Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-28
SWEDES CHEER FOR BENSON
Republican Candidate Given Ovation at
Washington Hall
PLATFORM AND ISSUES ARE EXPLAINED
Dtand of Republicans I'm Present Cam
paign for Clean, Honest Govern
ment for the People is
Brought Out.

Swedish-American voters turned out In
large numbers to the republican meeting
In Washington hall last night, where they
heard strong speeches setting forth reasons
why the republican municipal ticket should
be supported. T.. A. Benson, John J. Ryder,
Chairman A. w. Jefferis Of the republican
city committee H. c. Bronze and F. p.
Anderson, editor Of the Omaha Posten. who
presided. were the speakers. The full Scan
dinavian Singing society, under the leader
ship Of Otto Wolf. rendered a veritable
high class concert during the evening, which
was much appreciated.
When Mr. Benson entered the hall to
make a short address he was given an
ovation that put TO shame all stories of his
inability to enthuse the voters. The crowd
took every advantage to endorse the man
and what he stands for and every auditor
stayed until the last. The speeches were
logical and convincing and pounded steadily
along the lines of civic decency and pa
triotism. Every speaker did his best to
clear up the tangled wool of false issues
held together by the fabricated warp Of
the opposition and the audience seemed q
understand it fully.
svvedes Proud of the Party.
ITO Swedish-A American ears the word
democrat has no pleasant sound" said
Mr.. Anderson in opening the meeting. I'VE
stand by our colors and are not ashamed OF
them. This is a republican meeting and
was so announced In order to get some OF
our nationality to attend democratic
meeting held last night was billed as an
independent meeting, and the dodge worked
20 some small extent We are proud Of our
party's nominee for mayor of Omaha and
we will elect him"
John j. Ryder told how he had been a
Hennings man before the primaries, but
that inasmuch as Benson had won In
clean. fair fight he considered It his duty
to support him. This he felt he could do
consistently, as he could the whole ticket,
because of the character Of the men on it
and the principles they represent He de-
nounced the democrats for attempting to
inject the prohibition issue in the campaign
when It had no place in II, and pointed out
that no charges had been made that Mr..
Benson was unfair. destructive or in any
way Of an undesirable character.
DahImnn and His Platform.
Furthermore, | want to say" said Mr..
Ryder, that ! have no use for a candi-
date with his headlight on behind. Long
before the primaries Mr.. Benson announced
exactly where he stood on questions of
local government. Mr.. Dahlman said
nothing until after he was nominated and
then accepted a platform made for him
by few Of the democratic brethren gath
cred somewhere for that purpose.
what can any republican hope to gain
by boiling the tcket7 1t came direct from
the people. There is no question about
the fitness. the honesty and the stability
of every man on It, The idea that Mr..
Benson would try to do something that
the city does not want is preposterous.
He - heavily interested here and the city
Is fully as dear to him as II is to any
other citizen. He cares Just as much for
It's prosperity. progress and happiness as
you or /. 1t is men like Mr.. Benson who
are brave enough to express their beliefs
and principles that are being endorsed and
elected by the republicans all over the
country"
False Issues Raised.
Mr.. Benson devoted some attention to
calling to mind that the opposition had
waged campaign in which II has at
tempted to raise false issues. Speaking of
the fight for good government he said
IF you lose this time am afraid that
we have lost for a long time to come. Cities
of our class the country over are house
cleaning and coming out from under the
shadoW ana atmosphere OF graft III II
should go out through the country that
Omaha has taken backward step IL would
be most injurious thing to the city
1t would mean that Omaha would become
the splttoon of a hundred cities that have
cleaned up and made graft and crime I'M
profitable in them.
Corporations and Brewers Allied.
Besides the criminal element. which is
opposin0 arc Othar racoOnizad
forces One of these is the gas company,
with its head in Philadelphia and its tail
in Omaha, flashing our citizens. It is one
OF the most corrupt institutions of its kind
in the United States, and one that has