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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 26, 1903)
10 TI1E OMAIIA DAILY BEE: SUNDAY, APRIL 2. 1003. OVATION TO MAYOR MOORES Citlwu of Omabn Tarn Oat in Force U Obter tha Major. EDWARD ROSEWATCR DISCUSSES ISSUES Brieve the BUmi" Rnt of Boltfr Benson fader the Search light for laspeetloa hr Interested Cltlsena, (Continued from First Face.) pan the conscience of those participating therein. In short do what the Benson boom ers are attempting to do, and rou will open the door to many forma of political trick ery and deception. The wilt of the people, aa In the case of equal taxation, which aeema to be the universal demand today, will be ofttlmea thwarted by confuting the voter with a multiplicity of candidates who have been Induced to run by aklllful play ing upon their vanity, ambition, pique, vlndlcllveness, venality or mlstsken sense of duty. "Doubtless occaelona arise when It it the right and duty of the people to repudiate their nartr candldatea. When a nomina tion hae been procured by fraud or corrup tion; when delegates have voted differently from the way they were elected to rote, when the principles and probable policy of the candidate are at known variance In important reepeeta with the desires of the voter. It ts the letter's privilege and duty to make hla ballot expsess his convictions. But no such charges can be brought against Frank Moores in this campaign. The at tempt to do ao la much like the woman who applied for a divorce on the ground that her husband was not the father of her last child. -The Primary Fight. "In a clear-cut, well-defined contest be tween Moores and entl-Moores delegatea Frank Moores carried five out of nine wards and seventy-three out of 143 dele- gates. Arrayed against him was the most complete political organlxation ever formed in this city. Including every franchlaed corporation, the railroads, the board of Are and police commissioners with its power ful club, all the members of the last legis lature, the solid city, and coiuity repub lican central committees, the World-Herald, the News, and all the leading democratic politician. They gerrymandered the city In a way they deemed most disadvantageous to him. The mayor was divested, of all in fluence on the Are and police board. He was made powerless to hire a man on the publlo works without the approval of both the board of publlo works and the city council, a majority of the latter body being adverse to him. The city central committee refused to permit him to name a single Judge of election and but three clerks in the city of Omaha, They attempted to de ceive the publlo by calling him a "machine" candidate, although they had taken posses sion of and were themselves using every wheel of the machine. Hla success under such circumstances proves that the people were with him. "After carrying the primaries his nom ination became a mere matter of honesty. It is a matter for congratulation and proves that the morale of politicians are much better than commonly reputed that out of seventy-three delegatea there waa but ena who proved dlabonest and one ahaky. Neither of these had ever sat la con vention or had an opportunity to become educated in the ethics of politics. When the delegate from the Eighth ward who waa elected on the Moores delegatioa disap peared after the cloae of the primaries, and waa reported not to have returned to his home that night, eould not be found the following morning, but appeared for the first time In the eonvention, seated, not with the delegates with whom he had fought the day previous, but In the midst of the antl-Moores delegation from the Sixth ward, treachery was suspected. ' TJanrecedented Parliamentary Hnllnss "When the chairman of the city commit tee, a lawyer and parliamentarian, made the unprecedented ruling that delegatea having credentials from the Judges and clerks of election were not entitled to , vote on the question of temporary chairman of the eonvention; when this ruling waa supported by such skilled lawyera and parliamentar ians aa Mr. Breckenrldge, Mr. Oosa, Mr. Burbank, it was manifest that the passions aroused at the primaries were not allayed and that an attempt would be made to de feat the will of the people aa expressed in the primaries, right or wrong. When the chairman ordered a roll call by naming each individual delegate Instead of under the usual practice of a call of wards, hla motive was suspected. When this delegate from the Eighth ward voted prac tically to unseat himself and the colleagues with whom he waa elected, the knowledge en the part of the chairman of the treachery of the delegate became apparent and his motive was explained. "Then a great and truly American scene Illustrated bow publlo opinion punishes a dishonest delegate. For twenty minutes the ball was filled with cries of 'Traitor,' 'Bought,' 'How much did you getr 'Who bought your 'Show your faoe,' Mudaa lacarlot. Even hla friends smiled and en payed the predicament of their hireling. The poor culprit sank lower and lower in bis chair. Hla head hung on hla breast and his eyea aeemed searching tor a knot bole In the floor. The ooor man was re ceiving a lesson in the ethics of politics. "Later, when the vote waa being taken for mayor on a motion for a call by wards previously carried, the chairman of the Second ward delegation announced the entire vote of that ward for Frank B. Moores. Not a single delegate from that ward chal lenged the correctness of the announcement. After the vote had proceeded clear to the Ninth ward, 'Mr. Breckenrldge, Mr. Ooss and others not in the Second ward delega tloa called for a poll of that