Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-23
SECOND WARDERS ENTHUSE
Give Mayor MOOrss and Other Candidates a
ROusing Reception.
cONNELL TELLS SOME PLAIN FACTS
zimman Relates the sudden Rise In
Value of n western Timber
Claim - Other Political
Meetings.

last night listened with pronounced evil
dences Of approval to a long list of repub-
lican speakers in a hall at 1893 South Six
teenth street. Enthusiasm for the Moores
ticket was at a high pitch. For the mayor
himself there was a splendid ovation last
ing several minutes. The single blemish
was one David Gilbert, a discharged city
hall engineer, who, laboring under the infu-
ence OF considerable liquor, created a dis
turbance in the rear of the hall.
Those who spoke were: Mayor Moores,
City Treasurer Hennings, Assistant City
Attorney Adams, City Attorney Connell,
w. J. Hunter. candidate for comptroller;
Fred Brunipg, candidate for tax commits
%sioner; Councilmanic Candidates Hoye,
zimman, Crawford and Evans; A.. G. VAIL
strom, candidate for building inspector;
John Chubbick. president OF the Cigar
Makers union; w T. Kierstead Of the Fifth
ward and Charles S. Elgutter.
II am a friend of organized labor said
Mayor Moores, and his assertion, though
bearing no news, brought forth a volley of
applause. II believe that men who work
should band together to secure justice for
themselves and to help themselves and to
better their condition. Laboring men who
belong to unions are under the right kind
OF a restraint, because IL they are not what
they ought to be in the moro important par
t%iculars the unions will see that they
are. But, my friends, let me ask you first
TO seek arbitration and a peaceful settle
ment in all your difficulties with employers.
For Municipal Lighting Plant.
1T Is high time that the city Of Omaha
should own It's own electric light plant, as
well as the water works and other public
utilities. The water works question. as
you know, has been taken out Of the hands
OF the mayor and council, but the ~acquisi-
ton Of the others have not.
Il want to say to you that II I am elected
1 hope to give you at the fall election an
opportunity to vote on a $500, 900 bond
Issue to decide whether we shall either
build an electric light plant of our cwn or
buy one. Tam heartily in favor Of a re-
duction in telephone rates.
Il am for equal taxes and the lifting of
the yoke of unfair taxes from the poor
man, who, no matter how heavily he is
levled upon, steps up and pays his taxes
like an American citizen, leaving Il to the
railroads and other rich corporations to
cringe and whine and do their best to shirk
both in the courts and out.
4 want a council that l can work with.
men who will stand up for the people and
VIII be an assistance to good government.
During the next three years more important
questions are to come before the council
than have for ten years past. II you want
councilmen that the corporations .cannot
control l tell you to vote for the repub-
iican ticket, and vote 1t straight from ton
to BOTTOM
COnneII Answers Critics.
City Attorney Conneil was called for 70.
p~eatedly and when he appeared was greeted
with cheers. His speech was partly a vim
dication of his public and private record
as an oficeholder and citizen, and he flung
down the gauntlet to his traducers. 81
dislike to hold UP for inspection whatever
good may have accomplished and what
ever virtues I may possess said Mr.. Con-
nell, but when am attacked 1 never run.
Will stand and fight and that is what I
propose to do in this campaign.
M man, woman or child oan say that I
W them a dollar and a Judgment never
was obtained against me. never con-
tracted a debt that / have not paid. Neither
do ! think l have been d~erellct in my duty
as a citizen. Always have l discharged
my duties as ! have been able, and never
have / failed to stand up for Omaha.
II have spent money In large sums 10
build up the city and no public enterprise
ever found me except at the front doing
what l could. On the subscription list for
the exposition you will find my name sec
ond, down for a contribution of $500. which
subsequently doubled. never expecting to
receive a penny of it back. / have fought
for improvements of all kinds and have
struggled for the upbuilding of the city
and a greater Omaha,
81 know very we'll what my opponents
are saying, They are crying that Cornell
has not paid his taxes. Gentlemen, II they
had said that l have not paid all my taxes
l would plead guilty, but when they say
| that / haVa mot 0ofd fa~a. 49,. 49, -
is absolutely false. The records of the
city treasurer's office show that since | re-
turned from congress I have paid to the
city OF Omaha more than $25. 900 in regular
taxes, and more than sos, 900 In special
taxes. And, gentlemen, II you care to 20
and ask City Treasurer Hennlngs for his
books you may read that I have paid every
personal tax that was ever assessed against
me-from the year 1867 to the present year.
"And want to say this: Every dollar
l ever had or earned in the city of Omaha.
and / came here with nothing, I have put
right down here IN Omaha, having faith in
Omaha and believing in the city and it's
people. l have put money in property and
in improvements to property. spent
S10 1000 identifying my own property and
1 1000 improving that adjacent to Hanseom
park, and no laboring man can ever say
that l did not pay for the work he per-
formed for me at the highest current prices.
Draws EIght-HOur Bill.
Regarding ~labor-people some times for
get. and these would refer TO the pages
Of the Congressional Record. There they
may find what I did for labor when l was
sent to represent the people Of this district
in the national house OF representatives.
II drew the original eight-hour bill, ad-
vocated that bill through congress and
secured its passage. / had charge Of the
bill exclusively and handled it from start
to finish. In the pages of the Record may
be found one speech In particular IN which
l may be pardoned for feeling some degree
Of pride and satisfaction, and In that speech
you may read my attitude for labor and
what ] endeaYored to do for It.
81 would recall my connection with the
viaduct fight, which l carried through from
its inception to a verdict for the city in the
highest court Of the country. To the Moores
administration We must not forget to credit
the Union Pacific agreement anchoring
forever the great shops in Omaha and the
expenditure Of hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars on new buildings and equipment.