Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-24
BENSON TALKS OUT PLAINLY
Calls Things by Right Names at Republican
Headquarters Meeting,
RETERATts HIS VIEWS OF GOVERNMENT
County Commissioner IRE Attacks
DahIman aud other Speakers
Compare the Two Tickets
rs TO Makeup.

L. A. Benson. republican mayoralty can
didate, dealt with some of the phases Of the
pending campaign without gloves at a meet
ing OF voters held at republican headquar-
ters last night
when / started in this campaign knew
the vicious and law-breaking element of
the population was against me-" said he.
1T causes none OF us any surprise now
to see the people Of this class-the thugs,
burglars, gamblers, corporations and brew
eries-lining up on the other side. The
only reason to fear them lies in any pos
sibility that they may fool enough of the
decent voters Of the city to make a re-
specially large vote. These vicious classes
vote almost by instinct They line up
behind ticket that will favor them like
buzzard goes to carrion. The sole ques-
| tIon Of supreme Importance in this cam
paien Is whether you want these classes to
run your city government or not.
Il have nothing against the saloon as
/ long as the saloon is conducted according
to law, but the brewers have no more bust
ness in this fight than the grocer, the
| butcher or the baker. ii
IF there IL any man here who doubts
the truth Of anything 1 am saying 1 would
like to have him speak out and l will un-
dertake to convince him.
THE world-Herald is trying to show that
Tom Dennison is for me. Tom Dennison
| loves me about as much as the burglar
loves the cop, I'm the words of the song.
We knew that this deal was to be pulled
off week In advance. They were slower
about it than we expected
IRE Sails Into DahIman.
Jim" .Dahlman came in for some scath-
ing remarks by County Commissioner IRE
in comparison between the men running
for Office on the two tickets. Said he:
"a friend of mine, banker from Rush
vile, Neb., dropped in to see me the other
day and asked if it were true that Jim
Dahlman was running for mayor. 1 told
him it was. You don't mean It, do your
he asked 1 assured him l had related
facts; at least, Dahlman thought he was
in the race.
"well.' said the banker, up around in
the north part of the state we used to class
Jim as a gambler. He used to come into
Rushville many time and play all night
1T is enough to cause a man to vote the
republican ticket simply to compare the
men on it with those on the democratic
Hist, but beyond that the reason why we
should support the ticket is because It is
made up of men who will give the city
business administration.
Other speeches were made by Frank Z.
Stone and County Auditor Robert Smith.
The latter said Dahlman was making his
campaign by appealing to the stomach
and urged the voters to complete the regis
tration lists Saturday. He said at least
5000 republican voters of the city are not
registered and unless they do cannot vote
at the May election. aa
The Eastman fife and drum corps pro-
vided martial music for the occasion.
Meeting at WoIrs Hall.
Erastus A. Benson. Robert Cowell, Nell
son C. Pratt, A. w. Jefferis and others ad-
dressed an enthusiastic meeting Of Eighth
ward voters last evening at VOLTS hail.
Twenty-second and Cunning streets. At
torney w. F, wappich presided as chair
man. Considerable interest for the repub-
lican ticket was worked up by the speakers.
1.-THE great and chief question of this
campaign is whether the people are going
to control their own city government or be
controlled by a combination of special in
| terests - said MIR. Benson. Are you,
would ask you, going TO turn the city over
to five breweries, gas company telephone
company and other concerns? l sincerely
believe that on the first day OF May the
citizens will resent the attempt of special
interests 20 take over the city govern
ment. In nearly all cities where graft eX-
lists the franchiaed corporations own the
government"
Not Serving selfish Interests.
Mr.. Benson stated he was not serving
any selfish interest in seeking the office
of mayor, but that he felt real pride in
the city, which he wanted to see a beau
tiful and well regulated community He
urged all citizens TO take deep interest
in the election and to perfom their full
al.
heart of every citizen should beat for the
welfare OF the city" added Mr.. Benson.
Nelson C. Pratt ventured the opinion that
at least half Of the citizens who see jim
] Dahlman's pictures on the billboards OF
) the city ask themselves who the man is
mr.. Dahlman has no record to which he
may point with pride / believe the in
E terests of the people demand that a mar
@ like Erastus A. Benson be elected mayor
I Mr. Benson would inspire confidence in tbs
e mayors seat. and feel sure he will rol
( up a good majority on election day" stated
Mr.. Pratt
DOesn't Know Omaha.
A. W. Jeneris in his talk characterized
Mr. Dahlman as the lost man in loca
politics. Il am Informed" said MT JEFF
ferris, that two days before primary day
Mr. Dahlman asked a friend the way Il
Cunning street. The only thing Dahlmsr
ever did to build up Omaha was to moy'
here himself"
Robert CoweIl said Mr.. Dahlmau wa.
practically unidentified with the city's in
terests and that very few citizens know
anything Of him. The speaker referred e
Mr.. Benson's record as one that will beaI
close Investigation. and stated his belle
that Mr., Benson would do fun Justice 1,
the position OF mayor. Mr.. Cowell urgeC
that no republicans sulk In their tents
but support the entire republican ticket