ward. Their own chairman, Mr. Herring, had a few minutes before ruled that If the ward was satisfied with Ita own vote a delegate from another i ward could not complain. The chairman followed this precedent and In inia was sustained Dy every writer upon parliamentary practice and the universal custom of conventions. Roll Not Called For. "A party who ia aggrieved Is the only one who can challenge the correctness of the announcement of his vote. No one from the Second ward called for a poll of the delegation. From affldavlta that I have seen published in the daily preaa I suspect that Mr. Haarmann had learned f rom the object lesson presented In the punishment of the treacherous delegate from the Eighth ward a lesson In political ethics. I know that had he voted otherwise than for Frank E. Moores he would have been guilty of a con temptlble and treacherous act. "I have In my hands the sample ballots used In the Second ward. On one Is printed: 'This delegation is for W. W Bingham for mayor and A. H. Hennlngs tor city treasurer." Mr. Haarmann's name does not appear upon that delegation. On the other Is printed: 'This delegation Is for Frsok E. Moores tor mayor, Fred Brunlng for tax commissioner. Fred H Hoye for councilman.' Mr. Haarmann's am Is the third on that delegation." When the ballots were counted it was found that the lowest vote polled for a Bingham dele gate waa 376. the highest 280. The lowest vote polled tor a Moores delegate was 8(4, the highest 171. Mr. Haarmann received ICS votes. It la manifest that .every man who voted for Mr. Haarmann that day ex pected him to vote, as he was pledged to e vote on the printed ballots, for Frank B. Moorea. He was but their sgent, commis sioned to vote their will, and not to have THIS OELBQATWei IS POJt FRANK E. MOORES FOR MAYOR FRED BRUNINQ For Tax Commissioner FRED H. HOYE For Councilman CHARLKS ANDERSON ("") FRED BRUNINO FERDINAND HAARMANN Q CHARLES HOUBA...- JOSEPH KAV AN " FRED O. KUNZ.... .:- JOHN LYNCH. .........- .Q """N MOSES LOO ASA.. '..Q X .SAMUEL MORRIS JOSEPH NEJEPINSKY.. OEORGE NICK LAS I I VauaMU H. J. PETERSEN EDAVARD RICHE. OTTO WAACK... voted for Frank E. Moorea would have been violation of instructions, a breach of trust, an act most contemptible and treach erous. Surely, with the object lesson In the Eighth ward before him, no man can blame Mr. Haarmann for refusing to call for a poll of hla ward. "Verily, the charge that the eonvention waa fraudulent la a plea that corruption should be- recognized and treachery re warded. No, great moral "uprising waa ever based on so weak a foundation. It anyone was aggrieved .by the action of the con vention it was Mr. Blngbam and not Mr. Benson. Mr. Benson's delegation delayed its vote until they could ascertain whether or not a delegate would arise In the con vention and assert his right to betray his constituents. Had he done so Mr. Benson's delegation would have voted for Mr. Bing ham. Mr. Bingham is as good 'a business man aa Mr. Benson and would compare with him favorably on any test of fitness; but Mr. Bingham, from past political ex perience, has been educated In the ethics of politics. He knew that when a man sub mits hla name aa a candidate to the primaries of . a party he expects an ad vantage from the nomination and agreea to give to his suecessful competitor the same advantage which he himself sought. He knew that politics is no game of heads I win, talis you lose, but that It ia considered disreputable to aeek a nomination and with hold from a successful competitor his well- earned advantage. Fair Flay la Fettles. "I do not wish to be severe with Mr. Benson, or with the two delegates who, like himself, were not educated In political ethlca, but call attention of the publlo to the fact that a man who would allow him self to be tempted to do what he Is doing Is putting himself In the hands of unsafe counsellors. From a political standpoint every man who desires the success of ths republican party; every man who re grets the factional strife that ia destroying our party, every man who desires to pun ish treachery and corruption; every man who believes that the will of the people as expreased In a primary or (election should prevail in Omaha as well aa in South Caro lina or New York City; every man who believes that fair play in primaries, con ventions and eleotlona will accomplish more then corruption, treachery and bad faith, ahould express his convictions by voting for Frank E. Moores. (Applause.) "Approach the question from the stand point of a cltlxen and taxpayer. Three platforms have declared substantially for home rule and equal taxation. Unequal taxation, corporation rule, has been a source of complaint for years. The fact that it should be made so prominent in three platforms ehows that there ia some thing in existing conditions that has changed It from a mere sentiment or formal protest to a living Issue. The platform simply takes cognizancs of the existing fact that the people of Omaha are demand ing home rule and equal taxation. Moorea' Offense to Corporatloaa. "What caused thisT I am not an apolo gist for the taulta of Frank Moores and will not endorse his appointments In years past, but call your attention to the fact that his first appointees to the Board of Review who ahowed a bias In favor of the corporations and against the people are today, I believe, without exception, fight ing Mayor Moores. But It Is the present and not the past conditions that have created these great Issues. When Mayor Moorea. at the time Edward Rosewater was prosecuting proceedings in the supreme court to compel the taxation of railroad property the aame aa other property, ap pointed Victor