Custer County, Nebraska - Chapter 13: Political Axd Partisan Activities, 1919

Chapter 13: Political Axd Partisan Activities

The First Election - Had Some "Pep," However - Ix Scrappy Days - A Joixt Debate - The Populist Version - Through Republican Goggles - The "Populist" Movement in Custer County - First County Ticket - The Cat Creek Cluc - Like A Lamb to the Swallowing - The Republican Party Organizes - The Republicans Split - The Democratic Party - \'ery Prominent Politically - The Primaries of 1918 - The Election of 1918 er been closely drawn. In the early days, local Xovember. 1876. at which time Edward Xeilpolitics had small place. In his candidacy for son. J. L. Banker, and D. J. Caswell were any office the man, if he were competent and judges and W. H. Comstock and James ^^ agpopular, was not handicapped by a political oner were clerks of election, which he must subs;ribe in order to be elected. Personal characteristics and qualities were the only things that counted. In the early Republican conventions, many who are now wheel-horses of the Democratic party affiliated heartily and served on many important committees. This indicates the lack of acid tests, and shows that the early conventions were a free-for-all, in which a man was pitted against a man and not a partisan against a partisan.

The first election ever held in the territory which now comprises Custer county was held at Douglas Grove, before the county was organized. A few years ago, among the papers of the late Captain W. H. Comstock, was found the poll-book of this election, which was held in Xovember, 1876.

At tiiat time the territory west of \'alley county was attached to \'alley for judicial purposes, and a corner, twenty-four miles square, was cut off and known as Garber

At that time the precinct was overwhelmingly Republican, as out of the fourteen votes cast, only one saw fit to vote the Democratic ticket. Thomas J. Majors, who was then running for congress, received twelve votes. Silas Garber was running for governor, Othman A. .\bbott for lieutenant governor, and eacii received twelve votes. At this election William H. Comstock and Isaac Merchant were elected justices of the peace, each receiving fourteen votes. Lewis Dowse received one vote for constable. I. T. Merchant fourteen, and Tames Wagoner twelve. W. H. Com-

In those days Nebraska had onl}' six electoral votes, and this part of the world was known as the forty-fifth representative district, instead of the fifty-sixth, as now. It was entitled to only one representative, instead of two ; Daniel D. Grow was running for that office and received the magnificent total of thirteen votes.

\\'ith the passing of the first years, the settling up of the country, the coming of leaders from the more politic counties of the east, political lines were more sharply drawn. Three prominent parties have for part of the time held the lime light. These are the Republican, Democrati:, and Populist parties.

In the days of the '90s, when the Populists formed a merger with the Democrats and made the Republicans their common foe, there were lively times, and spirited contests were staged for several years. The newspapers during this time were exceedingly partisan and injected a good deal of life into the political campaigns.

As an indication of how the papers lambasted each other and lambasted their political enemies, we quote the following from an editorial which appeared in the Custer County Chief, issue of October 14, 1898:

"We are at a loss to know just what is the political faith of our much esteemed contemporary, the Callazcay Indcf'cndcut. In the last few issues, C. W. Beal has been roasted to a turn. L. E. Kirkpatrick has been scored regularly, Eastman and Taylor have received sid^ swipes, Holcomb has been touched up, Jim Amsberry has got a clip under the chin and a dip over the ear, the Chief has been given its choice between a political grave or bolt, Hughes Brown has received a few punches, and Judge Shinn, after a breathing spell, has again been poked in the short ribs. It is therefore eminentlv proper that the Ausley Chronicle and the Broken Bozt.' Republican should compliment the Independent's bold stand and pass bouquets back and forth. Brother Webb is a scrapper from Scrapville and if his pluck holds out he will no doubt be able to scrap the whole state ticket before the campaign closes."

In the fall campaign of 1898 Norris Brown was the Republican candidate for congress, while W. L. Greene was the independent or "Populist" candidate. Great interest centered in a joint debate between the candidates. They met in the arena at Broken Bow, and we give below the accounts of the meeting as they appeared in the Chief and the Republican at that time.

"It is not only customary, but natural, in disc-ussing the merits and demerits of a joint political debate that each party should stand up for its candidate, and in this connection we have already heard many times about the terrible drubbing Brown gave Greene, and also how Greene mopped the earth with Brown at the joint debate held in this city yesterday between the two candidates for congress in the sixth district. We have no desire to be unfair in mention of this debate and will give the facts as we saw them, and as we believe they were. The meeting was called to order at about 2 :30 o'clock and the audience, which was about equally divided between Republicans and Populists, was decidedly small for an event of this kind. However, the people kept dropping in until the crowd reached about 250 to 300 people. James Stockham presided as chairman and Simon Cameron and E. R. Purcell acted as time-keepers. Mr. Brown opened the debate with one hour. Mr. Greene then followed with one hour, Mr. Brown then followed with twenty minutes and Mr. Greene with thirty minutes, and Mr. Brown closed with ten minutes, making the time one hour and a half each. Brown, in his opening, made a very good address and established himself as a good speaker. He attacked Greene's record in congress, charged Greene with false statements in a circular issued to the people of the sixth district two years ago. relative to the jjrice of cereals, and cjuoted a lo:al paper at Kearney as proof, and attacked his statement regarding the per capita circulation of the country. Had the meeting closed at the conclusion of this speech, the people would have given Air. P.rown credit for a good hour's talk. Mr. Greene then took the platform, and as he warmed up to his subject, the attitude of the audience changed, and in less than ten minutes he had established himself as master of the situation, and his eloquen;e and good natural arguments carried conviction to the heart of every fair-minded man. He took up the statements and charges of Air. Brown in their order and literally tore them to pieces. Instead of quoting from local papers, Mr. Greene took the official reports of the government and clinched every argument in the most convincing manner. Mr. Brown, on his second appearance, plainly showed the hot fire he was under, and made but few points that required answering. Mr. Greene then made his closing speech of thirty minutes, and Mr. Brown only occupied about one-third of the ten minutes allotted to him to close. The audience had become restless, and fifty or more people got up to leave when Mr. Brown took the platform for the last time. Xorris Brown makes a good address, but as a debater he is not in it with W. L. Greene, and those who lieard the debate from beginning to end do not wonder that the Republicans have endeavored to pull him off from the joint meetings. These debates will without question increase Greene's majority in every county in the sixth district."

