Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-26

n uOOT W n AoAhH VI ~ ~
cry and deception. The will Of the people.
as In the case OF equal taxation, which
seems to be the universal demand today,
will be ofttimes thwarted by confusing the
voter with a multiplicity Of candidates who
have been induced TO run by skillful play
ing upon their vanity, ambition, pique,
vindictiveness, venality or mistaken sense
Of duty.
DOUBTLESS occasions arise when It IL the
right and duty OF the people to repudiate
their party candidates. When a nomina-
ton has been procured by fraud or corrup-
ton; when delegates have voted differently
from the way they were elected to vote.
when the principles and probable policy OF
the candidate are at known variance in
important respects with the desires OF the
voter. It is the ~latter's privilege and duty
70 make his ballot exposes his convictions.
But no such charges can be brought against
Frank Moores in this campaign. The at
tempt to dc 20 is much like the woman
who applied for a divorce on the ground
that her husband was not the father of her
last child.
The Primary Fight.
'In a clear-cut. well-denned contest be-
tween Moores and anti-Moores delegates
Frank Moores carried hve out Of nine
wards and seventy-three out Of 14S dele
gates. Arrayed against him was the most
complete political organization ever formed
in this city, including every franchised
corporation, the railroads, the board of IRE
and police commissioner with its power
full club, all the members OF the last legls-
lature. the solid chy and county repub-
lieAn central committees, the World Herald,
the News, and all the leading democratic
politicians. They gerrymandered the city
IN a way they deemed most Instantaneous
TO him. The mayor was Invested. OF all in
fuence on the fire and police board. He
was made powerless to hire a man on the
public works without the approval OF both
the board Of public works and the city
council, a majority of the latter body being
adverse to him. The city central committee
refused to permit him to name a single
fudge of election and but three clerks in
the city Of Omaha. They attempted to de-
ceive the public by calling hin a machine"
candidate, although they had taken posses
sion Of and were themselves using every
wheel Of the machine. His success under
such circumstances proves that the people
were with him.
After carrying the primaries his NOM
nation became a mere matter Of honesty.
II lie q matter for congratuiation and proves
that the morals Of politicians are much
better than commonly reputed that out Of
seventy-three delegates there was but one
who proved dishonest and one shaky.
Neither Of these had ever Sat In con-
vention or had an opportunity to become
educated In the ethics Of politics. When
the delegate from the Eighth ward who was
elected on the Moores delegation d.sap-
peared after the close OF the primaries,
and was reported not to have returned to
~ 49,. NAak -g-Lk aA,.VA - - $3.50
the following morning, but appeared for
the FIRST time In the convention, seated,
not with the delegates with whom he had
fought the day previous. but IN the midst
Of the snti-Moores delegation from the
Sixth ward, treachery was suspected.
Unprecedented Parliamentary Rulings
When the chairman Of the city commit
tee, a lawyer and parliamentarian, made the
unprecedented ruling that delegates having
credentials from the Judges and clerks Of
election we're not entitled to vote on the
question Of temporary chairman Of the
convention; when this ruling was supported
by such skilled lawyers and parliamentar-
fans as Mr.. Breckenridge, Mr.. Goss, Mr..
Burbank, 1t was manifest that the passions
aroused at the primaries were not allayed
and that an attempt would be made to de-
feat the will OF the people as expressed in
the primaries, right or wrong. When the
chairman ordered a roll call by naming
each individual delegate instead Of under
the usual practice OF q call of wards, his
motive was suspected. When this
delegate from the Eighth ward voted prac-
tically to unseat himself and the colleagues
with whom he was elected. the knowledge
on the part Of the chairman of the treachery
Of the delegate became apparent and his
motive was explained.
Then a great and truly American scene
illustrated how public opinion Furnishes a
dishonest delegate. For twenty minutes the
hall was filled with cries Of Traitor,
Bought How much did you get3' 'who
bought your Show your face Judas
Iscariot.' Even his friends smiled and en-
oyed the predicament OF their hireling.
The poor culprit sank lower and lower in
his chair. His head hung on his breast
and his eyes seemed searching for a knot
hole in the floor. The Door man was re-
sewing a lesson in the ethics of politics.
Later, when the vote was being taken
for mayor on a motion for a call by wards
previously carried, the chairman Of the
Second ward delegation announced the entire
vote of that ward for Frank e. Moores.
Not a single delegate from that ward chal-
ienged the correctness Of the announcement
After the vote had proceeded clear to the
Ninth ward, Mr.. Breckenridge, Mr.. Goss
and others not In the Second ward delega-
tion called for a poll OF that ward. Their
own chairman. Mr.. Herring. had a few
minutes before ruled that II the ward was
satisfied with it's own vote a delegate from
another ward could not complain. The
chairman followed this precedent and n
this was sustained by every writer upor
parliamentary practice and the universe.
custom Of conventions.
Roll Not Called For.
"a party who is aggrieved is the only on,
who can challenge the correctness Of tn,
announcement OF his vote. No one from
the Second ward called for a poll Of the
delegation. From afhdavits tina have seer
published in the daily press l suspect tina
Mr.. Hartman had learned from the objec
lesson presented in the punishment OF thu
treacherous delegate from the Eighth war
q lesson in political ethics. / know that ha,
he voted otherwise than for Frank r
Moores he would have been guilty OF a con
temptible and troacherous act.
II have in my hands the sample ballot
used In the Second ward. On one 4
printed: This delegation is for w. W
Bingham for mayor and A. II. Henning
for city treasurer Mr.. Haarmann's nam
does not appear upon that delegation. o.
the other Is printed; This delegation 1