Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-04
LIVELY SKIRMISH TO FILE
Unexpected Rush Of Ambitious Ones to &c
on Primary Ticket
ELBoURN CLOSES OFFICE At NOON
Charles init and a. q. Edwards
withdraw AZ Committeeman to
File for Defunct omces
at city Hall.

An unexpected rush was made ON the
city clerks Office at the last minute TO
make filings for places on the primary bal
lots. From 1850 until after - o'clock the
office was crowded with politicians. A few
minutes after noon City Clerk Elbourn,
noting the crowd was still coming, gave
orders TO lock the doors. This was done,
and further entries were barred The clerk
kept his word that no filings would be ac-
cepted after u o'clock, because the city
ordinances authorize the closing of the
office at that hour on Saturdays How
ever, several filings we're written out and
handed in just a few minutes past the
hour.
The most interesting events were those
concerning filings at the last moment for
the positions of city treasurer and city tax
commissioner by men from both the repub-
lican and democratic parties. The present
charter does not recognize any such Of
fices but merges them with the county
treasurer and county assessor, though a
case is pending in the supreme court seek
ing to restore the Offices and annul the
consolidation. There has been no talk of
anyone standing as a candidate for either
Office, and the democrats, at least, had
wholly overlooked the matter
Unit and Edwards Get Busy.
The first intimation that some politicians
had not forgotten all about the contin-
gency Of a supreme court decision restor-
ing the two offices was manifested by
Charles Unit and A. G. Edwards at about
the same time. Both withdrew from COM
mitteeship filings and submitted filings de-
manding places On the republican ballot
for the office OF city treasurer. They were
followed quickly by similar. application
signed by william A Higgins.
The news of these transactions spread
quickly among the fifty politicians in the
clerks Office, and a few minutes later mes
sengers were scurrying to democratic head
quarters and other places with the tidings.
With the treasurership matter opened up
the tax commissioners ONCE was suggested
and In a short time Won 3, Lady filed for
the Office on the republican ballot.
AFTER Rounds them Up.
A. A. AFTER, one OF the Dahlman cam
paign managers, had twenty minutes of
the most strenuous exercise in his life try
ing to get democratic candidates for the
two Hypothetical jobs, Deputy City Comp
troller Fred II. Cosgrove finally filed for
treasurer. Tax Commissioner Fleming
firmly declined to take a chance at making
himself ridiculous and AFTER was at his
wits end, for the hour OF noon had almost
come. Finally he persuaded Lucius A.
Crowell, an Unframed reporter lately ar
rived from Los Angeles to permit the use
Of his name. Crowell signed an application
blank and thus the ticket was made COM
plete. The filing last allowed was that OF
Deputy City Treasurer /. l.. Beisel for city
treasurer, republican.
City Clerk Elbourn said:
Unless the supreme court rules to the
contrary, in time, shall recognize no such
offices as city treasurer or city tax COM
missioner in making up the primary elec'
ton proclamation or the ballots. As tht
law stands these offices do not exist, ant
under the prevailing circumstances 1t vii
require a court order to induce me to rec
ognize the Offices"
Following is a complete list of filings: