CHAPTER VIII.

HOW NEBRASKA WAS REDEEMED.

In the spring of 1894 the silver sentiment in Nebraska had undergone a wonderful increase and the Democrats in all parts of the State became restless. The party in Nebraska was dominated by inferior men who had obtained their power simply because they were the only ones who were willing to do the bidding of the administration, without regard to what the orders might be. The dominant element in control of the State Committee had the aid and co-operation of the greater number of the Federal officials. It was evident too that they had plenty of money at their command, and it is certain that they had all the railroad passes that were necessary for the convenience of their fellows. On the other hand, the silver men were without money, but they were not without courage and determination. The administration men felt confident of their ability to hold power in Nebraska, unquestioned for time to come, and certainly they had good reason for this confidence.

But one evening in the month of May 1894, there assembled in a private room in the Paxton Hotel, in Omaha, a number of Silver Democrats

12

(195)

of Nebraska.

It is just and proper that the names of these gentlemen should go into history, for they laid the foundation for one of the greatest triumphs ever accomplished in the record of a State. Their labor was entirely disinterested, for there was not one man among the number who was a candidate for public office either present or prospective. They were all property holders and men of wide business experience, and they had learned at great personal expense to appreciate the evils of the single gold standard. The names of these men are as follows: Judge Joseph E. Ong of Geneva, Nebraska; J. B. Kitchen of of Omaha, Nebraska; C. J. Smythe of Omaha ; Nebraska; J. H. Broady of Lincoln, Nebraska, William H. Thomsen of Grand Island, Nebraska; James C. Dahlman of Chadron, Nebraska; State Senator John Thompson of Freemont, Nebraska; G. A. Luikhart of Norfolk, Nebraska; John C. Vanhousen of Schuyler, Nebraska; W. H. Kelligar of Auburn, Nebraska; Frank J. Morgan of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Edwin Falloon, of Falls City, Nebraska, and C. D. Casper of David City, Nebraska.

These gentlemen determined to call a State conference of the Free Silver Democrats of Nebraska and they fixed June 21 as the date on which that conference should be held. They determined to have the call for this conference signed by 250 representative Democrats from all parts of

the State, and they determined that the matter should be an entire secret until all these signatures had been obtained and the call had been formally issued. It will be readily understood that it required a great deal of skillful effort to keep such an interesting plan a secret, particularly when such a large number of persons were required to sign the call. But the plan was well carried out and like a lightning flash from a clear sky the newspapers of the State on May 24, 1894, contained, under glaring head lines, this formal call:

"CALL TO FREE SILVER DEMOCRATS.

"Believing that the question of the restoration of the double standard of gold and silver as money of ultimate redemption and standard of values is now one of the foremost issues in the minds of the voters of Nebraska, and that the change from the double to the single standard is, has been, and will continue to be, until reversed, a grievous wrong to the people of the United States and particularly to the people of Nebraska; and believing that nine-tenths of the Democrats of Nebraska so feel, and that they have not always been fairly represented on the subject by the Democratic conventions of Nebraska; and believing that the time has come when the welfare of the party in this State imperatively demands a plain,

unequivocal statement of the party on that subject;

"Therefore, we, the undersigned Democrats of Nebraska, for the purpose of propagating the double standard doctrine in the Democratic party and enabling the masses of the Democratic party in this State to obtain the fairest expression of their views on that subject in the conventions of the future, do hereby call a State conference of Free Silver Democrats, to be held at Omaha, commencing at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday, June 21, 1894, at which conference will be organized a Nebraska Democratic Free Coinage League.""

This call was signed by 250 representative Democrats. On June 21 this great conference was called to order. One thousand delegates were in attendance. The Nebraska Bimetallic League was organized and the following resolutions were adopted:

"We send greeting to our fellow-Democrats of Nebraska and ask their earnest co-operation and aid in electing delegates from every county in the State to the Democratic State Convention of 1894, pledged to vote for the insertion in the Democratic State platform of the following plank :

"We favor the immediate restoration of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the present ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the aid and consent of any other nation on earth.'