Rosewater, bis son, and Mr. Hunter aa members of the Board of Re view, knowing the policy to which they were committed, he thereby alienated from himself the support of every railroad and franchlaed corporation In the city of Omaha who were seeking to escape taxa tion. He was in a position where he had to take sides between the railroads and the people. Owing to the Influence of Mr. Rosewater he decided In favor of equal taxation and the result you all know. The lasus became a live one. It waa carried to ths state legislature and the railroads won. But does anyone believe that they have ceased to fight In the city of Omaha? Does anyone believe that these favored In terests have no choice of candidates? Does anyone believe that they care what the platform of a party is it they can name the officers? Does anyone believe that the man elected by their assistance will be as likely to fairly represent the people as a man elected against their opposition? Corporations for Howell. Let me call your attention to a few facta: In the democratic convention, of the committee that drafted the home rule and equal taxation platform there was not one who voted for Ed Howell. It is well known that these corporate Interesta are In all parties snd have no regard for any Issue save the one that affects their pe cuniary affairs. In the democratic primary all of these corporate Interests favored Ed Howell. The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners favored Ed Howell, and when Ed Howell was nominated a shout of Joy went up from every man who Is opposed to home rule and equal taxation. "In the republican convention the men who nominated Frank Moores are the men who drafted the plttforu and the men who did the acts that forced home rule and equal taxation aa a living lasue before the people. I do not wish to name men, but you all know the able and Influential poll, tlclans who are always found on the side of corporations, assisting them to evade taxes, justifying their conduct and recelv tng their favora. If you do not know them Inquire of any politician who knows and ha will name them for you. I challenge you to find a single corporation politician in the city of Omaha who is supporting Krsnk Moores. either In the primaries or the election. I challenge you to find a single opponent, either of home rule or of equal taxation, who Is supporting Frank E. Moores or did support him in the pri maries. "Self-interest Is a constant force and Ita results can be foretold with reasonable ac curacy. The mayor elected will either be Influenced by the highest and most unselfish motives or he will be Influenced by self interest. If the policy of a candidate. If dic tated by self-interest would be absolutely the aame as If dictated by the hlgheet and most uneolflah motives, then that can didate Is the safest one for the people to trust. Such Is the position of Mayor Moores. He owes his nomination to the people that were fighting, for home rule and equal taxation, if elected he will be elected by such people. Self-Interest will compel him to give publicity to the acta of the fire and police commissioners when they attempt to club voters Into line for corporate Interesta. He la the only can didate who would have such a motive, as all the others are receiving ssslstance from this board. Self-interest would prompt him to carry cut the reform of equal taxa tion which originated under hla admin istration and which is today his only source of strength. The other csndidates will be embarrassed should they attempt to antagonize the men and Interests that are their counsellors and source of strength today. Issaea of the Campaign. "Be not deceived! The Issue of this campaign ia home rule and equal taxation. An attempt la being msde to persuade good citizens that Mr. Benson, who is a member of the real estate exchange, stands for equal taxation; but the corporate Influences that are backing him are not sentimental lets, but practical politicians. They seek results. They are willing that a good moral citizen should be deceived and by voting for Benson cast one-half a vote for Howell, but they themselves will make their whole vote count. They know that a great moral uprising cannot be based upon polit ical treachery. "Be not deceived! The forces arrayed against home rule and equal taxation are our ahrewdest, - keenest politicians. They know better than you what would be beat for their Interests and Insofar as their In terests are antagonistic to your own what will be worst for the people. Until you can show me one single corporation politician or sympathizer who is supporting Frank Moores you must look upon him as your friend In the pending contest. It avails nothing to have a platform if they name the nominees. It avails nothing to present a multiplicity of candidates and deceive men with high moral phrases and great show of righteousness If they work their will. The issue is home rule and equal taxation and at thta time Frank E. Moores represents the people's side of that Issue." (Long applause.) Mr. Rosewater' Remarks. Mr. Edward Rosewater apoke as follows: "Mr. President, Fellow Republicans and Fellow Citizens: I am profoundly Im pressed with this demonstration. I take it that It ia not so much an expression of your appreciation of what I have done for ths city of Omaha and the republican cause as It Is your enthusiastic endorsement of the ticket nominated by the republican convention. At the very outset I feel Im pelled to exclaim, 'Remember the Mayne.' I mean of course the Mayne who formerly figured conspicuously in the boom days of Omaha and who now lives at Joplln, Mo. That great boomer was at one time inti mately linked