Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-14
BENSON WILL LEAD BOLTERS
He Agrees to Stand as Candidate or Mayor
by Petition.
CONVENTION TURNS INTO MASS MEETING
NOTORIOUS Walter Noise and BuccR-
neer BrOatch Act as Direc-
tors in the Work of
Publication.

petition for mayor OF Omaha last night by
the antis who bolted the republican city
ticket in a meeting at Washington hail.
which Charles A. Goss, as spokesman,
termed citizens mass meeting" A paper
endorsing the candidacy CT MIR. Benson was
circulated in the hall and signed by 3Sj
citizens. No other candidates we're nom
mated. A platform was adopted on which
Mr.. Benson, In his address, declared he
stood firmly with both feet. The platform
declares in favor OF home rule, uniform
enforcement of all laws. equal taxation,
municipal ownership Of public utilities and
concludes by throwing a bouquet at or
ganizsd labor.
1T is a significant fact that while Mr.
Goss and other leaders Of the meeting de-
clared II to be a citizens meeting, non
partisan and non-political, that the plat
form adopted starts out by saying: I'VE,
republicans of the city CT Omaha, in con-
vention assembled" and 1t is also signih-
cant that, as Mr.. Goss stated, none but
those who had been elected at the pri-
maries as anti delegates to the regular
convention participated in this "citizens"
meeting. These delegates numbered, in
person, less than sixty-lve. though Mr..
Goss claimed seventy-one we're represented.
They did not claim, therefore, the requisite
seventy-two and conceded that their meet
ing was not legally the republican conven-
ton.
I'VE make no such claim" said Mr.. Goss;
"all we pretend is that this is a citizens
meeting"
Neither J. G. e. Lindquest, the Eighth
warder who sold out in Saturdays con-
vention to the antis, nor Ferdinand Haar-
man, whose sffdavit was read last night
stating that he intended to vote against
Mayor Moores and for w. w. Bigham, was
present.
BOlters' Organization Stands.
DR.. W. H. Christie and John Steele. pur-
suanttt to the action Of the antis' meeting
Saturday at the Millard hotel, acted as
chairman and secretary respectively. Dr.
Christie in his opening address said he and
his followers had been coerced to take
this step" by the regulars last Saturday.
A. w. Jefferis and Byron G. Burbank were
on hand with speeches, while c. e. Her
ring, w. j.. Broatch, John N. Westberg, A.
Fl. Burnett w. A. Saunders, Charles A.
Goss and w. g. Ure were among the active
men on the floor. Ure nominated Benson.
Councilman Hascall, Representatives Ten
Eyck and Koetter, Senator Saunders, who
was a candidate for mayor. Thomas Nc
Cague, Harry Morrill,, c. F. Harrison. #,
d. Wead. Bert Bush. deputy state labor
commissioner, Judge Gordon and Vic
Walker were present. Broatch Kept q
close tab On proceedings and evidently had
more than a spectators int crest at stake.
All these signed the petition for Benson's
candidacy. Walter Noise. the notorious
democratic partner Of Broatch, was also
there exercising benevolent supervision
over the work Of the purifiers.
Despite the fact that the platform
enunciates the doctrine of home rule, Of
equal taxation, laying particular stress
| upon the taxation Of franchises and rail-
road terminals, 1t was noticed that many
| lobbyists and listeners" for franchised
corporations were present and afixed their
names to the petition which endorsed
/ Erastus A. Benson for mayor. 1. S. Hascall
was one OF the first to sign this petition.
The speeches did not contain quite as
much vitriol as those delivered Saturday
afternoon at the Millard hotel blow-o out,
although they were not such as a Sunday
school superintendent would make on
Easter morning. Jeffers and DR.. Christie
dwelt somewhat on the virtues Of the
antis and the imperfections of their op-
ponents, the republicans of Omaha whose
voice prevailed last Saturday in the re-
nomination Of Mayor Frank e. Moores.
| Benson's speech of Acceptance.
Mr.. Benson's speech was largely a pledge
of what he would do If elected mayor. He
said:
1 feel from the bottom of my heart that
! 1 would rather have this vote of confidence
I from you than to be sure OF election from
men who stopped to the, depth OF ois-
honesty, and who by audacity and climax
| of effrontery drove you from this conven-
tion hall on Saturday | cannot say that
/ 81, hal | "a m
entirely unexpected, but / had entertained
! a hope that II might be otherwise. / am
not unmindful OF the honor, but | stand
here and consider | feel great sense OF
( responsibility laid upon me; | cannot look
lightly upon the duties Of the campaign II
| elected / shall try to make my administra
ton one OF thoughtful impartiality-to ad
minister with fidelity and to subordinate
| every personal desire TO the public good
have no personal ambitions to crafty. NJ
| candidate ever stood before a nominating
convention freer from pledges than stane
! here tonight, untrdmmeled as though
the nomination had been blown In on tn
wind A more unselfsh and more patriotic
lot Of never one s sed me 'hSl fo
favors when II was decided should b'
nominated. l have studied the platform
and stand squarely upon 1t. ! do not ex
pect TO coax the millennium from the ros!
dawn and put salt on its tall II elected, bu
promise to give clean, consistent bushes
administration 10 the city of my adoption
and love.
explanation of the Bolt.
The various resolutions adopted III tw
sections were as follows:
Whereas. Seventy-two delegates enteret
the republican city convention on Satur
day. April IL, 1903, in good faith, the sam
I being a majority of the convention; and
! Whereas, The chairman of said cOnVen
fion arbitrarily and without semblance o
fairness or authority refused Il psrmi
/, ! said seVenty-two delegates TO freely cas-
their votes according to their choice an
have the same counted as cast and
| Whereas 1t is and always has been
! fundamental principle OF the republican
! party that each and every delegate In
! republican convention has and possesse
| the untrammeed and exclusive right q
cast his vote without fear as he may de
teTmine; and
Whereas, The chairman of said conven
! tion by the arbitrary exercise OF the powe
! unanimously conferred upon him by tn
| whole convention, after having pledge
/ himself TO said convention to act fairly an
mentary practice, the principles controllin
the proceedings of republican conventio
and in violation of his express promise an
| declaration, did by sheer force OF his posi-
, / ton, with the grossest partiality and tn
: complete prostitution of his high an
I honorable Office with deliberation and In
! tent so to do, refused to permit Deegat
Z Ferdinand Haarman Of the Second ward I
cast his vote for Walter w. Bingham 10
. desire and refused TO recognize him upo
the floor OF the convention and refused I
permit a poll OF the Second ward delegs
lion upon the reQuesL OF many dels 8 ate
/ upon the floor OF the convention and IN
/ request OF the chalrmen Of the Fifth, Sixth