The current issue of the Republican has a report of the same affair, but everything seems to have looked quite dift'erent through Republican goggles. Of course, political bias had nothing to do with these dift'erent versions. The difference was all due to different styles of literarv taste. The "(jreene" style appealed to the one party but "Brown" was the favorite color of the other, so we are to presume that the divergent accounts were due to color preference.

"The Greene-Brown debate this afternoon, held in the North Side opera house, was a great disappointment to the 'Pops.' They had not only advertised the debate well in their papers, but had billed the county with large posters to induce the Pop brethren to give Tonsilitis Bill an old-time crowd. After all their eft'orts, not more than 300 people, men, women, and children, were present. There were not, all told, seventy-five Pop voters present, and one of them, instead of worshiping their idol, at the conclusion of the debate mounted the rostrum and congratulated Xorris iirown. Judge Greene made a strong and pathetic appeal, with tears in his eyes, for the Pops to lay aside personal differences and vote for none but Pop nominees. His whole <lemeanor and speech only impressed his audience more forcibly, that of demagogues he is the chief. He claimed to be the original Poj), and stated he advocated the principles now held 1)\' the Populist ]3arty when he was a beardless }outh. He maintained, with all his force at his command, that times are worse and |)rices of farm products lower than they were in the worst days of Cleveland's administration. He asserted that if Brown would prove that a single prophecy he made two years ago in his circular, which stated that "prices of all products would decrease, farmers could not ])ay their taxes and would lose their homes,' in the event of McKinley's election "he would withdraw from the ticket.' Brown showed from the quoted prices in the Kearney EraStaiidard, a Pop paper, giving the prices in August, 1806, and 1898, that every article there c|uoted was selling for more in .\ugust, 1898, than in 1896. He also read from the World-Herald, showing an increase of exports of twelve per cent, and decrease of imports of twenty-five ])er cent, the last year, over the year jirevious. Greene's only rei)ly was to burlesque the reports of local papers and deny the facts."

The People's Independent party, by which name it was officially known, or the "Populist" party, by which name it was usually known, was an outgrowth of an organization known in the west as the Farmers' Alliance and in the south as the Farmers' Union. In the fall of 1888, soon after the presidential election of that year, there was much discontent among the farmers on account of the low market prices of all products of the farm and garden. The organization of the Farmers' Alliance, and kindred organizations among farmers, began as a protest against the prevalence of low prices and continued during the ensuing winter with great vigor in Custer county, in many other counties of the state, and in other western and southern states.

The Farmers' Alliance was a secret organization and was composed exclusively of farmers. It had its grips and passwords, and all its discussions of questions of interest to farmers were held behind closed doors. Farmers' .Alliance stores and other mercantile enterprises were started and maintained in the cities and towns, efforts to bring producer and consumer more closely together were made, anrl methods for producing the maximum amount per acre, with the minimum of effort, were di-^^cussed in their meetings with profit. But there were many in alliance circles who openly declared that the farmers of the country would never be relieved from oppressive conditions until they entered politics and took care that the farming interests should be jiroperly represented in all legislative bodies.

This was the condition of mind among the farmers of Custer county in the spring of 1889, when the annual meeting of the county alliance met in the city of Broken Bow. There was much talk among the delegates, from the various local alliances, of independent political action, and after electing officers for the ensuing year, a resolution was introduced in favor of putting a full ticket in the field in Custer county. The introduction of this resolution gave rise to much discussion as to the proprietv of the action. The opinion cjuite generally prevailed that such action must come sooner or later, but at that time its expediency was doubtful, owing to the well known prejudice existing against the organization of a new party. But after a full discussion, the resolution was adopted and many who had opposed its adoption, then pledged their support to the ticket.

From that time on, the Farmers' Alliance of Custer county assumed and retained the form and substance of a distinctive and separate political party. The campaign which followed was indeed a unique campaign for Custer county. .\11 the men nominated on the alliance ticket were farmers, none of whom had ever given any considerable study to politics or political questions, and they were pitted against a ticket of veteran politicians, nominated, and supported by a party that had never known defeat since the organization of the county.

