Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-27
POLITICAL POTPOURRI.
A Republican Majority Promised in the
Next City Council,
Preparing for the Ballot Battle.

~ O NShS -
awakened In the coming city election.
The feeling has developed strongly, In
both political parties, that a great change
Is demanded In the city government.
This has been openly expressed In the
democratic meetings even in view of the
fact that the present city government is
democratic. In the democratic camp
there Is evident a strong anti Vaughan
feeling, Vaughan and his followers being
set against the Others. 1t seems that
Vaughan is determined so far as possible
to have the administration under his con.
troll, and although he Ia not a candidate,
as he has one more year to serve as
Mayor, yet he Is seemln ely as greatly In
terested in the election as If 1t were his
own battle; inwardly 1t Is, and there is a
strong feeling on both sides against the
election of any man over whom Vaughan
will have control.
The republicans have made strong
nominations. John Bennett, as alder
man at large, can and shall be elected.
His help in Fighting the finances of the
city will be of incalculable worth. Lau-
datory notices of him are needless. The
name Is enough, and his election would
do more to restore public confidence than
that of almost any other man in the city,
and If he will assume the duties, the
people will rally to his support grandIy.
For Alderman of the Third ward Chris.
Straub will be elected without doubt.
He is well known as a progressive, hard
working and honest man, who will Join
in every effort to put this city on its feet,
and clothe 1t in Its right mind again. A
practical man, he will quickly sac what is
needed, and fearlessly steadily go at work
to do 1t.
E. L.. Shugart, as alderman Of the
Fourth ward, will receive the support of
many democrats as we'll as republicans.
He has done a great deal for Council
Bluffs, and has shown his faith In the
city by making one of the greatest inn
provements here. He Is a man of ex-
perience in municipal and county matters,
and having large interests here, will see
to 1t that the clty's interests do not suf-
fer. 1t Is understood that Mayor
Vaughan has singled him out especially
as his target, and will wage war upon
him, but this fact will strengthen him
with many.
The republicans have thus put up good
men, and if the citizens want to break the
clique and rout the gang, they have the
opportunity of doing so, by casting their
votes solidly for these thus named by the
republicans. The opposing forces will be
strongly massed, and it will be no walk
away, but by work and union there Is no
doubt of Bennett, Shugart and Straub
being elected.
The democrats have made a specially
strong nomination in the Fourth ward.
"Brooks" Reed, as w. B. Reed is IA
miliarly known, is a young man who
would make al excellent alder
man. He has not had experience,
but he is an honest man, with
an enthusiastic determination, if elected,
to serve the people. 1t Is not thought
that Vaughan and his clique would be
able to control him, but the iactthat
Vaughan will make an open fight ON
Shugart and will not make one on Reed
indicates that Vaughan has more hope at
least of influencing Reed than of in1u-
enciug Shugatt. 1t would doubtless be
an improvement to have Reed elected,
but In some respects a greater improve
ment to have Shugart.
Mr.. Blaxslm in the Third ward will
doubtless be defeated, not because he Is
not a good man, but because the people
prefer Straub, deeming him better for the
purposes for which they want him just
now.
There Is one remarkable feature to the
campaign. Thus far, with perhaps the
exception of Mr. Murphy, not one of the
men nominated by either party is accused
of having any political ambition to
prompt them to accept the nominations.
This is a cheering hope for the people.
For once, the men have been sought out
by the people and urged to run, and there
is M charge on either side that any of
the nominees desire anything, but that,
IT elected, they may help in making q
change in the city for the better. Those
nominated, however, by the democrats,
belonging to the ruling party, and being
liable to more or less administration"
pressure, do not seem, however, quits so
safe to trust in this emergency, There is
no question about the republican nomi
nees. Not one of the three nominated
can be drawn Into any of the schemes of
the present administration.