Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-09
JACkSONIANS EAT AND TALK
Ed P. Smith Launches His Boom 81 Q
Candidate for Mayor.
TELLS WHAT He THINKS He WOULD DO
Others Also Contribute to the rnlk
and II was After Midnisht when
warren switsIer Tells Of
"Tbe Outlook"

"The OulOOk
Ed r Smiths enunciation Of what he
will stand for as a democratic candidate
for nomination and election as mayor was
the main feature Of the fifteenth annual
banquet Of the Jacksonian club, held last
night in the banquet room at the Paxton |
hotel Something more than 100 democrats
sat down to the feast and heard Mr.. Smith
respond to the toast. 'If l Were Mayor
He assured democrats and others that he
did not ask for their votes unless they /
believed with him. and closed his speech
with these words:
say to you now. and God is my |
judge and witness, the things I have out |
lined here tonight will be my policy. and !
with the aid of human power / VIII carry |
them into effect.
incidental to his utterance of his per-
sonal platform Mr.. Smith severely ar
raigned the republican city administration, I
charging it with general extravaganza and .
repeating assertions of graft" hut ad-
hitting he did not know that these charges
were true. He promised. however. to take .
off the lid and find out IL he were placed I
in the executive chair. He was candid.
also. in saying that all of the reforms he |
proposed were probably beyond the possi- |
bllites OF any single city administration,
but he pledged himself to make it his
greatest ambition to bring the price of
street gas lamps to 500 per year or less
and the price of gas to consumers to at
least 81 or to establish a municipal gas
plant if It were within the range of his
power.
Talks of Prosecutions.
In connection with the gas matter Mr..
Smith asserted that testimony given in the
district hot he
pany had debauched public officers, had
attempted to buy others and by the meth
DDS Of the "sandhag and the club" had en-
deavored to get an extortionate contract
through the city council He declared that
: IL the county attorney were 'alive to his
office some man occupying a seat In the
palatial office of the gas company would
be arraigned in court on the charge of
bribery. Further. that IL he were mayor
at this time he would file bribery charges
against gas company people.
Mr.. Smith said he had no wish to pose
as candidate unless he felt certain that
the local democratic party stood behind
him. His criticism Of the city administra-
tion was directed principally towards the
handling Of finances, with respect to large
outstanding warrant obi cations; in he pub.
lie works departments and the police de-
mended of all the city departments and all
were charged with ruthless extravaganza"
He could not put his finger as to blame in
any department, but stated he proposed to
find out where properly it should be lodged.
synopsis of His Platform.
Mr. Smith furnished for the press tho
following ssTopsts of his position on pubhc
questions. the seventh declaration being
added:
/. Stand up for Omaha first. last and all
the time, to the end that in 1910 our popula-
ton may be 10000.
g A fair and lust assessment of all prop
erty in the city. reduction OF the tax
levy to the lowest possible point, and then
the most rigid economy of the expenditure
of the money thus raised. No unnecessary
employees in any department and an honest
days work from every man on the city's
g. The police department must be raised
TO a higher state of efficiency. No man
should be appointed or dismissed because of
his race creed or politics, and neither his
race creed nor politics should prevent his
dismissal 4 he proves inefficient.
T. Beautify the city. Make the public
parks and boulevards attractive, but do not
spend all the funds for the benefit of those
having carriages and automobiles. Provide
music in the public parks for those who
have no carriages or automobiles, but spend
their Sunday afternoons in our public parks
.. The greatest degree Of personal liberty
consistent with the laws of the state and
the ordinances OF the city. | believe In and
would enforce the provisions of the so-
cumb law including those provisions which
prohibit the sale of liquor to minors and
those which provide that saloons shall be
closed on Sundays,
g. As to public service corporations:
Ia Acquire title to the water works at
the earliest date practical, and 10 other pub
is able to manage them. In the meantime.
uphold the Water board IN all it's efforts TO
reduce water rates and 70 get title to the
plant at the lowest possible price.
(b). Submit to the voters Of the city the
question OF a franchise to independ ent
telephone company under proper re.tric-
tions TO rates and royalties. But
/, whether that franchise be granted or not
compel the present telephone company to
. furnish the best service at the lowest pos
sible rate.
(c). Demand of the present gas company
T street lights at cost not to exceed SEQ pei
: light and rate to private consumers al
not to exceed 81 per 1000 feet. II these
, rates cannot be obtained from a gas com.
: pany owned and operated by private indi-
! viduals then Immediately call an election
TO vote bonds and build municipal gas
, plant.
. capital and labor and to use the best efforts
to bring about reconciliation in o
. | rupture.
4 banquet Room Too small.
1t was the first time in years that tht
n Jacksonians abandoned the large dining
n room at the Paxton and took smaller quar-
I ters The banquet room proved too small
J. and crowding was necessary to give al
= a chance at the excellent menu, which haC
Z drinks limited to an initatory cocktail
y At each end OF the room was a large faJ
e hung over the portraits OF Andrew jackson
I and Bryan. Frank L. Weaver. presiden
d Of the club was POSTMASTER. The hrs
toast was drunk standing 10 the presiden
OF the United States. the response by on
OF the members being: ITO the president
may he live long and prosper and soon b
y a democrat"
The banquet began at o'clock. but sew
eral OF the speakers occupied so much tim
that II was long past midnight when War
rem Switzler was permitted TO talk on tn
! outlook and he was constrained to shorte
" his remarks very much. Mr.. Weaver said
THE annual banquet OF the Jack sonian
" has become a barometer indicating tn
position Of the party in local as well a
- national affairs
Regrets that they could not be presen
and speak were read from Mayor Tom /
Johnson Of Cleveland and Governor Josep
w. Folk of Missouri. The latter wrote:
= The principles Of Andrew Jackson are tn
~ | principles OF true democracy and the NOR
\ these principles are applied the better gov
= ernment will be.