Omaha daily bee., 1912-02-12
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Demand Made for Proclamation
Calling City Election in April.
OPPOSITION ACTS ON ADVICE
Supreme Court's Action In Custer
Case, Attorney Ringer Declares,
win Provide Immediate Air
ing of Police Affairs.

Lake pOit out Oh u CieaT SKY Sathe tho
demand Of a committee Of the opposition
yesterday that Mayor Trainor issue a
proclamation Of election to be held In
April as heretofore.
The committee was composed OF Thomas
Hector. candidate for mayor; John Crib
bic, candidate for city treasurer; Sam
Schrigley. candidate for the city council,
and C. NJ. Rich. candidate for the Fire
and Police board. Their attitude Indicated
that while they must needs make the
demand In order to be within the law II
was not expected that the mayor would
accede TO their call.
Mayor Trainor. recognizing the temper
of the committee, declared that he would
refrain from making a statement until
he had consulted with his attorney. The
committee accepted the answer OF the
mayor and left the city hall.
Immediately after the visit of the COM
mittee Mayor Trainor and City Clark
Frank Good held a conference and deter
mined to consult their respective attor-
neys, with whom they held a conference
in the afternoon.
The members of the committee in sew
eral interviews given out yesterday in
sisted that they we're in the fight to a
finish. Upon the expected refusal OF the
mayor to issue a proclamation before
next Thursday mandamus proceedings
will be inaugursted and the issue will
come squarely before the court, The
opposition. which is strongly democsatic.
insists that II has a clear case and that
the extension clause of the city charter
Is illegal and altogether unconstitutional.
Lately there has been a story that the
extension clause win be aired before the
grand jury. II has been asserted that the
officials of the city, with one or two ex-
ceptions, have contributed money toward
q pot that furthered the move Of having
the terms of the officials extended for
one year. The extension originally is said
to have contemplated the members OF
the Fire and Police board only, but It
was pointed out that 1t would be just as
easy for all to come in on the extension.
Commissioner Case Opened Up.
News from Lincoln that the supreme
court had yesterday denied the petition
Of Commissioners Ryan and Pivonka to
quash the custer proceedings against
them added interest to the already super
heated political atmosphere Of South
Omaha
Commissioner Ryan was not at home
Commissioner Pivonka stated that he
would continue the fight. Pivonka ad-
mitted his surprise at the news. II have
been Ill for several days" he said. and
have not been in touch with politics"
Asked as to the rumor that he con-
templated resigning. Pivonka said: Such
statement is untrue. / positively refuse
to resign"
1T is the first step" said Attorney
Ringer. The supreme court has opened
up the way to allow the people of this
city a chance at clean government. The
case must now come to trial. There Is
no possibility Of another demurrer be-
cause the motion to qdash was in itself
a demurrer. With the appointment Of a
referee the case will come to issue and
/ propose 10 show just what the average
citizen has been up against in South
Omaha"
Attorney Ringer said he would produce
evidence that Ryan and Pivonka have
accepted worthless bonds from thirty
saloon men.
Difficulties I'm the Way.
Ringer explained the difficulties that be-
set the citizens who dare TO give evil
dence against the saloon men and the
beard. He instaneed a case where a
woman had brought suit again a saloon
man for the Illegal sale OF liquor to her
husband, a packing house employee. The
woman. when the case was set for trial,
came to tell how she had been threat
ensd IL she persisted In giving testimony
unfavorable to the accused saloonman.
Failing to terrify the woman, an effort
was made TO intimidate her husband who
was informed that he would lose his job
If his wife gave testimony against the
saioonman. Ringer went to the general
manager of the packing house and told
the condition OF affairs. The manager in
question was sstounded and angered to
think Of such methods in the plant. and
promised to see that no harm came to an
employee for telling the truth IN such cases.
Ringer charges that certain officials are
trying to block the trial Of Ryan and
Pivonka-
II Is now expected that Attorney Ringer
will be appointed special assistant to the
attorney general for the conduct Of the
case.
Commissioner Al Hunter Of the school
board and one Of the minority o; the
board has advanced q plan b. which the
congestion in some Of the outlying school
districts will be relieved without the ad-
ditional issue of 5000 bonds sought by
the majority Of the board.
Commissioner Hunter proposes that the