Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-14
EVE OF CONVENTION
Advance Guard of Delegates to Republican
Gathering Reach Lincoln.
THREE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR JUDGE
Dufis, Ames and Letton Each Have q
Substantial Following.
DAVIDSON, WPHEELY, ABBOTT ALSO IN
-Four Men on Hand Asking the Nomination
for Regent,
'AWOSON, wPHEELY, ABBOTT ALSO IN
MAIN PlANKs OF PLATFORM CERTAIN
Enough Instructed Delegates TO
Render Futile Efforts of Rail-
roads TO Block AntI-Pass
Resolution.

tFrom a Stan Correspondent
LINCOLN, Neb Sept. 13.-(Speclal Tele-
sram)-A fair attendance Of advance
agents OF tomorrows republican state con-
vention is on hand, but not enough to indi-
cate the exact distribution OF forces be-
tween the different candidates. The field
Tor supreme judge is occupied by three prin-
cipal candidates and three lesser lights.
and the latter admit that their only hopes
lie in the self-elimlnation Of the leaders
Judges Dufie, Ames and Letton will show
up each with substantial following
Judge Duffie is holding out in his head.
quarters with quite a number Of the Doug
las delegation volunteer workers, and
feels much encouraged over the outlook
He is counting on the votes Of the remain
ing counties in the judicial district along
with Douglas and scattering vote from
other counties particularly in the Third
and Sixth districts. The backbone Of the
Ames strength is supposed to be in Lam
caster and Gage counties. while Letton
will draw heavily from the Fourth con.
gressional district. Davidson OF johnson,
McPheely Of Kearney and Abbott Of Hall
are in the race, probably in the order
named. So it must be admitted that Letton
talk predomnates in the lobbies
For regent four candidates are soliciting
supporter. Won Mansfelde OF Ashland,
L. NJ. Bates Of Long Pine, Fred Abbott Of
Columbus, c. w. g. Lyford OF Falls CITY
and p. L. II Cheney OF Stockville. The
selection OF regents, however. will be un-
determined until after the judgeship is set
tied.
The prospects are that Senator George
Sheldon of Cass will be made permanent
chairman. Lieutenant, Governor McGilton,
who will be the temporary presiding Of
ficer, says he will cheerfully make way for
Sheldon in the permanent organization. II
this arrangement is acceptable there will
be no friction at this stage OF the proceed
ings.
Outline of Platform.
AS to the platform. it is not difficult 20
outline it's probable contents. An unquali-
fed endorsement of the Roosevelt policies.
with special emphasis on antitrust and rail-
road rate legislation, anu-pass plank an
endorsement Of the state admnistI alton
and possible pledging OF candidates TO the
declarations These are pretty sure, no
matter who frames the resolutions. There
are enough instructed delegates from dif-
ferent counties to make futile any attempt
to block planks Objectionable to the rail-
road political agents and the chances are
that the railroad contingent will take its
medicine and try 10 look pleasant
For state chairman w. p. Warner OF
Dakota county may be picked as a winner;
in fact he is the only one with any follow
ing Chairman Burgess would like to be
vindicated with a second term, but no one
is paying any attention 10 him.
Candidates Letton. Dune, Davidson,
Ames and McPheeley for supreme Judge
have each opened headquarters. tackled up
signs in the Lindell hotel. and have ex-
changed calls. Late this evening not an
pdIdata fov reRant had reached
the city.
Conspicuous in the hotel lobby was Ed
Bignell OF the Burlington, Bob McGinnis
OF the Northwestern. w. II. Harrison
Frank Harrison and Robert J. Clancy OF
the Union Pacific and Postmaster Ed. Sizer
manager of Mr. Burgess. All OF these pro-
fessed to know nothing OF what was 10
occur tomorrow but each believed the
situation was up in the air and would be
settled in the convention
There is considerable discussion as to the
number Of delegates who will attend the
convention, It being presumed that the
railroads have adopted the anti-pass plat
form in advance Of any action that may
be taken by the convention.
burgess stiII Undecided.
Hon II. c. n Burgess chairman OF the
republican state committee. late this after
noon was still in terrible doubt" as to
whether he would be a candidate for re-
election. Putting on the soft pedal he said
70 a reporter for The Bee, in answer 20 a
query as to whether he was a candidate:
We'll, really I just haven't said a word
yet Don't you know l haven't told a living
soul whether / would be a candidate or not
Just as soon as ! have anything to say
about this matter or 10 announce my in
tentions Will see that The Bee gets the
news"
Just then Manager Ed Sizer tugged Bur
CESS by the coat tail and the two went on
into the private office OF the state chair
man. where IL is presumed the process OF
making up a mind was resumed and that
before the convention meets, this para
mount issue will he definitely settled and
the people will know whether Burgess is
Ito be or not 10 be-"
Friends of Commissioner Duffe are urg-
ing his nomination because Omaha has not
had a supreme Judge since Judge Lake was
on the bench in the early eighties. They
have figured up that twenty-eight per cent
OF the business OF the supreme court comes
from Douglas county and for that reason
Douglas county should be entitled 70 q
place on the bench.
A prospective candidate for regent Of the
university Is L. NJ Bates. who arrived this
morning. Mr. Bates was a candidate two
years ago and lost out In the shuttle He is
editor Of the Long Pine Journal and prac-
tices law 20 keep In touch with the simple
life. friend OF his said this afternoon
that with little urging he would be a candl-
date. with good prospects OF success. mas
much as with one exception the present re-
gents reside in Lancaster or Douglas coun-
ties. The exception is Regent Calkins. who
lives at Kearney. incidentally friends OF
Bates have pointed out that with the ex-
ception Of Teeters and Whitmore OF Doug
las all Of the regents are employees Of cor
porations. Allen Of Lincoln is attorney for
the traction company Ernst OF Omaha Is
employed by the Burlington. Rich Of Omaha
is attorney for the Union Pacific, whitmore
is a stockman and Teeters runs a wholesale
jewelry store.
Sees Hope for Abbott.
Among the early arrivals today was W.
II. Harrison, general manager" OF the