Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-04
ARRlES MOST OF FoNTANELLES WITH HIM
Westberg for City Comptroller Falls Down
Before W. Ernest johnson,
,lMMAN LANDS THIRD WARD COUNCILMAN
Democratic City Ticket is Headed by
Jim Dahlman Without Fight.
WEATHER, YET HEAVY VOTE
Battle of the Ballots EnIivened By
the Usual DfvertinE Incidents
Forged HandbiIls Scattered
TO Iniure HenninEs.

to Iniure HenninEs.
Benson wins the republican nomination
for mayor in the primary election held
| yesterday.
/ Most of the candidates for other offces
endorsed with him on the Fontanelle
ticket also won out over their opponents
! for places on the republican ticket.
! Westberg the Fontanelle man for comp
troller, is defeated by w. Ernest johnson,
and possibly one or more Fontanelle coun-
Gil candidates may be found fallen by
the wayslde when all the votes are tab
ulated.
Dahlman heads the democratic city ticket
without opposition in his own party.
A socialist ticket is also in the field with
Nicholson at the top for mayor.
The primary election was the first for
municipal nominations held under the d.
rect primary law with simultaneous. par
ticipation OF all political parties. With
practically no serious contests among the
democrats and socialists interest centered
among the republicans, for whose favor
a multiplicity OF aspirants were bidding
The weather was unfavorable, being dull
and raw in the morning and breaking into
a heavy downpour about o'clock. The
voting started out light, but came steadily
| faster. and despite the rain the total vote
closely approximated the number Of re-
publicans registered.
BrOntch Falls Early.
It was quickly seen that Broatch was
failing TO meet the expectations OF his
hackers and that Hennings was gaining,
but the lead of Benson through the
perior organization of his workers could
not be headed Off. The momentum of Ben
20, fl,a .,z,, .,fh hN-
ates on his ticket. although personal pref
erences were plainly seen in the ballots
for the lesser offices and particularly the
councilmen. bingham, for the council from
the Second ward, ran way ahead of every
body, and Zimman from the Third al
though none of the endorsed states.
pulled clear to the front. None OF the
| other councilmen seeking reelection came
In sight of the goal. Westberg for comp
troller was badly cut and so was John
Butler, hut a divided opposition let him
slip through.
Forgery to Hurt HenninEs.
One OF the desperate schemes resorted
to during the day by the Broatch gang
was the distribution of a forged circular
at the polls throughout the city which
read:
ATTENTION.
defeat at this time and having the in
terests Of Omaha at heart and believe in
an open pen town now ask fo my tTienSs 3ou to
respectfully, A. II. EIENNINGS
This circular which was never heard
Of by Mr.. Hennings until called to his at
tention last night was distributed as early
as I3O o'clock in the afternoon. The
Broatch gang hoped TO catch a large num-
Der of the workingmen I'm its dragnet who
the facts and might be taken of their
guard.
Eyes, saw the circular" said Mr.. Hen
nlngs last night at his ONCE in the city
hall. They came out at 4:S0. That is
only one of the many dirty tricks that
were worked and are TO be expected in
such a campaign, but it's all right. / shall
make no statement further now. We have
to endure such things from such people,"
GIee at FOntanelIe Club.
The Fontanelle headquarters I'm the Pos
tai building on Farnam street was the
scene OF animation last night. Returns
were received there. where leaders and
followers of all factions were congregated.
w A. Saunders. manager OF the Benson
campaign and the entire Fontanelle rep
resentaton present were not trying TO
conceal their delight over the victory II.
b. Howell. Byron @. Burbank, city At
torney Breen and few others sat at
a large table and tabulated returns as
rapidly as they were handed TO them.
I'VE have won; l guess that is certain"
said Mr. Saunders, about II o'clock ''It
seems our entire ticket, with possibly the
exception Of Plumb, is nominated and
Plumb may pull through, though Zimman
Is making a strong run. AS to WestberE,
can't say. but my opinion from returns
thus far is, he Is nominated / hope and
believe all good republicans will support
the ticket We have had assurances from
Mr.. Hennings and his leaders OF their
support and from some Of Mr.. BroatSh's
friends though we have not yet hsASd
from Mr.. Broatch personally"
The doubt of Westbergs nomination
seemed to be quite general. Westberg, his
: face flushed and little beads of perspira-
ton standing out on his brow, occupied u
seat on one side OF the room, with "A
paper and pencil in his hands. trying to
make sure of his nomination. In the
meantime Byron @. Burbank was making
periodical trips over 10 westbers TO en-
courage him.
During the evening Tom Hollister, a
HenHings man, made a speech IN which he
declared his belief the forged curoular
announcing Hennlngs' withdrawal ema-
mated from Benson men.
This declaration met with prompt and
. vigorous denunciation- Charles l.. saun-
ders voiced the sentiment OF tho Fonta-
nelles in an emphatic statement that Mr..
HOLSTERS impression was absolutely un-
warranted
we sent out no such circular and II Is
unfair and absolutely unwarranted 10
charge Il 10 US" declared Mr.. Saunders
Mr.. Hennings In a statement 10 a reporter
for The Bee. said:
The circular did not come from either
Mr.. Benson or Mr.. Broatch or their fol-
lowers. | know the origin and entire cir
cumstancss OF II, but do not care 10 make
a public statmsnt on this Just now except
70 exonsrate my opponents OF the blame"
Broateh headquarters Describes.
The Broateh headquarters IN the old
gambling rooms once operated by Chsrhe
Little at Fifteenth and Farnam streets
looked LIKE a deserted sEaEA ThfSs 0ai-