The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-04-06
WAS norfolk BRAKEMAN
ERRATiC POLITICIAN IN OMAHA
ONCE LIVED HERE.
is MAKING WILD SPEECHES

Man Who Was Converted Here, Began
Preaching and Wrote a Book on
"Life's Other sde," is Now Creating
Excitement in Omaha.
w. II. Hoffman, formerly an M. &
o. railway brakeman of Norfolk, who |
ran between Norfolk and Sioux City |
with Conductor George Carter, and
who later was converted to church, |
preached, and wrote a book entitled, !
"The Other Side of Life" is just now
attracting attention in Omaha because
of his erratic campaign being con
Quoted for himself as councilman and
for Broatch as mayor.
1t is said that the speeches which
Hoffman has been making have injured
the ticket for which he has been work
ing, and Broatch tried to call him off,
but in vain.
Hoffman was a short, slender man
with very black hair and black nous
tache. His book was perhaps as in
sane a piece of writing as has been
printed. Concerning his career in
Omaha, the Bee says:
With the assistance of a quintet of
colored musicians w. H. Hoffman
pulled off his much advertised meeting
at Myrtle hall last night. The crowd
numbered more than fifty at the start,
but this number dwindled to less than
half before Mr.. Hoffman finished a
rather long and rambling speech. He
told the audience that w T. Broatch
had promised to be present late in the
evening, but Broatch did not show up
and the meeting closed without him.
In spite of the fact Mr. Hoffman had
advertised a souvenir to each lady
who attended, none appeared and so
the gifts were distributed to the men
in the crowd. The souvenir consisted
of pamphlet life of Mr.. Hoffman, con-
tanning pictures of himself and family,
the church in which he was converted
and the railroad train upon which he
worked.
81 was thrown out of the Budweiser
saloon" said Mr.. Hoffman. because
they said | was furnishing the papers
stuff that was hurting Broatch. The
reason they call us gamblers candi-
dates is because they say Tom Denni-
son is back of Broatch. If he is
am glad of it, for he is the best polit-
ical general in Omaha. | would rather
have Dennison for Leader, but II
Broatch is elected it will be almost
the same.
81 would rather speak in a saloon
or over the bar than disgrace the sane
tity of a church by using it for polit-
ical purposes. | was a preacher four
years and studied the gospel six years,
and left the church because it had so
many narrow.minded people in it. !
am as broad-minded in politics as
am in religion.
"On the saloon question | am like
Rev. T. ]. Mackay. / believe in rails
ing the saloons up instead of throwing
them down. I don't believe in making
| fish of one and fowl of another.
81 am for Hoffman for councilman
| first. I'm also whOopin' 'er up for w.
| j. Broatch all the time. 1t is true I've
been kicked out of Broatch meetings,
but it wasn't Broatchs fault, and Pm
for Broatch, first, last and all the time
Before Mr.. Hoffman spoke Bill"
Spady, a colored politician from the
Twelfth ward, made a Broatch speech,
painting in lurid colors a picture of a
dismal Sunday in Omaha if anyone
but Broatch was elected mayor.
After the meeting closed Mr.. Hoff-
man explained that he did not say
much about Tom Dennison because he
had a high regard for him and had
worked with him, and did not want to
do anything TO injure him politically,
especially when they were both en-.
listed in the campaign for Broatch.