Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-31

Omaha commission firm saying that Mr..
Mercer had secured a substation Of the
South Omaha postofice located in the Ex-
change building. Mr.. Gurley said that in
1898 Mr.. Rosewater attempted to draw votes
from Webster, who was a candidate for
senator.
In coming to the forum for the third
time Mr.. Rosewater denied that he had at
tempted to draw votes from Mr.. Webster
as long as there was any chance for the
election Of that candidate, and said that
the representatives had not been elected on
an issue involving Mr.. Webster, while In
1900 the issue was plain. That In the cam
paign Of 1900 for senator the legislators
were pledged; that the constitution OF the
state provides that the people may ex-
press their will for United States senator.
and that he had determined not to be =
candidate unless the people expressed their
desire for him; but in spite Of that favor
able expression Mr.. Mercer placed himsel
In the field and attempted to subvert the
will Of the people. thus expressed, that the
question to be settled is, Are we to say
to the people Of the country that we are to
send a man back to congress who has at
tempted to overthrow the will of the peo-
ple?'
Brings Up Old Letter.
Upon coming up for the third time Mr..
Gurley read a letter published in The Bee
defining the position Of the editor upon
state issues in 1899, and quoted former
Governor Poynter as saying that Mr.. Rose
water had placed the letter with him for
the purpose Of showing that Mr.. Rosewater
stood with the populists upon the funda-
mental principles Of their party. The let
ter said that the writer was opposed to
trusts.
Mr.. Rosewater said that he had come
to discuss the question Of Mr.. MERGERS
candidacy-that Mr.. Mercer had voted
against the interests Of Nebraska on the
sugar question, voting with the east to
the injury Of the west; he has spent fifteen
months In ten years in the district. He
has been we'll paid for the work he has
done. II he is indispensable now why was
he not indispensable two years ago when
he wanted to go to the senate In spite Of
the votes Of the people of the district. The
committee Of the District Of Columbia has
much patronage to distribute, but It will
be impossible to name a Nebraskan who
has received appointments In the district
through the efforts Of Mr.. Mercer. Mr..
Rosewater closed by saying that he has
always been a republican, but has made
enemies Of the boodlers and lobbyists who
have fought him and will continue to fight
him, as he has never curried favor with
them.
Mr.. Gurley, in reply, read a list OF names
Of persons whom he alleged The Bee and
it's editor had opposed, and said that con.
sistent republicans are not always attack
ing republicans and republican candidates.
Explains Some Opposition.
Mr.. Rosewater then said that Mr.. Mercer
had been guilty Of the acts charged against
Rosewater. Mr.. Rosewater took occasion
to d%enounce as falsifers the men who pub
lished the alleged list Of men he opposed.
Taking up the names, Mr.. R%osewater re-
ferred to the reason for opposing some OF
these men and denied opposing others.
Referring to the city campaign OF 1899,
when Mr.. Mercer was chairman of the city
central committee, Mr.. Rosewater said that
$1,000 was paid in by Mr.. Linlnger which
was used by members Of the committee,
with the knowledge Of Mr.. Mercer, for the
defeat Of Mr.. Lininger and the election
Of r. c. Gushing, the democratic candi-
date.
In response to the above Mr.. Gurley read
an alleged interview published in a local
paper in which Mr.. Rosewater was quoted
as saying he would run for congress in
case Mr.. Mercer was nominated. He then
asked II Mr.. Rosewater would support
Mercer IL he received the nomination.
In response Mr.. Rosewater said he would
not support any nominee receiving the
nomination at the hands of a minority OF
, the republicans Of the district. .
I In answer to a question Mr.. Gurley said
> that he could no: say whether Mr.. Mercer
would be a candidate for a seventh term.
i He said that Mr.. Mercer would not ask a
/ plurality nomination. as the primary or the
-,..Ng
=. An Example of Consistency.
Referring to a statement Of Mr.. Gurley's
Mr.. Rosewater said that when 1t became
I necessary for him to oppose Z republican
nominee he resigned his position on the
national committee. but when Mr.. Gurley
/ attempted to fight republican candidates
! he retained his position on the congress
sional committee.
| Speaking OF the defeat Of the Omaha
t q~uartermaster's supply depot bill by Mr..
l Mercer after its passage through the senate
Mr.. Gurley said that 1t was done to save
, the headquarters for this city. Mr.. Gurley
made no denial Of the record OF Mr.. Mer-
GER at Lincoln, but said that the charges
r had been made before.
; The quartermaster's supply depot, said
T Mr. Rosewater, was provided for in a bill
: passed by the senate after the army head
3 quarters were removed to their present
quarters; that the bill which passed the
4 senate provided for a purchasing agency
! while the present bill provides only for a
) depot.
4 Then taking up the record Of appoint
ments at West Point and Annapolis, Mr.
Rosewater said that Mr.. Mercer treated
those appointments as personal rather
than belonging to the people; that where
: other congressman appointed after com.
petitive examinations Mr.. Mercer chose
sons Of political friends.
In his closing remarks Mr.. Gurley said
that the issue is between Mercer and Rose
water. and that the people should choose
between the men.