Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-14
WOULD HELP THE GOVERNOR
Populist Club Offers to Pass Upon Local
Candidates for Appointments.
POINTER QUICKLY ACCEPTS THE TENDER
Asks tho club 20 Endorse one of Many
Candidates for Deputy OIL In
spector and sits Back to
watch the Fun.


j. Kelly McCombs, John Barrett, A. J.
Williams, O. A. Wolcott and few other
populsts in Douglas country are ambitious
to serve the state in the capacity OF deputy
oil inspector.
Tue Peter Cooper club is a populst or
ganization in this city OF tender years and
vigorous ambition. In truth you cannot say
years" in speaking of its age, for 1t was
born since the late campaign.
The scramble for the deputy oil inspector
ship is exciting and warm, because it has
been understood that a populist would
get IT,
The club, grasping at anything which
might give 1t prestige in the political world
adopted resolution few weeks ago ask
ing the governor and other state officers
| to make no appointments of populists from
| this county without consulting the club.
The governor is old enough to distinguish
a keen edge by an impression of his thumb,
and he tckled the club most to death by
the assurance that he would respect it's
wishes as incorporated in the resolution.
Almost in the same mail the governor
called upon the club to decide which of the
several candidates for the honor should be
nominated by him for deputy oil inspector.
The request seemed almost too good to be
true The members Of the club were noti-
| fed and there was big attendance at the
next meeting. Everybody was enthusiastic
over the situation, and many were the
encomiums passed upon the chief executive
OF the state for his manifest devotion to the
wishes of the people of his official acts.
The club decided to meet in two weeks to
weigh in the balance the claims of the
several candidates for recognition, and to
make a selection which not only would be
creditabe to the acumen of the club, but
a tower of strength to the party.
BY some mistake the secretary recorded
in his minutes that this all important meet
Ing TO be held in one week, which
brought it last night. He sent notices TO all
! the members and most of the candidates to
meet at that time, which they did. The
meeting place was in the building on the
corner of the alley between Farnam and
Harvey streets, on Fourteenth street. The
little room up stairs was filled with mem
bers of the club. Jim Jones, one Of the
state grain inspectors, presided.
| They Want to Let Go.
| While only one week had elapsed since the
club had expressed so much satisfaction over
the distinction conferred upon it by the gov
ernor, those seven days were enough to
knowledge that they had hold of a bear
Some even suggested that Governor Poynter
had tricked them by referring the matter TO
the club. They all wanted some one to tell
them how to let go.
The subject was talked UP and down last
night for an hour and the minutes of the
previous meeting were amended to read that
/ this matter was 10 come UP in two weeks
which gave the club another week in which
to prepare for the final ordeal. This breath
! Ing spell having been secured. the members
| then turned themselves loose the wisdom
or endorsing anybody. 1t was predicted that
such action would inevitably create dissen-
sions in the club The horrible example of
| the Jacksonian club was referred to as a
warning Another enthusiastic populst in
sisted that the Peter Cooper club was not a
campaign organization, but its CHIEF purpose
was to pass upon the qualifications and
merits of candidates for office Just as it was
proposed to do in the case of the deputy oil
I inspectorship.
In the course of this free and easy discus
sion 1T developed that DOC" Tanner of
! South Omaha was seeking the appointment
and desired the endorsement of this club
AT least 1t was said there last night that
he wanted the endorsement. Docs" candi-
dacy was spread out on the table in all its
spendor and every man in the room took
run and jump to light on it with force.
On this one point there was entire unanimity
in the club and it was decided the club
| should notify Governor Poynter TO beware of
Tanner. The principal sin of which Tanner
was accused was that he was a goldbug.
Sentiment is Divided
On the main proposition of endorsing a
candidate for deputy oil inspector the mem
bers of the club were divided although a
! large majority of them were opposed to anv
action further than to recommend the whole
! list OF populsts mentioned for the place
and tell the governor to make his own selec-
! tion and take the consequences This will
probably be done at the meeting next Mon
! day evening
Having got this out Of the way the club
was ready to hear the gospel OF populism for
a Few minutes and among those who ad-
dressed the meeting was Prof. Vincent. edi-
tor of the Ncl-Conformist who startled the
club by sa;lng that for twenty-three years
he had put the money question forward as
the most important plank in the popuIist
platform. Two weeks ago. he said. he
changed his mind and put direct legislation
at the head of the list, allowing the money
question TO take the second place As a rea
son FOR his change Of base he said the money
power had such complete control of all the
sources OF legislation that it would be impos-
sible to accomplish anything in the line OF
reform until the system of lawmaking was
changed, The direct legislation principle
was the bulwark from behind which the peo-
pie could regain control OF their own, after
| which the other reforms, including "the
money Of the constitution" would como
easy.
He only Repeats What Has Been Said
Around the Globe.
It has been demonstrated repeatedly in
every state In the union and In many for.