Omaha daily bee., 1915-01-14
The Political Caldron

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n n AYoR "Jim's' alleged intention OF going it
MI alone I'm his fourth mayoralty race serves,
paradoSicaly, both to bull and bear the local
political market at one and the time
IL bulls II for the crowd that demands complete
overhsung in the city hall bears, II for some Of
the mayors present colleagues on the commission.
who had counted on what help his alliance would be
to them this time. as before.
Dahlman, however. declares himself fixed in his
determination (subject TO changer TO look out for No
He knows better than anyone can tell him that
Jim Dahlman does not possess the political strength
he did three. six nine years ago Much OF that
strength naturally is Slapped by the very fact that he
has had three successive terms nine years in all as
mayor Usually, It requires a lot Of nerve and power
to land the third cup Of coffee TO say nothing the
fourth.
Jm's late attempt to lsrlst place on Uncle Sans
payroll Is his own admission OF weakness He is IN
the present city campaign only because he was caught
between the and neither grndstones Brothers
Bryan's and Htehcock's feud over patronage but
because he wouldn't rather have the federal Job
another which at the city hall neshpots
You may bet on this. that while the mayor may be
able to roundup his 'Dahlman Democracy club the
lme ever he has Jared certain other support that
he viii never get back, not in time at least, for
In the coming election II you don't believe this keep
your eye on Brother Hitchcock and the interests with
which he trades in this community Nor are they all
There are others" Watch for them too
James Caruso Dahlman knows all this whether
many other folks do not And he lie stacking his
chips with these things view He not sitting in
blindly at any game these days.
How does Dahlmans plan bull the anti-city hall
crowd? It simply means 30 this element that instead
OF having fence-high and hog-tight organization 70
tight, 1t will have seven men. each fellow pretty much
hoeing his own Oh. of course, after Jim pulls
away they may fall into separate alliances, already
intimated in this coiumn-for instance. Kugel and
Hummel going together with McGovern, Withheld
Butler and possibly ryder tying up. But even So
like the old mans seven sons. the compact will in
that event be broken and therefore weakened
That's what the outside element is counting on
the element seeks a completely new set Of city
officials. And "dnna fash ysei' about this element
not amounting to much II amounts to q whole lot
II IL quietly gathering strength comprises
the most aggressive and conservative business
In the city while at the time. the church and
other moral factors And, while this element as
whole expresses dissatisfaction with the present
ministration, It probably would demand a complete
change though impressed-as It must be-that
some OF the present commissioners have done some
commendable things. As put II TO the writer
This agitation for complete change in the COM
mission is strong that even though II be admitted
that Of the present commissioners had done
very we'll and were fairly good officials It would st
insist a change. The feeling have simply IS
that the city ought to have entirely set of
men to head it's civic affairs"
Now. that il very fair index to this general
temper And It won't do for any wise. "practical"
politician to Sneer at it. for II is matter TO be
sneered away Don't make the mistake of thinking
that THIS agitation crises only from small set of
''theorists or any thing Of that sort You'll find Il
IN the noodles OF practical men as any who occupy
official seats in the city hall
Yet TO date, Il can be said that no ''slaaes' or
tickets decisive plans of organization have
been determined by what may refer to s the
'antis. the people. perhaps. Ask of the men
who engineered the anti fight in the last city
paign and they viii tell you that yet they have not
drawn their lines OF battles preparing to- 1t
said at the time OF the late school board election
that the citizens ticket to have effect the
Forthcoming city commission campaign. Its triumph
has naturally the belief that something
similar may be accomplished In April and May. To
be sure. some $500 women helped out the slate
materially at the November election who will not have
the privilege OF aiding in the spring fight and yet the
citizens school board ticket would have Jared toler
ably well without the women
Then there il a psychological value TO such a VIC
tory Victory begots victory just defeat begets de-
feat No will say that the citizens ticket bunch
Is not stronger today than II before would
have been I'm defeat And what gives Il a lot OF
tangible strength is the personnel Of the put
across People are Saying all Omaha today that
they would like 20 similar set of business
installed city commissioners.
Most political seem to think that Dahlman and
possibly the majority OF his associate commissioners
might succeed In getting past the primaries In which
the big fight would come at the election. That
OF is purely speculative; they might all
coed ia winning every heat and the whole race for
that matter II is admitted. though. with any
thing like we'll equipped and directed opposition tho
latter ought able to through the primaries
matter who else with sufficient strength to
make mighty interesting fight at the polls.
To do this. Il is quite agreed among that It
would be little hazardous TO conne the selections
10 a too rigid set OF men. Better half loaf than
loaf at all" Is the advice OF such men-not bad
advice. at that The dealist is always impossible
proposition I'm politics while the broad-guaged OF
ideals may not be-