Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-26
GIBSVN Is tOR ANNEXATION
Former State Senator Argues in Fa-
vor Of Consolidation Of Cities.
PLEA TO SOUTH OMAHA PEOPLE
AaaIrre- the Opposition and sets out
some Reasons why the Move VIII
BE Beneficial to the Prop
erty Owners.

The campaign Cor The union Of the two
Ouahas is taking on considerable 1eahway
ln South Omaha. where the Initiative vas
AIKEN. Business men ana property owners
IN the packing center are moving with
vigor 10 the end that proper representa-
ton may be had and the question be voted
on az the coming election. Petitions ask
ing that the question be submitted are be-
ny prepared. and will be filed in due time,
50 that the election may be ordered.
In support o. the supposed consolidation,
senator L c. Gibson makes the following
statement.
Perhaps one should not delight In the
distress and sadness OF mis- fellow citizens.
but one cannot help but be amused with
the resolutions coming from the office
holders OF supply agents of the said office
holders meeting which was held in the
rooms OF the organization known as the
Commercial club in South Omaha 10 deplore
the fact that annexation was being agita;ed
and TO telicitate over the present depiorabie
financial condition OK south Omaha but
more particularly as % their own personal
satisfaction with the salary they draw or
the prices they get for the material they
furnish.
errors ever perpetrated on a long suffering
public. Modesty prevents me from offering
their names, but read the account offered
by their able pencil-pusher.
There were federal officers. city officers
and school board officers. 1 am advised
that one prominent office-holder tearfully
remarked that his campaign for the posi-
tion he holds had cost him good money and
he would never submit TO being prfed loose
without a fight 1 don't blame him. They
adopted several resolutions. the first one
deploring repeated agitation OF the ques-
ton l would remind them that the present
condition making It possible to submit the
question 20 a vote OF the people was a
legislative enactment 0f their own making,
or at least acquiesced in by them. a bill
was offered at the same time which would
have been equally beneficial to both cities
and was spurned by them. they preferring
the present bill I pretend to say that the
stagnation in business which has been ap-
parent 70 everybody since that time would
not have existed II the contract offered for
consolidation had been adopted instead of
the measure now existing.
Reference tn IndividuaIa.
Their second resolution refers to certain
individuals without authority who have
been carrying on negotiations IN the city OF
Omaha endeavoring to have the annexation
question submitted.
L infer their reference to certain indi-
viduals simply means those not drawing
salaries or acting as agents TO supply those
VINO do draw the salary and presume they
mean by unwarranted that they who profit
by the system were not first asked to give
their sanction.
Their next resolution recites that the
business and commercial interests of South
Omaha have expressed themselves against
annexation.
Il would remind them that the only arg1l-
ment ever offered against consolidation
from business mans standpoint has been
civic pride. love Of home. and a protest
against loving ones identity 1 agree with
them in this one statement. as there is no
other logical argument against the issue.
/ would remind them. however, that the
bird leaves iIs nest when Il fails to keep
1t clean. and To my notion the time has
come when South Omaha can better afford
to lose its much cherished name than &c
continue under the acknowledgement being
perpetrated. and particularly by our last
city charter These changes. and there ars
many OF them, were written and con
ceived pure and simple by the same indi
vduals whp organized the so-called Com
mercial club and who comprised the per,
sonnet OF the individuals who offered tbs
felicitation and enthusiasm at the last anti
annexation meeting, the report OF which in
fEd can be found in the South Omaha
Democrat
some OF the Reasons.
II would suggest to you. thoughtful
reader. that You prize the morals o
your home fireside and children that on,
OF the most reprehensibe changes made
was the repeal OF that section OF the char
ter which formerly provided for the ap
pOintment by the governor OF the fire anS
police commissioners TO the present condi
ton which now makes this board elective
Theoretically the proposition may lool
right but under the present practices il
South Omaha IT Is pernicious. II you DON
/believe IL come with me for an hour ana
H Will convince you.
The additional enlargement OF the ex
pense OF the city printing OF about 8 90
per year surely could not be OF any bene
fit to anyone. except 1t might be to the on
who conceived it
The change which eliminated the Boar
of Review for taxation purposes makin
the present duties OF the tax commissions
only that OF a eopyist is a change that wa
not made for the small home owner
Their next resolution recites that Their
is not the least semblRncs Of doubt bu
wat the voters would defeat the question
Nay. my dear office holder, you ar
wrong. believe that patience has cease
TO be a virtue and 1 am quite sure tina
you know that your protest comes fror
the fear OF loss OF gain. About the sam
feeling that comes over the man VIII
stands at the bar OF justice.
Movement il Popular.
Seriously I am. inclined TO believe Their
are a majority OF the good citizens q
South Omaha. who now favor consolidatio
under an enactment which would not Dc
prive south Omaha Of any OF her preser
vested rights. I Furthermore believe ths
a majority OF cur citizens have come
final conclusion that there Is more
this question than that which pertains onl