Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-20
PREPARE TO BEAT RING RULE
Sitizens' Union Issues on Address to
Voters of0maha.
A CLEAN SLATE IS DESIRED
Union VIII Not Endorse Any Cnndi-
date for Commissioncr who VIII
Not Respect RiEht of the
Wage Farmers.

The Citizens union has made another
appeal for membership. The following
resolution has been adopted by the OK
ecudve committee and turned over to the
publicity managers, with Ralph Sunder-
lands O. X:
Omaha is tho home Of nearly 10000
people a large range OF interests and "a
great variety OF opinions are represented
oy the 900 voters of this city.
any plan OF government which does not
recognize this fact will fall short OF its
widest usefulness.
The Citizens union Is prepared and
willing TO act as the servant of all voters
VINO want Omaha to be the best gov
erned city I'm the United States.
Ihere arc in this city tour classes Of
citizens, viz.
EtrSt-Ihose who earnestly desire good
city government
Second-Those who take no personal in
terest or responsibility in the matter
They don't care.
Third-'rhose who would take an in
terest, but believe it is impossible to de-
feat the gang.
Fourth-Thoso who do not want good
government and will do their utmost to
defeat IT,
In our judgment class No 1 at this time
outnumbers class No. probably four to
one. In our judgment class No 2 NAV
be aroused to their duty and be added to
class No. /. In our judgment class No. 3
Is much less numerous at this time than
ever before, for there have been recent
evidences that the gang cannot win
against an awakened public. AS for class
NO. 4, they vote solidly together like
clock work and they win whenever they
can scatter the interest and the vote of
classes Nos. !, and 3, among a large
number OF candidates Anything TO win
is their slogan and they have won often
by using classes Nos. l. and as their
innocent helpers.
Next spring there will be elected seven
commissioners to manage the business of
the city for three years. The 5000 voters
are entitled to representation, not mis-
representation,
sterling Character Essential.
AT the head of each department there
should be q man Of sterling character,
man of unusual ability and man who
VIII recognize the rights and the interests
OF all of the people.
The wage earners of Omaha, the for
eign population, the colored people, the
business men and every division of the
voting population-all of the voters must
be faithfully and honestly served by tho
commissioners.
Our opponents at the outset announced
that the CITIZENS union was an otfshoot
OF the Business Mems association. Moth
ing more untrue was ever stated. The
purpose was, of course, to prejudice wage
earnerS against this organization. 1t was
unfair to the voters and unfair to the
Citizens union to create this false inn
preston.
The fact as that two prominent meni-
bers of organized labor are now acting
as members of the executive committee,
a fact which must convince the most
skeptical that the Citizens union is not
III any sense opposed to the wage earn
ers. This organization can be of no
greater service to any citizen than to the
wage earners. The wage Garner is the
best friend Of good government and good
government is the wage earner's best
friend.
The Citizens union is just what the
name implies-a union of the citizens OF
Omn ha- sole hainp QOnd
eminent for Omaha,
Men of all positions and activities in
life can well afford to join hands on this
proposition. All men have a common in
terest in good government. All men have
equal power to help secure 1t.
And right here 1t may be stated that
the Citizens union Will not endorse nor
recommend any candidates for commits
sioner who will not recognize and respect
the rights and privileges of the wage
earners as citizens of Omaha.
No ticket Of seven candidates will be
satisfactory to the Citizens union unless
Il is distinctly representative of the en-
tire population.
First OF all, the candidates must have
good character and ability to conduct the
business of the city successfully. The
candidates must be free. from entangle-
ments with the gang which the Citizens
union is determined to defeat.
The issue next spring will be clear cut
as between government in the interest
Of the whole city and government in the
interest of the corrupt machine gang.
OF necessity the voters who favor good
government win find 1t necessary to unite
upon seven men who deserve public con
fidence and support.
ANY other plan will spell defeat.
Every citizen is invited to join TIE Clti-
zens' union, All members will receive
each week the union paper with informa-
ton as to what is being done.
THE CITIZENS UNION.
BY Its Executive Committee Office 1896
City National Bank Building,
Omaha, December 10, 1911.