with the gentleman who came very near being thrown over the transom by that band of antl-machlne purifiers who walked out because they could not carry a convention, and are now trying to apologize for the conduct of their candidate, who during that period of Omaha's prosperity the boom period when cornfields and cow pastures away out from ten to twelve miles from the city limits commanded fabulous prices. Moores a Clean Winner. "It has been stated here tonight very clearly and truthfully that the convention that nominated Frank E. Moorea repre sented a majority of the republicans of Omaha. But the gentlemen who left the convention hall in dismay insist that the ticket nominated there represented a mi nority, and that la about as near to the truth as anything that has been said In extenuation of their retreat or In com mendation of their candidate. Less than three days after this candidate had his name presented another convention waa held In this city that nominated Erastus A. Benson as the csndldate of Omaha popu lists, but In order that they might be assured of an Insertion on the official bal lot, and fearing that it could not be shown that the populists of Omaha cast 3 per cent of the total vote polled In 1902, they got up a petition containing the names of people representing all shades of political opinion and filed that petition with the city clerk. That whols proceeding shows that this is a campaign of deception and Imposture on ths part of the anti-machine purifiers. . Benson's Omaha Advent. "Now, most of you perhaps were not in Omaha fifteen years ago, but many of you doubtlesa remember the advent of the boomer candidate. These people came here to exploit the town. They found the city to cover an area of about fifteen square miles. They began Immediately to take options on cornfields and cow pastures and gullies many miles from ths court house and the poatofflce, and by paying a few hundred dollars for options had these lands platted and put on the market as additions to Omaha. C. B. Mayne, the head boomer, had the faatest team in the city, and people who came to inspect Omaha were invited to drive out with him and take a look at auburban lota. The trip out required per haps ten minutes, but the same persona found later, when they hired teams and made the Journey for themselves, that it took them an hour or an hour and a half. "The boomers were like the woman In the chariot who came to Omaha years ago to pull teeth without pain. She did this in the atreets. There was a brass band with her, and whenever she pulled a tooth the band atruck up and no one ever knew whether or not the subject uttered a cry. So It was with the boomers. They had brass bands and other diversions to keep the people hypnotized while tbey pulled their eye teeth." (Laughter.) City's Greatest torse. "Now, my friends. I really capnot compre hend how anybody conversant with the history of Omaha can Join the Benson boom without apologizing for hla foolish ness. Ths greatest curse Omsba ever was afflicted with was the Invasion of the real estate boomers. Everybody that has lived In Omaha for the laat fifteen years will remember to his sorrow the rise and col lapse of the boom and the havoc It played with Omaha, and It will take us msny mors yeara to recover fully. Before the advent of the boomers Omsha covered nine squars miles of territory and a large part of that was sparsely occupied, but the boomers laid out first additions, second and third additions and auburban towna in every 1I- rectlon, over hill and dale, from the Platte river to Calhoun, and from the Missouri river to the Elkhorn. Almost every day a cattle pasture, a cornfield or a whole farm waa ataked out and platted Into town lota. Fabulous fortunes were to be mads on the get rich quick plan and by speculation in dirt. When the Boom Waa Booming?. "I want to read you some of ths adver tlsements that appeared in The Bee, and In other Omaha newspapers at the time C. E. Mayne ft Company boomed the town and triad le help build up Omaha. WHERE REPUBLICAN FEPUBLICAir PLAT TOW . The"rptiblleani',of"OBaha by.tMsTeenvent ion eppeaf"f erthe""support f Its eandldatsa by jcltltens'and taxpayers of. all parties on. the ..following platforn.to whlch'lta nonlneesereTfcereby pledged! 1. we favor mmlelpsJ. home" rule1n"lts broadetssnss. 2. favor Munlelpal'cwnerehlprofjpublle utilities, connenelng rnXtH ths water works endelectrlellghtlg plant. '3" we stand for'equal and'just taxation of all class of property. Ineluding'eorperats franchises, and especially' the local assessment of railway. terminals forelty taxation. . e rldge aneecmlojarid .Business Ilka adminlst ration of ths city affairs.' 5. Wo promise govornmentlnthlnterestof the common people and, resistance of every attempt'of .the'eorporations to subvert our government by brieeryand corruption. The undersigned eandldatss'of "the' Republican paftyduly nominated for the several offices as hereinafter set fortn at the Republican City' Convent ion held In this "city "of Omaha April 11,1903 do hereby endorse and approve the above platform and. do pledge our crar support to the dsclaratlona'contained In sail Platform and that it, lected we will faithfully and to the beat of cur ability carry out the said platform in every, respect Onaha jAprll 13,l03x ev.c jjr fay " S7 r Here, for Instance, is Thomas A Goos' ad dition. (Where all the plucked goslings congregated.) Just south of Hanscom park. only two miles from the court house. Just 176 beautiful residence lots. Events are shaping themaetves that will make theso lots sn Investment of sure profit. $600 to $1,000 will buy lots now and one year from now they will be worth 