Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-18
To Fill Vacancy
FRED LOWE.

The free silver democrats and the popu-
lists held their city convention last night,
and, so far as fusion was concerned, all
attempts in that direction proved dismal
failures The conventions convened at an
early hour, and from that time until nearly
midnight committees appointed by the re-
spective conventions worked faithfully to
bring about uniting of the forces. At one
time 1t looked as though the desired object
would be accomplished, but complications
arose and 1t was found impossible to divide
the spells in a manner that was satisfactory.
Upon the committees reporting to the
respective conventions, their reports were
adopted, after which full and complete tick
cts were placed in the field.
The free silver democrats met in Germania
hall. where Walter Noise called the dele
gates to order and stated the purpose of
the convention.
Dan Honin nominated John j. Mahoney
for chairman of the convention. Mahoney
was elected, and was called upon for a
speech, but declined it, saying that the con-
vention had met for business and not to
listen to speeches. l.. ]. Patti was elected
secretary. after which the delegates elected
at the democratic primaries were declared
to be entitled to seats in the convention
Chairman Mahoney suggested that the
convention proceed to the nomination of nine
councilmen, one councilman large and
six members of the Board of Education
START IN FOR FUSION.
w. S. Shoemaker secured recognition long
enough to say that the populists were in
convention, and that they had intimated
that they wanted to fuse with the free sill
yer democrats on the nomination of candi-
dates. Before sitting down he moved that
committee of nine be appointed to confer
with the populists and learn what proportion
of the political loaves and fishes they would
accept and be satisfied.
c. II. Hawksworth thought that the mem
beers OF the committee should be instructed
as to their duties. The convention frowned
upon Mr.. Hawksworth's suggestion some
individual remarking that the members of
the committee knew their business. At this
point Shoemakers motion was forced to a
vote and won, after which Chairman Ma
honey appointed the committee as follows
Ed j. Dee, Christ Elsasser, Henry Osthoff
c. II. HawkswOrth, w. III. DeFrance, John
Dennis Charles Smith, Churchill Parker and
Dan Honn.
Some delegate, who refused to give his
name, wanted a committee appointed to con-
fer with the free silver republicans, with
view to fusing, and giving those people a
show on the city ticket. The remarks of
this man were greeted with bowls, and
that ended any free silver republican fusion.
Charles Krug stirred up some trouble by
stating that he felt that IL was the duty
OF the convention to go ahead and place in
nomination the men who were endorsed at
the primaries last week. Krug's plan did
not meet with favor. and after II had been
discussed for time, the convention voted
a recess of thirty minutes to allow the mem
bers of the conference committee time to
meet with the populists and talk the situa-
ton over.
At the end OF an hour the conference COM
mittee had not returned nor had the mem
bers shown any signs of having performed
the duty assigned them. In view of this
fact. the chairman reconvened the conven-
ton and appointed w. s. Shoemaker q
committee of one to locate the conference
committee. Shoemaker went out into the
byways and hedges, and later returned to
report that the members of the conference
committee were hard at work, with pros
pect of soon completing their labors.
SPEECHES FILL UP THE GAP
While waiting and watching for the re-
turn of the committee, number of speakers
relieved the monotony of the occasion by
INDUCING in oratory. Jim Kinney harangued
the crowd and urged the defeat of David III.
Mercer for congress, his argument being
that II the Transmississippi Exposition was
to be success, Douglas county should elect
a free silver man, in order that he might
be in sympathy with the leaders of the
free silver movement in Colorado and the
other mountain states.
There being no other business in order,
the convention adopted a resolution denounc-
ing the Board OF Education on account OF
its having settled with the Bolln bondsmen.
The same resolution advocated the reopen
ing OF the suburban schools and the en-
ployment of only unmarried teachers. II
denounced the Board OF Education for hav-
ing raised the salary of the superintendent
OF schools. and also for having increased
the clerical expenses in the ONCE of the
secretary.
At 10 o'clock the conference committee was
ordered before the convention to report prog
ress. The committee refused to obey the
order. but instead sent back word that the
members and the populists were rapidly
getting together,
At 1890 o'clock Chairman Mahoney in
sisted that the convention should get down
to business
W. II. o'shadgnessy stated that he had
listened outside OF the room in which the
committees were at work. and had heard
some of the members say. I'VE viii give
the Seventh and Eighth wards to the popu-
lists" He thought that the work was about
completed. and that the committee would
soon report.
While discussing the action to be pur-
rsued. the committee entered. and the chair