The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-24
CHANCE FOR GAINS
Republicans Likely to Win Four
y Congressional Seats in Mr..
Bryan's Own State.
Rosewater Cannot Beat Mercer in
the Omaha District-Mr. Bry-
ans Latest Tactics.

Special to The Journal.
Omaha, Neb., Oct. 24.-With the cleo
ton not two weeks ahead, extraordinary
interest is manifested not only through
out Nebraska. but in other states,
ON the outcome Of the fight
on Mercer in the second or metropolitan
district, which he has represented for ten
years. 1t is understood among republic
cans here that the president is doing his
utmost in divers ways to aid in the siren
nous movement to redeem the four fusion
congressional districts to republicanism.
And the republicans of this second district
are aware Of tho presidents anxiety
touching the chances of Mercer for re-
election.
The true inwardness Of the fight on
Mercer Is not properly understood abroad.
1t was originated and has been maintained
In large measure by Edward RoseWater,
protested republican, and his newspaper.
Mr.. MERGERS friends charge that Rose
water started the fight on him because
Mercer went to Lincoln a year ago last
winter and asked some Of the legislators
to vote for him for United States senator,
after the legislative delegation from Oma
ha had been pledged to Rosewater, who
sought to be elected to the senate. Mer-
GERS friends allege that this fight on Mer-
Ger Is purely a personal and in no sense
political fight and that for this reason
Mercer was triumphantly renominated.
Rosewater bolted the ticket and is do
ing his utmost to defeat Mercer, and al
most every issue Of his paper denOunces
MERGERS candidacy. There is, however,
opposition to Mercer outside Of the
Rosewater following, and while it Is pos
Bble that this faction may lose for Mercer
a number Of votes. there Is no basis for
the belief that Mercer has at any time
been in danger
The opposition put up G.. M. Hitchcock,
who ran once before against Mercer under
more favorable conditions for himself and
was defeat ted, and unfortunately for the
fusionists, he is not strong where Mercer
IS said to be weak. The fusionists, too,
are all torn up into factions bitter as
the RoSeWater boilers.
While republicans feel keenly the need
Of a newspaper champion, yet they are in
no sense dismayed and are sanguine of the
success Of Mercer and the whole republ1-
can ticket Two years ago MERGERS plu
rality was 1,470 votes The district is
composed Of three counties; Douglas, of
which Omaha Is the county seat; Wash |
ington county on the north and Sarpy
county the south The latter is tradi
tionally democratic. MERGERS plurality
in Washington county will offset the fu-
sion majority in Sarpy, so that the Mer
GER Hitchcock battle ground is in the city
Of Omaha, where both candidates reside.
The opposition to Mercer cannot posi-
bly, deprive him of over 400 votes, and the
most conservative estimate, made by men
who have polled the district and studied
the situation In all it's phases, predicts a
majority for Mercer Of not less than 1000
votes.
Bryan's Bucyancy Departing.
Mr.. Bryan has just finished a two
weeks campaigning tour in the state He
has no paramount issue this year. confin-
ing his remarks largely to the alleged mis-
takes Of the republican party and to the
awful legislation which he fears the re-
puDlicans will enact in the next congress.
The action Of President Roosevelt in in
ducing the parties to the anthracite coal
strike to agree spoiled the best part of
Mr.. Bryan's speech. He was compelled
to compliment the president, but ex-
pressed doubt that it would result in any
ultimate gain for the strikers.
Bryan raised the Fowler bill as a DOGGY
man. and Is telling the people that the re-
publican party COntemplateS it's enact
ment the coming winter and dares the re-
publican nominees for congress to declare
themselves on that issue. Congressman
Burkett, in the first district, exposed this
empty charge by saying that the republi-
can caucus last winter laid the Fowler
bill forever TO rest
Mr. Bryan does not appear to have that
hopeful. buoyant, forceful, authoritative
tone which characterized his utterances
in former campaigns. His manner is that
of diSconsOlate, and the tone Of his
speeches cynical, sarcastic and disheart-
encd. He devotes considerable time to
the trusts, throwing the entire RESPONSE
biity upon the republicans for the evil
work or intent of all stock jObbing mo-
nOpofes or combinations for the restraint
or trade, which he argues could not exist
under free trade conditions.
Talking Of Clean Sweep.
The latest advices from republican
headquarters Indicate that Congressman
Burkett in the first district will receive
& majority Of not less than $500; that
Mercer in the second district will receive
a majority Of not less than 1000: that
j. j. Mccarthy In the third district will
receive a majority over John s. Robin
son, fusion incumbent, Of not less than
600; that q. Fl. Hinshaw, republican nomi-
nee In the fourth district, will overturn
the 200 votes necessary to change that
district into the republican column; that
Judge w. r. Norris has e. good fighting
chance to change the IT'S votes necessary
to bring the fifth district back into the re-
publican fold; while Moses P. Kinkade
the republican nominee In the big sixth
district. which covers territory equal in
area to any Of the smaller eastern states
has but los votes to change from the vote
Of two years ago in order to become elgi-
bic to g. seat iE congress. All reports from
his district are highly encourag ing from q
republican standpoint.
The fusionists claim the fourth fifth
and sixth districts. But the opinions Of
unbiased men are to the effect that the
republicans have an exceedingly bright
outlook In this state. There Is no doubt
but that the party Is in better shape In
Nebraska than it has been for years.