2.500 to $3,000. (Laughter.) It Is not all luck. Luck to the dogs. (That la the way it appears in the advertisement.) It Is foresight. Judgment and sand. (Laughter.) (Sand and mud.) (Pleasantry.) Take a square look at Thomas Goos' addition, which Is ad joining the city on the aouth. A rich and powerful syndicate, who without any further effort could peddle it out in the next two yeara for $2,000,000. Do you sup pose that they are Idiots enough to do this? No. They will either build or subscribe to a cable line and realize $3,000,000 from It. Take a tumble to yourself. Do a little Investing. Investigate and figure and you will see that there are the greatest bar .gains on earth In lots In this 'key to Omaha and South Omaha.' (Loud laughtsr.) , CONKL.INQ PIACE. Conkltnr Place Is not "one of the finest." but "the finest" piece of ground ever pis t ted on this great thoroughfare. In fact, It Is the "Peer" of all additions to the City of the West. Conkling Place is the highest ground on Leavenworth street and la Just across the Belt Line Missouri Faclflo Main IJne and within a stone's throw of West Side depot. An opportunity to purchase such prop erty aa thta, at such low prices, on easy terms, doe not come often and will be quickly taken advantage of by those who want something that la simply perfect. Prices are $550 for corners and $500 for Inside lota on Howard, and (s50 for corners and $800 for Inside lots on Leavenworth. "If anybody In this audience can tell us where Conkling Flacs is, we want the In formation. Another of the Gold Bricka. "Here is one of the sample gold bricks: $75. $50. $50. $76. B. M. Park addition. "The whole page la taken up by the plctur? of a locomotive and an announcement in Stud-Horse type of a description to the B. t M. Psrk addition, with tbla notice: Free ride to and from the Park for in tending purchasers, Saturday and ftunday, April 16th and 17th. Situated on main line of B. ft M. R. R. Title perfect and guar anteed by the Midland Guarantee & Trust Company. Every lot lies high, dry and level. Kvery lot covered with fine timber. On Saturday, April 16th, a free train of coachea will leave the B. A M. depot at 10:30 In the forenoon for the Park, and will run the distance in about five or alx min utes. Come for Yourselves, Bee for Yourselves. Judge for Yourselves. After the data mentioned prices will be $125.00 and $160.00 for every lot. No differ 'enre whether you buy one or a dozen, no discount made. The laborer who can only afford to buy one lot can rest assured that he has bought the single lot ss cheaply as those who have bought In numbers. "April 17, 1S87." SELMAVILLE. Is the latest Addition platted on Leav enworth street. As level aa a lawn and every lot a daisy. Has a splendid view of all West Omaha. Could not lay better. "Does anybody in this audience know where Selmavtlle Is? Here is another bar gain: This superb sddltion. Green as a meadow and level aa a lawn, will be ulaced on the market Monday morning. April lMh, at $ and $660 per lot. Only iiuu caan. just ten lots will be sold wh.-r. the price will be raised. Free cartiagea. Free Bide and Free Choice. Come early to the offUe of LOVEQREEN ft DALZELL. "April I5th, 1887. Full Page." AMBLER PLACE Commencing: Monday, April 25th. 117. free carrUgea will be run fmm the office of Harrison. Ambler Wooley, for Ambler Jlaoe, hair a mile west or Hanacom i'ark and adjoining the Poor Farm. lcV lota will be sold at the very low price of $700 to $1.C; $u rash. $! In six months, balance In one and two years at per cent. STREET CAP.B AND PAVED STREETS. Tha Omaha Southwestern Street Railway will be In operation within sixty days and tnoae wno ouy in ine rni hii oi iois will double their money before the sum mer Is half gone. HOI.n VOT'R MONET I'NTIL SATI'R- DAf, MAX lita- at W A. M. BttAKP. When CANDIDATES STAND 4 0 f r I will sell at public auction to the highest bidders, 25 of the most beautiful lots on Karnam Htreet. commencing at Thirty-ninth Street. This elegant property adjoins Je rome Park on the west. Parties purchasing will double their money In a short time. Free carriages will take parties to the sale. THOMAS RILEY, Auctioneer. "Sunday. May 15th, 1887." NEXT WEDNESDAY. MAY 18th, A FREE EXCURSION. Ill order to give every one an opportunity to see tne many improvements in ine sud urbs nf the cltv a free excursion over the Belt Line hae been arranged to take place next Wednesday, May 18th. Free trains will leave the M. P. depot, 15th and Web ster Streets, promptly at l:sn p. m. ana go out on the Mlesourt Pacific as far as Wmi tjiwn the beautiful suburban prop erty on the Papplo Valley. Splendid picnic grounds. Hotel ana ail conveniences, it you want to go, secure free tickets of nr N Ulrku 21& South Fifteenth St. YOI' CAN'T GO UNLESS YOU HAVE A TICKET. EVKKTHOLII CUKUlAUliI INVITED. In the Wake of the Boom. "When the boom collapsed completely ten years ago, thousands of men and women who had followed "the advice of the Am blers, the Maynes, and the Beneons by In vesting their earnings and savings on ths installment plan were wrecked and ruined and thousands of others who had been con fldenced by the boomers out of their sav ings o( many years, and other thousands who held onto the property in Omaha were eaten up paying taxes and after their property was foreclosed by the money loan era, were left with deficiency Judgments hanging over their heads. This is not the worst. While the boomers were annexing thousands of acres of cow pastures, corn fields and gullies the property in the heart of the city was depreciating, by the cre ation of new additions snd the city waa mortgaged for millions of dollars for rot ten