USA > Nebraska > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 25
USA > Nebraska > Clay County > History of Hamilton and Clay counties, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 25
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GOVERNOR MOREHEAD'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION. 1915. This session of the legislature was presided over in the senate by Lieut .- Gov. James Pearson, and Philip Kohl was president pro tem., and E. A. Walrath, secretary, and in the house, George Jackson was speaker and G. W. Potts, chief clerk. The important measures enacted by this session were jury commissioner law for Douglas County ; some irri- gation distriet measures ; new charter provisions for Omaha, including the extension of the commission plan of government to that city : consolidated school district law ; and laws for consolidation pertaining to Omaha and her various suburbs being taken into Greater Omaha ; The Torrens Land Registration Law : State Budget Law. This remained a very quiet year politically as there was no off-year election even for the minor set of offices.
1916. This year was enlivened by the Mexican troubles reaching a climax that necessitated calling the Nebraska Militia regiments together, Nebraska's Fourth and Fifth Infantry regiments of National Guard troops were called into service on June 18, 1916, and taken to the Mexican border in July. They were kept there for many months patrolling the border and not mustered out until ยท the next February, when it was pretty certain they would be called right back into service very soon. The national campaign lent spirit to the political situation this year. In September, President Woodrow Wilson was the guest of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben and a great throng gave him a most wonderful ovation. The republi- can nominee, Charles E. Hughes spoke in the state. The state tickets were headed by Judge A. I. Sutton of Omaha, who won the republican nomination from a field of five candidates, and the democratic nominee was a man, absolutely new in state political circles, Keith Neville, of North Platte, who had been dragged from
186
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
political obscurity to defeat Charles W. Bryan at the polls. Neville succeeded in defeating Sutton, and carrying the democratic state tieket, as Wilson secured a majority of practically forty thousand in this state. Gilbert M. Hitchcock was re-elected United States Senator over John L. Kennedy. The perdominating issne in the state campaign in 1916 was the prohibitory amendment. This was adopted by a majority of 29,442. It was generally represented throughout this cam- paign that the adoption of this amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in this state, would not result in such strict laws as to interfere with the keeping of liquors in the home for personal and family usage. But when the Legislature of 1917 came to pass enactments carrying this amend- ment into effect, the "wets" at first proposed to make the new laws bone dry, so everyone would sicken of prohibition. Then along came the national enactment of the Reed Act prohibiting the shipment of liquor into states that were "dry." so the Legislature took a sudden turnabout and passed a law, not only "bone dry" but with provisions regarding the possession of liquor any place except in one's home, making the Nebraska statute as far reaching as any in the nation. The vote on this amendment in 1916, was as follows:
County
For
Against
County
For
Against
Adams
2,555
2,033
Fillmore
1,280
1,456
Antelope
2.163
1,101
Franklin
1,282
918
Arthur
221
106
Frontier
1,160
573
Banner
193
29
Furnas
1.725
694
Blaine
224
120
Gage
3,549
2,576
Boone
2,022
1,119
Garden
523
253
Box Butte
856
503
Garfield
486
208
Boyd
1,041
559
Gosper
560
442
Brown
804
431
Grant
208
128
Buffalo
2.751
1,889
Greeley
1,090
:13
Burt
1,808
858
Hall
2,364
2.483
Butler
1.348
1,909
Hamilton
1,906
1.155
Class
2,591
1,865
Harlan
1,290
673
('edar
1,212
1.531
Hayes
354
190
Chase
55
263
Hitcheoek
721
321
Cherry
1,520
961
Holt
1,988
1,437
Cheyenne
683
606
Hooker
184
107
Clay .