Although the alliance had developed into a political party, it still maintained its organization throughout the county, and the ticket nominated was called the "Alliance ticket." Meetings were held in all parts of the county, under the auspices of the local alliances, the principles of the order were discussed at schoolhouses and picnics, and the argimients of the oppo.sition, as to why the ticket shoyld be defeated, were answered. The new doctrines, promulgated by the alliance, proved to be very popular and as a result of the campaign the entire ticket was elected, except the candidate for representative, who was defeated by J. D. Haskell, by a small majority.

ties of the state and other western states where similar political action was taken, revealed to fanners some idea of the political power they could wield when united, and the general unrest in farming circles crystallized into a general demand for the formation of a new party, whose purpose should be to promote the welfare of all men and women who get their livelihood by labor. Accordingly, on the 14th day of May, 1891, a convention of delegates favorable to such a movement, met in Cincinnati, Ohio, and in its platform declared for the issuing of all money directly from the federal government to the people, without the intervention of national banks ; the government ownership of railroads and other public utilities ; and the preservation of the public domain for homes for the people. This convention christened the new party "The People's Independent Party," and arranged for another convention, to be held in St. Louis, on February 22, 1892. The delegates attending this convention from Custer county were O. M. Kem and C. W. Beal.

In accordance with arrangements made at this convention, a delegate convention was held in St. Louis on the date above named. Delegates were in attendance from twentythree labor organizations, including the Farmers' Alliance. The movement, at this juncture, had aroused much opposition, and there were those present who were there to prevent, if possible, any further organization or amalgamation of the elements represented. Criminations and recriminations were rather freely indulged in, and a number, who were proved to be present from sinister motives, were forcibly ejected from the hall. A platform was adopted, along the lines of the Cincinnati convention, and arrangements were made to hold a nominating convention in Omaha, Nebraska, on the 4th day of July, 1892.

Accordingly, the first national nominating convention of the People's Independent Party was held in Omaha on the above-named date. There was a full delegation present from Custer countv, and the famous "Cat Creek Glee

Club. " of Custer county, Nebraska, composed of J. T. Emerick, S. E. and J. H. Brown, and Harry Emerick, was in attendance and regaled the convention with a number of songs that aroused the delegates to a high pitch of enthusiasm. Among the songs were those entitled. "Coming in the Life Boat," "We'll Meet You Bye and Bye," and "Coming for to Carry Me Home." This convention adopted the far-famed Omaha platform, which began with : "We have met in the midst of a nation lirought to the verge of moral, material, and financial ruin," and, among other things, declared for reform in finance, land, and transportation. The convention nominated General James B. Weaver for president, and General Field for vice-president. In the campaign that followed, the new party carried six states and secured twenty-two votes in the electoral college. In Custer county, Nebraska, it elected S. M. Dorris, clerk of the district court: Ebenezer Miller, county attorney; D. W. Lanterman, register of deeds, and W. P. Higgins and C. W. Beal, representatives to the lower house of the legislature. O. M. Kem, who lived in Custer county, was elected to congress, and Silas A. Holcomb, also a resident of Custer county, was elected judge of the twelfth judicial district. Mr. Kem served three successive terms in congress and Mr. Holcomb, after serving the state two terms as governor, was elected judge of the supreme court, in which capacity he served six years. He was then elected chief justice of the supreme court, in which office he served six years.

For ten years, beginning in 1889. the Populist ]«rty carried Custer county, and throughout the country it had become a power so formidable that leading men in all parties came to understand fully that, unless something were done to curb its growth, it was destined to become one of the leading parties, if not the dominant party, of the country.

was arranged to hold its national convention after the two old parties had held theirs, the idea being that the conventions of both old parties would declare for the gold standard and bid for the vote of special interests. They were not mistaken as to what the Republican party would do, but the Democratic convention adopted a platform which included the principal demands of the Populist party, declaring among other things, for the abolition of the national banking system and the issuance and control of all money directly from the government. This was the beginning of the end of the Populist party in the nation, as it was evident that if the Populist party nominated a separate ticket it meant success for the Republican ticket. So, when the Populist convention was held in St. Louis, on July 22. 1896, after a vigorous canvass of the situation and many stormy scenes, the convention nominated William J. Bryan, the nominee of the Democratic party for president, but aimed to preserve its identity by refusing to nominate Arthur Sewall, the nominee of the Democrats for vice-president, and nominated Thomas E. Watson, of Georgia, for that position.

After the memorable campaign of 1896, the Populist party rapidly disintegrated. The party, however, maintained its identity in the county for many years thereafter, by preserving its separate organization and nominating and supporting tickets made up of Populists, but its numbers gradually decreased until 1915, when the party officially went out of business. Its last central committee chairman was Charles T. Orr and its last secretary was Charles H. Jeffords, who stayed by the ship to the last and with genuine regret saw her sink.

Though the People's Independent Party has passed into history, this generation willingly gives it the full credit which was withheld by the last generation. It was the first political party to declare for the postal-savings banks, the initiative and referendum, the election of United States senators by direct vote, government ownership of public utilities and the issuance of all money without the agency of banks of issue. The majority of these policies have

The Republican party was the first organized political party in Custer county. From the records of its first meeting it is evident that political lines were not tightly drawn, and members of other political organizations were freely admitted to its party caucuses and county conventions. The first record of the meeting of a Republican county convention is that of the year 1877. This convention was held at the temporary county seat of Custer county, on the 2Sth day of July, 1877. Henry Goodyear was elected chairman of this convention and Frank H. Young, secretary.

