Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-14
BENSON OPENS CAMPAIGN
First Meeting Since Ticket Was Nominated
Held in Fifth Ward
REPUBLICANS URGED TO STAND TOGETHER
Candidate for Mayor Takes Occasion
20 EmphaticalIy Deny Some re-
ports About What He is
Pledged to DO.

The opening meeting of the republican
municipal campaign was held Friday even
ing at the Fifth Ward Republican clubs
headquarters, Sixteenth and Locust
streets. The meeting was called to order
by President w. r. Christie OF that or
ganization. The hall was crowded with
enthusiastic republicans and many Of the
party candidates were present and made
short addresses. In calling the meeting
to order DR.. Christie stated that the pur-
pose OF the meeting was to ratify the ac-
ton Of the republican primaries of April
ana to get acquainted with the candl-
dates. 'If there is any one thing I pride
myself on" said Mr.. Christie. 1T is that
] have been a good. consistent republican
for the last fifteen years and have stayed
Loyalty by the republican ticket regardless
OF its being machine or anti-machine, and
feel 1t my duty now to give the whole
ticket my support and I am going to do II.
What we want in this campaign is for
every republican 20 rally around the re-
publican nominees. we cannot afford to
take any chances, for to lose the city cleo
ton might mean to lose the legislative
ticket, senator and possibly a congress-
man. We cannot afford to do IT and there
fore let every republican do his loyal duty.
In addition 10 this the candidates are
worthy 81 your support"
henson Denies some stories.
F.. A. Benson, candidate for mayor on
the republican ticket was then introduced
and received with applause. Mr.. Benson
said: 81 am not going to talk to. but with
you. Your interests are my interests and
my interests are your interests. | expect
and hope to be elected on May 1, with the
rest of the republican ticket. I can but
feel almost overwhelmed with the respon-
siblity attaching to the office of mayor
Of this great city. II is a great, complex
organization In which all classes and con-
ditions Of men touch elbows with each
other To administer the affairs OF city
Of 10000 inhabitants will require a greater
ability than l possess and 1 shall need
and expect your cooperation. 1t has been
said of me that l have in some way set
my heart upon injuring the business and
enterprise Of this city and that 1 shall labor
to close the cigar stores, barber shops and
stop the street cars and even the Mis-
souri, river from running on Sunday. Were
Baron Munchausen living today he would
be put to shame by some Of the stories
that are told Of me and what 1 have OBJ
ligated myself to do should l be elected
mayor. ! wish to say right here that these
stories and things told of me are such
as l have never said or thought of.
Interests All In Omaha.
1T is important to you who is to be the
chief executive of your city and who is to
be in the city council. with the mayor
and the city council rests the veal or woe
of the city. 1 understand that my competi-
tor, Mr.. Dahlman, said in this hall a few
evenings ago that there was some questions
as to the quality of Mr.. Benson's backbone,
/ do not know Just what he meant but
am OF the opinion that while backbone is
pretty good thing to have that there
are other equally important qualities essen
tial in mayor. My interests are all here
In Omaha and l expect to make this city
my home for all my life. I believe 1 have
always been a republican and am a repub-
lican now. 1t would be a gricvous mistake
for us to turn the city government over to
the democratic party for the effect that
it would have on our legislative ticket and
the possibility of giving us a democratic
senator and congressman.
THE World-Herald says that all the
public corporations are behind my candt-
dacy. wish to brand this statement as a
falsehood, for it is not true. That paper
has also stated that l have signed an al
legged pledge prepared by the Fontanelle
club to do certain things and to be gov
erned by IL in the making Of appointments
and in carrying out policy dictated by it.
The statement is absolutely false and I
state here publicly, on my honor as a gen.
tleman. l have never been asked by the
Fontanelle club to sign any sort Of n
pledge, nor have l any knowledge of,
neither have l ever seen any kind of a
pledge of fidelity to the special interests
this same statement for the other candi-
dates on the republican ticket. So let us
brush that falsehood aside"
Entire Ticket Endorsed.
Tony Stone presented a resolution on be-
half Of the Fifth Ward Republican club
endorsing the candidacy of Mr.. Benson and
pledging the hearty support Of the club
to the entire republican ticket. The resolu-
ton was unanimously adopted.
The other speakers at the meeting were
Robert Cowell, S. *. Greenleaf, candidate
for city clerk; W. W. Bingham, Harry
zimman, l. r. Lucas. c. }. Anderson,
D. 4. n. Chase, candidates for the city
council
W. /. Kiersted called attention to the
fact that $4,000 bonds were TO be voted for
AT the approaching election and advised
that this matter be kept before the public
Unless these bonds carry there can be nc
more paving done this season, as the pres
cnt paving fund Is about exhausted.
Each of the candidates denounced as a
baseless falsehood the World Herald story
that they had all signed the alleged Fonta.
nellie pledge.
Dr. Christie closed the speechmaking OF
the evening by a strong appeal TO all repub
hcans TO stand for the entire republican
ticket from top to bottom. This same ap,
peal was made by every speaker