Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-28
OKEEFFE STILL UNTERRIFIED
South Omaha Member Not Afraid Of Party
Organizations Committee,
sTocKHAm MAY NOT TAKE HIS NEW JOB
Captain says He VIII Not Become
Superintendent of Poor Farm
Unless New Resolution
Goes Through.

"What are you going to do when the
county democratic central committees
committee calls to straighten out the dem
ocratic members Of the board7" was asked
Commissioner O'Keefe yesterday morning.
II guess I'll leave the state" answered
che unterrifed Richard with a smile, as he
glanced at a travelling bag that Commits
sloner Connolly had packed, preparatory to
leaving tonight with Mrs. Connolly for a
visit Of two weeks or more in the extreme
east. Then, more seriously, he added:
II really haven't thought much about 1t
and don't know what the committeeman
will ask, nor what they hope to do, but one
part Of my answer to them will be that I
am for the taxpayers, not the politicians
who want county Jobs.
II can pick out half a dozen Of these men
who are making the most noise about this
boards course and show that they wanted
to get onto the county pay roll. The chair
man selected some queer men for his COM
mittee to visit us in the interest of the
party. Everybody knows what Ford wanted,
because everybody can remember how he
sat around here, meeting after meeting,
waiting to step into the place when 1t was
given him
on Connolly.
"As for Mr.. Connolly's proposal to do
whatever two member Of a committee of
three should decide as best, l must say that
Il seems to me he has put himself in a
. queer situation. This arrangement would
bind him to vote for removals II the com
mitteemen so advised, and naturally the
committeeman would advise having the
county farm in charge of a democrat. How
then can Connolly keep his word, for in the
meeting OF the committee Of the whole, as
every member present t~estifes, he de-
clared that the appointment Of Captain
Will Stockham, republican, for the place
would be made with his free consent, that
the captain should remain a year or at
least until the possible changes are made
in the personnel of the board January 1,
next"
Mr.. Connolly's departure Just at this time
makes the situation at the county farm a
particularly interesting one. Captain Stock
ham told a representative of The Bee yes
terday that the resolution of last Saturday
appointing him as superintendent and in
structing him to act as such after June 1.
but without specification as to time. was
not sufficient. He said: "If the board
adopts a new resolution appointing me su-
!perintendent for the seven months from
June l to January 1. I'll take the place. If
not, / won't. And the appointment must
be made before June l."
HOfeIdt IL with O'KeeRe.
With Connolly out of town such a resolu-
ton cannot be adopted, as Chairman Ho-
feldt is known to be with O'Keeffe for re-
tanning Oest, the democratic incumbent.
But in this connection there arises the
other question as to what is to happen II
Stockham keeps his word. There has al
ready been adopted a resolution making
him superintendent after June 1, and unless
the republican members vote with the lem
ocrats in resembling that resolution the vote
must stand a tie. MIR. Oest might continue
In command, and indeed is said to have
planned to fight in court his removal from
the place. but som attorneys question his
ability to collect salary IL he remains in
the institution after June 1 without being
authorized by the board.
with matters thus complicated by a res
olution which he himself introduced, It is
small wonder that Mr.. Connolly feels the
need OF ocean breezes and a two weeks
trip" remarked a democrat at the court
house yesterday morning.