Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-25
Fight Against Nebraska Con-
gresham is Personal One
on Part of Rosewater
PRESIDENT MUCH INTERESTED
When Omaha Bee Editor Was candi.
date for Senator and Omaha Delesa.
ton Was Pledged to Him Mercer
Asked Them to Vote for Him-Mer-
Ger Will Win.


not two weeks ahead, extraordinary in
terest Is manifested, not only turnout
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 republicans here
that the president Is doing his utmost
in divers ways to aid in the strenuous
movement to redeem the four fusion
congressional districts to republican,
ism. And the republicans of this Sec
ond district are aware of the presidents
anxiety touching the chances Of Mer-
Ger for reelection.
The true inwardness of the fight on
Mercer is not properly understood
abroad. 1t was originated and has been
maintained in large measure by Ed
ward Rosewater, protested republic
can, and his newspaper. Mr. MERGERS
friends charge that Rosewater started
the fight on him because Mercer Went
to Lincoln year ago last winter and
asked some of the legislators to vote
for him for United States senator, after
the legislative delegation from Omaha
had been pledged to Rosewater, who
sought to be elected to the senate. Mer-
GERS friends allege that this fight on
Mercer is purely Il personal and in no
sense a political fight, and for this rea-
son Mercer was triumhantly renom-
mated.
Rosewater bolted the ticket and Is
doing his utmost to defeat Mercer, and
almost every issue Of his paper denoun-
ces MERGERS candidacy. There is. how
ever, no opposition to Mercer outside
OF the Rosewater following, and while
it is possible that this faction may lose
for Mercer 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. Hitch
cock, who ran once before against Mer-
GER under more favorable conditions for
himself and was defeated and unfortu-
nately for the fusionists, he is not
strong where Mercer is said to be weak,
The fusionists, too, are all torn up into1
factions as bitter as the RoseWater
bolters.
While republicans feel keenly the
need Of a newspaper champion, yet they
ire in no sense dismayed and are san
,uine of the success of Mercer and the
vhnla republican ticket. Two years
,go MERGERS plurality was l,4tU sotes. I
The district Is composed Of three coun-
les; Douglas, of which Omaha is the
county seat; Washington county on the
north and Sarpy county on the south.
rhe latter is additionally democratic. |
MERGERS plurality in Washington coun-
" will offset the fusion majority IN
Sarpy, SO that the Mercer-Hitchcock
battle ground is the city OF Omaha,
where both candidates reside.
The opposition to Mercer can not
deprive him of over 400 votes,
md the most conservative estimate
made by men who have polled the as
rict and studied the situation In all It's
5hases, predicts a majority for Mercer
# not less than 1000 votes.
Bryan's Buoyancy Departing.
Mr.. BRYAN has Just finished two
weeks campaigning tour in the state.
He has no paramount issue this year,
,onfining his remarks largely to the al
eyed mistakes of the republican party
md to the awful legislation which she
ears the republicans will enact in the
,ext congress. The action OF President
Roosevelt in inducing the parties to
he anthracite coal strike to agree
,poiled the best part Of Mr.. Bryan's
speech. He was compelled to compli-
nent the president. but expressed a
,oubt that it would result In any ulu-
nate gain for the strikers.
Bryan raised the Fowler bill as a bo-
,ey man, and is telling the people that
he republican party contemplates its
Enactment the coming winter and dares
he republican nominees for congress
o declare themselves on that issue.
Burkett, in the First dis
riot, exposed this empty charge by
aying that the republican caucus last
winter laid the Fowler bill forever to
est.
Mr.. Bryan does not appear to have
he hopeful, buoyant, forceful. authors
alive tone which characterized his ut
erances in former campaigns. His
manner is that of a disconsolate, and
he tone of his speeches cynical, sar-
astic and disheartened. He devotes
time to the trusts, throw
ng the entire responsibility upon the
epublicans for the evil work or intent
4 all stock-jobbing monopolies or
for the restraint of trade,
which he argues could not exist under
rec trade conditions.