Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-09
GOSSIP OF The POLITICIANS
Candidates Make Public Nuisances of Their
Illustrated Campaign Cards
ELBOURN NAY RLvERsE oNE or NIs ROLNes
Makes Test Case to Determine
Whether Candidate shall He
ReRIstered with Party
of His Ballot.

The number Of political cards brought
out by the Overwhelming number VI can
didates is proving a nuisance to the pub
lie. In several Offices ~ the city hall an
attempt was made TO perfect "rogues'
gallery" the affair is facetlously called,
but has had to be abandoned because of
lack of wall space. Nearly every candi-
date has had his photograph printed on
his card. possibly for means OF Identifca-
ton among the multitude of his competi-
tors. Engraving firms and printing houses
have been rushed with orders, and the pri-
maries is proving profitable thing for
them. Photographers, too, are making
money. for many Of tho candidates never
had their pictures taken before, and some
OF them not for years. The union label Is
"a conspicuous adornment OF every card is
sued so far, except the Fontsnelle compo-
site card which hangs IN street cars. The
Fontanelles have no use for unions. So
many of the cards are in circulation that
waste baskets are full OF them.
one of the assistant building inspectors,
while walking through the Blum tract near
Locust street the other day, estimated he
saw a hundred cards lying in the weeds
and bushes. Every one he examined bore
the likeness and name of Robert Houghton,
one OF the Broatch lieutenants. Whether
Houghton had merely been profigate with
his literature or had placed It in improper
hands was not determined.
Another bit OF printed matter closely al
lied to the cards is the temperance of the
Municipal Record" published in the inter-
ests OF the Fontanelle ticket and consisting
mostly of candidates portraits. This has
been thrown around on doorsteps. Very
little text is accorded each candidate. In it
U.1... 10 Ha fr0 fnr
building inspector on his record a volun-
teer fireman and similar humorous pleas
are made for other candidates
The ruling of the city clerk that a pri-
mary candidate must be registered with the
party upon whose ballot he wants TO run
may be reversed. The city clerk says he
took position in the case of w G. Ma
honey committeeman from the First ward,
to open up an avenue for controversy. He
has not checked any further down the list.
Had he done so he would have discovered
other candidates I'm the same fix as Ma
honey One Of these is Albert Sjoberg, dem
ocratic candidate for city clerk, who was
not registered last fall at all The clerk s
original ruling WAS against both candidates
who had declined party affiliation or were
not registered.
How can man he a candidate on a
ticket he can't vote for at the primaries?'
appears TO be the eist of Mr.. Elbourn's
theory He is directly opposed by Assistant
City Attorney Herdmsn, who says any citi-
zen has the right TO file for any municipal
once with any party he chooses, regardless
Of whether he ever was registered or voted
in Omaha or not.
MIR Herdman agrees with the clerk that
he is not bound TO have the names of candi-
dates for city treasurer and tax commits
sioner printed on the ballots In the absence
OF a supreme court decision declaring the
merger law Invalid, A decision in the Cath
ers case, I'm which the consolidation Of the
offices with those OF the county Is attacked
is looked for this week Should It be de-
layed beyond primary day the ofices OF
treasurer and tax commissioner remain
inconsistent according TO the law prevailing
The decision on the merger is awaited
with considerable interest II the plan is
overthrow It means two more ofices added
TO the meagre list Of places subject to
capture by nomination and election. The
politicians who have filed on chances that
the ruling OF the lower court would be
reversed are the most intensely interested
Of course, because they would Immediately
be placed in the field. Others contend
however that should the ofices be re-
created. provision would have to be made
TO admit filings for the primaries i'm order
to insure a square deal all around.
Resplendent ia. white vest that had
been the field of many tobacco stain and
with his pockets stuffed with cigars, Julius
s. Cooley visited the city hall Thursday
morning TO inspect the goods and chattels
of the executive rooms I'm order TO de-
termine IL they would please his fancy
after he is elected mayor and takes pos
session. The Judge also did some cam
paignipg and cigar distributing among the
departments and in the corridors He was
not entirely satisfied with several pieces
OF furniture in the mayors once and made
notes so he might get prices on substitute
articles. He was accompanied by a gor-
geouSly gowned young woman, who lent
attractivensss TO the background whenever
the Judge stopped to explain his mayoralty
candidacy and his platform. II Is said she
is slated for the private secretaryship.