Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-15
The Political CaldrOn

INTEREST in the registration for the forthcoming
4 city commission primary on April and election
on May Il beginninE 10 manifest itself IN the cleo
ton commissioners office In the county court house
There s no particular rush Of voters. but the daily
registrations and revisions show increase During
the recent weeks, when the city employing large
gangs OF TO shovel from the streets, there
were about 900 registrations TO meet the require
nents OF the city street department
Deputy Election Commissioner Henry Ostrom says
there vet quite a few voters who do not UNDER
stand that registration suffices for all time az
long as they do not change their residences This
class thinks Il must register for each election having
forgotten the provisions Of the election law. IN
Of change OF residence II IL only necessary TO
call at the- election commissioners office and have
the change recorded.
For the information of prospective voters who
may may have out their first naturaliza-
ton II is stated that they may register for
the May election on or before March s. the law re-
quring that they cannot their iirst papers
within thirty days after their declarations of inten-
ton Thirty days after March would bring the time
w to the commission primary election. They. OF
must have lived in the state SIX months to be
eligible under the provision referred TO-
The books OF the election commissioner will be
open for registrations revisiohs TO ten days
before the primary for the primary election and the
condition VIII apply TO the election in May.
The experience Of the election boards shows that
voters forget 10 have new addresses recorded
at tho election commissioners office, and there are
othors who do not know that such action Is even
necessary, unless they want to 80 to the trouble on
election day bringing freehoders Of their ward
TO Vouch for them
The election commissioners office open every day
for registrations, and Deputy Ostron says II
lot Of trouble and confusion election day II voters
will just think to register and have their changes Of
residences recorded.
"a
stood by the voters The records show 1900
registered voters in Omaha The clerks get the death
records from the city hals and mark off those who
die and the inspectors who canvass their respective
districts report back voters who have moved
nently out of the city.
There Is a class who never register The other day
q young man called for petition blank for the
mission primary He wants to be a city commissioner
II discovered that he had not been registered
since before the last presidential election Some do
not register because they want TO jury duty.
and others say Il Is too much trouble.
The sunshine had the effect Of bringing out new
batch OF city commission asplrsnts Fresh timber lie
being heard from every day. II is said that the fu
has something to do with the mental condition
OF those who may be susceptible to the wles Of the
political siren There will be full this month
but In March the moon win be full two occasions
thus giving quite impetus to political activity. It
s declared by those who claim to know about lunar
influence
j. r. Musgrave ono of the deputy sheriffs is out
With city commission primary petition and expects
to make the Charles Bruner. pioneer he being
mentioned with more less frequency. He expects
the support 81 the pioneers Ed Leeder Identified
the double shift for city firemcn. and known a
justice OF the peace. Ia another beng discussed
Owen slaven has confided friends that he has his
eve a city commisslonership He has lived here
years and in the early days was the grocery
business He and Colonel Charles Tanning years ana
years ago had the contract for cleaning the city
streets at much per mile
Robert Druesedow. legislator. may file Fred Hoye
has little boomIet which Is ADJOINING the south
side
Mike Lee says he believes It Is too expensive
luxury for him in this year OF grace He will sit on
the beachers this spring and watch the political
Attorney John r. Dillon says he enjoys making
survey OF the field Of candidates any political CAM
paign particularly a city campaign. He believes a
city campaign is closer to the citizens OF com
munity He looks this matter in the light Of the
public employing certain men to work Tor them.
He contends that voters should know the men who
are applying public office He thinks the avail
ability OF these for the various places elective
and appcntive should be q matter Of serious con-
Germ.
This citizen has started to get line on the men
already mentioned for the city conmission primary
He knows most OF them and Is familiar with their
records, He says there many capable men in the
list the chief objection he finds is that nearly all
OF them want 20 be mayor. There s plethora OF
mayoralty aspirants. finds. He believes Il import
ant the city should have mayor. competent
chief executive. but his point Is that Is as
important that the city shall have a competent man
fer the public improvements department for instance
lie would like to men who ara up ON pub
lic Improvement matters como forward ana announce
their candidacy. and the with the other branches
OF the municipal service He does not want to be
understood finding any particular fault with the
present incumbents but he holds that the people owe
II themselves TO select the very best materia and
to be 'up on their toes from now 10 eActicn day
on May a
Mr. Dillon maintains that efficiency is becoming
more and more prerequisite for public service.
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