2.171
1,314
Howard
1,226
1,108
Colfax
922
1.526
Jefferson
2,172
1,513
Cuming
991
1,876
Johnson
1,218
1,075
C'uster
3,586
1,672
Kearney
1,291
715
Dakota
208
796
Keith
336
344
Dawes
1,041
524
Keya Paha
481
198
Dawson
1,99
1.120
Kimball
378
144
Denel
318
153
Knox
2.351
1,632
Dixon
1,50%
86t
Lancaster
10,220
5,518
Dodge
2,504
2.173
Lineoh
2,194
1,183
Douglas
14,888
25,389
Logan
306
114
Dundy
639
187
Loup
235
121
182
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
County
For
Against
County
For
Against
Mc Pherson
215
70
Seward
1.148
1,633
Madison
2.491
1,991
Sheridan
1,000
494
Merrick
1,511
893
Sherman
1,107
791
Morrill
328
Sioux
615
257
Nance
1,231
:39
Stanton
685
81
Nemaha
1.698
1,146
Thayer
1,593
1,577
Nuckolls
1,978
1.119
Thomas
273
94
Otoe
2.130
2,211
Thurston
1,135
632
Pawnee
1,368
921
Valley
1,330
812
Perkins
352
165
Washington
1.280
1,354
Phelps
1,755
529
Wayne
1,073
998
Pierce
902
1,227
Webster
1,562
911
Platte
1.661
2,467
Wheeler
289
156
Polk
1.667
859
York
2,614
1,417
Red Willow
1,492
688
Richardson
2,675
1,881
Total
146,574
117,132
Rock
576
246
Saline
1,670
2,273
Plurality
29.442
Sarpy
975
1,119
Saunders
2,388
2.115
Scott's Bluff
1.810
572
Scattering-D., 1.
GOVERNOR NEVILLE'S ADMINISTRATION. 1917. The Legislature met in January, thirty-seventh session. John Mattes was president pro tem. of senate, with Lient .- Gov. Edgar Howard presiding and E. A. Walrath, secretary. In the house, Speaker George Jackson and Chief Clerk Geo. W. Potts again officiated. Aside from the strict prohibitory enactments, the other important measures formulated by this session were: very sweeping amendments to the Employers' Liability Act of the session of 1913, known commonly as Workmen's Compensation Law : State Hail Insurance Act; Regulation of Employment Agencies; C'ity Manager Act.
Semi-Centennial Statehood Celebration. An interesting event in 1917 was the Semi- Centennial Celebration, when the fiftieth anniversary of the admission of Nebraska to statehood, in 1867, was commemorated. President John L. Webster of the State Historical Society was the guiding spirit of this enterprise. Gurdon W. Wattles, of Omaha, was chairman of a committee of one hundred prominent and active citizens throughout the state who assisted in making this celebration a sue-
cess. The first step in the celebration was the pageant at the Ak-Sar-Ben at Omaha, in the fall of 1916, when President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson reviewed the wonderful portrayal of all stages of Nebraska's life. The great celebration held at Lincoln in June, 1917, at which the State University gave a historical pageant, was visited by Theodore Roosevelt, as guest of honor. Local committees. consisting of the county superintendent, mayor, president of women's elub and president of commercial clubs for each community worked arduously, and in many cities in the state local celebrations were held. Hon. John D. Hlaskell of Wakefield, Nebraska, offered in 1916 a prize of $100 for the best poem suitable for a Nebraska state song. The prize for the words, or poem, went to Rev. W. H. Buss of Fremont, and for the best musical arrangement the $100 prize was secured
188
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
by John Prindle Scott of New York City. The Hymn to Nebraska appears at the beginning of this state historical review. The program of the memorable occasion was as follows:
HALF-CENTURY A STATE
Detailed Program of the Semi-Centennial Celebration. Lincoln, June 12th, 13th and 14th
Tuesday, June 12th
8:00 a. m. Opening of Historical Society Museum.
10:00 a. m. Daylight Fireworks.
10:30 a. m. Band Concerts.
2:00 p. m. Auto Races at State Fair Grounds and Band Concerts.
2:00 p. m. University Alumni Reunion.
General Business Meeting. Annual Report, Chancellor Avery, Alumni Address by Prof. F. R. Philbrick.
2:30 p. m. Pioneers Reunions at Auditorium. Hon. S. C. Bassett, Gibbon, presiding. Semi-Centennial Historical Address by Hon. John L. Webster of Omaha. Historical Round Table by Pioneers.
8:00 p. m. Pageant of Nebraska at State Fair Coliseum.
10:00 p. m. Fireworks at State Fair Grounds.
Wednesday, June 13th
8:00 a. m. Opening Historical Museum.
10:00 a. m. Daylight Fireworks.
10:00 a. m. University Commencement Parade.
10:30 a. m.
Commencement Address by Dean Roscoe Pound of Harvard.
2:30 p. m.
Semi-Centennial Exercises, Capitol Grounds, Semi-Centennial Ad- dress by Gov. Keith Neville, Response by Governors Capper of Kansas, Harding of Iowa, Burnquist of Minnesota, Houx of Wyoming. Gunter of Colorado and others. Open Air Reception to Governors.
6:30 p. m. Nebraska Editors' Semi-Centennial Banquet at Commercial Club.
8:00 p. m. Reunion of Legislature and State Officers, Capitol.
