Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-11
MERCER GETS A HARD BLOW
OOlOred Vstsrs Adept Resolutions Dsnoun-
cling His Career in Congress.
HIS DUPtlcIN TOWARD Or. RICKETTS,
Mass Meeting at Washington Hall
Largely Attended and Unanimous
in IT'S Rebuke to the Nom
resident COnEressman.

A rousing rally Of the colored republican
voters OF Douglas county at Washington
hall last night was addressed by e. ].
Cornish. J. p. Bresn and Nelson c. Pratt.
candidates for congress-: by Edward Rose
water, Robert Fink. candidate for the
legislature from the Sixth ward, and A. H..
Willis. Congressman d. II. Mercer had
been invited, formally. as were the other
congressional espirants, but did not deign
to honor the colored men with his time and
sent Victor B. Walker to speak for him.
This the assembly took as a slight and re-
sented by passing, with only seven dis
senting votes in a room nearly full, The
following resolution:
Whereas, As David II. Mercer has spent
ten years In congress and has never shown
voters of the district which he represents,
Notwithstanding the fact that the cotored
people voted with the party as a unit in
whereas, AS we have sufficient evidence
20 prove that when a committee OF col
ment Of DR. NJ. o. Ricketts,. a representa-
tive of our race, they were not only re-
fused. but were not asked to have seats
Whereas. II being the wishes Of the
majority OF the best class Of colored cit
liens OF the district to have this man
appointed in recognition of our loyalty to
the party, MI. Mercer expressed himself
IN plain Language that he would not APP
Whereas, As he has spent ten years In
congress without paying any heed to the
negro plea for recognition Until near the
close OF the last congress, when he realizes
his growing unpopularity with his own
people, he hastens to give one colored man
q janitor's job for a few months, which
we look upon as an open insult to our
people. therefore, be It
Of Douglas county. do hereby urge the re-
publlcans of this district to nominate n
candidate who Is known to be sincere in
sympathy with our people and will rec
ognize their right to their due share Of
republican patronage; be 1t further
t,ons be published , Gop tbe lesaiins Tesoep.
of Douglas county.
walker Not Among Friends.
Victor B. Walker and John Long. a
Mercer ally. attempted to block the pas
sage of the resolution, but were received
In GOODNESS until the former said: Now,
my friends. l wish
Don't call me your friend" shouted a
colored man In the back of the room.
"No. nor mel" echoed another.
mo mel chimed half a dozen others,
and Walker gave up in despair.
The resolution was drawn up by J. G.
Pegg and signed by w. M. Cannon, Rev.
J. II. Cluke, w. H.. Housley. s. II. Baxter,
G. M. johnson and T. p. Mahammitt Others
wished to sign, but more names we're con-
sidered superfuous in view Of the prac-
t!eeIly unanimous action NJ the assembly.
A very pleasant feature of the evening
was the singing of a quartet composed OF
Jesse Greene. tenor; Frank Childs, second
tenor; Walter Bell. baritone. and Rufus
Anderson. bass. They shared with the
speakers an APPLAUSE that was invariably
hearty and cordial.
The meeting was called TO order by j.
O. regg, who explained that 1t had been
called for the purpose Of giving the candi-
dates opportunity to address the repub-
lican voters at one time and place, and in
PRODUCED T. p. Mshammitt. editor of the
Enterprise, as chairman. Mr.. Mahammitt
at once introduced Mr.. Cornish, who had
other meetings to address later. but who,
unlike Mr.. Mercer, had found time to attend
this one.
Cornish on ReaI F~riendship.
Mr.. Cornish deprecated the idea of buy
ing the colored mans favor with tips and
debasing gratuities in a campaign, but as
serted that the only real friend was the
constant friend. He read extracts from
speeches made to various white audiences
years before he became a candidate for
once in which he had made constant plea
in the negrO's behalf. He said:
at want no privileges OF government that
are not the privileges OF all. have been
saying this for eighteen years and l feel
that l am entitled to your support"
Mr.. Breen, next called upon, said thai
he had supported Mr.. Mercer in previous
campaigns with donations Of money anC
with his voice when asked to. but that II
return Mr.. Mercer was now sending ovel
the county contemplate cartoons showing
his congressional figure on to the best ad
vantage and picturing him (Breen) and
other candidates as little ours barking a
his heels.
Mercer Uses His Frank.
II had not" Mr.. Breen said. Intends
to speak OF these cartoons again, but
have learned today that Mercer is abusing
his franking privilege as a congressman
He sent a full box of these cartoons to thu
,postmistress at Arlington as government
business. II he were going to attempt Il
defame and belittle me-and this before
had ever said one word In criticism Of hin
he might ut least have had the courtes!
TO pay the postage on them. But tn