Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-07
xACRaE IS OUT OF RACE
Mayor Declare, Under No Circumstances
Will he Aocep, denomination.
POSITION AT BEST A THASKlIsS ONE
Party 10 All Torn by Factions and
Thf- Decision of the Mayor Will
MIX Matters I'd Worse
Than Ever.

The democratic party in Council BUNS
will have to seek a new candidate TO head
it's ticket at the city election on March
g 1t had been generally understood that
Mayor Mscrae would accept renomina-
ton provided 1t came to him without oppo-
sition. Mayor Macrae has, however, In the
last week changed his mind and has ae-
clared with all the emphasis In his power
that he will not be a candidate for re-
nomination and what Is more will not &C
cept q denomination at the hands OF his
party, even II IL is rendered him upon
golden platter and with the unanimous
consent of every. member of the party in
Council Bluffs. HIS refusal to accept a re-
nomination, Mayor Macrae says, is ire
vocable and that absolutely nothing can
induce him to change his mind.
Mayor Macrae's decision to refuse to
accept denomination for the ONCE OF
chief executive of the city is said to have
been brought about by the criticism which
he and the members of the city council
have been subject to in their efforts TO
bring about what they considered was an
equitable adjustment of the water rates.
Telling OF his decision TO refuse a renom-
nation Mayor Macrae said;
statement by Mayor.
What Is the mayor Of Council Bluffs,
anyhow? He is merely figurehead with
the title of mayor attached to his name.
About all a mayor has the power to do is
to select the chief of police and the MEM
bers of the police department, and even
these appointments have to be confirmed
by the city council. There is nothing in
It except abuse and censure. The salary
Of the once, which OF course is minor
consideration. does not pay a mans ex-
penses while he fills the once OF mayor. I
have had two years Of it, and now let
someone else have the worry I endeavored
to do the best I knew how for the inter-
ests of the city and its people and think
the latter will admit that at least have
given them cleaner city than they had
for many years before. am out Of the
mayor business and, as far as that goes,
out Of politics also. I shall, however, leave
the ONCE with i'll feelings towards no one
and with the best of good wishes for the
future TO all.''
Discord I'm the Parts.
Not for many years has discord been so
rampant in the democratic party of Coun-
ell Bluffs as il is today and Mayor Macrae S
announcement that he will not under any
circumstances accept denomination will
not tend to improve matters Surface fndi-
cations, If they count for anything, are
that not a single democratic member OF the
present city council will be renominated
this spring. except II may possibly be
Alderman McMiilen of the Fifth ward
In the First ward Alderman Younker-
mans friends are insisting that he is en-
titled TO a denomination, but former Alder
man Charles Huber is being prominently
mentioned now for the democratic nomina-
ton and this will mean a hard tight FOL
Younkernan and his friends. In the Second
ward Alderman Maloney was thought to be
safe until a few days ago, but II is said
that a certain element in his party has the
knife out for him. In the Third ward Al
derman FINLEY has announced that he will
not seek denomination. II was, however
a foregone conclusion that he would not h
accorded one, owing to the doubts of tho
Legality of his quasi residence in that ward
In the Fourth ward Alderman Weaver Il
slated for retirement. but in the Fifth ware
Alderman McMiIlen appears so far TO have
n good show for a denomination. In the
Sixth ward the west -enders have announced
that Alderman Crippen is to be placed or
the shelf and It is hardly likely that he viii