Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-01-17
WHEDON IS NOT ENDORSED
Only Thirty-Two Men Attend Meeting
Lincoln Insurgents.
PAUL CLARK TAKES CHARGE
John @. Fremont McKessOn Chosen
Secretnry--speakers Wave Flag
and DenOunce All Repub-
licans in office.
lFrom a Sad CONVERSATIONAL }

a
LINCOLN, Jan. 16.-(Special.)-Tho meet
ing of the thirty-two Lincoln insurgents, or
rather, the progressive stand-patters, as
they prefer to be called indicated last
night that Frank Harrison is having
lot of fun with a bunch of politicians.
In their various speeches. in which prac-
tcally every person connected with the
national administration was denounced
nearly all of the speakers said they knew
not who had called the original meeting,
which had been held at the office OF c.
C. Flansburg, but that someone had asked
them, to go to the office.
During all their denunciation Harrison
sat in the back of the room and laughed
and enjoyed the vigorous manner in which
the speakers tore the eagles tail feathers
out and waved the flag and saved the
nation
Paul Clark the old Burlington stalwart
had the appearance of q man who is
very much ashamed of the turn affairs
have taken, and his talk sounded like the
comedian who is forced to leave a sick
bed and do his stunt.
But while the meeting was a frost, the
insurgents secured a new recruit when
Colonel Melick came out Of retirement and
attended, but whether he was there as
an onlooker or a dyed-in-the-wool kicker,
he was not given an opportunity to say.
Paul Clark Takes Charge.
That these politicians do not intend the
game to get away from them and become
so serious that they cannot deliver the
endorsement where they choose, was dem
onstrated when that famous reformer,
John c. Fremont McKesson was chosen
secretary. Brother Flansburg, as chair
man, appointed the former Lancaster sena-
tor to this place and then Paul Clark
/ took charge Of the meeting, Just as he
used to in the, good old railroad days.
Mr.. Flansburg explained that the senti-
ment of the Lincoln insurgents" was the
| unanimous sentiment throughout the rural
portions of the state, and as proof OF
this statement he declared he had received
a letter from Dundy county, saying that
thirty persons were coming in from that
part of the state to their big meeting
| 1t is an open secret that the meeting
last night was called for the express pur-
pose of endorsing the candidacy Of C. O.
| Whedon, who had announced himself dur
ing the afternoon. But as the crowd only
numbered thirty-two. this naturally was
| deferred. But Judge Cosgrave had beer
selected to make the nominating speech
or, at least, II seemed that way, for he
delivered an eulogy on Mr.. whedon that
would have graced any state occasion. He
likened him to Henry Cabot Lodge, who
he seid, had been denounced as no other
man in national life, but who had made
good to such an extent that today he was
regarded as the man who made Massa.
chusetts His principal recommendation
for Mr.. Whedon was that he was '1ik,
an icicie" and would never be found
shaking hands with people He denounced
both senators from Nebraska as being o.
small caliber and insisted that he wanted
big men, His other hero, which he placeG
alongside OF Henry Cabot Lodge, was tn,
late Senator Vest, democrat, of Missouri
who, he said, had made that state
beacon light. overlooking for the momen
Senator Thomas A. Benton and Franci,
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