The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-09-13

and is today an enemy of the people
and should be spurned by all self
respecting voters. This kind of pol
itician has been in clover in the past,
but | hope the end of his day has
come. In the past this class OF poll
ticians and the railroads have consti-
tuted a machine that has absolutely
dominated the political and CONNER
cial life of Nebraska This machine
has been held together and constant
ly made stronger by the free pass bri-
berry system, and federal, state and
county patronage, which the railroads
have always controlled. You must re-
member that the railroads do not only
distribute the passes, but they also
distribute the Offices from the highest
to the lowest And frequently when
there are not enough Offices to go
around for their political henchmen
and friends they make new ones and,
of course, the people are taxed to
pay their salaries. | say that this
relationship between the railroads and
the politicians in the past in this state
has been relationship of bribery and
conspiracy to betray the people when
ever railroad interests were involved.
For years the people have known that
these conditions existed but were help
less to do anything.
| will confess that during all these
years the fever of discomfort burned
within my breast. | said again and
again that if | ever got a chance |
would strike blow at these disgrace
full conditions Two years ago the
people of this state gave that chance.
Both the democratic and pOpullst
parties honored me with the nomina-
ton for governor. | was told that
I could not win. Whether | could or
not | did not know. But | was sure
/ could at least wage an honest fight.
I did this to the best of my ability.
| left no stone unturned. | battled
against tremendous odds but ] was
defeated 1t was presidential year.
Roosevelt carried the state by a plur-
atty of $4,000, while l was defeated
by only about 5000. | received 10000
more votes in the state than Parker
and Watson combined. After the cleo
ton it was admitted everywhere that
had it not been for the Roosevelt land
slide | would have been easily elect
ed. | am not vain enough to believe
that this vote was intended to be
any personal tribute to me. / know
that it was not But | shall always
believe that the people of this state
gave me the vote they did because
they believed in the principles and re-
forms for which [ was contending.
They believed in them so much and
SO universally that this year all the
political parties have adopted the same
platform upon which | made my fight
two years ago. And I want to say
that there are candidates running for
office this year who ridiculed what
said two years ago, but are now adj
vocatng these same reforms that
then advocated, knowing that they
must do so in order to have any show
at all at the polls.
In my campaign two years ago !
maintained that the government of
Nebraska had passed away from the
control of the people and was in the
hands of the railroads and other cor
porations. | said that the first step
necessary was to restore the govern
ment back to the people. I main
tanned that the instrumentality used
by the railroads to procure the gov
eminent away from the people was
the free railroad pass. | branded rail
road passes as a bribery system.
denounced the professional lobbyist