wooden block pavements and gss and water main extensions. City Treas urer Hennlngs Informs me that the amount paid for wooden block pave ments was $1,137,441.45, of which fully $200,000 was for Intersections, paid directly by the city, and a large portion of the rema'nder baa been taxed back and will be taxed back to the whole city, because the Kpeclal tsx levied agalnat the out-of-town property Is more thsn the lots are worth and this is not figuring Interest that is accumulating on Ihe top of the original cost of the wooden pavements laid at Instance of the boomers. Boomer's Park Plans. ''In 1887 George W Linlnger, then state aenator, secured the passage of the first charter for a city of the metropolitan clans with the specific provision that the railroad property should bi assessed the same as all other classes of property. That charter also contained another sedtlon giving the city the right to acquire land for parka by eminent doma'n condemnation, but the charter was mutilated In the bouse by the railroad lobby and boomers' lobby, who were afraid that the location of parka In the Immediate vicinity of Omaha would Interfere with their real estate deals, and the result waa that, four yeara later, the real estate boomers, with Erastua Benaon at tbelr head, turned the town urside down to carry the bond proposition for the pur chase of parks snd $400,000 In bonds wers voted for parks, on which by this time we have paid $210,000 Interest. Omaha hia paid $610,000 for parks that you could not sell todsy for more than $SO,000. And this is what they call business. Thus through promoter Benson and his assoclste boomers a permanent mortgage debt of $400,000 waa saddled upon Omaha for parka that couli not be aold today for one-flfth of what we paid for them, and every year we are taxed $20,000 to pay the interest on these park bonds. KsJert of the Padded Cenans. "About the worst black eye that Omaha received at the bands of the boomers was the padding of the census of 1890, which strikingly .illustrates the tact that a man cannot pull himself up by his bootstrsp. For the next eight years every almanae and reference directory will continue to advertise Omaha aa the only city west of ths Mississippi that Is on ths down grade, and no amount of explanation or assurance that Omaha has a larger popula tion today than It ever bad and Is on a more solid basla can remove that damag ing Impression. Nobody has suffered more from the padding of the census of lft0 than The Ben Publishing company and the World Herald, both directly and Indirectly. Indi rectly we have been injured materially In loss of foreign advertising, because the heavy advertisers do not want to pay as much for apsre In papers circulating In a town of 100,000 population as they would to papers published In a city of 150.000 popu lation. Directly The Omaha Bee alone has paid over $57,000 ss the penalty for th booming of the census. Let me explain. The Associated Press fixes Its service rates every ten years according to the census. The As sociated Press rates newspapers according to the population of the cltlea where they are published and they rated The Omaha Bee In 1891 according to the census of 1890 and raised our tolls $100 a week and for eleven years we paid $100 a week more than we should have done. Fifty-two weeks in a year and eleven years makes more than $57,000 all told direct loss by this falsification of the census. And all the talk-' ing I could do to the managers of the As sociated Press I could not get them to re cede. They would not take anything for granted. They said, that la fine talk, but the census ssys you have a population of 140,000 and you must pay according to that population. Benaon as n Tax Reformer. "Mr. Benson now poses as the champion of tax reform and la supported for mayor on a platform pledging him to the prin ciples fought by the Real Estate exchange. Now, the exchange made a very creditable fight for equitable taxation, but at no atsge In that campaign waa Mr. Benson drafted Into active service by the committee that was fighting the battle of the taxpayers. By its action the exchange showed a dis trust of Benson's sincerity as a champion of equal taxation and that la almost an In dictment. The truth of the matter Is that during that memorable campaign Benson threw aa much cold water on the movement as he could and showed very little disposi tion to fight the battle of the taxpayers against the corporations. At one time he even went so far as to say that the ex change waa exerting Itself altogether too much In fighting the tsx-shlrklng corpora tions and that the exchange would ac complish more beneficial work by devoting Us energies to suburbsn property on tha instsllment plan. (Applause.) If Mr. Ben son hsd had his way the tax fight would probably have been abandoned before it had begun. "The gentleman who Is now chairman of the Benson executive committee and one of our moat prominent merchants wss In vited by the exchange to a confidential meeting at which a proposition was being considered for compromising the assessment of the franchlaed corporations. To my great surprise that gentleman expressed himself as decidedly In fsvor of a com promise and when he asked me whether I concurred with him I retorted and said: " 'My dear sir, if I had a suit In court against you for $5,000 and the final outcome was uncertain I would be willing to com promise, tut If I had a judgment from the supreme court of - Nebraska for $5,000 againat you I would not take a cent leas than the whole amount with Interest. We have a Judgment that entitles us to tax the corporations on the value of their tangible properties and their