Custer county had previously been organized and, by an order of Governor Garber, county commissioners had been appointed. This first convention was called to nominate the temporary county officers to hold office until the November election, when the full county ticket would be elected. The minutes of that convention reads as follows :

"It was moved and carried that the candidates be nominated by acclamation. Louis Wambsgan was nominated for county judge. Frank H. Young was nominated for county clerk. Anton Abel was nominated for county commissioner. William Kilgore was nominated for county commissioner. James Gasmann was nominated for county commissioner. Joshua Wood was nominated for sheriff. S. C. S'tuckey and John Myers were put in nomination for county treasurer and, on voting, S. C. Stuckey was nominated. H. C. Morton was nominated for county surveyor. George Sanford was nominated for coroner. J. J. Douglass, L. D. George, and Charles R. Mathews were elected as the county central committee.

a full set of county officers were nominated. The nominees were duly elected, and the ticket thus elected became the first regiilarly elected set of county officers for Custer county. The most of the officers elected at the election in 1877 served the entire term of the election. Others resigned, and their places were filled by appointment. The minutes of tiiis second Republican county convention read as follows :

"Convention came to order by electing R. Tucker temporary chairman and F. H. Young" temporary secretary. James Gasmann put in nomination as commissioner for commissioner precinct No. 5. Anton Abel put in nomination as commissioner for commissioner precinct No. 2. William Kilgore put in nomination as commissioner for commissioner precinct No. 1. Wilson Hewitt, county judge; S. C. Stuckey. county treasurer ; R. Tucker, county clerk: Josh Wood, sheriff: Al. Wise, coroner; J. W. Benedict, surveyor ; Mr. Eubank, superintendent. Central committeemen, Tom Ritche. No. 5 ; Wilson Hewitt, No. 2 : James Paxton, No. 1 ; W. R. Matthews, No. .^ : William Comstock, No. 4.

The settlement of Custer county is nicely illustrated by tlie maimer in which attendance at the various early county conventions commenced to increase. In 1897 the third Republican count)- convention was held. It is noticeable that while the old names are retained in the minutes of the early conventions, new names begin to appear and the names of these men, as they appear from time to time in the early records of these conventions, are the men who are largely credited with early settlement and development of the county. The minutes of the convention for 1879 are not full or very complete. They read as follows:

"County commissioner, J. 1). Haskell, county commissioner. District No. 1. Count v judge, Millard Miles: county clerk, Frank 11. Young: county treasurer. James A. Pike:

On October 8, 1880. the Republican county convention was held at flyers' ranch. A complete record of the proceedings of that convention is disclosed by the minutes and returns as follows :

Republican county convention called to order by N. H. Hopkins, chairman of the county central committee. N. H. Hopkins elected liermanent chairman and Frank H. \'oung elected permanent secretary.

Recess of half an hour. After recess the committee on credentials made the following report. Report accepted and connnittee discharged. Moved ancl seconded that one delegate be allowed each precinct for each one hundred jrapulation or fraction thereof, taking as a basis of the state census of 1880 and adding one-third, so as to approximate the United States census. Carried. Whereupon the convention found that the precincts were entitled to the number of votes set opposite their numbers, to-wit :

Precinct No. 1, no delegates; precinct No. 2, four delegates ; precinct No. 3, two delegates ; precinct No. 4, none present ; precinct No. 5. three delegates : precinct No. 6, five delegates ; precinct No. 7, four delegates ; precinct No. 8, three delegates: precinct No. 9, three delegates: precinct No. 10, one delegate.

The next business in order being the nomination of count}' commissioners in District No. 1. the following named gentlemen were unanimously nominated : L. W. F. Cole, from precinct Xo. 6; C. F. Crawford, precinct No. 7, unanimously nominated county treasurer; C. R. Matthews, of precinct No. 5, unanimously nominated county judge.

From 1880 to 1884 there is no record obtainable of Republican county conventions in the county. On August 12, 1884, the Republican county convention was held at Broken Bow. A full history of the proceedings of this convention has been retained in the well known handwriting of Frank Young and reads as follows :

Republican county convention met pursuant to call of central committee and was called to order by C. H. Savidge, chairman central committee.

C. S. Elison elected temporary chairman anil Frank H. Young temporary secretary. Committee of three on credentials appointed by the chair, as follows: J. S. Kirkpatrick, J. W. Thomas, W. H. Russell. On motion a committee of three on order of business was ap- |iointed by the chair, as follows : F. D. Mills, George O. Waters, Ed King. On motion a committee of three on permanent organization was appointed, as follows: J. S. Squires, J. [Merchant, M. Schneringer.

Nominations for delegates to state convention: James Thomas, of Sargent; C. S. Elison, of Algernon, by G. O. Waters : T. P. Gandy. of Broken Bow, by S. A. Miller; J. L. H. Knight, of Myrtle; F. Zinmierer. of Custer, by Knight; F. H. Young, of Custer, by Zimmerer. Knight declined.

Moved by Kirkpatrick that delegates be nominated and elected one at a time. Moved to amend by Graves that four be elected at one ballot. Amendment last motion carried.

Judici.Xl Conventions Senatori.Vl Convention Delegates

Fourth ballot - Savidge, 12; Elison, 16; King", 5 ; Schneringer, 2 ; Gandy, 3. Total, 38. Rules suspended and M. Schneringer, C. S. Elison, and E. King elected by acclamation.

