Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-11
EDWARD ROSEWATER ON The
ISSUES OF THE MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN
Stenoeaph Report Address Delivered Last Thursday the
Meeting of the Fifth Ward Republican Club Reviewing
Questions Now Before the Voters of Omaha.

Mr.. Chairman, Fellow Republicans and
Fellow Citizens: 1 have come tonight to
bid you goodby for while and also to
say a few words concerning a very i'm
portant event that is now before us. 1
refer to the triennial, election of "A new
municipal government. The city Of Omaha
rs has been said here tonight, as the years
go by. will become more and more COS
nOpolitan.
Thousands Of our citizens were born in
different sections OF the world. They have
come to .fhis country TO better their condi-
tion-t8 become Americanzed. All these
people aspire to become American citizens
and are anxious to secure not only bet
terment Of their own condition. but also to
help their fellow citizens in making good
government. All these people necessarily
must submit to our system OF government
as it may be administered. but Ameri-
can sovereigns they have a right to choose
for themselves who shall administer the
government.
Il has become the custom In Omaha prior
to every local election to indulge in a
great deal Of grandstand play, and a large
quantity OF dust is thrown to confuse and
misead the voters. Men who have made
records that do not square up with their
professions come before the people as cham
pions Of particular reforms, and they join
in the popular clamor I'm the hope to have
themselves carried into Office on the wave
OF public sentiment.
Now, have been in favor of every meas
ure I believed TO he for the upbuilding of
Omaha from the day set foot in this city,
and so far as has been within my power |
have endeavored TO assist in improving ouI
municipal government and making it as
economical and honest as 1t can be made
by turning the searchlight of publicity
upon all reckless expenditures of public
funds and all lawless and corrupt or i'm
proper transactions in public Office. but l
take no stock in sham reform. I take no
stock in those who go upon the platform
processing to have been suddenly converted
to some popular movement or issue, when
their records in the past do not square up
with their professions.
Matter OF Municipal Ownership.
For more than thirty years I have been
an advocate of municipal ownership and
have not changed my views a particle, but
on the contrary, am today more than ever
convinced that sooner or later the city OF
Omaha must own and operate it's own pub
lie utilities IL we want to have a govern
ment by the people for the people 1t is
utterly impossible under existing conditions
to expect honest, faithful and efficient
municipal government so long as our NUM-
cipal public utilities are owned and operated
by private corporations for private gain
Three years ago we elected a municipal
government on the platform OF municipal
ownership, but looking backward we find
that the men who talked municipal owner
ship before election did not mean a bit
of 1t. They simply talked It. When IL
came to action they tried TO mislead and
bunco the people. You remember that only
a little more than year ago a proposition
was submitted to the voters of Omaha
for the acquisition of a municipal electric
light plant. The ordinance was introduced
by Mr.. zimman, the president OF the coun.
ell. but when election day came Mr.. Zim.