franchises on a stock and bond value basis and It seems to me utterly out of the question for us now to surrender any part of the rightful claim for the full measure of taxes to which Omaha is entitled.' What Bensonltes Foraret. "Now, these are the gentlemen who are trying to array the taxpayers against Frank E. Moores. They seem to have tor gotten that he appointed the board of re view, that not only voted to sustain the tax commissioner in his assessment of franchlaed corporations, but resisted all corporate pressure and voted to assess the railroads for the full vstue of their term inals and properties within the city limits of Omaha, I cannot comprehend how these gentlemen of the exchange can consistently go back on the man who firmly stood by them and made it possible for them to score a substantial victory. I feel sure the taxpayers of Omaha will gratefully ap preciate the faithful service rendered by the last Board of Review and will not be swayed by the appeals of the boomers. "The opponents of Frank B. Moorea have yet to point out a single item of corruption and dishonesty in his municipal admlnlstrs- tlon. (Applause.) They admit that aa mayor of Omaha he has been as economical and prudent aa the clrcumstsnces would permit. They admit that he has vetoed any number of bills and claims that he con sidered excessive or unlswful and has op posed every measure he deemed Injurious to the public welfare. Every Intelligent republican knowa that a vote for Benson Is half a vote for Ed Howell, and ths Benson ltes know It as well as you or I do. They tell me privately that they do not care whether Benson is elected or not, but they want to defeat Moorea. They want to withdraw a sufficient num ber of votes from the republican candidate, who is opposed by all the corporations, to elect the democratic candi date, whom they know to be the choice of the corporatlona. They are not fighting the battle of Omaha, but moat of them are fighting Frank E. Moores under all aorta of pretexts In order to get even. Their Home Rale Record. "They tell us they fsvor home rule, but they repudiated home rule when they en dorsed the Howell-Gllbert bill that em powered the governor to appoint a water works commission for Omaha without the consent of its people. This water works board appointed by a governor who has no Interest in Omaha Is to negotiate the pur chase of the water works that will involve a bond Issue of $5,000,000 or $6,000,000, but the board Is not answerable for Ita acta either to the taxpayers of Omaha or to the governor that appointed It. Does this show that the Bensonltes are alncerely In favor of home rule? Where did Benson stand when this bill was before the legislature? Where has he stood snd where does be stand on any other Issue that vitally coprerns Omaha'a future? Will anybody tell us what course Mr. Benson would pursue If the ap praisement of the water worka ahould ex ceed by $2,000,000 or $3,000,000 the actual value of the plant? What assurance have the taxpayers of Omaha that tbey will fare better with Erastus Benson at ths bead of the city government than with Frank E. Moores? But Benson bss no more chance to be the next mayor of Omaha than hs hss to be the next president of the United Ststes. If Mayor Moorea were to resign to nlgnt snd Benaon waa aubstltuted for him by the republican committee, and aupported with all the vigor and vim at Its command by Ths Bee, he could not possibly be elected mayor of Omsha under existing conditions. The fight Is squsrely between Howell and Moores and every men within my bearing knows that It Is sbsurd to tslk about Benson's election as mayor. I doubt very much whether be will get as msny votes as ths socialist csndldate. A great many of the men ahoutlng for Benson now Intend to vote for Howell on election day. I could name seventy-five Benson shouters that have not the remotest Inteption of voting for him. Tbey will vote for Howell, and don't you forget it. "They are ashamed to advocate ths elec tion of Howell because Howell Is unpalst able to the class of people who find fault with Mayor Moores for his wide-open pol icy. They know that while Moores le keel Ing the gatea ajar Howell would lake do i the gates altogether to allow the vlclotii classes to have unrestricted away. Tbr. political pharlsees, who sre berating Moore for all the Indecency and wickedness that prevails in thie community, know (hit Moores has had no control of the police force of Omaha for more than eight months and that Rroatrh and his police commis sion have directed all the movements of the police and whatever lawlessness hs prevailed within the last eight months chargeable directly to them and not Moorea. But Broatch Is shouting for Ben son and all the time Is Intending, of cnurs-, to vote for Howell, and the very men who are responsible for whatever evils exist sre Identified with the faction that calls Itself antl-machlne. Conndence In Moorea' Klertlon. "I am very much amused by tha boomers and their fake organ. They are trying to make themselves believe that I am badly ecsred over the prospect of Benson's elec tion as mayor. They think that I would not Lombard the boomer candidate It he had no chance of election. Now mark this prediction. I feel a great deal more con fidence, in the election of Frank E. Moorea tonight than I did one week before election three years ago, and I am willing to stake my reputation that Moores will receive more votes In the First. Second and Third wards of Omaha than Benson will receive In the whole city of Omaha, and that Mooren will receive more votes In the Fourth, ' Fifth and Sixth wards of Omaha than Ben ton will receive In the whole city of Omaha. I