Representative Convention

Nominations: W. H. Russell, A. Crouch, C. H. Teffords. T. D. Ream (declined), George Sherman, W." D. Lefter, J. L. H. Knight, D. M. Amsberry, S. A. Miller, A. W. Squires, J. S. Benjamin.

The convention of August 24, 1884. was called for the purpose of electing delegates to the various conventions of the party for that year. No county candidates were nominated at this convention. The committee on credentials reported as follows :

The committee on credentials respectfully reports the following named gentlemen entitled to seats in this convention : Algernon : D. M. Amsberry. C. S. Elison, and J. M. Bartlett, precinct No. 3. Kilfoil : William Walsh, \\'. BidwcU. and Charles Foote. Township No. 3. Delight : Ira Graves. M. Schneringer. Township No. 2. Sargent : J. W. Thomas. C. R. Jewett. and George Sherman. Township No. 3. Douglas : George O. Waters, A. B. Crouch, and H. M. Henderson. Grove. No. 3. Wood River: W. H. Henderson. H. Blakeslee (not signed). Township No. 2. Lillian: H. H. Russell and \'. James Dares. Township No. 2. Custer: F. Zimmerer, J. W. Benedict, and Frank H. Young. Township No. 3. M. F. Young, proxy for J. W. Benedict. Myrtle : J. L. H. Knight. George E. Richtmcyer, and D. C. Goodrich. Numbers S. 3. Broken Bow : A. Miller. J. S. Kirkpatrick. O. M-. Kern, and Ed King. Township No. 4. Westerville : P. D. Mills, F. C. M. Knox. J. J. Brown. H. D. Lefter. and H. S. Waterbury. Precinct No. 5. New Helena : I. Merchant and J. H. Batherick. Township No. 2. West Union : \\'. Predmore, J. S. Squires, and Thomas Deane. Precinct No. 3.

.\t that time apparently Custer county liad no candidate for any office outside of the boundaries of the county. Custer county was embraced in the legislative district along with the unorganized territory to the west and other counties along the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, but the delegates to this convention, having in mind the needs of the county from a legislative standpoint, adopted the following resolution : "Resolved, That the representative delegation be instructed to use

Moved that the first ballot be informal. Carried. On motion. R. R. Chess. \\'. W. Thornton. William Osborne, were appointed tellers. Moved that the chairman of each delegation cast the vote of his precinct. Lost.

Nominations for superintendent of public instruction ( informal ballot ) - W. W. Thornton. 5; W. C. Elliott. 4; A. R. Samson. 8; D. M. Amsbern-. 25. Total. 42. New Helena, I. J. Dings: West I'nion. J. L. Cobb.

Nathan English was elected temporary chairman and Frank H. Young temporary -secretary. On motion, E. King and \\'. H.' Russell were appointed committee on credentials. D. C. Goodrich, W. H. Russell, and M. H. Deems were appointed a committee on order of business. Edgar \'arnev, W. F. Slingsby, R. R. Chess, and W. D. Meeker were appointed committee on permanent organization. On motion adjourned till one o'clock p. M.

Convention called to order by chairman. Committee on credentials made their report which was adopted. Committee on order of business made their report, which was read and accepted. Committee on permanent organization recommended that temporary organization be made permanent. Adopted.

- J. H. Murray. 13; W. D. Sleeker. 24: Crawford, 1 ; Wamsley, 1 ; Goodrich, 3. Total 42. Moved that W. D. Meeker be nominated liy acclamation. Carried. Moved that this convention endorse the present county judge, J. S. Benjamin.

Moved that townships that were not represented in the previous convention now present the names of their central committeemen. Carried. A. Booton nominated central committeeman from Arnold township ; George Ricker, 17; John \'an Horn, from Cliff. 18.

whose names have become household words in the development of the county. To illustrate, John S. Kirkpatrick, and Frank H. Young, secretary of the convention. The committee on credentials was composed of S. L. Cannon. Mark Schreninger. J. D. Ream. F. Zimmerer. and S. B. Harris. The committee on permanent organization was composed of John Myers. Arthur Kilgore, Ed. King, Sam High, and John Hall. The committee on resolutions was composed of J. D. Ream, \\\ W. Thornton, John Hall, L. B. Brisbane, and J. D. Trover.

Custer county has always been noted for its convention oratory, but at this convention a motion was carried limiting a iiominating speech to five minutes and a speech of a candidate to ten minutes. With this brake on the talking power of the candidates, the convention proceeded to nominate the ticket.

From the beginning of party organizations in Custer county down to the year 1889, the nomination of a Republican convention was equivalent to election of the nominee. No person other than the nominee of a Republican convention was elected to any county office during this period. The Democrats maintained an organization and some glorious campaign fights were conducted in the county, in an effort to elect certain Democrats, but when the vote was counted their effort was always found to be futile. The resolutions adopted from time to time by the early Republican conventions expressed the thought of the party in its representative capacity. Some of these resolutions are entitled to a place in history. The following resolution was adopted by the convention of 1884:

W'hereas. The circumstances under which the Republican party was organized, demanded that the party be one of progression, and the party owes its successes to its willingness to grapple with the issues of the day :

Therefore. Be it Resolved. That we, as representatives of that party in convention assembled, do demand that the party in the county shall faithfully engage in every question of importance wherein the rights of the manv are made subservient to the will of the few.

party took a stand against the sale of intoxicating liquors. The following resolution was adopted in 1884, apparently after a bitter fight in the convention and after the resolution, as it had been originally written, was amended to read as follows:

Whereas, the license of the sale of intoxicants in any form, especially as patent medicine, is contrary to morality and the best interests of our county :

Be it Resolved, That the Republican ]jartv of Custer county is morally, socially and i)olitically opposed to the liquor traffic, will not give countenance to the sale of intoxicating beverages in the county and will support only temperance men for state, county, and township officers.