8:00 p. m. Pageant of Nebraska at State Fair Grounds, Coliseum.
10:00 p. m. Fireworks at State Fair Grounds.
Thursday, June 14th
8:00 a. m. Opening Historical Museum.
8:10 a. m. Arrival Colonel Roosevelt, Burlington Station.
10:00 a. m. Band Concerts.
10:00 a. m. Elk> Flag Ceremony.
189
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
10:30 a. m. Unveiling portraits of J. Sterling Morton, Charles Bessey, Robert W. Fornas, Isaac Pollard, and R. W. Daniels in Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Fame.
2:00 p. m. Great Patriotic Parade Reviewed by Colonel Roosevelt.
3:30 p. m. Address by Theodore Roosevelt on "Americanism" followed by in- formal reception.
5:30 p. m. Band concerts and daylight fireworks.
8:00 p. m. Pageant of Nebraska at State Fair Grounds Coliseum, Colonel Roosevelt the guest of the evening.
Nebraska in the World War. A greater part of Governor Neville's adminis- tration was devoted to tasks that arose from the part Nebraska was called upon to play in the Great World War. This terrible conflict had been raging since 1914. when on August 1st, the world embroiled itself into a confliet that eventually swal- lowed almost the entire roster of nations, directly or indirectly, and more than two dozen were in actual fighting at a time. But upon April 2, 1917, when the President's message to congress called for a declaration of war, which was forth- coming on April 6th, Nebraska got immediately into the task. Her National Guard regiments were called back into federal service in July, 1917. The governor of the state fostered the enlistment and organization of a third regiment, the Seventh Nebraska, and tendered his resignation, to take effect upon his being mustered in as colonel of the new regiment. The Fourth Nebraska went forth under command of Col. W. E. Baehr, the Fifth under the command of Col. H. J. Paul, and the Sixth with Phillip E. Hall, formerly adjutant general of the state, as colonel. These regiments went to the training camps; were put into the mill with other national guard regiments; and through the policy pursued by the War Department toward the National Guard, torn apart, their identity largely destroyed, their officers scattered, and some of them left at Camp Deming. New Mexico, practically the entire time. The Seventh never got mustered in, and Gov- ernor Neville remained at his executive post.
Nebraska is credited with having had more soldiers and sailors in the service of the country, in proportion to her population, than any other state. Of a total increment of armed forces of 4,034,743 for the entire nation, Nebraska furnished 49,614. Of these 29,807, or 60.08 per cent represented inductions under the regis- trations into the national army ; 14,416, or 29.06 per cent, were enlistments in the army ; 4,944. or 9.96 per cent, in the navy, and 447, or .90 per cent in the marine corps. Nebraska's per cent of national army, or "drafted" inerement was 60.08 per cent against an average for all states, of 66.10 per cent, and the percentage of enlist- ments in other branches, for the entire nation, of 33.90 was eclipsed by Nebraska with a percentage of 39.92. Not only in numbers is Nebraska credited with an unusual record, but the report of the provost-marshal general shows that Nebraska accomplished the work of securing the men for military service at a cost of $4.90 per man, against the national average of $7.90 per man. In physical rejections. this state stayed below the national average of 8.1 per cent with a showing of 6 per cent.
Nebraska can further show a record of more money subscribed per capita for Liberty Bonds and War Savings Stamps, and other quotas than any other state. The following table shows the results of Nebraska's war drives :
190
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
Over Sub-
Quota
Subscribed
scribed
First Liberty Loan ..
$ 18,000,000
$ 18,206,750
1%
Second Liberty Loan.
29,640,000
33,317,200
8%
Third Liberty Loan.
31,942,800
50,684,850
58%
Fourth Liberty Loan. . .
68,350,000
21,000,000
1%
War Savings Stamps
25,940,120
32.000,000
23%
United War Work.
2,000,000
2,600,000
30%
Y. M. C. A.
250,000
560,302
124%
First Red Cross Fund ...
200,000
1,020,812
45%
Second Red Cross Fund ..
800,000
2,300,000
188%
Knights of Columbus. . ..
40,000
225,000
462%
Armenian Relief
250,000
265,000
6%
Smileage Book Campaign.
