Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

power. But bis opponents we're active and
yigilant. During the temporary absence oil
James from the state IN the month Of Jan
uary. 1872. l. s. HasCGll assumed the duties
OF governor and issued a proclamation con-
vening the legislature within ten days.
James hastily returned from Washington
ana issued a counter proclamation. r%evoktng
Hascalls call, but failed. The legislature
assembled on the day designated. and organ
tied. The legality OF the meeting oelhg
questioned, 1t was submitted to the supreme
court. 4 decision declaring the can ne
gal was landed down by two OF The three
judges. and James was left to complete ms
term undisturbed.
KoURT HOUSE KHAN.
The Douglas county campaign Of 1873 was
short. sharp and decisive, and one OF the
hottest local battles fought IN TINS Nlclhlly'
The democrats had control OF all county
Offices. and naturally schemed 10 continue in
power. The Bee attacked what was dubbed
the "Kourt House Khan" and made the
campaign so lively and interesting before the
conventions were held that the democrats
r~esorted to the subterfuge Of "a peoples
convention" The managers Of the oonyen-
ton were such veterans as DR.. Miller, Tom
Riley. Charley Connoyer. John Rush, w. II.
liams and the smooth Charley Byrne, and
a microscope was not necessary TO deter
mine the political complexion OF the ticket.
The campaign turned mainly on Grebe. VINO
was seeking a third term. His republican
opponent was Alfred Burley. The opposition
TO a third term was not in itself suflcient 10
defeat Grebe, a strong and popular man,
but numerous side issues were sprung which
created discords in the ranks Of the khan.
His election and that Of the entire ticket
seemed assured. when, on the eve OF the
election. the following sensational dispatch
was published in The Bees
OMAHA, Oct. 13--S. II. II Clark or 7. L.
Kimball. Denver: The vote of the shops
will probably decide the election, and it is
said 1t Will 90 solid against Grepe ior
sheriff. He has served the road better than
any sheriff we have ever had. Can't, you
give US this vote? I think you should il
possible. If you agree, instruct proper par
ties to give him the vote and send me a
'p' A. ]. PoPPLEToN.
The publication Of this dispatch exploded
like a bombshcll in the camp OF the khan.
The attempt to herd the railroad employees
and vote them like so many cattle was vigr
orously resented at the polls, and Grebe went
down in defeat with the rest OF the bogus
peoples ticket" 1t was a great victory
for The Bee and q crushing defeat for the
Kourt House Khan.
NARROW GAUGE BONDS.
In 1875 the commercial development of
Omaha reached a stage requiring new ave-
nues of trade. Additional railroad facilities
were necessary for the expansion OF bus
mess. Owing to the railroad situation the
rich adjoining counties and the southwest
were practically shut out from trading with
1 a ASs 0tAS N
agitation, merchants and capitalists deter
mined to break down the barriers. a conf
pany was formed TO build a narrow guage
railroad through Douglas and Saunders
counties TO the southwest. The officers OF
the company were Sam Rogers, president;
Frank Murphy, vice president; J. L. Lovett,
secretary. S. s. Caldwell and DR.. Lowe
were members of the directory. These men
inspired public confidence in the movement.
and the people along the proposed line eN-
pressed a readiness to assist in the building
OF the road. The quota allotted to Douglas
county was $3.50, 900. and the question OF is
suing bonds for that amount was submitted
to the voters at an election held in Novem-
Der. The Bee was particularly active in sup
port of the proposition, being convinced that
great benefits would accrue to the city from
the building of the road. The Herald and
Republican at first supported the PROPOSE
ton, but were bought over by Union Pacific
Job work. The Bee was thus left single
handed in the contest. For a time there was
no active opposition to the bonds, but toward
the close OF the campaign the railroad strik-
ers began an organized movement. Wore
went forth from the Union Pacific head
quarters thai the bonds must be defeated
and a large gang OF political WORKERS "aS
turned loose to carry out the dictum.
Jay Gould sent a dispatch threatening Il
remove the machine shops from Omaha i
the people dared TO vote one dollar to a riVa
railroad. This dispatch was given promi'
hence by the subsidized organs. 1t had tht
effect Of frightening the tenderfeet. Tht
election was a desperate struggle between
the people for commercial freedom agains'
Jay Gould and the Union Pacific, Senator
Hitchcock and the federal brigade, the Her
aid and its eating houses, the Republican
and its railroad printing, the Union Pacihl
National bank and the smelling works. Not
w~ithstanding the opposition OF these unite
interests, the bonds carried in the city b!
a majority CT 40 votes, but were defeate'
in the country precincts by $50 votes.
Reviewing the result of the election IN
Bee said: I'm the twelve years durint
which we have resided in Omaha, we hav'
witnessed many an election. but never ma
there been an election in Omaha where tn
engines of coercion and intimidation wer'
more remorselessly brought to bear upon tn
men who depend for their livelihood upol
their daily labor. The men who have con
tributed toward this subjugation OF an en-
shame at the infamous means by which thi
result was brought about"
ANTI-HITCHCOCK CAMPAIGN.
The election of Phiueas W. Hitchcock t
the United States senate in 1871 was tn,
beginning OF a reign of ofice-brokerag
never equaled before or since in Nebraska
Every political dead-beat, every notoTiou
ward worker and bulldozer was foisted upol
the people with the sole object of domino
ting state politics. The federal brigade be
came so obnoxious to the people that year
before Hitchcock's term expired there Wa
q strong current Oh OppOslllOu " us lie
election. The campaign of 1876 was there
fore fought strictly on the lines of Hitch
cock and anti Hitchcock. Convention
were manipulated by federal oficeholder
banded together with the strikers Of ia!
Gould throughout the state, and they wer'
no inconsiderable number. In fact Goult
made a personal pilgrimage to the stat
in September TO aid and encourage tn
Hitchcock forces by supplying the sinewl
OF war. He openly boosted that Hitchcocl
was a friend Of the road, and that he SHOULD
be supported and reelected.
Although the federal brigade manage,
TO divide the party in several counties, tn
rank and file stood by their colors and con
tributed nightly to the overwhelming de
feat Of the monopolists. In Douglas count,
there were two republican legislative ticket
in the field, the anti-Hitchcock supporte
by The Bee and the Hitchcock forces cham
pioned by the Republican. The election wa
a walkaway for the democrats, who were
, however, pledged by the convention no
TO vote for Hitchcock.
The result of the election throughout tn
state soon demonstrated that HitchcocI
could not be reelected by any combination
within his own party. He lacked the neccs
sary number OF votes and cast about anon
the democrats for supporters. The friendl
: praise showered upon him from time I
time by the Herald created a suspiciol
that there was a deep design beneath tn