Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-19
mErcALFE TO he INDEPENDENT
Declares He win Not BE hound By
Party Caucus.

Party Caucus
(From staff Correspondent
LINCOLN. July 1S-(Special) -Foilo wing
is the statement issued by Richard L. Met
calfe in accepting the filing by petition for
the race for United States senator on the
democratic ticket:
In announcing my candidacy for United
states senator, subject to the democratic
and peoples independent primaries to be
held August 16, j am responding to call
that has been made upon me by a large
number of personal and political friends.
1t is true 1 would like to represent Ne
brcska in the United States senate. but
would not have entered the race unsolicited
and 1 am acting now after the most
thoughtful consideration on my own part
and after consulting with democrats and
populists in various sections of the state.
l assume that in nominating their sena-
torlal candidate the democrats and poou-
lists In Nebraska will select the man whom
they regard as most available in, the con-
test to be waged against one of the most
skilfull politicians ever elected by west
ern state to a seat in the senate. Should
the men with whom 1 have affiliated foy
nearly quarter Of century of Nebraska
politics conclude that 1 am the available
candidate 1 will make an active campaign
against my republican opponent and will
do my best to win.
AS reporter and political writer on the
Omaha WorldHerald from 1888 to 1896. as
editor of the World Herald from 1896 to
1905 and as associate editor of the Com
moner since 1906 my views on public .oues-
tions have been made known to the people
Of Nebraska.
In general | take my democracy from
Jefferson, jackson and Bryan. IL N were
repubncanism l would take IL from La
Toilette. Cummins and Bristow Prac-
tlcally / do not see material difference
between the two brands, so far as present
day problems are concerned, and IL I were
elected to the senate l would take counsel
of the republicans l have named sooner
than from men who, elected as democrat re-
follow, in one way or another, the AIdricb
leadership.
1 would not be bound by anv marty
CAUCUS against what l concede TO be the
welfare of my constituents. / would follow
democratic principles, as ], have learned
them, wherever / found them and wouId
cooperate with men, REGARDLESS Of party
enunciating those principles and under.
taking to enact them into law This is
my conception OF the duty of a democrat
who realizes the necessity for PROMPT acS
ton on the part of the patriotic men ~
all parties who would perpetuate popular
government and make our union of states
larry representative OF the sacrifices that
have been made In their behalf--fairIv
of the hopes and the asniIa
lions Of the rank and filesiof AmerIcan
citizens, REGARDLESS of political preiudice
Ny opponents, Mr.. G. NJ Hitchcock ana
Mr.. Willis E. Reed, are both rich men
while L am wage-earner. 1t will NOT
therefore, he possible for me to make a.
active contest for the nomination az
these gentlemen will make But / am NOT
without confidence that from now until
August 16 some Of the men whom [ have
met upon the firing line and with whom
rave stood shoulder TO shoulder in do
Tense of the very principles that seem
popular today will lend me hand SO that
| may not, after all, be greatly handicapped
in the race.
enter this contest with malice toward
none, with charity for ALL" / would NOT
knowingly sacrifice one personal friend
ship upon the altar of ambition. While I
shall stand resolutely for the things in
which believe / grant to every other man
the right to his opinion and respect II
accordingly. hope nothing shall occur to
tarnish the fair friendship that has existed
Tor many years between myself and the
two good men who are opposing me.
shall try to so act that both Messrs. Hitch
cock and Reed will be able-after the pri-
maries have closed and the real battle IL
onto give me that cordial support which
have 1t in my heart to give to either
Of them in the event of my defeat