10,000
16,420
65%
Y. W. C. A.
no quota
58,505
Miscellaneous
165,000
240,000
45%
Total
$178,087,920
$212.494,000
19%
Nebraska was the first state in the Union to go over the top on the war savings campaign, and the only state to accomplish this task on the first date set, March 22d. This scheme had been figured out by a group of eastern financiers, and Frank A. Vanderlip of the National City Bank of New York City placed at the head of this campaign. But a little group of men in Seward County, headed by W. H. Brokaw, later director of farm bureaus in Nebraska, in devising a way to meet the quota of their county took Mr. Brokaw's suggestion that a meeting be held simul- taneonsly in every school district in the county on one appointed day. In this way Seward County so promptly raised its quota, that State Director Ward M. Burgess of Omaha, investigated, applied that plan to the state and raised Nebraska's qutoa on March 22d; and this action resulted in another date being set for every other state in the Union, and Mr. Burgess being called to direct the national campaign.
A state council of defense was appointed by Governor Neville and this body of men worked incessantly for many months. Robert M. Joyce of Lincoln was chairman. Hon. George A. Coupland worked on the problem of increasing the production on farms; Hon. Richard L. Metealfe, H. E. Gooch, Miss Sarka B. Hrbkeva worked faithfully on Americanization problems. Gen. George H. Harries of Omaha, George O. Brophy, Dr. E. O. Weber of Wahoo, Chas. A. MeCloud. York, representing financial interests : T. P. Reynolds of Omaha, representing labor interests ; State Engineer George E. Johnson and Adjt .- Gen. P. L. Hall, Jr.
1918. The continuance of the war work was the main task of the second year of the Neville administration. A special session of the Legislature was called to pass laws forbidding the teaching of German and European languages in the public schools below the high school: to pass espionage and sabotage laws: and other war measures, The Council of Defense inaugurated a vigorous campaign against. certain elements of people in the state, and prosecutions of the Nonpartisan League were carried on with great vigor. The anger of these aroused elements throughout
191
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
the state, the antagonism `of certain elements against the party in power, and a sudden turn just before election eaused by an appeal by President Wilson to eleet a democratic congress and intimating that to vote for a republican candidate was an act of disloyalty, swept the state into the republican column at the fall election. Ex-Governor John Il. Morehead, who had won the democratic senatorial nomina- tion against a field of aspirants was defeated by Senator George W. Norris, and Governor Neville was likewise defeated by Samuel R. MeKelvie, of Lincoln, who had defeated a field of republican gubernatorial aspirants in the primary.
GOVERNOR MCKELVIE'S ADMINISTRATION. 1919. Governor MeKelvie came into office, accompanied by a quota of republican state officers and a republican legislature. It opened up with expectations of being the greatest session since 1907. One of the domestic issues urged by Governor McKelvie in his campaign for election was that he would advocate the passage of a civil administrative code, pro- viding for the centralization or crystallization of some twenty state departments, bureaus and commissions, into a gubernatorial cabinet of six secretaries, of finance, trade and commerce, agriculture, labor, public works and public welfare. This measure was contested fiercely, but with the governor's insistence and organiza- tion, was enacted into law. It was hauled into the courts, and during the interim between a favorable decision and an appeal, put into foree by the governor, who appointed his cabinet, consisting of Philip F. Bross, secretary of finance; J. E. Hart, secretary of trade and commerce, which took over the old banking, insurance and blue sky boards or bureaus, and the fire commission ; Leo B. Stuhr, secretary of agriculture, which department took over the old pure food, dairy, oil, hotel bureaus and some of the activities of the old state agricultural department. Geo. E. Johnson, state engineer, who took over that work and the new, increased high- ways department, and H. H. Antles, secretary of public welfare, which department embraced the old health department and pardon and parole board. This session was presided over in the senate by Lieut .- Gov. P. A. Barrows, and B. K. Bushee. as president pro tem. In the house, Dwight S. Dalbey was speaker and W. F. Hitchcock was chief clerk. This session accomplished some other noteworthy tasks, the most important of which was the projection of a state highway system, with some three millions of dollars per year appropriated to match a federal aid ; and in 1919 and 1920, some ten millions of dollars have been spent on building up splendid, permanent highways in Nebraska. This session provided for ways and means of holding a constitutional convention, and the delegates for this convention were elected at a special election in September, 1919.
