labor than any othe
q man Nebraska has ever sent 10 congress
but would prove disastrous 10 the fntereef