The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-02
THE OMAHA CONTEST.
A Quarrel That May End in Blot
and Bloodshed.
BOTH SIDES SEEM DETERMINED.

the Governor Refuses to Take Part In the
appointment of New Police BOARD,
and tho Other Commissioners Say They
Will Proceed without Him.
OMAHA, Aug. s.-Police are in posses
sion of city property armed with pick
handles, to resist any effort made under
the new regime. The new force will be
appointed this afternoon. The mayor has
issued riot proclamation.
The A. P. A.'s plans have already becn
decided upon In great measure. Johnny
Mcdonald Ia 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 rcinstated, with two
exceptions. II is also said that when the
new board calls upon the present police
force to obey tho 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 dlsorderly act or demonstration
had read in the newspapers 1t was neces-
Sary to put the people on guard against q
probable riot.
Chief of Police White, when asked why
he had reserve force Of police at the
headquarters and tho official police alarm
operators guarded, said: "There has been
great deal of inflammatory talk upon
the streets, aud there have been infiam-
matory articles printed, and in the event
of trouble / want men on hand to sup
press IT, do not expect any trouble, but
If there should be and l did not have the
men to preserve the peace aud enforce the
law / should be condemned by the public,
and rightly, too"
Editor john G. Thompson, OF the Amer
lean, tho A. P. A. organ, received dis
patch yesterday from Chicago, signed J.
w. Dixon, and saying; I'VE can furnish
1900 armed men to put down law breakers
in your city at a 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 con.
duct. In fact the city was quite free from
gatherings Of crowds. The conflict of
authority, If it occurs at ali, will take
place after the formal legal demand has
been made by the incoming board for
recognition at the hands Of the police de-
partment.
The governor refused to meet Attorney
General Churchill and Commissioner Rus
sell at 4 O'Clock yesterday afternoon for
the purpose Of appointing the police com
missioners, and In justification of his
course makes public a statement, in which
he says: .
I'm order that there may be no undue
haste or seeming desire to precipitate
trouble and In view of the doubtful valid.
ity Of the act Of assembly, do not deem
1t my duty nor consistent with the main
tenance of peace and good order to take
suoh hasty and precpitate action relative
to the appointment of new board 1,
therefore, as chairman, decline to call the
meeting or to participate in tho appoint
mont OF a board of fire and police com
mlssioners."
Churchill and Russell declare that II
the governor refuses to meet with them
this afternoon they will appoint the com.
mission and lot them use force to secure
the city property