1920. The Constitutional Convention met in January, 1920, and after consider- ing 366 proposals, submitted to the people forty-one proposals to be voted upon at an election held September 21, 1920, when every one of these forty-one proposals was adopted, a record which has perhaps never been equalled in the nation. The old constitution of 1875 was allowed to remain intaet, and only those portions amended or superseded by these new proposals will be made non-effective. The personnel of this convention and the proposals submitted by it, are as follows:
John Wiltse Falls City
Edgar Ferneau Auburn
A. J. Weaver. Falls City
Ernest M. Pollard Nehawka Jacob F. Halderman Pawnee City
L. A. Varner Sterling
llenry R. Cleve Nebraska ('ity
Wm. Il. Pitzer Nebraska City
192
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
William Kieck Springfield
Jerry Howard Omaha
Geo. A. Magney . Omaha
E. J. Spirk.
Wilber
J. N. Norton
Polk
Il. V. Price.
York
Chas. W. Sears Omaha
R. A. Wilson.
Omaha
Chas. H. Epperson
Fairfield
Geo. E. Norman
Omaha
George Landgren
Shickley
Anson H. Bigelow
Omaha
A. J. Donahoe.
Omaha
Jos. T. Votava
Omaha
L. J. TePoel
Omaha
A. T. Bratton
Hastings
C'has. L. Saunders
Omaha
A. W. Sprick
Fontenelle
Herbert Rhoades
Tekamah
Ilarry L. Keete.
Walthill
John D. Haskell
Wakefield
F. C. Radke.
Hartington
W. A. Meserve.
Creighton
Wilbur F. Bryant
Hartington
II. C. Elwood.
Creighton
o. S. Spillman .
Pierce
J. G. W. Lewis
. Wayne
A. R. Oleson.
Wisner
Charles Mcleod Stanton
E. S. Cowan.
Albion
M. D. Tyler ..
Norfolk
Charles J. Thielen
Humphrey
I. L. Albert.
Columbus
M. J. Iliggins
Schuyler
S. S. Sidner
Fremont
W. D. Holbrook
Ames
A. L. UIlstrom
Memphis
Emil Fauqnet
Wahoo
C. Petrus Peterson
Lincoln
C. C. Flansburg
Lincoln
John M. Stewart.
Lincoln
Walter L. Anderson
Lincoln
W. A. Selleck
Lincoln
(. W. Pugsley
Lincoln
Frank Malicky
Barneston
Earl M. Marvin
Beatrice
John Heasty
Fairbury
Thos. Lahners
Belvidere
Wm. Greuber
Byron
J. A. Rodman
Kimball
Geo. II. Hastings Crete
Edward Sughroue
Indianola
George C. Junkin
Smithfield
W. M. Stebbins
Gothenburg
Joseph G. Beeler
North Platte
Harry Lehman
('ulbertson
P. W. Scott
Imperial
Festns Corothers
Whitman
C'has. II. Cornell
Valentine
James IJ. H. Hewett Alliance
Everett P. Wilson
Chadron
Thomas C. Osborne
Bavard
Elmer E. Ross
Central City
R. Wilde
. Genoa
C. V. Svoboda
St. Paul
Murt M. Sullivan
Spalding
James A. Donohoe.
O'Neil
John A. Davies.
Butte
Lewis K. Alder
Ainsworth
D. E. Strong
. Ord
Aaron Wall
Loup City
W. J. Taylor
Merna
J. D. Ream
Broken Bow
Nathan P. MeDonald
Kearney
Fred A. Nye
Kearney
I. C. Rankin.
Minden
Albert H. Byrum
Bloomington
George S. Austin
. Orleans
Harry Johnson
Holdrege
B. F. Butler.
Cambridge
R. S. Norval
Seward
E. A. Coufal
David City
Lysle I. Abbott. Omaha
Chas. F. MeLaughlin
Omaha
R. A. Matteson.
Geneva
Arthur M. Hare.
Aurora
George Jackson
Nelson
H. G. Keeney
Cowles
J. D. Evans
Kenesaw
Emil G. Stolley
Grand Island
James G. Kunz
Wood River
HI. D. Lnte.
Paxton
193
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
No. 1. Authorizes jury, by a five-sixth vote, to give a verdict in civil cases.
No. 2. Permits legislature to regulate property rights of aliens.
No. 3. Declares English to be official language and requires common school branches in all schools to be taught therein.
No. 4. Reduces percentage of signatures to initiative and referendum petitions to conform to increased number of voters since women secured ballot.
No. 5. Permits large counties to be divided into state senate and house districts.
No. 6. Permits state senate to be increased from thirty-three to fifty members.
No. 7. Increases salaries of legislators from $600 to $800 for two-year term.
No. 8. Relates to legislative procedure and intended to save time of sessions and to prevent passage of important bills in closing hours by viva voice vote on eon- ference committee reports.
No. 9. Prohibits appointment of members of legislature to state offices.
