Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-02
SHOTWELL TALKS TOO MUCH
Committee of Progressive Republican
League Repudistes Secretary.
HE CAN'T DELIVER THE GOODS
Pledges of support Made 60 President
Taft Disowned by Associates-
stand for Principles,
Not Men.
CFrom a staff correspondent

tFrom a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN, July t-(specisl Telegram.)-
That Secretary Franklin a. shotwell OF
the Nebraska PROGRESSIVE Rpubllosn
league is just little out Of line with hi
associates in that organization was made
plain at a meeting Of the executive com
mittee Of the league held here last evening.
While no action was taken formally re-
pudiating the pledges made by Mr. Shot
well TO President Taft while in Washing
ton, speakers generally voiced the senti-
ment that shotwell had talked too much
and that he did not have the support OF
the organization he represents in his prom
Uses.
THE Nebraska Progressive Republican
league stands for principles and not men
and its first objects are the accomplish
ment OF certain results in governmental
reform" was the united opinion of the ex-
ecutlve committee of the organization. In
regard to the utterances Of Secretary Shot
we'll a telegram was sent to Congressman
George w. Norris. Vice president of the
National league stating that his inter
views were not the expressions Of the Ne
braska league, and that they were ap-
proved by neither the officers nor the
members OF the organization in this state.
E. z. Correll Of Hebron. Vice President
Don Van Deusen Of Blair. Charles whedon
Of the First congressional district Charles
skalla Of the Fifth district. j. l.. Kennedy
OF Omaha, representing the Second dis
trict H. N. Mattiey of Mason city, repre-
senting the Sixth district and by Frank
Harrison, Jasper l.. McBrien, Will C. Jay
H. NJ. Bushnell and ]. c. Bishop. all Of
this city. Franklin A. shotweli Of Omaha
u S Rohrer of Hastings and A. w. Ladd
Of Albion, other members of the executive
committee. were absent.
COrreH Urges Organization.
In opening the meeting President correll
declared that the purpose was to go over
the situation in this state and to discuss
the policies OF the league with relation to
the coming campaign. He urged that the
principles for which the league stood and
for which they intended to labor should
be embodied in the republican state plat
form through delegates selected BY the
organization workers over the state.
Referring to the Shotwell incident at
Washington in which the Omaha man Is
purported to have said that this state
would support Taft for reelection Presi-
dent Correll said: THAT is a matter which
we must handle with kid gloves. shotwel
is a jealous worker, and we should not
delve into HIS case too hurriedly. He may
have been speaking to President Taft his
personal views, and not as a representative
Of the Progressive league. Mr.. Shotwell is
not here to defend himself and may not
have been quoted right by the newspaper
men at the capital. AS 1 understand the
objects of this league, 1t stands for the
enactment of certain policies, and not the
Endorsement of certain candidates for any
of the offices. especially at this time"
Kennedy on shotweIl.
John L. Kennedy OF Omaha in response
to a question as to what he knew about
the Shotwell matter. declared that he had
not been in touch with him for some time
past, but that when he had talked with
him he has stood for the reelection OF
Brown to the United States senate, for
Congressman Norris to the house, and
other expressions which were directly OPP
posite to these attributed to him at Wash
ington.
II do not know what prompted Shotwell
to talk that way, said he. Its some
thing which is beyond me to understand"
Further" he continued, I'VE should not
take Mr.. Shotwell too seriously. He is a
loyal republican, he is jealous in his work,
SO progressive and so insistent along lines
of true progressveness, a circle which is
only too small in Douglas county and
Omaha in republican ranks" he asserted.
Mr.. Kennedy urged that no stringent action
be taken in the absence OF his fellow
citizen, and added that 1t might be better
to defer opinion until the committee knew
under what circumstances the remarks
attributed to Mr.. shotwell We're made.
VanDeuaen Cites Platform.
Editor Van Deusen OF Blair read copies
of the platform adopted by the league last
February, when II was organized, and gave
a short sketch of the objects of the ma
tional league under which the state aux
iiary was organized. Following he also
read over to the committeeman copy Of
the letter written by Mr.. Shotwell TO Mr..
Roosevelt early in May in which that
individual asserted that he was the only
man that could lead the party to victory
as far as Nebraska and the Mississippi
valley was concerned. and that La Toilette
was lamentabIy weak in the aforesaid terri
tory. Roosevelt's reply to the Omaha man
in response to the question as to whether
he would allow his name to go on the
preferential ballot next spring indicating
that such an action would embarrass him
greatly. was also read by Mr.. Van Deusen.
Bushnell Resents ShOtweII.
II. NJ. Bushnell of this city followed the
blair man. 1T seems to me-" he said,
that Mr.. Shotwell has assumed the office
of president. secretary. executive board
and everything else on his Washington
trip. He has been using the league to
exploit his own ends and for personal and
professional purposes.
I'VE can never make headway in that
manner. The washington correspondents
are only too reliable and can be depended
upon and know what they are talking
about. Mr.. shotwell had every opportunity
to deny that interview but he has never
done so. II It was wrong why did not ne &?
We cannot afford to have that kind OF
leadership. A thorough spirit OF unselfish-
ness must permeate every official and
member Of this organization II we would
have success"
Bushnell Against Taft.
Upon the present question Mr.. Bushnell
took decided stand. in that he declared
that every act of President Taft had been
of the kind and character not to inspire,
but rather discourage trust and confidence
In him as the nations executive. mot
only is thus true in the case OF the best
leaders we have at Washington. but in
the rank and file OF the party over the
entire country They all feel his weakness
and are not backward In their assertions OF
inability to follow him further"