Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-28

~ " WILL |
william s. Poppleton is an uncompromis-
ing advocate Of the economical and business
like administration Of public affairs. His
advocacy of the principles that in local
campaigns the citizen should align himself
for those candidates whose election prom
Uses the best government Is Of many years
standing. A stalwart democrat, he has
stood for purity in politics, for a nom
partisan and unbiased administration of
public business. He Is the kind of a man
who does not hesitate to go outside his
own party, where he believes 1t necessary
to accomplish this result. He is a leading
member Of the Municipal league of this city.
Mr.. Poppleton, however, believes that, In
the mayoralty fight this spring, the best
interests OF Omaha will be subserved by the
election Of Edward e. Howell, the demo-
cratic candidate. He makes his position
clear in the following authorized interview
given the World-Herald:
you may say for me that while l do not
intend to stick rigidly to partisan lines in
exceptions, for the candidates endorsed by
the Municipal league, / am for Edward E.
Howell for mayor and shall vote and work
for him.
I'm common, l think. with most men who
are familiar with the political history OF
Omaha, 1 regard the race as entirely be-
tween Moores and Howell. Mr.. Benson will
receive a fattering vote, but he can not
possibly be elected. "-World-H Herald.
Nj. Poppleton is eminently correct
when he says that the mayoralty con-
test is between Moores and Howell. Mr..
Poppleton's endorsement Of Edward e.
Howell should, however, carry little
weight with taxpaying citizens who
want to protect Omaha from corporate
misrule and corporate aggression.
would be a safe counsellor on mu-
nicipal issues, but in this instance his
ordinary civic pride has given way to
partisan prejudice. Six years ago Mr..
Poppleton supported Edward E.. Howell,
Notwithstanding his discreditAble record
in the city council and in the legis-
lature.
On this score The Bee published the
following editorial on Monday, April 10,
1897:
Mr.. Poppleton is a we'll bred and a we'll
read attorney, but he has a great deal to
learn yet In politics. According to Mr..
Poppleton, the people of Omaha who de-
sire good government should vote for Mr..
Howell because he stands upon a platform
sound In principle and full of promise. Mr..
Poppleton evidently relies upon platform
pledges as a drawing card with voters, even
when the record OF the candidate is in
diametrical opposition and no matter how
many times that candidate has gone back
on platform pledges on which he has been
elected.
The democratic county convention which
nominated Edward E. Howell for state
senator last year promulgated a platform to
which each candidate was pledged. One Of
the planks of that platform pledged Mr..
Howell to labor for the abolition of the fee
system in the district court and make the
position of clerk a salsried office. What
did Senator Howell do to redeem this
pledge, and why was the bill abolishing the
fee system strangled without coming to a
vote?
The plank on which Mr.. Howell was nomi-
mated for the senate pledged him to give
the city OF Omaha home rule; in other
words, the privilege to make and amend it's
own charter. What did Mr.. Howell do to
redeem his pledge? Why did he not even
introduce a bill with that object in view?
The platform on which Senator
Howell was elected denounced the
republican party for the creation
Of numerous extravagant and useless
salaried officials and pledged him to bring
about a system Of retrenchment and
economy. How did Mr.. Howell live up to
this pledge? He did not try to abolish a
single state Office denounced by his plat
form as ex~travagant and useless. Did not
the legislature, with Mr.. Howell's aid. create
a number OF new salaried and fee Offices
instead Of abolishing them? What assur-
ance have we that Mr.. Howell would redeem
his platform pledges any better than did
Senator Howell?
How does Mr.. Howell's record in the city
council harmonic with the pledges made
for him in his platform for municipal own
ership7 The man who as councilman had
to be enjoined in the courts by William s
Poppleton to prevent him from passing the
hfty-year gao franchise over the mayor
veto. who voted for the ten-yea garbage
monopoly and Wiley's various electric light.
ing Jobs, who voted to override the mayor
veto Of excessive water works bills. WoulC
a man who played fast and loose in all thu
contention between the city and the con.
tractors and franchised corporations likel!
as mayor go back on his old friends ant
associates to fulfill the pledges of his lates
platform?