Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-28
OPTION IN LINCOLN
Bitter Fight in Prospect Over This Feature
Of Campaign.
BOTH SIDES ARE STRONGLY ORGANIZED
Municipal Politics Warm Up Into
Lively Contests-CIOthes Of Chill
dren in Public
schools.
From a star correspondent.l

n oNah
LINCOLN, Feb. 2I-Cspecial.)-ovef
l.4Oo voters Of Lincoln have signed the
local optien petition TO have saloons dis
continued in this city. This 10 more than
twice the number required TO have the
question placed upon the ofhcial ballot in
the city election in April. The opposing
forces are already perfecting their organ
ization and It is settled that the proposition
will be the chief issue in the municipal
campaign.
The temperance leaders are planning TO
hold a series Of town meetings for the pur-
pose Of arousing public interest in their
cause and II is likely the movement will be
given open support by several Of the
churches. The local option petition was
presented to the congregation Of st. Paul's
church last Sunday evening and the pastor.
Rev. Fletcher L. Wharton. spoke briefly in
its favor. maintaining that with good city
~oficials It would be we'll TO discontinue the
saloons. Other clergymen have signiied a
willingness to assist IN the fight.
For the purpose Of ~defraying the expenses
of the anti7saloon tight a $4,000 subscription
FUND has been started. A. @. wolfenbarger
being the first contributor for $50. The
fund has been steadily increasing and the
temperance workers are confident that they
will not be handicapped by lack of money.
The opposing element has been quiet, but
II Is known that an organization has al
read- been formed to combat the anti
saloon movement. This element, It is said,
may also hold town meetings to arouse in
terest In their own cause.
May Need second Primary.
The oniclal canvass Of votes cast at the
republican primaries in this city has re-
Vaalad the fart that a. O he naOaaaarv 20
hold a second primary for the nomination
of one candidate for the school board. I'm
der the rules OF the Lincoln system a ma
jority Of all votes cast is necessary to make
a nomination j. d. Atwood received more
votes for the Nomination than did any of his
competitors, but he was seventy-two votes
short OF having a majority. The republican
city central COMMITTEES will doubtless try to
effect q compromise by having the other
candidates withdraw in Mr.. Atwood's favor,
but IL unsuccessful, another primary cleo
tion will be held next Tuesday, at which
the candidates will be Mr.. Atwood and Don
l. Love, the next highest man.
More than usual interest attaches to the
nomination for the school board this year
because OF the fight that is being made
against Superintendent Gordon. 1t Is gen.
orally understood that Mr.. Atwood is an
Autf-OOTQou man duO ne naturally mas the
opposition Of Mr.. GOrdon's supporters.
F~usionists Concentrate.
The fusionists of Lincoln are already pre-
pairing to concentrate their energies In the
forthcoming city election against several
Of the republican candidates. against whom
there is some opposition in their own party.
The main effort will be made In the Third
ward. where c.. H. Moore, a Burlington
railroad engineer, was nominated by a ma
jority OF twenty votes for member of the
city council. Mayor Winnett waged an open
Tight against Mr.. Moore in the primaries
and he freely admits that he is disap-
pointed at the nomination. Moore has been
an active worker in the city republican
machine and has been an indefatigable
worker in all elections for several years
past. The mayors candidate was Chris
Rookie. Some OF the republicans of that
district insist that some of Moore's vote,
were cast fraudulently. but there is no de-
sire upon the part OF any Of them to In,
stitute an oficial investigation.
Among the candidates mentioned by the
fusionists for the Third ward nomination
are Addison Meese, who was defeated fol
the same position several years ago, and
H. J. Whitmore, formerly national bank ex.
aminer for the state. Mr.. Whitmore is a
gold democrat. and while he might receive
some republican votes. would not be espe,
cially strong With his own party.
POpuIists Meet Secretly.
The populist city central committee held
a meeting behind closed doors tonight and
discussed the prospects for capturing som,
OF the positions In the election, and 1t wal
generally thought that with the co-opera.
tion Of the democrats. together with tbs
support of the disappointed republicans
a victory might be accomplished In tn,
Third and Fourth wards, and possibly in on,
or two others.
In the Fourth ward there is a more sat.
ished feeling among the republicans, fol
John 8. Bishop received more votes thar
the total OF those cast for his two com
petitors. The fusionists, however. ar
urging VIII Love to try for the position
Mr.. Love is we'll known throughout tn,
state as the keeper of records of thu
knights Of Pythias.
Patches Are No DishOnOr.
In response 10 a question whether chill
dren not provided with proper clothing cal
be compelled 20 attend school. under tn
compulsory law, State Superintendent Fow
Ter has ruled as follows:
This is the first time that this question
has been asked under our present law
You will observe. the following provision
in section l OF said law:
That the portion of this act requiring
attendance in a public day school shall no
apply In any case where the child live
more than two miles distant from tn,
from school is furnished to such child"
BY Implication. therefore,, this depart
ment will rule that the portion OF this &C
requiring attendance at a public day schoo
shah not apply IN any case where the par