Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-29
READY FOR TIE CAMPAIGN
Republican COMMITTEES Organizes BY Eleo-
ton Of ". B. Rose a. Chairman.
HEADQUARTERS TO REMAIN IN OMAHA
ola Christian Church Property, Now
Owned by Catholics, Destroyed
By Fire, origin of which
IL in Doubt.
frrom a star correspondsnt.l

(From a stan Correspondent
LINCOLN, Neb., Aug. 2s.--(special Tele-
gram.)-T republican state committee or
gaDized tonight, OF rather was organized.
by the candidates on the state ticket, who
appointed the following oficers: Chairman,
w. b. Rose Of Lincoln present deputy at
torney general under Norris Brown; vice
chairman, William Hayward OF Nebraska
City; secretary, Clark Perkins. editor Of
the st. Paul Republican; treasurer Charles
e Morgan of Omaha
The COMMITTEES voted to continue the
headquarters at Omaha and authorized the
chairman to name an executive committee
consisting of one member from each con-
gressional district.
Retiring Chairman Warner, In response
TO a resolution of thanks to outgoing ON
GERS showed that the old committee had
paid OF an Inherited debt of nearly 5000
and had 1850 on hand to start the new
campaign. Twenty-Five of the thirty-four
members of the committee were present.
Member Byron Clark OF Cass county re-
signed and, his place was given to Orlando
Tent.
Fire Ruins n Church.
The imposing church building, once owned
by the congregation Of the First Christian
church, located at the northeast corner of
Fourteenth and X streets, caught fire this
morning and is now In ruins. 1t was
erected seventeen years ago at a cost of
$4,000 or $4,000 and was at one time re-
garded as one of the finest places of
worship in. the city! Over two years ago
II was bought at foreclosure sale by Bishop
Bonacum, Of the Catholic church. for s14,-
900. Two weeks ago the work Of remodel
ing the'structure was begun and it was ex-
pected to complete the work early next
year. .-N
1t is charged by Father Shine. rector Of
st. Theresas pro-cathedral, and Father
George Agius. secretary to Bishop Bona
cum. that the building was set on fire by
some fanatic who did not want to see the
Catholics secure for their use sanctuary
that had once been devoted to Protestant
service.
At $50 o'clock this morning John A.
Delany, engineer of the Sawyer fats now
under construction across the street. saw
smoke coming out Of the upper window
over the south entrance. He ran over to
investigate. Then he saw flames licking
the windows. He ran to L and Fourteenth
streets and turned In the alarm.
When the FIRE department reached the
scene flames were shooting from a number
OF places under the roof. The water pres
sure was so feeble that 1t was about ten
minutes before a stream could be thrown
on the fire.
Before s O'Clock the department had the
IRE under control The great mass of ma
terial which had formed the support Of
the slate roof was still sending out great
volumes of smoke and streams of water
were playing over IL.
Bishop Bonacum is out OF the city. hav-
ing gone east for a vacation trip and to
escape the hay fever. Father Shine and
George Agius, his private secretary were
seen at the cathedral house.
Insurance Covers Loss.
Both were very sorrowfui over the de-
str>sctfens the tuiiding. aSecretary Agtus
said that the loss would be fully covered
by insurance. .
Bishop Bonacum valued the church
property at $4,000" said MI Asius. ana
am sure that he carried heavy insur-
ance on the building He so Informed me
OF this fact after the purchase of the
structure over two years ago"
THE building is practically ruined" de-
clared Father NJ A. Shine, rector Of st.
Theresas pro-cathedral. land 1t will have
TO be rebuilt. Perhaps the tower will
stand, and II It is possible to work II
intact in plans for rebuilding In the flu
ture 1t will be done.
s.'It Is my opinion that the fire lie OF in
cendiary origin" declared Father Shine,
earnestly. The contractor has told me
several tunes OF the bitterness manifested
by some who have dropped In to see the
building since remodeling began over two
weeks ago. The contractor said the ex-
pressions, Of resentment were made to him
because of the fact that Protestant
church had been purchased by the Cath
oiics and would hereafter be used by them
for holding religious services"
Fireman William A. Knowlton OF station
house. No. i declares that the church
building was set aire by a bolt OF light
ming,
shortly aftes o'clock a terrific thun.
derstorm was on: said Knowlton, land
before II finished its stunt some of the
hardest claps of thunder you ever heard
Jared the atmosphere. / think that one
OF the bolts landed on the chrch build
ing and set the woodwork near the root
ablaze"
Board of Equalization.
The State Board of Equalization and
Assessment held its last meeting for til.
year 1905 in the once OF Governor Micke,
this morning. All members were presen
except Treasurer Mortensen. who Is at Ri
home In Valley county. The only bust
ness transacted was to approve the minutes
Of the last meeting and the record II
general for the current year. The rta
work of the board concluded when 4
passed assessments by counties SOM
time ago.
Too Costly for Congregation.
The Central Church OF Christ, belonging
to the Christian denomination. was dedi
Gated August Is. 1889, The corner ston
was laid July .. 1883. Milwaukee bun bricl
was used In the construction Of the out
side walls. The building and lots cost s64.e zoo
The church constructed during booI
times and the cost OF material and iabo
was high. The lots were purchased also a
steep figure.
The erection OF such costly edince prac
tically bankrupted dozen of the leadinl
members OF the church. After the compile
ton OF the building the property was heav