The anti-monopoly ])rocIivities of the Republican party of the county early cropped out in its conventions. Up to and including the convention of 1885, no railroad had crossed the county line and the nearest trading point where railroad facilities could be had was along the line of the Union Pacific to the south, so the convention of 1885 adopted the following resolution concerning railroad regulations:

"Resolved. That the railroad commission of our state is a step in the right direction but. as at present empowered and constituted, is wholly inadequate to meet the required needs and demands of the ])eople."

This anti-monopoly sentiment is expressed also in a resolution which was oft'ered and adopted in the convention of 1885 and which reads as follows :

"Resolved. That the course of C. H. \ an Wyck in the national senate has been fearless and honorable in the interest of the whole l^eoiile, regardless of the abuses of the ijartisans, politicians, and nionied cor])orations, and meets with our hearty approval. (J. D. Ri:am. Chairman )."

At the time of the adoption of this resolution, C. II. \'an\Vyck was United States senator from Nebraska. He was regarded as a thorough anti-monopolist, and the resolution offered by Mr. Ream above set out is an indorsement of the very belligerent career of Senator VanWyck in the United States senate. The resolution was oft'ered and adojited by a rising vote.

During the year 1888 and sjiring of 1889 a Farmers' Alliance organization was completed throughout the county. In 1889 the Farmers' Alliance entered politics. In a county convention of their own. a full county ticket was nominated from their own membership. The Democratic party leaders, having Ijeen unsuccessful in their attempt to elect any regular nominee of a Democratic county convention, cast in their lot with the nominees of the Farmers' .Alliance and at the November election in 1889 the entire Re])ublican county ticket was defeated and the Farmers' Alliance candidates, by the aid of the Democratic party organization, were all elected. For a period of ten years, from 1889, the Republican organization was submerged, and no nominee of a Rel)ublican convention had any more chance of an election than a Democrat had had prior to that year. In time the Alliance party organization was taken over and its management and control passed to the Democratic leaders of the county. The first break that the Republicans were able to make in this water-tight organization came in the year 1897. when, by a split in the party organization of the remnants of the old Farmers' .Alliance movement, known at that time as the Populist party, the Republicans succeeded in electing J. A. .Arninur county judge.

The dismemberment of the Populist ])arty consisted of its alliance with the Democratic party, gradually leading to many of its members returning to Republicans, and in the vear 1905. in a straight party fight between the Republican candidates and the Democratic candidates, the Republicans elected their entire county ticket. They continued to elect the nominees of the Republican party until the year 1909, when a set of comity officials partlv Republican and partly Democratic was elected, and from that day to this there has been a mixed ticket elected at each election.

The Ri-Puiilic.Vxs Split

During the cami)aign of 1912, when the national Republican convention split, and the Progressives nominated a second Republican ticket, the Progressive wing of the party waged a strenuous local campaign in the county for the national Progressive ticket. As a result of this campaign, two years later, the f'rogressives organized for the state and county campaign, and put a Progressive county ticket into the field. Because of the Republican vote being divided, the county offices, with two exceptions, were captured by the Democrats.

Since the establishment of the so-called Australian ballot system, the partisan spirit has to a great extent, subsided, and to-day it is exceedingly hard to maintain a political organization, whether Republican or Democratic.

The Democratic Party

To M. C. Warrington who has been one of the wheelhorses of the Democratic party since its inception in Custer county, belongs the credit for the compilation of the following data concerning Democratic activities :

"In giving a history of the activities of the Democratic party in Custer county much data are necessarily omitted, for the reason that no authentic account of many accomplishments of that organization is available.

"During a period of the first several years following the organization of Custer county, party affiliation was not taken seriously into consideration when it came to selecting officials, availability being considered of greater importance than politics. However, a number of the early-day officials of the county were Democrats.

"There seems to have been no Democratic organization within the county at the time of the presidential campaign in 1880. However, there were some Democratic voters in the county at that time. It is related by Robert Farley, one of the pioneer Democratic settlers in the county, that he made on horseback a trip of about twenty miles to the nearest voting place to cast his ballot that year. This being in the days before the Australian voting system had been adopted and when the ballots were furnished by part}' leaders rather than by the county, as now, Mr. Farley could find no Democratic tickets, and was informed by the election officers that there were none at the polls. Determined to cast his vote for

General Hancock for president, Air. Farley tore a Democratic ticket out of a newspaper, voted that and returned home, conscious of having performed a sacred duty of citizenship.

"A full county ticket was placed in the field in 1884 and met with overwhelming defeat at the polls. That apparently was the first real organization effected by the Democrats in Custer county. During the years from 1880 for a period of ten years there was a heavy influx of settlers to Custer county, being drawn here first by the free-homestead lands and later by the advent of the railroad and the springing up of a number of new towns.

