Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-21
BENSON RALLY in FIRST WARD
Speakers Pledge "RefOrm" Candidate
TO Give City a "Liberar
Administration.

There we're ~twenty-six men, actual count.
when the Benson meeting In the annex OF
Petersen's saloon at Seventh and Pacific
streets, was called to order last night, and
Harry Bronze was introduced as the first
speaker, although the number increased
somewhat later. Harry Bronze was not on
the program but came to I'LL the place of
advertised speakers. He spoks for a few
minutes and in the presence Of the pop
rump candidate pledged his word that Mr..
Benson would give the people a liberal"
administration.
Mr.. Benson followed, opening his remarks
by telling a story about a large family
and a bul1-moose. He said he had not asked
for any nomination, and at the populist
convention no one was present in his behalf
when he was nominated. He denied that
Mr.. Moores had received the regular re-
publican nomination and in the next sem
tence asserted that there were seventy-two
delegates in the republican" convention
at which he receivd his first nomination.
Warming up to his subjct as much as pos
sible for him, he said that the present So
cial system is wrong because It permits
the accumulation OF great fortunes, and
that while the mayor of Omaha might have
little power to change the system he would
give IL much study should he be elected.
He closed by saying that the dollar OF the
city should buy more, II possible, than any
other dollar, and that It would be his OBJ
ject to accomplish this result.
Mr.. Benson was followed by John H.
Butler, who announced himself in the race
for building inspector as an independent
candidate. Mr.. Butler gave way to a man
who was known by few In the room. He
had talked but a few minutes when all
knew that he had no idea OF local condi-
tions. Inquiry brought out that his name
was A. A. Worsley Of Racine, Wis, and
that he had reached Omaha last Monday,
and is now one Of the Benson orators.
They said he was the populist candidate
for governor Of Wisconsin in 1896. He is a
: young man with a loud voice. He said he
had talked In San Francisco for the nom
partisan candidate and in Toledo for
Golden Rule" Jones, and that he might
come to live in Omaha. He roasted the old
parties in the style made familiar during
the hard times in Nebraska and closed by
appealing to his hearers to vote for Benson.
He was followed by Isaac s. Hascall, the
leader OF the corporation big 1--WE in the
council, who announced In no uncertain
terms that he was for Benson; that his po-
sition is now such that he can do as he
pleases, and he pleases to defeat Frank E.
Moores, IL possible. He talked until the
people became SO tired that half OF them
left while he still held the floor
The last speaker was A. W.. Jefferis. Mr..
Jefferis was the orator of the occasion AMI
his closing remarks summed up the total
Of his address when he said: "There will
be no straight-laced, narrow laws II Mr..
Benson is elected; there will be no Puri-
tanical enforcement Of blue laws, for 'Ras
Benson is a man Of the people," "'Ras'
sat at one side Of the room and did moi
deny the soft impeachment, although the
color on his face would have been a study
for an artist.
This closed the meeting, so far as the
head Of the ticket was concerned. He LEFT
while Mr.. Hascall remained and ATTENDED
to the liquid refreshments.