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Said a resident of the Sixth ward, an old soldier, yesterday: "The Bee has been pounding away at Mercer for some weeks, but it has not touched upon one phase of the matter which appeals to many people of Omaha. It has not so far referred to the fact that he as much as any other man is responsible for the appointment of Cadet Taylor as surveyor of the port of Omaha. As an officer in the Globe Savings bank Taylor had worked a confidence game upon a large number of Omaha people. When the bank suspended operations there were upon its books a number of old soldiers, servant girls and laborers who had deposited their savings of years in the institution. They were made to suffer for their confidence in Taylor and his associates, and, while a bond was given by Taylor and his friends for the payment of claims against the bank, the depositors lost everything. Mercer was aware of the facts in the case. At that time he was in Washington and if he had laid the facts of the case before the president Taylor would have never been appointed to the office. If he had presented the facts to the senate committee Taylor would never have been confirmed. He failed to do either. The fellow that pulled the strings on Mercer was Tom Blackburn, his political manager, who was the attorney for Devries, the president of the concern which was wrecked and the side partner of Taylor in his questionable banking methods."