Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-16
LINCOLN CAMPAIGN Is WARM
Burlington Road az Usual Playing a Dual
Role in the Fight
FORCES OF ROAD APPARENTLY DIVIDED
Secretly, However, II is Apparent the
Railroad influence IL BEING
E1erted in Behalf of
Adams.
CFrom a star correspondentl

(From q STAN CorrespOndent)
LINCOLN, Neb. Feb. -(Specisl) 1.-The
republican campaign for the nomination Of
candidates for municipal Offices, which cul-
inmates Tuesday ip primary. has been de-
cidedly mixed and in many respects pecu-
liar. The issue projected to the front has
been whether the saloon license is to he
lowered. And now even this issue has been
knocked out by the fact that both candi-
dates for mayor H. ]. winnett and G. a.
Adams, have announced in favor Of high
license. Both men stand on practically the
same platform, an economical administra-
tion, and the fight has simmered down until
now it is that Winnett wants a third term
and Adams wants the ofice. The latter Is
al present member of the school board
1t is expected that the outcome OF the
fight will depend upon the way the Bur-
lington plays it's cards. Ed Bignell, super
intendent Of the road is said to have been
for Adams originally. but Il is alleged on
one side that he received a hunch from
headquarters to keep out and on the other
that he is still using his influence covertly
and effectually in favor OF Adams.
On the other hand, ]. II. Ager, the no
torious Burlington pass distributor, is out
for Winnett. and the following open let
ter explains his position;
LINCOLN, Neb., Feb. 14.-To the Editor
of The State Journal; About two weeks
ago | was correctly quoted by The Journal
as personally favorable to the denomination
of Mayor Winnett. on the afternoon of
of the B. q NJ. road, I'm the presence of
Mr.. J. w. Deweese of this CITY, authorized
me to state that the Burlington was nor
opposed to Mr.. Winnett's denomination.
have said this to number of people
l have never said to any one that the road
favored Winnett or that 1t opposed Adams
and the man or men who say l have are
]. II. AGER.
The shrewd ones see behind this the Gus
tomary tactics Of the Burlington to pretend
to be out of the fight while dividing it's
forces so as TO be in position to have
claims on the successful candidate, no mat
ter which one wins. In other words, the
road is playing both ends. although the
powers that be unquestlonably prefer TO
have Winnett beaten as a rebuke for favor
ing the Elkhorn at the time IL was granted
the right to use certain streets out OF
which the Burlington people would have
| preferred to have had II barred II the
! Burlington influence in Lincoln is still what
It was, and 1t has always dominated the
republican politics OF the city with a strong
grip, the Adams candidacy which has tho
backing of the machine built up for D. Il.
Thompson In his recent senatorial cam
paigns. will be the one to benefit by its
| strength.
Forces Are Divided.
Upon the mayoralty fight Of course most
OF the attention of the people has been
drawn. On that and the fight for mem
bership on the excise board. So great has
the interest been centered on these that
candidates for other officers have been
mentioned only incidentally. The board Is
composed of three members, including the
mayor and each candidate for mayor is
on a ticket with candidates for the excise
board. Three OF these are on the Adams
ticket and two on the Winnett ticket
Both mayoralty candidates aflliate with
the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal church
Adams being a member OF the church board
This will OCCASION almost an equal division
in the support of the church people, and the
pastor refuses to commit himself Sc
little advantage will be gained here by
either.
The saloon element is divided, though Il
is thought that Adams will get the greater
portion of this vote. With the saloons
divided, the churches divided, and two fac
tions having been born in the Burlington
railroad machine, the mayoralty fight is q
most peculiar one. Adams has lined uT
|
machine, a portion of the Burlington ma,
chine under Elmer Stephenson, most OF the
federal office holders and probably the Lin
coin Gas company. Winnett claims a ma
iority of the business men, that portion
of the Burlington machine under j. II
Ager, and probably the Lincoln Traction
company.
Mayor Winnett refused to be a candidate
for a third term until after the withdraw
OF DR.. Finney, who as a member of tn,
council was ardent supporter Of tn,
mayor 1t was after the announcement o
Winnett that Adams took a stand for tn
high license. Upon this hesitancy of Mr.
Adams in stating his position on the licens
question the Winnett men hope to beat him
Mayor Winnett is making his race ol
his record as mayor for two terms. In
cluded in the campaign thunder sent ou
by his friends under the head of "Fo
mayor. H. J. Winnett; for excise board
]. c. Harpham and Frank Wood" ar
these figures: -
Four years municipal management:
City floating debt decreased in
four years 5ds;g =
Police department saved In three
water floating debt wiped but. 2i,2ss {
Increase in license money last
year .........-.........r..... l2.OOO.C
Winnett promises to continue the EN-
cient fire and police department and t
conduct the city government along tn
same lines he has followed during the las
four years. His friends claim that he ha
always stood between the council and tn
, people and prevented the former from
, lavish expenditure OF the city money.
On the other hand the Adams peopl
claim that Winnett has stcOd between tn
: J council and the people, in many instAncei
to the detriment OF the people. They clair
the large amount Of decrease in the cit
= floating debt was due to general prosperit
and a collection Of back taxes. with whic
the treasurer and city council had some
thing 10 do. Mr.. Adams said yesterday: q
am in favor OF charging saloon men 81 sc
for licenses; l favor building up the hr
and police departments and / shall,
e elected, retain Chief Clement at the hea
b OF the FIRE department. / sh..ll remove 4
one from either OF these departments ea
4 1 cept for the good OF the department an
% its ehicient conduct. l am in favor ,
= eauaiizing the water tax. l shall condu,
the affairs of the city along those lin,
o that will result in the greatest good for II
greatest number"
Police Chief Cuts n Figure.
> feature that has cut quite figure