Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-18
NO INJUSTICE INTENDED.

.WYMORE Neb March IS, 1S07.--To the
Editor Of The Bee: You have placarded
our representative, Adam McMullen,
among the republican repudiationists'' ac-
cused OF goiRg back on their pledges but
in the same issue OF your paper you print
your platform synopsis with the signatures
attached but without Mr.. McMuilens sig
nature. This looks as II you were charg-
ing him with breaking pledge he never
made. Are you not doing this rising young
man an injustice? N
The Bee does not want to do any
one an injustice. The signature of
Mr.. McMullen is not attached to the
platform synopsis to which our CORE
spondent refers, but Mr.. McMullen
would be rightfully classed as a repu-
diationist even II he had never signed
any pledge to carry out the platform,
because he ran for office as the repub-
lican nominee and is in honor bound
to do his part to fulfill promises made
for him by the republicans in their
state convention. He is morally
bound as much to carry out these
promises as he was to vote for Norris
Brown for United States senator.
But Mr.. McMullen is on record over
his own signature favoring the re-
demption of all the platform pledges
When he entered the lists as a candi-
date for, speaker after his election he
was invited to state his position on
these platform issues because they
were involved by his candidacy for
speaker to an even greater degree
than in his candidacy for membership
in the house. In answer to that invi-
tation Mr.. McMullen replied as fol-
lows:
wYMORE Neb, Dec. "a, 19Os.-To the
Editor OF The Bee: am in receipt Of your
favor Of the 18th inst, wherein you forward
a synopsis OF the republican state platform
with an invitation to sign the same as a
token Of my belief in and support OF the
principle therein set forth. Once or twice
during the recent campaign l received a
similar communication. I did not sign as
requested then, and do not care TO sign
now, for the reason that 1 refused TO be
pledged in connection with other matters
presented to me and therefore could not
| ignore said refusal by signing in this i'm
stance and be fair to all. might, how
ever give a specific reason for not signing
| this synopsis You may recall, because
| conferred with you in relation thereto, that
I introduced a direct primary measure that
did not include the nomination OF the state
officers under that system. did not be-
| lieve such a sweeping law would bring the
results desired do not believe 30 now.
Yet the republican state platform provided
| for a primary law that covers "all state,
county and district officers" Hence, II /
had signed such synopsis I would be pledg-
| ing my support to a policy do not think
will be the best. I may be mistaken in my
position, but do not think so. In case I
should be defeated for the speakership,
intend to Introduce the same measure and
| contend for its enactment. Generally
speaking however, stand squarely on the
platform, and while may hold different
| opinion from others regarding the makeup
Of certain measures pledged to the people,
yet I believe all Of its pledges should be
! redeemed. ADAM MMULLEN.
At the time this letter was received
The Bee stated that It was not as clear
cut as It should be, but printed 1t In
full to give him the benefit OF his own
language. There is no doubt. too
that his failure to sign up on the party
platform before election and his equiv
ocation as to a primary election law
had much to do with blocking his
speakership aspirations.