Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-10
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oNd 9N41nsIau,s

~, HE death Of Major Church Howe recalls the
stirring times IN Nebraska politics a quarter OF a
century aso in which he was always close to the
storm center II was for the most part before had
any participation In political medicine mixing but
within the period OF interested observation. Church
what we would call "a good Old scout" He was
a hard fighter and continuously IT, and best OF all.
would accept victory a Cefeat with the same good
grace. He had an un-eiaoicable feud with Tom"
Majors In his own county which too small to
hold two such ambitious statesmen at within ts
limited boundaries II almost once-a-year
spectacle 90 have Church" and Tom" through
the motions Of 'burying the Ratchet and smoking
the pipe Of peace TO be followed almost instantane
ousy with another dance and mutual recrimina-
tons Of bad faith and treachery.
Let inform those to whom this Of Nebraska
politics is ancient history. written in unknown
language, that "Church" and Tom" alternated for
the bellwethers Of the legislatures, both
ing farmers Church" being the chief manipulation
for the Missouri Pa ,fc combination. and "Tom' the
handy for the Burlington. The incorporating
fight OF The Bee and lite founder against corporate
control and railroad domination was what led to its
determined opposition to that OF political leader
ship and eliminated in bolt OF "Church's'' nomina
ton for congress by railroadpacked convention in
1886. when The Bee took up John A. Mcshane. the
democratic candidate, and gave Church" drubbing
he never forgot This contest came off In the old
First district which included both Lincoln Omaha
Nebraska being then accorded only three OF
congress. This district, which sent republican to
Washington for the preceding term. and another
republican for the succeeding term. showed Church"
down under avalanche Of adverse majority Of
1900 votes.
Yet there political history than that IN
this fight for Il turned also the reelection
tlrement of Senator Charles H. Van wyck. While
refusing TO support Church" the republican nomi-
nee for congress- my father. Edward Rosewater was
ardent in his support Of Van Wyck and was, himself
running as Van Wyck man the republican ticket
for float state senator in district made up Douglas
and sarpy counties 1t turned out that the
was set so strong for McShane that Mr.. Rosewater
despite a substantial atority in his county
ptad outb nv mar down I'm in
favor or the democrat, Mr.. Campbell. My father
was convinced in his mind that he had been
elected on any count OF the ballots and urged
to contest but declined because he did not want to
compicate the situation OF Van Wyck. which was at
best precaiious. Van Wyck beaten finally when
his reelection would without doubt have been assured
had he had another enthusiastic and resourcefu
champion In the state senate, he would thus have
had and he told more than once that he had
beaten himself by permitting Church Howe to seize
the congressional nomination with foredoomed defeat
staring him in the face.
want 20 say this however for Church Hover
that he got bravely his disappointment IL he felt
any and the man. who stopped him from going
to helped him achieve much desrer ampi-
ton when he asked for consular appointment IRON
President Mckinley. Church" had been the member
OF the republican national committee for Nebraska
that capacity saw the opportunity and seized II
20 make John NJ Thurston temporary chairman of the
1896 national convention Senator Thurston was APP
prec!ative and grateful. and with the combined en-
dorsement OF Senator Thurston and Edward Rose
water Major Howe secured the coveted place, and
spent what he has often told me were the most de-
Ishtful years Of his life representing the United
states commercially in Belgium. in England and
Canada
While mentioning ex-senator Thurston. cid you
where letter-box contributor the other day. calling
the ex-senator for his disparagement OF billy" sun
days evangestic acrobatics harked back to famous
murder trial which the ex-senator was accused OF
indulgng In legal gymnastics OF his own? Moth
ing gained by renewing discussion of the guilt
or innocence of the defendant that occasion which
may readily identified beyond the particular incl
dent in question. which happen to remember dis
tinctly An important phase OF the defense which Mr.
Thurston had set up his client. turned upon the
explanation tat the which fired the fatal shot
had kept handy because OF the recent intrusion
Of n burglar who had made his getaway through
certain cellar window. This justification.
was thorot ghly ridicued by the attorneys for the
prosecution They had the dimensions OF the window
taken and insisted that no full-grown man, such
the alleged burglar described to be- could possibly
squeeze himself through this small aperture, which
was about the Of ordinary door transom. When
Judge to deal with this part of the
gument, he sprang the spectacular coup OF the
Torrance: He had the window frame and sash re-
moved from the house. and brought into the. court
room where he up before the jury and himself
crawIed through II his hands and knees The trial
place in the criminal court room of the old court
house. (hen new, that had but lately been completed
and occupied and played TO standing only for
more than a week. Though the court room could not
accommodate anywhere many people the
Sunday Tabernacle. the proportion turned away
just great. not greater. Men and women stood in
line to get in carrying their lunches with
them refusing during the for fear
they might be able TO regain their places. and
some OF us boys OF the neighborhood made quite a
little pin money fetching sandwiches holding seats
for entranced spectators not to miss moment
OF the trial