The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-02
COLLAPSE OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN

Nebraska has never seen a campaign in which
there was ms much underground work as the demo-
Gratis have used in this one. Burrowing beneath the
surface has its perils, and the democratic party now
is caught in the collapse Of its tunneng.
With escape cut of at every turn, the ticket led
by Hitchcock and Brother Charley Bryan resorted
first to the Mullen machine to dig them out This
machine. although completely equipped for dirt
throwing. only succeeded in digging the pit deeper.
Last OF all the democrats pinned their despair
ing hope Turing republicans TO their rescue.
Hitchcock himself has admitted publicly that he can
not be elected without republican votes That he
should now invite such support after the shameful
way in which he has assailed President Harding
and obstructed the administration is indeed the
height of vain presumption.
The collapse Of the democratic campaign has
resulted from the open and above-board manner in
which the republican party has carried on its cam
psgn In Nebraska. Howell and Randall have met
democratic fiction with republican fact. They have
gained thereby the confidence Of the voters.
Instances are innumerabe in which the machine
supporting Hitchcock and Brother Charley has at
tempted secretly to poison the waters OF public
opinion. Rumors, canards and roorbacks have fol
lowed each other in rapid succession Poison PEN
letters some anonymous and others signed by tools,
have flooded the mails.
r. b. Howell exposes the fact that Hitchcock's
paper is writing letters to itself to give circulation
to false reports that it dare not sponsor openly.
Then he blasts one Of these insidious pieces Of
fiction, according to which he s represented as run
ming for two well paid Offices, that of senator and
OF general manager of the Metropolitan Utilities
district Both Mayor Dahlman and Mullen, who
have spread this report know better than this.
thrao iaha ipvnl in
The first is that OF senator. The second is that OF
general manager Of the Metropolitan Utilities dis
trict The third is that Of a member Of the board
of directors Of the utilities.
Howell now holds the position of general man
ager Of the utilities. This is the Office which the
Mullen machine now accuses him Of running
for" As matter Of fact this job is one, on which
The voters do not vote, The six directors Of the
utilities board choose the manager and when
Howell is elected senator they will have to select
new manager Howell has stated that il would be
impossible for him to hold the general managership
and that he has intention Of trying.
His only connection with the Metropolitan Utili-
ties district will be as Of the six directors For
this position he nominated in the recent
primaries by three to majority
Thus is exploded Of the Hitchcock canards.
There is more truth IN II than is contained III
circular letter now being mailed out by the demo-
cratic machine by the hundred thousand over the
signature of former saloon keeper named Wroth.
In this the democratic machine questions HowelFs
republicansm II is simply treacherous appeal
for republican votes for Hitchcock.
IL the democratic campaign managers had not
lost their sense of humor, well all sembance
Of logic, they would have seen the ridiculous nature
Of such attempt by democratic candidates to at
tempt to pass on the repubeansm of opponent.
John T. Adams republican national chairman
will be generally conceded to be much better
Judge of the affairs of his party. His state
ment telling Of his appreciation for the work of
Howell as republican national committeeman is suf
fcient for any republican.
No expense has been spared by Hitchcock in
his effort to win third term in the senate If the
state or national government were to be run on the
scale OF expenditure set by the democratic
psgn. il would speedily be bankrupt. 1t is impos
shle to believe that the candidates responsible for
this wasteful campaign of deception know the
meaning Of economy and thrift
This costly effort has not been directed toward
clearing up the issues but to cloud them. Hitch
cock in recent speech to his henehmen in Omaha
hoasted OF the smooth working Of his machine. but
admitted certain weak spots. 1T is significant" he
said 'that the few places from which We get poor
reports are those where there Is poor organization"
His record IN the senate in other words is un,
able TO stand the calm Judgment Of the men and
women ~ the state. hut requires TO be holstered up
nv every sort 81 machine propaganda and misrep.
resentaticu.