During the campaign, it was alleged by some that Charles Van Wyck, the Populist candidate for governor of Nebraska, was really seeking that office in order to provide a pathway to get reelected to the US Senate.[12] This, some argued, meant that Charles D. Shrader was in effect running for governor and not only lieutenant governor.[13]
Shrader also challenged his Republican opponent, Thomas J. Majors, to a public debate.[14] However Majors, with the support of the Republican party,[15] refused to debate Shrader,[16] citing an earlier incident wherein Shrader, while serving in the Nebraska House of Representatives, allegedly said "the supreme court be damned" or "damn the constitution" in response to an unfavorable judicial decision.[17][18] Based on this incident, some accused Schrader of being an "anarchist,"[19] but Shrader maintained that such was a lie and that his words were twisted.[20]