Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-24
Nebraska
ALDRICH PARDONS JOHNSON
Governor Gives Clemenoy to Phys
ioian Of Lincoln.
BAssETT NAY BE CANDIDATE
w. A, SelIeck Files for Congress In
First District and WIN
Run Against Paul
Clark.
Hrom a staff Correspondent)

LINCOLN, Neb., Dec. 2S-(Special Tele-
gram t-Cuvernor Aldrich late this after
noon made a Christmas present Of par
don to DR.. w. II. johnson. DR., Johnson
was convicted and sentehced for per
forming criminal operation on Amanda
Mueller, on account OF, failing health he
was paroled after serving about year
Of his sentence. which would have ex-
pired January y, 1912. The pardon is Is
sued by the governor because he believes
the honorable record OF the doctor In
the service OF his country during the civil
war entities him to a restoration OF cltl-
zenship and in the belief that he has al
ready suffered sufficiently and that the
law has been vindicated.
AS only a little over two weeks re-
mains OF the sentence the governor be-
lieves that at this Christmas time Il is
well TO restore citizenship to one who,
with the single exception OF the offense
for which he was convicted, had de-
served well OF his country
nassett May TIie.
II was rumored around the capitol to-
day that G, s. Bassett OF Gibbon would
file soon as a candidate for commissioner
Of public lands and buildings.
w. II. TbompSon Speaks.
William H. Thompson OF Grand Island
came down this afternoon and tonight
addressed the Lincoln Bar association on
the Initiative and referendum and recall.
lie had no more than landed in the hotel
than political friends commenced to drop
in to see him. lie greeted all with the
same smile, but had little to say about
politics, at least In a public way. In dis
cussng the referendum and recall Mr..
Thompson went at length into the hls-
tory IL the formation OF the government
and maintained that the principle OF re-
call was everywhere found, the idea of
responsibility to the people. II was man
ifest, he said, In the comparatively short
terms of elective officers and even in
life appointees II was recognized In the
power given to impeach. As to Judges.
he maintained they were simply instru-
ments of government the same as. other
officials and no honest Judge need fear
to render opinions for fear of adverse
public opinion, but rather II would be a
check upon any who might be inclined
to be dishonest. Neither as lawyer nor
citizen could he see any danger to the
judiciary from the recall The referen-
dunn and recall, he maintained, was not
departure in government but rather
development along the same lines orig
inally framed to meet developing condi-
tions.
Shortage from Old Errors.
State Accountant Tulleys has dlscov-
cred discrepancy of about $4,000 be-
tween the account OF warrants issued as
shown by the auditors books and the
cash on hand in the state general fund.
The di9CranannU Go q
years, and is not believed to be due to
any real shortage. but TO an accumula-
tion of small errors in bookkeeping. Most
OF the discrepancy dates back of 1897,
when the ledger system was adopted, and
to trace the source OF the errors would
be big task. Practically ali of the dis
erepancy dates back OF the Moore de-
falcation.
SeIIeck Files for Congress.
w. A. Selleck this afternoon made per-
sonal filing as republican candidate for
congress- in this, the First district
This makes two candidates to date to
go on the republican primary ballot, the
other being Paul Clark. 1t is believed
there will be no others, though OF course
no man knows what may develop be-
tween now and the time for closing the
lists.
Mr.. selleck was member of the last
state senate from Lancaster county and
a filing for denomination for that office
mad been made for him. MIR. Seleclx
says 1t was done without his consent and
that he will not file an acceptance OF
the state senatorship filing, but is in the
congressional fight.
In connection with his filing Mr.. Sell
leol1 issues the following statement
Il have been a supporter of the repub-
lican party since 1 cast my first vote
in 1880. when 1t was my privilege to vote
for James A. Garfield. l believe in the
policies and principles of the republican
party; l believe that the party meant
what it said when in convention assem-
bled in 1905 it said the republican party
declares unequlvocally for a revision OF
the tariff in all tariff legislation the true
tariff principle of protection is best main
talned by the imposition of such duties
as will equal the difference between the
cost of production at home and abroad,
together with a reasonable profit to
American industries. I have confidence
that the republican party will enact such
legislation as will bring about this re-
suit, and should l be elected 10 congress
would work to that end.
II believe in the policies of the repub-
lican party as shown by laws passed for
conservation Of natural resources OF the
country, and believe that laws should be
passed preserving for the benefit OF the
nation the vast natural resources OF
Alaska; for the continued and generous
support OF the veterans OF our wars
their widows and orphans; for the con-
struction OF the Panama canal; for the
| enforcement OF the laws impartially to
the rich and Door alike.
II believe in a progressive program OF
legislation which shall meet the Issues OF