The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1907-01-18

oquently OF our State-SayS REFORM
Wave Has Come to Stay.
Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 1G.--With the
galleries crowded by his cheering adj
mirers, Norris Brown was officially de-
clared elected United States senator
at noon today. In the first VOTE taken
yesterday, he received 67 in the house
and % in the senate while w. II.
Thompson received 81 in the house
and ; in the senate. Each man re-
-eived the entire party vote.
Senator Brown was escorted to the
speakers stand in the house after the
official announcement of his election
today when he spoke as follows:
Mr.. Browns Speech.
81 come to thank you. | wish | had
power to make you understand how
deeply | appreciate this honor. While
today | express my gratitude to you
who have elected me- | trust | shall
not forget my obligations to the people
of Nebraska who elected you. In the
final analysis they are responsible
alike for your election and mine; but
with the election over our responsible
ity begins. May God give us courage
to bear that responsibility bravely, and
wisdom to bear it well.
IL want to congratulate you men who
have been chosen by direct vote to
enact laws for this loved state of ours.
1t is mark of esteem and confidence
t. hA w Cnto f,NI l,
people have entrusted you with a great
work, work certain and definite.
The campaign which resulted in your
election was one of great interest and
intense discussion. 1t was the culmi-
nation in this state of the struggle for
emancipation from railroad dictation
in politics that had been carried on
for many years. That struggle devel-
oped many notable men and leaders
who are pioneers in the cause. Among
them is no less a character than the
splendid man and valiant veteran,
Speaker NettletOn. He has lived to
see the principles he fought for so long
triumphant. Foremost and ablest
among these leaders was the late la
mented Edward ROsewater. For a
generation this great man, with stead
fast purpose and unfaltering devotion,
fought the peoples battle. The state
owes him monument of love and
gratitude.
II want to congratulate you, also,
because the people have elected
George Sheldon governor to share with
you the labors and honors of the work
you have been chosen to do. In my
Judgment no state in the union was
ever blessed with a better or Drawer
chief executive than the earnest and
modest young man who took the oath
of Office in your presence two weeks
ago.
Let me ask you, why was Sheldon
elected? Was it because of his good
name and family? No. Because Of
his splendid, sturdy personality? No.
Was it because his opponent was I'M
worthy? No. His opponent was alto
yether worthy. Was it because he is
republican? No; though that helped.
sheldon was elected governor of Ne
,raska because he stood for the sim
lie doctrine Of equal rights and equal
rivileges for all men, a doctrine in
fairs of government as old as the
eclaration of independence, and as
nipple and sublime as the ten conf
landments. 1t was the doctrine of
lincoln and his friends, the doctrine
Grant, of Garfield, Of Harrison, of
he loved and lamented Mckinley, and
today the doctrine Of Theodore
oosevelt and his friends. 1t is the
copies doctrine in every state of the
ltion, and when they shall awake, as
people of Nebraska have awak.
ed, to the fact that state govern
ents belong to them and not to non
sident corporations, they will join
army of equal rights and equal
Ivileges and elect governors of the
&c and character of ours.
This doctrine has come to STAY. It
mot here for a day, or a month, or
ayear; and the man, or the public
Deer, or the editor, who dubs this
dttrine "a fad "a temporary impulse
oihe people, will live to confess his
intake.
But what does doctrine or prin-
Gle avail unless it is enforced? OF
wit value is good precept If 1t is
no followed? A doctrine or prin.
Clip needs something more than mere
advancement. If any good is to re-
sui it must be applied. This doctrine
of hich we speak can be given force
aneffect in only one way, and that is
by yriting it into the statutes of the
Ian state and federal. l am proud
to sy there is 40 doubt of your deter
mintion and ability to keep faith
will the people and to redeem every
pleGe | shall spare no effort to &C
comlish the same result in the nation
al legislature.
"Ibelieve the federal constitution
shou be amended so that the people
shallhave the right by direct vote to
elect United States senators. 1t Is
easy to understand why the fathers
who builded the constitution were
afrai to trust the people fully. Theil
scheIe of self-government was at thai
time n experiment? Never before haC
any alton successfully demonstrated
the rinciple of self-gC lent. Il
was latural. therefore them tC
take precautions agai, hat was