Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-06
South Om aha NowS.


There is already considerable speculation
as to the manner in which the city will
be divided into wards. Councilman Johnston
Is an advocate of the six ward plan, with
one councilman to each ward and in
furtherance OF his plan he has secured the
appointment of n committee to redistrict
the city and report to the council when
the work is completed This committee
is compt sed of Members Adkins Johnston,
Fitle and Martin. Johnston asserts that
the work will take at least two weeks, as
he proposes that the wards be cut so as
to contain not more than 400 voters in each
precinct, and he figures two voting pre-
cIncts to each of the proposed six wards.
In order to properly attain the result, Mr..
Johnston asserts that the registration books
will have to be gone over in order to de-
termine the exact boundary lines. The re-
publican members of the council are suspi-
cious OF Johnston and are inclined to think
that there is too much poll les in his propo-
sition. AS nearly everyone knows Johnston
is "a candidate for mayor in case an election
Is to be held this year and II is thought
that he wants to divide the wards so as
to give every ward a democratic majority.
Councilman Trainor objects to the six ward
plan and also to allowing Johnston to man
ipulate the redistricting deal. He thinks
that five wards will be enough. with two
councilmen from each ward or Ave elected
from wards and fiye at large. making ten
members Of the council. Johnston opposes
Trainor on his plan and sets up the
economy plea, He thinks that the city
can get along with six councilmen and save
money, averring that there is no necessity
for having ten representatives, when six
can do the work Just as well.
Sentiment seems to be divided regarding
the boundary lines. Those who favor the
five ward plan. suggest that Twenty third
| street is the logical dividing line princi-
pally from point OF popula len. The eastern
part of the city is growing rapidly, while
there is little room to expand ON the west
| Some favor Twenty-fourth street. but a
majority appear to think that Twenty third
street will make the best dividing line
| The terms of Councilmen Clifton, Fitle,
Johnston and Trainor expire in the spring.
| Johnston is an avowed candidate for mayor
| and will hardly enter the councilmanic
race. Fitle has a first-cass position in
| Lincoln and will not be candidate for re.
election, Clifton was appointed to serve
out the uneXpired term of Mayor Kelly and
as he has made good record he can doubt
less be reelected. Trainor would like to
make the race for mayor, but IL he sees
| mat hc NdHHOl secure tne nomination ne
will, more than likely, be renominated for
the position he now holds.
In addition to Johnston as democratic
| candidates for mayor, there are Hector,
| Bulla, Parks and Ensor. All are politicians
| and have commenced erecting fences for the
nomination. in case there is a change in the
! charter. Parks and number of his friends
| are now in Lincoln, boosting for the charter
and urging that the bill be so changed
MS 10 require an election in the spring. Quite
a number of democratic politicians are seek
| ing nominations for the council among the
mcst prominent being Henry Mics, who
served Term or two as representative
OF the Second ward. Jim Wear John RYAN
Jack Walters and other old war horses are
being talked of. Most OF the talk OF q
spring election comes from the democratic
camp the republicans having very little tc
say about the matter
| LiInOr Dealers Anxious
In very short time liquor dealers vii
be compelled TO step up to the city treas
urers office and pay in the annual license