El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-01

There'll be a hot time in the old town
tonight. especially that portion OF IL
which lies in the second ward-uniess
something occurs today TO materially
change the situation.
The old adage that the devil must
be fought with fire has been taken to
Eeart by the opponents of the old gang
ard the town is being given such an
exhibition of practical politics as II
never saw before.
Those who have been accustomed to
talk much and do little have not been
in II this year. The silent worker with
the scheming brain and long green has
been strictly in evidence. Chicanery.
bulldozing. corruption. Doodle and
promises have been rampant and only
..practical politics" has been practiced
by either faction.
Cp TO n late hour today success
seemed to have perched on the banners
CT the Hammett crowd and there was
wild eyed CONSERVATION in the More
head camp.
At High Tide.
In all portions of the city during yes
terday and until late last night, po-
litical strife was at high tide. The
ward heelers. amply provided with
Doodle. were engaged in getting around
fixing things and those in command
were keeping constantly in touch with
the movements of their henchmen- So
far as organization and management
went the Hammett forces had decided
ly the best of the game yesterday.
Hammett's men worked like beavers
all day and It was apparent that their
efforts were effective. They selected
Chopin hall as their rendezvous and
today IL was used as a corral They
engaged every vehicle to be had in the
oity-more to handicap the other side
than because they were needed-and
engaged voters in blocks of five. Sys-
tematic work was done in all the
wards. but the chief attention was
laid to the second. which is the battle
ground proper. Hammett's force was
a splendid one. but there were whisper
ings that treachery might be expected
in certain quarters.
Caples' force in the second consist
ed mainly of Pat Dwyer. County as
sessor Ed Caples was also doing some
tall hustling and much talking for his
pa
Old Gang Weakens.
After all the preliminary work had
been done and the fixing" process
completed. it was conceded that Ham
mett's advantage was great and that
Unless overcome by Doodle or treach-
cry he could not lose.
Members of the old gang virtually
admitted defeat and emphasized the
desperation of their condition when
last evening they proposed a eompro-
rise. They were willing to surrender
and pull Caples off if Mr.. Morehead
was permitted to name four aldermen
and City Treasurer Fassett who has
been in the same Office continuously
for half dozen terms.
Hammett's men said nay. nay. and
the Morehead crowd wept scaldinS
tears.
Some weeks ago The Herald predict
ed that Mr. Morehead would make his
most determined stand for Fassett. The
prophecy proved correct. His offer was
a tempting one. but the Hammett
crowd refused to accept any but an un-
surrender. Some of them
even went so far as to insinuate that
Caples had been put up simply as
bluff and to bring about such condi- |
tons that the old man might obtain |
concessions. 1t is conceded |
that Cap1es is likely to be withdrawn |
from the race at any moment.
Back Office Meeting.
The Caples crowd held a conference
early this morning in Park Pitman's
back office. They are great on back
Dffice meetings.
Those present were X. Caples. Char
ey de Pat. Charley Morehead, Ed.
Wales Con Lockart. Jack OConnors. |
md Jim Harper, who wears the judi
.ial ermine.
Although what passed behind the
,losed doors could not he learned in
ietail. yet il is understood that the
PERSONS present comprised a sort of