The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-08-02
THE OMAHA CONTEST.
A Quarrel That May End in Riot
and Bloodshed.
BOTH SIDES SEEM DETERMINED.
The Governor Refuses to Take Part in the
appointment Of n New Police Board,
and the other Commissioners Say They
VIII Prooeed without Him.


OMAHA, Aug. 2.-Police are in posses
sion of city property, armed with pick
handles, to resist any effort made under
the new regime. Tho new force will be
appointed this afternoon. The mayor has
issued riot proclamation.
The A. p. AS plans have already been
decided upon in great measure. Johnny
Mcdonald is slated for chief of police, ex
Sergeant Shoup is given an office in the
new make up and all Of the policemen
who were recently dismissed for the good
of the service will be reinstated, with two
exceptions. 1t is also said that when the
new board calls upon the present police
force to obey the new chief that at least
seventeen members will respond to the
call The present police force is on duty
and ready to retain possession.
Mayor Bemis, when asked what had
prompted him to issue the riot proclama-
tion, said 1t was merely precautionary
measure adopted to prevent bloodshed
He said nothing had occurred in the ma
ture Of disordorly act or demonstration
so far on the streets, but from what he
had read in the newspapers it was neoes-
sary to put the people on guard against a
probable riot.
he had a reserve force Of police at the
headquarters and the official police alarm
operators guarded, said "There has been
a great deal of int1ammatory talk upon
the streets, and there have been inflam-
matory articles printed, and in the event
of trouble l want men on hand to sup
press it. I do not expect any trouble but
If there should be and I did not have the
men to preserve the peace and enforce the
law 1 should be condemned by the public,
and rightly too"
Editor John G. Thompson, of the Amer
lean, the A. p. A organ, received a dis
patch yesterday from Chicago, signed J.
W. Dixon, and saying: I'VE can furnish
5000 armed men to put down law breakers
in your city at u moments notice"
No explanation Of the dispatch could be
made by those who would naturally be in
position to know regarding its authen-
ticity and genuineness.
During the day there was no assemblage
of persons on any of the streets either
with or without riotous or disorderly cen.
duet. In fact the city was quite free from
gatherings of crowds. The conflict OF
authority, If 1t occurs at all, will take
place after the formal legal demand has
been made by the incoming board fol
recognition at the hands of the police de
partment.
The governor refused to meet Attorney
General Churchill and Commissioner Rus
sell at o'clock yesterday afternoon TO
the purpose of appointing the police com
missioners. and in justification of hi
course makes public statement, in whiol
he says:
"In order that there may be no undu
haste or seeming desire to precipitat
trouble, and in view of the doubtful valid
ity of the aot of assembly, 1 do not deem
1t my duty nor consistent with the main
tenance of peace and good ordOr to TAX
such hasty and preolpitate action relativ
e to tho appointment of = new board.
+ therefore, as chairman, decline to call tn
meeting or to participate in the appoint
ment of board of fire and police com
missioners"
Churchill and Russell declare that
= the governor refuses to meet with then
e. this afternoon they will appoint the com
mission and let them use force to secur
the city property.