doubt exceedingly whether Ben son will get as msny votes In the whole city of Omaha aa Moores will receive In the 8eventh, Eighth and Ninth wards of Omaha. "I am bombarding Benson because I re gard him as a mere stalking horse for Howell and believe that every vote thrown to him is half a vote for Howell. Howell Is the msn that Moores will have to beat on the 5th day of May. Incidentally I am bombarding Benaon because I have always detested shams, humbugs and charlatans In polltlca and In business. I have no respect for men who go about masquerading under false pretenses or false colors. I have no respect for brsss band and free ride boomers. "I can't see for the life of me how sut stantial, conservative business men ran -A" carried off their feet by tin pan stage thun-( der. I feel sure that when they come to their senses they will walk to the ballot box on the 8th day of May and mark a cross in the republican circle." (Applause.) GREAT NIGHT IN BIG SIXTH Solid Twenty-Six Rallies the Forces to Hear Candidates and Other Speakera. J The meeting of the Solid Twenty-Six club last night at Idlewlld hall brought out a large number of Sixth ward rooters. Can didates present requested to be called early ao they could attend the Washington hail meeting. Bryce Crawford, candidate for council man from the Fifth ward, said the ques tion before the people today Is how the new council will treat the corporations. He ssld he would treat all Interests fairly, giving no person or corporation any ad vantage over any other person, Insisting that the franchlaed corporations should have no more than that to which they are entitled by law. A. C. Wahlstrom, candidate for building inspector, made a short talk, saying that In his fifteen yesrs aa contractor he has always employed union labor and never had any trouble. The Solid Twenty-81x Glee club sang a new song adapted to the present cam paign and followed It with another. W. J. Hunter, candidate for .comptroller, Bald that ahould he be elected the office would not go Into the business of dealing in city warrants. E. D. Evans, candidate for council from the Sixth ward, appealed for the election of the entire republican ticket. Fred Hoye, candidate for council from the Second aard, pledged-himself to continue bis record of the last three years If re-elected, standing for municipal own ership of waterworks and electric lighting plant, and promising his best efforts in the present fight for Just taxation. About the Bolters. The principal speaker of the evening vas as i jonn wnarton. He prefaced his remark by spesklng In high terms of the candidate on the republican ticket. DIscusBlng'munlc ipal political conditions, he aalit- J "When I am asked to bolt a nomination, I say to myself: 'Bolt? Bolt what? Bolt the nominees of the grandest party on earth, the party which has achieved the greatest victories of both peace and war?' Having these convictions I csnnot lay aside my republicanism at the requeat of a few disgruntled people: If you are a republican show your convictions and don't go skill Ing around with a dark lantern. I rememj ber when W. J. Broatch was a Candida- tne last time he was elected msyor. I 6 posea tne nomination of Mr. Broatch. was nominated. It waa a hitter mil He but I took my medicine and canvassed the city for W. J. Broatch and voted for him. I do my fighting at the prlmarlea and when that la done I am for the nominees, be lieving that ths judgment of the party ia better than that of any Individual. If you nave any aesire for the re-election of Preel aeni jtooseveu next year be careful your associates this spring. ' of Moores and the People. "All things taken together, . I believe Frank E. Moorea la the beat man for the office of mayor. He Is more fair and less dominated by corporation influence. He hae been a representative of the people rather than of the corporations. We must concede the power of the electric light company. It must be powerful because, when Mayor Moorea called a apeclal meeting of the council there were but two members pres ent. The mayor called the meeting and this showed that he was not controlled by the electric light company. He vetoed an ordinance for gas lamas because the city could not afford to pay for them. He could have mads himself solid with the corporations and in a few outlying districts of the city by approving the ordinance, but he vetoed it In the interest of the tax payers. He vetoed an ordinance for 100 electric arc lights although he alienated corporation friendship. He has shown him self a man who will stand by tho people's Intereeta. If he was a bad man thy would not need dark-lantern methods to defeat him. "The electric light company wants the mayor and city attorney both. The dark lantern brigade aald Frank Moores Is a grafter. That police board has been In power eight months or better. If you would meet Westberg. or Brostch, or Burbsnk. you would bear of grafters. They raked TMMerj ut the V gthe Y neii over with a fine toothed comh h.. evidence of graftlna la still hrkin. best evidence of the honesty and Integrity of Frank E. Moorea. Thev rir . extending the date of the election in order to find evidence agalnat hlra. The city cen tral committee was organised with none but antl-Moores men upon It. They had all of the machinery of the party. With sll of this Frank E. Moores carried Ave of tne eight contested wsrds. I suppoi poar is , buff aiier Moores nan won under such odd would be conceded the naminninr, early In the morning that distinguished eiuxen or tne sixth ward, John N. West berg. sent a carriage for Llndquest." Mr. Wharton then recited the incidents leading up to tha aouUaatloa of Jnk B.
