The Washington times., 1902-07-18
Nebraska Congressman
Here Is Confident of
Being Returned.
WILL HAVE OPPOSITION
Declares Republicans Are in Better
Position Now Than Ever Before
Says Campaign Book viii Defend
Army-Conduct in Philippines.

Representative Dave" Mercer stopped
over in Washington last night upon his
return from Atlantic City to his home
in Omaha, where he is going TO enter
into one of the liveliest campaigns he
has yet experienced. Editor Rosewater,
of the Omaha Bee" has for some time
been grinding his hatchet and putting
on war paint preparatory to going out on
the warpath for the political scalp of
the genial gentleman who now repre-
sents the First district OF Nebraska.
This fact, however, is apparently
causing Mr.. Mercer no uneasiness. Mr..
Rosewater first seeks 10 defeat Mr.. Mer
Ger for denomination, and failing in this,
he promises to run as an independent
Republican candidate for Congress. Even
this has evidently caused Mr.. Mercer to
lose neither sleep nor flesh, for last night
he looked in prime condition, deeply
bronzed by the seaside sun at Atlantic
City.
Depends on People.
He confidently expects to win out in
the fight, no matter what course Mr..
Rosewater may take, and believes that
he has the people behind him. The
people of the Capital are much inter-
ested in the return of Mr.. Mercer, one
OF the principal reasons being the fact
that as chairman of the Committee on
Public Building and Grounds he was TO
q very large extent responsible for the
item in the appropriation bill which in
sures Washington its much needed mu-
picipal building. Mr.. Mercer modestly
refrains from discussing at length his
own political future, but speaking of Re
publican prospects in general last night,
he said:
This is going to be another Republi-
can year with another splendid victory
We are going before the people with the
issues clearly defined and upon the
record which the Republican party has
made in Congress, particularly in the
session which has just closed. II was
pre-eminently 4 business session, and
! believe that the people appreciate it.
The country is prosperous and has been
made so under Republican administra-
ton. and why should the people want to
make a change?
Will Not Be Idle.
Some of the members of the cam
paign committee recently had an infor-
NAL conference at Atlantis City, but We
do not expect to get settled down TO
hard work until about September, al
though. of course, We will not be idle
Until that timn. We are hard at work
now on the campaign book, which is
being prepared under the direction and
eu1arvisinn of REPRESENTATIVE Ova--
street, and expect to have it ready for
issuance by the last of this month.
at will deal with all current questions
squarely, for we do not propose to dodge
any issues. 1t will take up the trust
question from a Republican standpoint,
using the Presidents speech as a key
note. 1t will show some of the history
of antitrust legislation.
'It will point out that il was the Re
publican party that placed the Sherman
antitrust law on the statute books, and
that when the Democratic party came
into power in both branches OF Con-
gress and with a Democratic executive,
it did nothing to amend or change the
law or enforce it.
"We propose TO show that the Republi-
can party is responsible for all anti
trust legislation; that IT has tested the
law and is testing IL now.
To Touch on Currency.
'The campaign book will also deal with
the currency question, reciprocity, the
Philippine question and will defend the
army against the attacks which the
Democrats have made upon it. We fur
ther propose TO call the attention of the
voters to what the Republican party has
accomplished in the way of legislation,
and upon our record We are ready to 90
TO the polls, confident that the people
do not desire to withdraw the trust
which they have reposed in the Repub
lican party.
THE Republican party is the party
which does things, our opponents are
the fellows who are continually kicking
and scolding about it. That is about the
sum and substance of the whole thing"