Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

system as applied 10 themselves lhtS
we're dined and wined. and taken on a
tour OF the country where substantial argu-
ments were lavishly used TO soothe their
consciences and strengthen their spines.
For nearly six months the issue was unccr-
tain. The Holly crowd mustered
eiFht members. An ordinance was
passed granting the Holly company the fran
chise. but the direct pressure crowd met an
unexpected and unhinching opponent IN
Mayor Chase. His veto Of the ordinance
practically defeated IL, as the gang was IN
able to muster the necessary two-thlrds 10
override the veto. Many amusing and des-
perate eNpedients were resorted TO by the
opposition. Fritz Riepen. the colleague OF
Barney shannon from the Third ward, was
suspected Of having fired his grocery store 10
secure a large amount Of insurance. Fritz
was in constant fear Of arrest. and the op-
position encouraged 1t. When the question
Of overriding the veto came 10 a vote a
detective armed with a bogus warrant was
placed on Riepen's track. He was cornerea
in a room and quietly remained there dur
ing the meeting in order TO avoid arrest
During the meetings OF the council IN the
old Redick opera house the chambers were
filled with excited men cheering and en-
couraEing the four embeTs who fought the
Holly crowd from first to last. and vigorously
kissing the boodlers. AT one time a lynch
ing party was seriously considered as the only
means Of Kidding the city Of Hascall, but
conservative counsel prevailed, and Isaac
lives TO annoy the municipal body like a
running sore.
The defeat OF the ordinance made the
question the chief issue OF the municipal
campaign in April. 1880. Gushing ostensibly
retired from the fight, but in reality he was
in II UP to his chin. The Holly company
furnished the sinews Of war, which caused
the machine politicians and ward buns 10
rally and work the primaries. Water pipes
were brought to the city and distributed on
the principal streets for the purpose OF con-
vincing the voters that the Holly people
meant business and proposed to stay. Large
gangs of men we're employed Tor the sole
purpose of working the primaries and Tor
their votes on election day, but their labors
were in vain. The Holly crowd succeeded
in renominating most of their supporters
thus forcing an independent citizens move
| ment. Respectable and trustworthy citizens
were nominated by the opposition and trl-
| umphantly elected. The election was an eN-
| citing one in many wards, particularly the
Second. where Mr.. Tiemen was pitted
against Hascall. The poll was located IN
! No. 3 engine house, where the Board oil
\ Trade building now stands. Hascall led ms
own forces. while the opposition was mar
shalled b. Hon. W. A. Paxton, James Il.
| BOYD. f. Rosewater and others. During the
first three hours the opposition mustered
two to one against Hascall and convinced
him that he was doomed. At 10 a, m. ne
mounted a box and announced his with
| ORA wal from INT COHAtSA .
ment had a depressing effect on his fol-
lowers. resulting in their overwhelming de-
feat in every ward where the issue was
raised. They were buried by 2,2SS votes, out
of a total of 1880 polled in the city.
The defeat of Gushing and the Holly ere"
was largely due to the uprising of leading
merchants and manufacturers. who vigor-
ously supported The Bees active warfare
on mercenary officials. 1t inaugurated a
new era in the city government by placing
municipal legislation in the banos oil up,
right men, and saved the city thousands OF
dollars e year in hydrant rent. a gigantic
swindle was nipped in the bud, and the
city redeemed from the grasp OF plunderers'
In the following July a franchise was
granted to the Omaha Water WORKS com
Sany for a system combining gravitation
and direct pressure. and the present magnih-
cent works are the result.
CAMP DUMP CAMPAIGN.
One of the thrilling incidents of municipal
life was inagurated in Omaha in the latter
DAYS of February, 1852. 1t is known in his
tory as the Camp Dump Campaign. On the
site of the present Burlington freight depot
east of Eighth street. the company had q
large force of graders employed leveling the
bluff. Jim Stevenson was the contractor
He flooded the surrounding country VIII
posters Offering employment 10 soy men lh'
result was a large niuX of iaoorers. stew
ensop. who was merely carrying out tht
hehest of the Burlington managers, ex
pected TO profit by this rush, in reduced
wages. but in this he was disappointed
About March l the men struck for an in
crease from s1.25 to $50 per day. The de
mand was refused and the men discharged
The Burlington people then came to tht
rescue and gathered up a number OF section
gangs to do the work. Meanwhile the
strikers formed an organization and secured
the active support of other trade and labol
organizations. Wednesday, March ). wa:
fixed upon for a public demonstration IN fa
vor of the strikers. They gathered between
.. 900 and 5000 strong on Jefferson square
formed in line, and marched to the dump
The section hands were at work at the time
guarded by a dozen raw constables. TIT
procession turned south on Eighth street
followed by a large gang OF humans anxious
for a row. Just as the head OF the pro
cession reached the dump some of this gani
raised a cry. The constables were ASSAULTED
and a few of them beaten, and the laooreri
fed to their boarding cars. The tumul
subsidized in a few minutes, and no grea
damage was done.
The row. however, was juicy meat for tn
opponents of labor. Their organs purposel!
magnifed it. declared that riyulets of bloot
were coursing through the streets, and tina
anarchy reigned supreme in Omaha. Flam
ing editorials were printed with the eviden
intention of embittering the working peopl'
and provoking an outbreak. The Bee de
Tended the right OF the laborers PEACEFUL!
TO resist wage reduction and vigorously de
nounced the false cries and absurd asser
lions that the peace of the city was in dan
ger. The night following the raid on tn
dump Mayor Boyd called a meeting Of citi
Gems al his office. Mayor Boyd, Sheriff Mil
Ter. General Manager Holdrege OF the Bur
lington and Mr.. were present
The apparent purpose of the meeting was Z
petition the governor TO call out the militia
Mr.. Rosewater insisted that such a move
ment was unnecessary. that ii would onl
provoke further disturbance, and disgrac
Omaha in the eyes of the country. Findin
his protests OF no avail, he withdrew. TIL
mayor and sheriff united in a telegram I
Governor Nance, declaring that they had ex
hausted all their power, and requested tina
the state militia be ordered out TO protec
the city. To justify the disgraceful act @
turning the city over 10 the militia, III
Herald and Republican printed the mos
scandalous falsehoods-that the workingme
were looting the city and unless assistanc
came ruin and rapine would result. Tn
editors of these papers controlled the ave
nues OF news TO the east, and sent thei
falsehoods broadcast over the country, dom
vast damage TO the name and credit Of III
city.
From Wednesday night till Saturday moo
there was not the slightest indication OF
disturbance. The raw troops from the coun
try arrived at noon Saturday. Fortunatel