Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-06
CAMPAIGN APATHETIC
Indications Point to the E &c ion Of Repub-
lican Mayor in Lincoln.
OTHER PLACES ARE NOT so CERTAIN
Municipal League Does some auiet
work and IT'S Eject May ne
Seen In Result on EIec-
ton Day.
(From a stan Correspondent

LINCOLN. April 5.-(Special. )-After a
campaign so apathetic as to be commented
upon, both the republicans and the fusion
lists claim the city election, to De held
Tuesday. Chairman Morris Of the repub-
lican city central committed Is confident OF
victory. McGuire of the democratic city
central committee said: I'VE are going to
win this election"
The claims OF the fusioDists are gen.
orally taken to be simply in the nature Of
q whistle to keep up courage. Lincoln Is
safely republican and no opposing eandi-
date can expect to be successful unless he
has a weak man against him. 1t is con-
ceded on all sides that the present re-
publican candidate for mayor is above the
standard and sure of election, although 1t
is barely possible one or two of his asso-
oiates on the ticket may fall by the way
side.
The issue is the same as that upon which
the republican primaries were fought, a
high or low saloon license. G.. A. Adams,
the republican candidate for mayor, stands
committed to the present $500 license;
Wolfe and Hoskins, the republican csndi-
dates for membership on the excise board,
are not so definitely committed, having is
sued no platform. The party is standing
on its record for an economic and business
like administration
The fuslonists have erected a platform
which, after denouncing "duplicity and all
efforts to deceive and that man cannot
serve God and mammon," declares for a
$1,000 license; municipal ownership Of
lighting plant; adequate supervision and
inspection Of gas and electric meters;
favoring the granting Of franchises on
equitable terms to telephone companies
pledged to give reasonable rates and ade-
....A- --us. TAN. l. ia d.. Ia>auN,,nA
for the democrats, who constitute the back
bone OF the fusion combine. nave always
catered to the liberal element, so it is no
wonder people look on their platform as
made merely to catch votes.
Municipal League Interested.
While the republicans and the fuslonists
have made no show of any interest in the
contest, work has been quietly done by
the Municipal league, a reaction from the
republican primaries against the saloon
men and the friends Of q low license. This
organization has worked under cover so
that It is impossible TO say just what it
has done. On it's membership roll it has
500, two-thlrds of whom, II is said by the
chairman, are republicans. In view Of the
fact that the republican majority in Lin
coin is only about 1000, the fusionists ex-
pect the Municipal league to land several
Of the fusion candidates in city Offices. The
league may issue a statement tomorrow
telling what candidates it recommends.
From this 1t Is seen that the only fight
has been and will be centered on the ex-
else board. T. ]. Hensley, on the fusion
ticket, and Thomas Hoskins, on the re-
publican ticket, candidates for membership
on the excise board are both members OF
the Central Labor union and owing to this
the labor vote will probably be divided.
Hensley stock went up considerably yes
terday when 1t became rumored abroad that
the Burlington brakemen were for him and
opposed to Hoskins.
Another FactOr I'm Fight.
Another factor that is cutting some ice
In this campaign Is who will be- the next
chief Of police and the chief OF the fire
department. The Municipal league is in
favor of retaining the present beads Of
these departments and 1t is charged that II
the republican excise ticket is elected Chief
Hoagiand at least will have to go.
Fights are being made in the Second,
Third and Sixth wards on councilmen. In
the Second the county machine is trying to
land William Lawlor over the league and
the fusion candidate. Jacob H.. North. The
latter expects to get many republican votes
that were cast for Winnett for the repub-
lican nomination for mayor. The same will
be true Of the Third and sixth wards, where
the regular republican nominees are ]. w.
Hensel and Calm Thompson, and the flu
sion candidates are Ernest Hoppe and
Henry Gund. The fusionists claim they will
land in these wards. Very little fight is be-
ing made on the other city candidates and
the republicans will be elected by the
usual majorities.