Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-20
Fusion of Third
Party Flayed by
Grand Island Man
Candidate for Lieutenant
Governor Says Leaders
Crucified Party on Mul.
len.Made Cross.

Grand Island Neb.. April 49,
Special Mayor I. ]. Ellsberry oi
Grand Island. candidate for
lieutenant-governor OH the progress
Sive ticket. issued yitriolic state
mcnt today in which he criticised tho
action oi third party leaders in wha,
lie termed "cruciiying the progres.
sive party upon Mullen-made
cross
Mr.. Ellsberry said:
Benedict Arnold betrayed his
countrymen for British gold. Judas
betrayed Christ for 80 pieces OF sill
yer. From the time when history
was young, men have betrayed their
comrades, their fellow toilers. Men
whose souls could be purchased for
thin dime have from time inn
memorial started something with
trcachery.
""Thc treason OF Arnold swept tn.
country with a wave OF indignation,
that perhaps started the British to-
ward Yorktown; and America was
born.
Leader Beguiled."
"Thc baseness OF Judas lighted
the fire of Christianity which swept
the world. The progressive party,
born of the stress and OF the trials
of the common people, designed to
bring back to these people the right;
and liberties that had been taken
from them by machine politics, now
faces its hour OF trial. The cunning
hand OF the political assassin has
struck. Our leader, befooled and be-
guiled by the whispers OF strategy
and "expediency' has apparently
consented to the crucifying of the
progressive partly upon a Mullen
made cross. aE
"The senate, goal OF many weary
pilgrim through the jungle of poll
tics, looms before his dazzled eye.
Poor man. With the progressive
split between Howell and Wray,
does it take blind man to sec Hitch
cock victorious? Mr.. Norton filed
for governor upon the democratic
progressive ticket. What kind OF
hybrid is progscssive-democra
or a progressive-republican? Do
you ever hear Of republican-demo-
crat or vice yersao Can man ask
the support of honest men, claim
ing two party affiliations? Can a
man carry water on both shoulders
and his head at the time? | believe
not
More than three-fourths Of the
delegates to the Grand Island con-
vention were pledged against fusion
or the acceptance of fusion candi-
date. AS a delegate and member
OF the committee that framed the
platform OF the Grand Island con-
vention, ]. know that fusion was alb
solutely unacceptable to the men and
women who made up that conven-
ton. Mr.. Edmisten knew that. Mr..
Sorenson knew it, Mr.. Wray knew it.
Against Fusion.
"The Hall, Douglas, Platte and
Adams county delegations, number
ing over 200 men and women, were
solidly against fusion in any form
If Mr.. Wray basely deserts his COM
rades on the state ticket, leaving
them to founder leaderless to GER
tain defeat, how can he expect the
support of those whom he has de-
serteds | personally would rather
vote and aid my bitterest political
foe who was open and honest in his
enmity, than an erstwhile friend who
had changed his coat for the sake
of 'expediency'
"Anson H. Bigelow is a candidate
for United States senator on the
progressive ticket. The progressives
will do we'll to. support him. He
can not be lured onto the rocks by
the Lincoln sirens.
There is yet time to fill MIR
Wray's place on the state ticket. The
knife that has so nearly reached the
vitals of the progressive party
should only serve as a spur. to prick
us intp action, and lead to ultimate
victory. Not victory for any mar
nor for any machine. but for the
principles -upon which the progress
sive party was builded."