No. 10. Prohibits raising of salaries of state and county officers during term of office.
No. 11. Reserves all rights to oil, gas and other minerals in state land sold. No. 12. Eliminates obsolete section of no consequence.
No. 13. Provides for executive budget and takes from governor sole control of pardons, placing it in hands of board.
No. 14. Creates office of state tax commissioner to have charge of assessment work.
No. 15. Provides for reorganization of courts of state with object of speeding up work and relieving supreme court of congestion.
No. 16. Requires vote of five supreme judges to declare law unconstitutional.
No. 17. Provides for election of supreme court judges by distriets.
No. 18. Gives ballot to women.
No. 19. Provides soldiers may vote when absent from state on duty.
No. 20. Authorizes legislature to distribute temporary school fund on any basis of length of school term it may decide.
No. 21. Prohibits sale of school lands except at publie auction.
No. 22. Provides for election of university regents by districts.
No. 23. Prohibits state aid to sectarian institutions.
No. 24. Raises age for reform school inmates from 16 to 18, in order to keep boys under 18 from being sent to penitentiary, as now.
No. 25. Makes constitutional board of present normal school board.
No. 26. Rewriting of tax schedules with intent to provide for gathering prop- erty that now escapes taxation.
No. 27. Tax exemption of $200 worth of household goods to a family.
No. 28. Clears up ambiguity in existing constitution as to limit of indebted- ness for counties.
No. 29. County boundaries cannot be changed save by vote of all affected.
No. 30. Requires publie utility corporations to report to state railway com- mission.
No. 31. Prohibits consolidation of competing utilities without permission of railway commission.
No. 32. Prohibits payment of dividends by utilities out of any fund save net earnings.
194
HISTORY OF NEBRASKA
No. 35. Allows Omaha to adopt present charter as home rule charter and relieves legislature of need of legislating for that city alone.
No. 34. Grants greater powers and more flexible control to co-operative com- panies.
No. 35. Gives users of water for domestic and agricultural purposes priority in streams of state.
No. 36. Retains in public all beneficial rights to water powers of state.
No. 37. Permits regulation as to minimum wages and conditions of employ- ment of women and children in industry.
No. 38. Permits creation of industrial commission to prevent strikes and lockouts and to control profiteering.
No. 39. Provides that amendments to constitution submitted by legislature shall be adopted by a majority voting on the question if the affirmative vote is 35 per cent of total vote cast at election.
No. 40. Raises salaries of state officers, including supreme court judges, until such time as legislature may fix them.
No. 41. Eliminates obsolete sections and provides when amendments go into effect.
The serenity of the MeKelvie administration was disturbed somewhat by the practice followed in recent years of "furloughing" prisoners in the state penitentiary : a process neither a pardon nor a parole, but just granting them a vacation, which came to a head and brought down public indignation when one Beryl Kirk, of Omaha, serving the second year of a twenty year sentence for complicity in the killing of Officer Frank Rooney, was "furloughed" during the absence of the governor and lieutenant governor from the state by president pro tem. of senate and acting governor B. K. Bushee. This furlough was secured and then held some fourteen weeks, before presented to the warden, and resulted in an investiga- tion by the Bar Commission at the direction of the State Supreme Court of the actions of State Senator C. Petrus Peterson and republican state chairman Robert W. Devoe, who were members of the law firm that secured this action. Coupled with the pardon of Frank Dinsmore of Buffalo County, serving a life sentence for wife murder, the parole of St. Clair, a bank robber convict; of another prisoner who was released the day he was brought to the penetentiary and the growing number of paroles resulting from the indeterminate sentence law, and the necessity of some sixteen to twenty reprieves for Cole and Grammer, two Howard County murderers under sentence of death for the murder of Mrs. Lulu Vogt at Elba. Nebraska, on July 4, 1917, while those cases were switched back and forth and in and out of innumerable courts, this whole question aroused the state. But despite this situation, with five opponents for the nomination, Governor MeKelvie won a renomination from his party in the spring primaries of 1920, and ex-Governor Morehead was selected to oppose him. A convention of farmers' unions, labor unions and non-partisan leaguers met at Grand Island, in May, and nominated Mayor Arthur G. Wray of York for governor : Robert D. Mousel of Cambridge for lieutenant governor and F. L. Bollen of Crofton for attorney general. In the spring primaries the people of Nebraska expressed a vigorous preference for Senator Iliram W. Johnson of California, for the republican nomination for president, which was won at Chicago, by Senator Warren G. Harding of Ohio, and in the
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