Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-07
CRITICAL STAGE IS REACHED
Prospect Of Clash Of Au hsrity in Phils-
dslphia Today.
CONFLICT BETWEEN SHERIFF AND MAYOR
City OmciaIs swear I'm Thousand
Extra PSIicelnen-Each side
Claims Election by
Bic Majority.

| PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 6-The eve Of the
day toward which Philadelphia has been
| looking for six months 70 decide whether
the municipal AFFAIRS Of the city shall con-
tinue TO be conducted as they nave been
in the past or whether a new order Of
things shall obtain, finds the situation so
tense that no Philadeiphan will be sur
prised tomorrow II the peace of the city Is
seriously disturbed Matters reached a
critical stage today when the mayor of
the city and the sheriff of the county. both
Of whom are leaders in their respective
parties issued antagonistic prociamations
swearing to uphold the law and protect
the citizens against the illegal ballots OF the
opposing side. The sheriff in his rroclama-
ton calls upon citizens to assist deputies
appointed by him to uphold the law and the
mayor replied in q strongly worded procla-
nation IN which he says:
THE peace of the city, the supremacy Of
the law and the blood-bought rights OF
honest elections must and shall DO pre-
| served"
For the moment the question of maJorl-
ties has been lost sight OF. Backing up his
proclamation the mayor has sworn In about
1000 special policemen for election duty.
The proclamation Of Sheriff James l..
Miles, who is the republican leader OF the
Thirteenth ward and chairman of the city
COMMITTEES, was published broadcast in
Philadelphia today. As soon as Mayor
Weaver learned Of It he consulted with
his advisers and this afternoon he issued
the proclamation which was as unusual as
the one drafted by the sheriff.
Mayor weayer's Proclamation.
The mayor in his proclamation says:
It has become public knowledge that GER
tain conspirators against the public peace
| and welfare are planning unlawful acts in
| connection with the election tomorrow. OF
is the ofieia head ana ilas, ostensiby in his
| ONCE as sheriff, by a so-called rroclaIna-
ton. announced that he intends to appoint
so-cailed deputies Of the sheriff at the poll
] am informed that the sheriff Of the
county in his capacity Of leader Of the
in consultation with lawbreakers and the
enemies OF law and order for the purpose
OF devising some means for the prevention
| OF an honest and free expression of the
| popular will at the election to be held to-
morrow. This object they hope 20 effect
called deputy sheriffs to perform services
! at the polling places in defiance of the ex-
pressed prohibition OF the law.
| The mayor, continuing, quotes the law
against such an action on the part of the
sheriff and urges every citizen to resist in
every way possible all deputy sheriffs who
may in any way interfere with their vot-
| ing.
The proclamation. in concluding says:
/ hereby warn any pereon from attempt
! ing to exercise the functions or powers OF
deputy sheriffs at the polls. and | particu-
| high sheriff OF the county OF philadelphia
prostituting his high ofree to the criminal
eFsirman, against appointing Or COM
| missioning any person to act as deputy
sheriff at the polls
would, under such circumstances, be law
breakers, ought to be and will be treated
seeordingly' The ne peace OF the city the
shall be preserved.
+, sheriff fBacEs Down.
Subsequent to the mayors proclamation
Sheriff Miles issued a statement saying:
I will not reply to the vicious attacks and
that no deputies have been appointed By
me for the election, that will appoint
| none and that have never seriously con-
| sidered such appointments.
He said he did not consider the act pro-
hibiting the appointment of deputy sherifrs
for election purposes as constitutional. and
II he thought it proper to do so he would
have no hesitancy in appointing deputies
He preferred, he said T. to place the whole
responsibility for the preservation of the
peace on the mayor, where It belongs
The headquarters of the various political
| organizations kept large forces OF clerks
at work all day and evening finishing up
the work of the campaign. Great efforts
are being made to bring out the stay-at-
home electors.
Both Claim Big MaJorItiea.
The managers OF both sides gave out pre-
dictions today that their candidates would
sweep the city. The republicans claim their
ticket will win by 5000 majority. The city
party asserts that It's candidates. who have
the Endorsement OF the democrats, indie
pendent democrats. prohibitionists and the
Lincoln party, WIN carry the city by at
least $1,000.
United States Senator Penrose and Chair
man Wesley r. Andrews OF the republican
state committee say they look for republi-
can victory in the city and that ]. Lee
Plummer, republican candidate for state
treasurer. will carry Pennsylvania by up
wards OF 10000 Their prediction is dis
puted by Democratic National Committee
man James NJ Guney and the Lincoln
party managers who claim that William
II. Berry will defeat Piummer Berry Is
the democratic nominee and has the in
dorsement of the Lincoln party. independ-
ent democrats and prohibitionists.
Second Statement by sheriff.
Sheriff Mills issued statement in which
he said the peace and order OF the county
is committed to his keeping by his COM
mission from the governor. He character
lied the statements in the mayors mani
festo as false. and charged that the
mayors director Of public safety made
incendiary speeches calculated to create
disorder. The sherifr's statement further
charges that hundreds OF irresponsible
characters have been appointed as special
policemen for service on election day
calling them professional gamblers and
criminals Of various degree.
The statement concludes by charging the
mayor with insinoerity ia his announce
ment