Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-07

Omaha Board OF Fire and Police
RatfahNl Commissioners Messrs. Robert
S&S Cowell, John L. Kennedy, w. M.
Giller and E. c. Page
Robert Cowell has made an unassailable
record as a politician, who believes that in
politics might does not necessarily make
right, and he gave evidence OF that on one
memorable occasion in Washington hall
The occasion was the third nomination
Of the late Frank E Moores q. A. Benson
and followers bolted the meeting, and but
for the cool nerve and generalship of Mr.
Cowell Mr.. Moores would not have been
nominated. During the confusion Mr. Cowel
rose in his dignity as chairman, and de-
clared, Gentlemen, you might as well sit
down and be calm, because you cannot
stampede the chairman" There was a ring
Of seriousness in the chairman's words that
had the desired effect He saved the day
and did 1t gracefully, firmly, and with
smile
That incident was characteristic Of Robert
CowelL His success in politics has been
as a man who directed campaigns. He
has large ideas in politics. and believes in
his party placing before the electors men
whose causes may be espoused with en-
thusiasm, and having nominated such men,
then fight in the open until the battle is
lost or won.
1t is as a business man that Mr.. Cowell
has made his real success. He is a bust
ness man first; he is a politician because
he likes and believes in politics. He has
not been a seeker after office. He was
induced to make the race for railway COM
missioner last fall. Mr.. Cowell is avowedly
a believer in law enforcement. He is a
man of firm convictions and of such
scholarly attachments that bigotry finds
no place in his makeup. Mr.. Cowell is
manager of the Thomas Fitzpatrick COM
pany
John L, Kennedy served as congressman
from the Second district of Nebraska dur
ing the Fifty-ninth congress. This was
Mr.. Kennedy's first service as a public
official. He has been active in politics and
was a republican presidential elector in
1896. He has been popular as a campaign
speaker and ranks high at the Nebraska
bar. Mr.. Kennedy is deeply engrossed in
his law practice, the dignity of which pro-
fession he has never stopped to compromise
with to gain some personal end. Mr.. Ken
nedy is a man who delves into subjects in
hand and having once determined the right
course follows 1t to the end.
Mr.. Kennedy has been in law business in
Omaha for twenty-five years, formerly with
the Arm Of Kennedy & Martin and later
with Kennedy & Learned, which firm has
just been dissolved. He was born in Scot
land in 1854 and became thoroughly pre-
pared for his profession by attending Knox
college, Galesburg, ILL.,, and the law de-
partment OF the Iowa State university.
During his one term in congress Mr.. Ken
nedy made a splendid record and was
said Of him that should the tide OF cir
cumstances returned him he would have
made a brilliant showing. Mr.. Kennedy
has faculty OF throwing himself heartily
into whatever he has in hand and is Of the
sort that finds a lesson In defeat.
w. M. Giler is OF the law firm Of Weaver
& Giller. He has the reputation OF being
one Of a group OF Omaha lawyers who
made their start here and are now coming
into a substantial clientele. Mr.. Giller
came to Omaha from Chicago during 1888,
and at once hung his shingle and waited
for that happy moment in the life Of a
young lawyer-the first client. He has had
numerous important clients since then.
During the famous gas contract tight dur
ing the last councilmanic regime Mr.. Giller
represented the minority OF four in that
fight and succeeded before Judge Sutton in
getting the contract knocked out.
Mr.. Giller studied six years In the Uni
versity OF Michigan, and then spent two
years In Chicago in the offices OF George p
Barton and Charles W. Needham, both now
prominent men in the Windy City Since
moving TO Omaha he has devoted his whole
time to law and during 1880 Joined fortunes
with Frank L. Weaver. He has served on
committees OF the democratic party and
was once candidate for district Judge.
p c. Page IL another Omaha lawyer who
has won for himself an enviable place as
attorney and citizen. Although he Is we'll
known among his profession Of the state.
he is by nature an unassuming man, pre-
ferring quiet and thorough methods 70 any
fambouyant movements in the spotlight.
Mr. Page appeared before his profession in
particularly favorable light when he com
piled Pages Nebraska Digest" which
covered the first sixty volumes Of supreme
court reports Of Nebraska This digest is
widely used throughout Nebraska
Mr.. Page is e man in middle life. HIS
service in public life has been confined to
the craftsmanship Of the board Of examin-
ers OF public schools In Omaha for seven
years. He started life as a school teacher
IN Cory, Pa. He has been practicing law
In Omaha seventeen years and has been
a democrat on national issues, though not
so closely identified with that party in local
politics He is a democrat, but in local at
fairs votes for the men he believes will
serve the best interests OF the community.
Mr.. Page was exalted ruler Of the local
lodge OF E1ks and is now district deputy
grand exalted ruler for the Elks in Ne
braska. He came 70 Omaha from the law
school OF Cornell university. Two years
ago he was endorsed by the Douglas county
bar for district Judge.
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