Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-14


republicans voted for Hayward. while the
opposition died in the ditch with Allen. To
elect Hayward II required forty-three Joint
ballots, extending over the forty-ninth day
Of the session, leaving a period Of vacancy
in the states representation between March
4. when Senator Aliens term expired, and
March 8, when his successor secured his
credentials.
1t was owing to the death OF Hayward be
fore he had an opportunity to fill his seat and
the appointment by the governor of Senator
Allen TO Ali the vacancy that the Legislature
Of 1901 was called upon to choose two
United States senators-a situation not pre-
scented since the original election of two
United States senators by the first state
| legislature Immediately after Nebraska was
| admitted to the union. With the doubling
OF the stake the excitement and persistence
was more than doubled. A long list OF
candidates presented themselves to the leg
slature, divided in their aspirations be-
tween the short term and the long term,
the first being conceded TO the South Platte
! and the latter being claimed by the North
Platte.
Memorable Fight I'm 1891.
| The principal candidate for the short
term was again David <. Thompson OF
Lincoln, the lesser lights in his armament
being E. II. HinshRw of Fairbury, now
| congressman from the Fourth district; f.
| ], Hainer of AurorS, former congressman.
and Francis Martin, state senator from
| Richardson county. Facing the other goal
| the leaders were Edward Rosewater, editor
Of The Omaha Bee; George d. Melltlejohn
| of Fullerton, former assistant secretary
| Of war: State Senator F. NJ. Currie of
1
! senator and former governor, of Washing
| ton county. Through the fifty-four days OF
balloting other names appeared from time
to time in the list but never as serious
candidates for tho senatorship.
The balloting began before common
ground was reached for a caucus. and
| when a caucus was finally secured the
| preponderance of Thompson strength, pre-
| cIpitated a bolt of nine members, who pro-
claimed the ultimatum that they would
| enter no caucus from which Thompson was
not barred. These nine men professed "a
| be against Thompson on account of his
| affiliation with Burlington railroad inter
! ests. but as matter OF fact they were
| generally known to be representatives oi
| the Union Pacific and Elkhorn combine
who were determined not only to beat
I Thompson because he was allied with tn,
opposition railroad, but to beat Rosewatel
| as well, because he was independent of al
railroads. At several stages efforts wer,
mnde to effect compromise with tn,
fusion minority in favor OF Allen fusion
isO and Crounse republican,, but wlthou
success because enough republican vote,
could not be mustered to consummate tn,
election OF a popullst.
The deadlock was finally broken by tn,
4 v.fKNk 40. . IN
on the last regular day OF the session, tn,
caucus quickly agreeing on two dark horse
in the persons of Governor Charles II
Dietrich for the South Platte senatorshil
and Joseph H. Willard a banker of Omaha
, for the North Platte senatorship. Tn
ballot that determined that Nebraska
seats In the upper house of congress SHOULD
be occupied rather than remain vacan
abated the highstrung tension of all par
= | Elephants The successful and unsuccessful
, candidates were called before the join
, convention and expressed acquiescence &
, the result. As described at the time, 9Th
election of Dietrich and Willard was halle
| with Joy and exultation; the deadlock ha
1 been broken; Nebraska was assured tw
= republican senator's; 1t brought a feelin
$ of relief II not entirely Of satisfaction"
5 Fight on Dietrich.
The contest over the Dietrich successio
began long before the time for the electlo
: was sight. The elements that CON
= passed the defeat OF Thompson accepte
- the substitution of Governor Dietrich wit
a still less grace and set about early to MAX
. his reelection impossible. Their campaig
T. LOT ridcule and detraction eliminated
Z his indictment by the federal grand tur,
Q which, notwithstanding his acqui, ia
I rlxpd him fpr
4 his term. To make sure that Thompso
A should not fall heir his opponents settle
8 upon f. J. Burkett, congressman from th
) First district, and residing In the same cit
!, as Mr.. Thompson. TO make the rac
7 | Thompson, however refused TO Compel
, and Burkett secured the support OF h
:, home county without contest. While tn
was being worked out the program wa
inaugurated for the nomination Ola cand
!, date for United States senator In the r,
!, publican state convention, and the sta
committee was prevailed upon to inclut
in its call recommendation to that efrec
= No other avowed candidate appearing. n
convention nominated Mr.. Burkett witho,
= dissent and his name appeared on the Oh
. cial ballot as the republican nominee
e many districts candidates were pledged
Y his support and his election was a form
s approval of the conventions nomination
" but before this was done he was COMPEL,
l. to make an open declaration OF his d
lie termination TO support the railroad regui
" tion policy Of President Roosevelt.
Is Last I'm the LIST.
81 The present senatorial contest was real
he out in the republican state convention he
n. last August. The candidacy Of Attorn
10 General Norris Brown had been project
As early in the winter and his friends pr
Of vailed on the state committee 10 follow q
IN precedent set two years before Of incIu
es ing the nomination OF a candidate for Sc
e ator in the convention call. Senator M
he lard protested in saying that he was
he the hands OF his friends and in refusi