Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-24

oOuhSil uCtS u LULU kcI FtSt.
The situation in local politics is get
ting quite exciting, and a vast deal of
wire pulling will be done during the
present week by the friends of the as
piring democratic candidates in order
to get things fixed" before the county
convention meets on Saturday next.
The scramble for the county clcrkship
has narrowed down to q fight between
j. M. Shea, the present deputy clerk,
and j. II. Dietrich. ID. f. Gleason, the
third candidate. feels rather lonesome
since the primaries were held on Satur-
day evening, when he was overwhelm-
ingly "snowed UNDER on account of
his republican p~roclivitles four years
ago. The friends of the leaders ca n
count on nearly all Of the city delega-
ton, allowing Gleason possibly three
votes in the convention at the start.
Dietrich's friends claim half of the del
egation, but this is doubtless too large
by half. 1t is very possible that if the
fight in the convention gets TO be too
bitter between the local aspirants, the
nomination will be thrown to an out
side candidate, probably Kelley, of
Macedonia. The fight will be
ring versus ''anti-ring,n repre-
sented by the above named candidates.
At the primaries there were two dis
tinct sets OF delegates presented. One
the successful one) the ring dele
CATION, the same one that has repre-
sented the party in its conventions since
jackson was II beardless boy; the other,
that of the Independent element, which,
sickcned with the methods of the past,
the ~trlckery, dishonesty, stuffing, etc,
by which the party machinery has been
attempted to secure a reformation
within the ranks to avert the colossal
defeat which they foresee will follow in
case the desired reformation Is not
effected. The ring" is working to Sc
cure the nomination Of Jerry Shea for
county clerk, while the other faction is
working Just as z~ealousfy to defeat it.
The ring" also has its pets for the
other Offices to be filled, and while there
is no direct fight at this point, there is
danger of II wholesale slaughter Of all
in order to defeat Shea.
A prominent business man of the city,
and one whose democracy and loyalty
expresses himself on the situation:
To the Editor of TIE BEE: In your account
of the democratic primaries held on Satur-
day evening you say: ~. NJ. Shea controls
the majority OF the delegates selected, :" aud
after reading the list one can readily see that
nc uOeS. Eut now! Wnau means ala ne and
his strikers employ to gain this end! Why,
by the same old tactics and fraud that they
have employed for years-bulldozing and
stuffing ballot boxes. In the First ward e-
pecially they had the caucus packed by men
and boys, many of them not qualified to vote,
and others who do not live in the ward at all.
In fact, some of them have no residence any
where. Many an old-time democrat left the
caucus mortified and disguised before the
balloting commenced. Their contempt and
ppnnniltiNp nf tho rin thnt hoe f,,,,.a d.
self like an octopus on the First ward were
plainly TO be seen and heard. For years the
ring like the above named creature, has
strangled and defeated everything and
everybody who did not stand in with them,
and aid and assist them in their schemes of
fraud and corruption. 1t is well known that
outside of the gang of boodlers and
strikers the majority of the democrats
do not want Shea to receive the
nomination tor county clerk. The desire is
to nominate some one outside of the Shea
family. They have had it so long that it
looks like IA monopoly which is not demo-
cratic. But the best reason given for Shea's
retirement is, that he is too pompous and
big-headed to fill a public Office. To this fact
anyone will attest who has ever had any
or business to transact with him.
In fact he lacks one of the greatest essen |
tials which all public servants should possess,
viz. courtesy to one and all in his official ca |
pacity. He and his. ward strikers have
gained their point in the caucuses and may
force his nomination in the convention, but |
/ would recall to their minds how two years
ago certain parties foisted themselves on the
ticket by fraud III the conven- |
ton, and also how they met their Waterloo
by being beaten at the polls by handsome
maiorities.
Nominations do not always guarantee cleo
tions nowadays. 1t is the ballot that counts.
In conclusion l beg pardon for intruding so
largely on your valuable space,
A FREE BALLOT DEMOCRAT.
Not being an organ at all, and espe-
cially a democratic organ, THE BEE
does not attempt to outline matters Of
or methods of operation, to the |
democratic party. The effort OF THE
BEE will be to secure the election of
able, honest men to these positions.
This should be the attitude of every cit
regardless OF party affiiation or
Travellers! Stop at the Bechtele.