"The Democrats made a very aggressive effort to win the county election in 1887. An enthusiastic county convention was held in Broken Bow in September of that year, every preceinct being represented, and a ticket, made up of the then well known Custer county citizens, was placed in the field as follows : County treasurer, James Holland ; county clerk, J. R. Forsythe ; sheriff, Michael Conley ; clerk district court, Harry E. O'Neill: county judge, E. P. Campbell ; county superintendent, F. W. Taylor ; coroner. Dr. J. W. Saunders.

"The election of that year, despite the fact that the Democrats made a strenuous eiifort for success, was won by the Republicans, some of the candidates winning by majorities around a thousand. This crushing defeat was disheartening to the Democrats and was, in a measure, largely responsible for paving the way for the success of the Farmers' Alliance ticket in 1889, when the Republicans in turn were wiped off the political map by large majorities. Tliat vear the Democratic organization, manipulated largely bv those who saw a chance to work through the farmers' organization and bring defeat to the Republicans, ably assisted and urged by a number of Democrats anxious for political perferment and the spoils of office, withdrew the Democratic ticket from the field and joined their political fortunes with tlie farmers. The Farmers' Alliance organization, after their national convention in Omaha in 1890. became the People's Independent party, popularly and generally known as the 'Pops,' and they held almost full and complete sway in political affairs in Custer county after their victory in 1889 for twelve years, and partially for a longer period, when the party began to disintegrate and gradually merge with the Democrats.

"Covering the period when the Populists were at the zenith of their power, the Democratic organization was not abandoned, but was held together by a few of the old guard, ever faithful to the trust of party fidelity and loyalty. County conventions were regularly held, delegates to state and district conventions selected, and county tickets nominated, made up generally of men of affairs and prominence who neither sought nor expected political honors. This organization, so honorably and loyally maintained, extended a welcome hand to those who had affiliated with the Populist party when that political bubble burst, and the party of the fathers was soon again to come into popular favor with Custer county voters.

"It would be unfair not to mention in this article some of the stalwart men who were numbered among the Democrats of Custer county during these early days, and who contributed of their time and means to perpetuate the party organization at a time and under circumstances which were, to say the least, discouraging. With everything in a political way to lose and nothing to gain ; urged on, only by motives of good citizenship and the righteousness of the principles they stood for, these men unfalteringly met the issues squarely. In connection with this it is to be taken into consideration the fact that the Populist party not only carried everything in Custer county but gaineil strength enough in Nebraska to elect stale and judicial officers, members of congress, and a United States senator, and besides becoming an important political factor in the nation as well. In the tlays of the Populists' greatest activities, Custer county men were classed among the leaders of the party in both state and nation, and many men who were former Democrats were high in its councils and were elected to positions of trust and honor. When the Populist organization ceased to be a factor in political affairs, many of these men returned to their old party afifiliation with the Democrats. There has been no feel--.g of resentment or any desire on the part of the party leaders to question the motives of any man who worked with the Populists in those days, nor not to fully appreciate the energy and activity of other men who later became residents of the county and cast their fortune with the Democrats.

"Among the men who were always to be depended upon to lend a hand to the cause of Democracy in those politically 'dry' years and trying times were W. B. Eastham, S. B. Thompson, A. J. Robertson, Dr. C. L. Mullins, C. H. HolcoiTib, C. T. Tierney, E. M. Thompson, the late J. J. Wilson, and J. G. Leonard, all of Broken Bow ; B. J. Tierney, John Scott, C. Mackey. A. H. Turpin, of .\nsley ; W. C. Rusmisell, A. O'Brien, G. F. Frasier. W. N. Murley. M. C. Warrington, of Mason City; John Moran, the late J. H. Decker, Virgil Allen, Harry E. O'Neill, of Callaway : Thomas and Charles Finlen. Joe. Berry, Diah Woodruff', Judge E. J. Boblits, Dan I'.uckley, J. T. Bridges, Charles AI. Bowers, of the South Loup country: Judge Charles E. Mathews, Harve Andrews, Charley Smith, of .\nselnio : Robert J. Kelly, Frank Kelly, M. S. Eddy, of Merna.

"The Democratic press of Custer county has had a great many ups-and-downs. The first real organ of Democracy launched on the troubled sea of journalism in the county was the Statesman, a paper established in Broken Bow early in the year 1886, by Martin & Dellinger. These same meii established the Mason City Transcript in June of the same year, and a few months later the Art; us at .Anselmo. A fight over land-office patronage caused a second Democratic paper to be started in Broken Bow, by George Trefren and Sam Meseraul in 1886, but it did not long survive. Frank W. Conley published the Democratic Hcad- !i,^lit at Callaway for some years. Sam Meseraul also published a small, two-page sheet for a few months at Nonpareil ]X)stoffice, near where Merna is now located. There was also published a Democratic paper at -\nsley in the early days of that town. In 1914 C. E. Shei ]inrchased the Cnstcr Conjily Republican of

D. M. Amsberry and turned it into a Democratic paper. The venture did not prove a business success and ]\Ir. Shea sold the paper tn the present owner, who turned it back into a Republican journal.

