Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-19
TON ALLEN HAS A SCHEME
Effort Being Made to Keep Populists
Off the Electoral Ticket.
STUMBLING BLOCKS IN WAY
July Twenty-EiEht Commission VIII
Hear Arguments on Petition to
suspend Freight Rate and
Two-Cent Fare Law.

LINCOLN, uly 1s.-(special)-Tom Allen.
chairman Of the democratic state commit
tee, has figured out a scheme whereby he
thinks he can prevent the populists Of Ne
braska from having an electoral ticket In
the field this fall. He has eight favorites
whose names he expects to file shortly with
the secretary Of state with petitions asking
that they be placed both on the democratic
and the ~populist ballots. Should these eight
favorites win out both in the populist and
the democratic primaries, then the demi-
cratic boss figures on a fusion ticket this
fall. with no Watson electors in the field.
Inasmuch as the Nebraska delegation to
the national populist convention withdrew
from the deliberations OF that body when
It nominated Thomas Watson for president,
some question has been raised as to the
legality of the use of the name peoples
independent party on the primary ballot
this fall unless the electors are for Watson.
Secretary II state Junkin, however, Is hold
ing that under the supreme court decision
last year, II proper petitions are filed with
him. he will place the same names on
both the populist and the democratic
tickets. Mr.. Allen, however, probably will
run against a snag at the offshoot, as Mr..
Junkin is also holding that candidates for
elector must file from a congressional dis
trict or at large. The law says electors
shall be selected one from each congress
sIonai district an dtwo at large. 1t was
the idea of Mr.. Allen that he could file
the same petition for all eight Of his candi-
dates, but Mr.. Junkin holds the petition
filed for district electors must be signed
by residents Of the district from which
the person is a candidate. Several candi-
dates have filed for elector who have failed
to specify whether they are candidates at
large or from a congressional district.
These will be returned for this informa-
ton.
Michael Harrington is another stumbling
block over which Mr.. Allen may fall down.
He has already filed as a demo-pop elector
at large without waiting to discover
whether he Is one of the eight favorites
selected by the boss. Whether Mr.. Allen
intends to throw down this populist or
one OF eight picked men can only be deter
mined when his list Is filed.
Pushing the Railroads.
The strong arm Of the law will be in
voked against those railroads using the
Union depot in Omaha to compel them to
obey a recent order of the State Railway
commissions. The commission ordered
these roads to provide a shed for the re-
ception Of cream and milk cans and to cut
depot grounds. The order was issued upon
the application Of the doing
business in Omaha. The time having gone
by when the work was ordered done, the
commission has placed the matter in the
hands Of the attorney general with instruc-
tons to prosecute.
Hearing on Rate Petition.
The application of the Missouri Pacific,
filed with the state Railway commission to
- LTD tho A1arfrb * nor cent freight
reduction law and the 2-cent fare law, has
been set for hearing July Is. The question
to be discussed at this hearing, however,
viii be the right OF the railway commission
10 change the 2-cent fare law. Railroad
LAWYERS have been notified that this will
be decided before evidence will be taken
In the case and they have been requested
to bring in their authorities on this ques-
ton. When the 2-cent fare law was being
enacted by the recent legislature an effort
was made to include in It a provision tina
Il the rate was not compensatory It could
be changed upon a proper showing to thai
effect before the commission. This pro
vision. however, failed to receive the sane
ton Of the legislature. Because Of its alb
sence from the law the commission Is moi
sure It has the authority to change q
statute.
TIL Union Pacific and the Burlington
railroads have received permission from
the railway commission to change theii
short line rates back to the 2 cents a mile
provided by law. The change is due to q
change in mileage.
Democratic Committee Called.
Tom Allen has called a meeting Of tbs
democratic state committee for ivy q a
Lincoln. Al this meeting a state headquar
tiers will be selected and the coming cam
paign discussed
Big Movement OF Stock.
Wednesday, a year ago. compared witt
Wednesday Of this week In railroad affair
was a very little spot on the map. A yea
ago on that day eight stock cars were or
dered, while last Wednesday there wer
l9l ordered. All OF this was on the Chey
enne branch Of the Union Pacific. Or
the Sterling branch OF the Burlington