The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-29
THEY WON'T STAND IT
Omaha People Are Tired of
Municipal Corruption.
They Demand That Dishonesty
Be Wiped Out.
MASS MEETING HELD.
The Secret Political Societies
MASS MEETING HELD.
The Secret Political Societies
Are Severely Condemned.

OMAHA. Neb., June 29.-The demand
for municipal reform in Omaha became
so pronounced yesterday that business
men and citizens, regardless of party
feeling, united in the publication OF
proclamation calling for the Organiza-
ton of a city government. The embers
of public Indignation have been famed
for several months by the alleged cor
ruption existing in local municipal at
fairs. Months ago it was noticed that
city money was being used by specula-
tors, contractors and others with po-
litical influence. The matter became
SO fragrant two weeks since that the
school board demanded an investigation
as to its funds. The next day City Treas
urer Bolln fed from the city, leaving
note that he had gone to commit
suicide. Officers located him in
hiding. Developments showed that
many members of the city council
and other politicians owed the city
from 300 to So, 900 each. The only
security the treasurer had was a slip
in the cash drawer indicating the
amount due the city on the l. o. US.
Cash was missing to the amount OF
$40, 0OO Since then this has been re-
duced two-thirds by the I. o. US being
taken up. The council, in the face of
the situation, refused to depOse Bolln,
though many citizens were demanding
his arrest. A week after his defalca-
tions were made public, Bolln resigned.
The mayor repeatedly sent names of
citizens to the council to succeed BOlln,
but that body refused to confirm the
nominations, in the meantime leaving
Bolln in office. After turning down
many of the most reliable citizens of
| Omaha, the council, after "a weeks de-
Law, confirmed j. 81. Dumont as city
| treasurer.
| These developments contributed so
powerfully to the general demand for
reform, that the following proclama-
ton, signed by 1000 of the most prom
all political parties, was published
| yesterday:
| 1--WE, the undersigned citizens and
voters of Douglas county, hereby de-
clare that there exists in our midst ur-
| gent need for a vigorous non-sectarian
and non-partisan citzens'm movement for
reform, and Tor the purpose of secur-
! ing an honest, economical, business
! like administration of our city and
county government, and we invite all
of the citizens and voters of Omaha
and Douglass county, who agree with
the following declaration, to join with
us in organizing for the above men
toned purposes:
1.-The constitution of the United
States ordains that no religious test
shall ever be required as a qualifica-
ton for an Office of public trust. It
| furthermore ordains that the citizens
| of each state shall be entitled to all
the privileges and immunities of citi-
zens in the several states. An Amer
lean citizen, who, native or naturalized,
is endowed with all the rights and
| privileges that citizenship confers on
| every foot of American soil. Among
the fundamental conditions under
which Nebraska was admitted into the
union was the guarantee that perfect
liberation of religious sentiment shall
be secured, and no inha bitant of the
state shall ever be molested, in person
or property, on account of his or her
mode of worship. A denial or abridg-
ment of these rights is subversive of
free government and destructive of
civil as we'll as religious liberty.
Whereas, The machinery of our
local government is dominated by a
vicious faction of secret political socie-
ties who, under the cloak Of patriotism
and sectsrian zeal, have usurpei the
legitimate functions of government,
invaded the sanctity of the judiciary,
fomented Sectarian strife in the public
/
tion in the police and fire departments
and have recklessly squandered the
public funds to support their follow
ers and promote schemes of spoilation
to the detriment of the community;
and
1--WE believe that every problem and
every issue to be determined by the
ballots of American citizens can and
should be openly, publicly and fairly
discussed, and star chamber methods
of organizing and conducting political
campaigns should be frowned upon by
good citizens as fraught with danger
to free institutions and good govern
ment.
1--WE hereby invite the cooperation
of all good citizens of whatever party
or creed, who are in accord with the
views and principles hereby enuncia-
ted, to unite with US in the effort to
give this city and comfy a more
economic and business-like admins
tration in all branches and of the gov
eminent"
San EranciscO's Big Fire.