THE COURIER
POINTS IN POLITICS.
ested in breaking nj tho republican party and will bo a Bourco of
weakness to tho new movement.
Tho fifth ward is in its usual state of chaos or h 1 assomo states
men put it. In tho "bloody fifth" every man over twonty-ono years
of ago is a statesman and every other man you meet is a candidate
for oilice. Most of them want to bo mayor, a fow would bo content
ed with treasurer and ono man was found on tho street yesterday
who was willing to take anything ho could get ho will probably
got left, for such a lack of ambition is never encouraged in the Fifth.
It would havo been far wiser to havo endeavored to control tho
nomination of the regular parties at tho primaries and convention
and then if the best men wero not selected it would havo been timo
enough to talk about an independent ticket.
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THE NATIONAL GAME
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The fine Italian work of this campaign has been done bo far by
the Gillilan-Sizer-Maulo clique. They have hold a number of se
cret meetings, ostensibly for reform, but really to push th,o interests
of Col. Sizer for mayor. When the work was well in hand) a public
meeting was called for Wednesday night to endorse tho effort of
tho reformers. And what a dissappointment that meeting was for
somo people ! Ono citizen had tho audacity to suggest that Col.
Sizer wasn't tho best man for mayor, another suggested there wero
other candidates and another suggested that the Fifth had a candi
date for treasurer in Mart Aitken. Mr. Gillilan's face grew long,
John Maule's smile faded and Col. Sizer, seeing tho handwriting on
tho wall, rose and said ho wasn't a candidate for mayor and never
had been.
But there was o e comfort left to tho patriots Gillilan's pet cre
matory resolution was carried. As a reformer Mr. Gillilan is a suc
cess, more of a success than at almost anything ho has ever tackled.
It was in the name of reform two years ago that Gillilan, Sizer and
their friends treacherously stole tho Fifth ward delegation from
Mart Aitken for treasurer and stabbed him in the back on tho floor
of tho convention. It was as reformers that they mado a fight for
Percival for water commissioner and gave him tho fifth ward delega
tion and now as reformers they are pushing the candidacy of Sizer
for mayor. But when after a number of secret meetings they de
cided to take tho dear people into their confidence they found their
efforts were unappreciated.
If Mr. Sizer is sincere in his declaration that ho is not a candi
date for mayor it will simplify things somewhat. Tho fight will
narrow down to a contest between Barr Parker for mayor and Mart
'Aitken for treasurer. As under present conditions it is extremely
doubtful if a mayor can bo nominated from the Fifth ward in the
convention where there seems to bo a general feeling that if the ward
should support Aitken for treasurer it insures nomination. His friends
think it due him for tho treachery of two years ago. In any event
there promises to be a lively caucus in tho bloody fifth.
Geo. Woods friends havo been working hard and at present ho is
conceded to bo in the lead for mayor. It is claimed that ho will
come into tho convention with several delegations besides his own,
and if the convention wero held today would bo nominated on tho
first ballot. Of course the combinations may change, but ho is by
all odds tho strongest candidate at present.
If John Wright secures the fourth ward delegation he will be a
strong candidate before the convention.
John Knight and Alva Kennard are both after tho fourth ward
delegation for treasurer. Hazlett is a candidate from the First ward
and Smith and Stire from tho Seventh. Aitken is after the Fifth
ward delegation and if ho secures it will undoubtedly be the strong
est candidate before the convention. It is said also that ho would
be entirely satisfactory to the that element of the party who are
after true reform in the city government.
Tho reform meeting held in tho U. S. court room Tuesday evening
was a dissappointment to some oT the friends of reform who thing it
should be carried out on party lines. It was understood by in my of
those who signed the call for the meeting that an effort would be
made to secure desired reforms within the parties without putting a
up a separate ticket except as a last resort. But it seems to be the
intention to put up a separate ticket without regard to the charac
ter or acceptability of the men nominated by the old parties. This
was advocated most strongly by democrats and independents inter
News of the Week Among the Ball Players.
Kid Speer has recovered from his illness.
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Hollingsworth Ii';es to play pass these warm days.
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Tho Rockford club has not come to terms with Catchor Friel.
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Next week tho National leaguo teams will begin to play ball in
south.
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Omaha management claim Pitcher Darby who is on tho Kansas
Citv reserve list.
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Jacksonville has a good man in Zeis who played right iield for
Rock Island.
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Manager Ebright says that he would not oigu another ball player
if ho would work for nothing.
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Boxingdale of last year's Omaha team has signed with tho Lynch
burg team of tho Virginia league.
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There is a geat deal of speculating going on as to whom tho pitch
ers will be when the season opens.
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Pequignoy has signed with Sioux City if they are able to break
into the Western association this year.
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Manager Ebright has the measures of all tho players for tho new
uniforms which will bo gray trimmed with white.
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Bob Langsford, who played short for Omaha last season, is said to
have had five offers. Xo one knows of his signing yet.
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President Kent has called a meeting for next Tuesday at Quincy,
at which time a schedulo will bo adopted and other business will bo
transacted.
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Art Creighton of Omaha, who has signed with St. Joe, is getting
columns of free advertising because he is a champion sprinter. Wait
until you see him play ball.
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The Kansas City Blues, with tho following players, will be in tho
city April 15, 1G and 17th: Daniels, Stultz and McFarland, pitch
ers; Bergen and Rupert, catchers; Kinsman, first base; Manning,
second base; Nattres, third base, and Nichol, center field.
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Tho Lincoln team is now complete with six pitchers an extra in
fielder and an extra fielder. The new catcher, Mahoney, is an ama
teur and is something of an experiment but he has a batting
average in the Colorado league that is very good. Should he bat as
well in this league he will be sure or a position on the team.
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In a few weeks tho local ball players will begin to arrive from all
over the country. Barnes, Kimerer, Ebright. Speer and tlollings
worth are already here. Archie Cole is wintering at Hastings.
Van Buren is in a small Illinois town. Gragg will come from Low
ell, Ind. Hill hails from Illinois. Sullivan is in San Francisco.
Maloney and Simons are in Central City, Colo. Fisher comes from
Louisville, Ky. Myers is in Memphis, Tenn., and Taylor in Pitts
burgh, Pa.
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