Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-11

q republican primary. 1t is the home ward
Of W.. w. Bingham, one Of the chief anti"
candidates for mayer, and he bent every
effort to carrying his delegation. He was
opposed by Councilman Fred Hoye and
Fred BrunIng for tax commissioner. On
the Moores delegation Charles Anderson,
who led Il and Fred Bruning received each
373 votes, while the high men on the OPP
position ticket we're Gust Hamel and E. A.
Ma.strom, with ESQ votes apiece.
Third ward.
Intense excitement marked the voting at
the Third ward primaries, where 514 bal
lots we're cast. a number largely in excess
Of the usual republican primary vote. The
high man on the Moores ticket, Hugh
Highlands, received 354 votes, while the
high man Of the opposition, Bob Johnson,
got only 1876. Conspicuous attempts at
fraud by the anti-machine workers marred
this primary. When 1t was seen that the
light had been a losing one, W. A.. Messick
hled e written protest with the election
board against a count Of the ballots. He
charged fraud by use Of money on the other
side, no polling list, no record OF chal-
lenges and not a legal form OF ballot. He
stated to a reporter that in his opinion the
b1AiSNSt PibphlNu az lhS bhhCNlOh VI tue
snti-machine central committee, we're IL
legal because a black line separated the del
egations. Every member OF the election
board was VIGOROUSLY anti-machine and had
been appointed for that very reason. When
they received the protest, they refused to
count the ballots, despite the vigorous de-
mands made by Challenger H. @. Van Az
cry. At last Sheriff Power, Deputy Sheriff
Flynn and Chief of Police Donahue APP
peared, having heard that trouble was Inn
minent. City Attorney Connell and Mayor
Moores were informed and came post haste
In a few minutes Connell had convinced
Messick that 1t was the duty Of the board
to proceed with the count. Thereupon this
was done, with ample representation from
each side. W. J. Broatch, B. G.. Burbank
and A. II. Burnett and others appeared for
the antis. 1t was found thai 9S ballots
had been voted blank. scratched or improp-
erly marked. Mayor Moores had S39 straight
votes cast In his favor and the opposition
III. Perhaps fifty ballots were voted with
out a mark upon them. While the count
ing was going on the police had difficulty
in keeping back the crowd. which was in a
ferment OF excitement. Vic Walker vainly
tried to get in the room and failed. The
crowd repeatedly cheered for Moores, and
NhVA OIO nN0A W "
Broatch he lacked company entirely. After
the count. the signing OF the credentials
by Judges Joseph Carr and s. s. Jordan and
Clerk w. c. White was a laborious and te-
dious process, requiring fully thirty min
utes to write their signatures. Only City
Attorney Connells polite insistency secured
the credentials at all. The sheriff remained
on the scene until the last act had been
transacted. Burbank, Burnett and Messick
said they did not know what course of re-
s~istance, II any, would be made to the seat
ing Of the delegates.
The Broatch police club was swung with
vlgor, approaching fury all afternoon in the
Third ward. Every covert means of in
timidation was tried, though the vote
showed II was without success. Three OF
four colored men were arrested merely to
show authority and scare others. The fear
OF what Broatch as police COMMISSIONS
might do vas evident during the polling.
and the real sentiments OF the voters were
carefully concealed. Many carriage loads
of Moores voters must have been brought
to the polls in anti-machine carriages.
Broatch frequently was present in person,
but did not mix very thlckly with the
crowd.
In this ward Challenger Messick took
advantage OF the Gilbert law to inquire OF
q number OF voters " they supported the
republican ticket generally last fall. To
one man he propounded the query as to
whether or not he had voted for Mercer
and he asked another II he had not voted
for Hitchcock for congress. In all cases
the elector swore that he had supported
the republican ticket and was allowed to
vote.
Councilman zimman's name was not ad-
mitted on the ballots but eight voters
wrote In their preference for him. The
other candidates for councilman were
given the following votes: p. J. Cum