"Of the different Democratic papers established in Custer county but one weathered the storms of adversity. The Mason City Transcript, owned, published, and edited by AI. C. Warring'ton for more than a quarter of a ceiitury, was always uncompromisingly Democratic and for many years was the only paper in the county to espouse the cause of Democracy. The Transcript was sold to the present owner, J. F. Peebles, in 1917, and is still tru:? to the faith.

"During the last ten years political honors in Custer county have been pretty evenly di- \'ided, but rather more favorable to the Democrats. All the county officers at this time, with two exceptions, are Democrats. It can be said truthfully that in the long list of officers who have been elected by the Democrats in Custer county they have been men of probity and honor, ever mindful of the trust imposed in them by the voters of the party. The Democrats are justly proud of this record, and look upon the future with complacent hope for further successes."

Very Prominent Politically

Not only the size and population of the county, but also the progressive spirit and the ability of its citizens, have helped to make the county prominent, and one to be reckoned with in all matters at the state capital. Custer enrolls the names of many men who have been prominent in state circles. In 1891 Omer M. Kem was elected to congress, and he served for two terms, or until 1895. So far Kem is the only congressman the county has produced. It has the honor, however, of having produced several candidates. One candidate, a distinguished citizen of Merna, W. J. Taylor, contested the position of Hon. AI. P. Kinkaid, present congressman from the Sixth congressional district in two successive elections.

Bow, was appointed commissioner of publi; lands and buildings, in which capacity he served for four years. Beginning with Mr. Humphrey's term of office on the 1st day of January, 1891, it can be said that since that date there has not been a day in which some Custer county man was not filling a prominent state office.

In 1895 Hon. S. A. Holcomb, of Broken Bow, was elected governor, and he served as chief e.xe:utive of the state until 1899. In l'X)0 E. P. Savage, of Sargent, was elected lieutenant governor, and by the resignation of Governor Charles H. Dietrich, who was elected to the United States senate, Air. Savage succeeded to the executive chair in April, 1901 ; he served as governor until the end of the term in 1903. This makes two Custer county men who have filled the gubernatorial chair at Lincoln.

In November of 1900 ex-Governor S. A. Holcomb was elected judge of the supreme court, and he served in that capacity with honor to himself and credit to the county until 1906.

In 1909 J. R. Dean was appointed to the supreme bench, to fill a vacancy. In 1916 the judge was elected to the supreme bench for a six-year term, and he is now serving in the second year of the term.

For the last four years W. B. Eastman has been the state insurance commissioner, which position took him and his family from Broken Bow to Lincoln. Mr. Eastman is still in office and is serving under a second administration.

secretary of the state banking board in 1917. to fill the vacancy made by the death of the late Edward Royce, and he is still in office. In the primaries of August 20, 1918, Hon.

D. ^I. Amsberry. for many years receiver of United States land offi:e at Broken Bow, was nominated on the Republican ticket for secretary of state.

The Primaries Of 1918

During the fall of 1918, political activities were centered in the two parties. Both the Democratic and Republican parties were active. On August 20th the primaries were held and the Democrats placed the following nominees on their county ticket: State senator, W. J. Taylor ; representative, Emerson R. Purcell ; representative, W. S. Wells ; county clerk, R.

The Republicans made an extra effort to secure representative men as nominees on their ticket and as a result of their primaries the following men were nominated as candidates on the Republican ticket : State senator, I. A. Reneau ; representative, W. J. Rice ; representative, Florian Jacobs ; county clerk, Harry Knapp ; register of deeds. George E. Porter; county treasurer, W. L. McCandless ; sheriff', V. C. Talbot; county attorney. H. L. Wilson; county surveyor, .\. J- \ a.n Antwerp ; District No. 1, Joseph Leui ; District No. 3, Ralph Johnson; District No. 5. Harrison Pease: District No. 6, Ira E. Blakeslee.

The Election Of 1918

time of election approached, considerable excitement prevailed. Especially was this noticeable because it had been prophesied that it would be impossible to arouse any political enthusiasm.

C. S. Tooley was elected chairman of the Democratic county committee and Horace F. Kennedy chairman of the Republican county committee. Both were excellent men and organized their various committeemen in a very creditable manner. The fortunes of the day favored the Republicans. The entire state ticket as nominated by the Republicans was elected, and with this vote nearly all of the Republican candidates for county office were elected. The following is the official roster as it will stand in Custer county after January 1, 1919: State senator. J. W. Taylor, Democrat ; representative, Emerson R. Purcell, Democrat ; representative, Florian Jacobs, Republican ; sheriff, \*. C. Talbot. Republican ; county clerk, Harry Knapp, Republican ; register of deeds. George Porter. Republican ; county treasurer, William L. McCandless, Republican : county surveyor, A. J. ^'an Antwerp, Republican ; county attorney, \\'illiam C. Schaper. Democrat.

On the non-partisan ticket Judge N. Dwight Ford was elected without opposition, to succeed himself. T. C. Grimes, the present incumbent was re-elected superintendent of public instruction for the fourth term, defeating, by a small margin, his opponent, W. A. Rosene. of Callaway.

Custer county is represented on the state ticket by D. M. Amsberry, of Broken Bow, who was elected secretary of state and who will continue the Custer county representation in the state house for the next two years. As his deputy he has a]ipointed W. L. Gaston, of Broken Bow, and this makes at least two representatives from this county in the state capital during the term next ensuing.