Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-06
Sheriff and Deputies Take Charge Of
Angry Mob of Men at the
Court House.
BENSON DIRECTORS SLATE WINS
Crooked Politics Charged by Farmers
Who Are Defeated.
WALSH EXPLAINS USE OF FUND
Benson Man Declares No Votes
Bought, but Money Raised by
voltage to Pay Member
ship Fees.

Farmers from the west end of Doug
las county were acquainted with the poll
teal methods of clty-dwellers and subur-
banites yesterday during the annual cleo
ton OF directors by the Douglas County
Agricultural society. held at the court
house. BY the liberal use OF money. the
lively election was swung in favor of the
Benson Slate" and that town was
thereby assured of being the location
of the next county fair.
The directors will formally choose the
fair location, when they meet sometime
next year so the complexion pf their
hoard determines where the annual ex-
hibition OF live stock and farm produce
shall be held. The last fair was held at
Ellkhorn, and the farmers and townspeo-
ple of Elkhorn, Waterloo. Valley and the
west end of the county were anxious to
have It there again next fall. Likewise.
Benson, Florence and South Omaha were
urged as locations.
Competition on the question became
keen, and at the last minute, hot fight
seemed imminent, with the west-enders
liable to win SO James A. Walsh, patrt-
arch of Benson, ex-offlcio member OF the
county agricultural societys board OF
directors. and political generalissmo OF
his part OF the world, rallied his cohorts
financlaally speaking, and the result was
a fat fund for the creation of new mem
bers at 81 per member
Each of them would pay his dollar as
membership fee, and would have a vote
In eleeting directors and Indirectly de-
Gliding the location of the next fair. 'ot
course" Walsh explained. 'it was un-
derstood that the new members could
vote Just as they wished, but they would
naturally recognize Benson as tho best
place. for the fair SO each new menu
ber WIS handed the Benson slate along
with his greenback.
stack of Dollar bills.
A stack of 81 bills two or three inches
high was rapidly distributed from the
county store room to prospective Benson
slate voters by several Bensopites Just
before the meeting began. Several nun
dred new and old members of the society
tannmed the societys room in the base
nent OF the courthouse, fighting to pay
their 81 membership fee and get a GER
tificate, or receipt, SO they could vote
When the smoke cleared away, II was
found that the fight over the fair loea-
ton had resulted in $50 new members
and the addition of $3.50 to the treasury
Previously, there had been only 12S mein'
hers An the society Secretary J. r.
McArdle and Treasurer Lewis Hender-
son almost got writer's cramp from sien
ing receipts for new membership fees.
Then the fun began. In an effort to
beat the influx Of Bensonltes and Other
city and suburban men who would vote
for the Benson candidates, the west
enders started the meeting early. 'IheS
had already adopted an amendment V
the constitution, which practically dis
franchised the east-enders, before th'
main body of the latter had paid theii
fees, and entered the criminal court room
where the meeting was held.
sheriff Prevents Fights.
Amid scenes of wild confusion, and will
farmers and city men jumping on th'
county's fine furniture with their naileC
heels, while newcomers rapidly crowdeS
the room, q motion 10 reconsider the reso
.lution was made. Old-time farmer mem
bers of the society grew so wrathy the,
could hardly talk, and excitedly STAN
mered that the city gang was buy'ni
the society" No order was possible II
the face OF the surging assemblage, which
might have become a mere mob. had no
Sheriff Felix McShane and a large squas
of his deputies been scattered through
the crowd to prevent personal encoun
ters.
President Charley witte OF Elkhorl
finally declared that the motion to re
consider was carried. after he had sue
ceeded in getting rough division througl
the house. Appeals from his decisioil
sharp allegations Of crooked politics
and finally a motion to lay the who'll
matter on the table, followed in rapi'
Ccontinued on Page -Four. Column Five.