Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-19
The Political Caldron

u which will be on between now and the city cleo
ton May T. The situation SINNERS down TO this:
Fourteen men aspire seven positions city COM
missioners six places paying $500 a year and the
seventh that Of mayor. paying $500 year Each Of
the fourteen wants to land seven doomed 10 dis
appointment The contest further resolves itself into
a fight between the bs serving commissioners
and the outs who would like TO get In.
The campaign il taking on some life There was
complaint because OF unusual ennui spathetie
political feeling in the community Voters within the
next two weeks may look for pyrotechnics.
Spring time Is here and with It there comes the pep
and desire to get out and do things. In fact, the
antis. ZImman Hackett, Metcafe. Drexei Jardine
and Lamoreaux, have already been buster than
beavers reconcile themselves to a platform They
took off their coats and at the task n
life death They didn't miss much In their platform
If elected. they will reorganze the police department
and health department, establish a garbage sys
tenn. enforce the Slocumb law to the hilt. chase
ncipal ownership physical valuation, more street
lamps and lower light rates and few other things
Quite mans-size job. this. Nothing to be sneezed
at They declare they will rout the forces OF evil said
to dominate this fair city. II any forces Of evil wait
around for Mister Billy Sunday TO put the finish
ing touches TO this wicked old town.
The six ants are going to have a campaign COM
mttee of fifteen and honest-to-goodness manager
and win hold meetings and distribute pictorial recon-
mendatlons OF themselves. The square seven" say
the snts have nothing them when Il to
putting out pictorial presentments This carnival OF
pulchritude promises to enliven the situation. The
campaign should 1t look IL they need outside help.
Last week the republicans threw a little scare into
the democratic camp when they announced mass
meeting at Washington hall. "How dare you inject
partsanship into local affairs7 This is nonparsan
fight How dare you be 30 lmpudent7" asked tho
democrats But the republicans went right ahead and
held old-fashioned harmonious confab Saturday
evening and declared that partsanship In human
activities yields the best results; that the pretended
nonpartisan Is sort of spneless phegmatic, milk
and-water opinion-beref ackuster individual whose
influence in a community may be expressed by The
minus sign; ergo we will have psrtsanship. demo-
Gratis 10 the contrary Notwithstanding what
you going TO do about it, asked the republicans IL
of infusing into the campaign
II IL should stop right there but the republicans
they going through with It. They expect
TO hold few republican meetings and talk right out
without any excuses for UNFOLDING the grand old
party that gave all the progress and prosperity
had. Cheer up, ye faint-hearted: all is not
Iosti
Some Of the nonpartsan democrats say they will
not play the game Of partisanship with the repub-
leans They rise upon their highdudgeOn and declare
they aotutated by iofter motives; that they
exempars saviors OF the people. heralds OF the
man. II has been said that the democratic party
II debating society, but II seems that they have
been losing their debating prociivtes. Aside from
l. q. Dunn all the debaters OF the party here have
given up their platform frolics.
Here is another auerulous query frequently ,n-
the fray7 The mayor said few days that
action has been taken upon this matter He hurried
home from his Missouri font Of youth to look after
his fences He enjoying himself at the Elms hotel.
Excelsior Springs. when word sent him that the
republicans dulling their weapons token OF
'In about this" said the mayor, he bought
a ticket for Omaha
what win become OF Edward simon is another
question asked. Mr.. Simon himself says he Is
wandering Jew" politically Just now He IL, how
ever maintaining his sang froid manner and Is going
ahead with his campaign. lie nominated In the
free-for-al by a handsome vote-by means tail
ender-and he insists he has not yet turned ON hs
full speed.
the high crimes. On the stage II means You
Grabbing my act or You are pulling my stuff " re-
marked the Careful Observer to PAL the Oldest
habtant. they perused the platform OF the anti
administration candidates.
Il suppose you refer TO the reduction OF electric
light the antis out for lower electric
light rates at time when they see Mayor Dahlman
and Commissioner Butler taking up this matter and
when II likely that the light company win
a reduction" observed the venerable resident
"You got me the first time. Algernon."
Yes do think II 10 kind Of petty larceny for the
antis promise lower electric light rates I'll bet
you shilling that the other fellows beat them TO IT,
whAtcher betr
well. amt betting man. but 1 think you have
II doped out about right I should have thought that
our friend Met would have had better political
than TO have allowed such plank to havo
into their platform but It is their funeral.
amt worrying their trouble"
"But II isn't playing the game right. 1 like to
rules observed In this platform game. There
should ground rules and they should be observed
Haven't any ethics in our politicsf'
81 dunno"
These are the days OF political platforms. plat
form Is considered n prediction promise: II IL
an o. u. issued by the candidate and is redeemabe
after election. Sometimes these platforms not
fully redeemed Tom Flynn who gives his previous
condition and servitude as that OF journeynan
plumber. but who now answers 10 the title Of city
clerk offers the following fret verse aud last line OF
Kipngs "If." mis- platform.
II you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming II you;
II YOU can yourself when all doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubling, too,
n you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
or being He'd about, don't deal in les.
or, being hated don't give way 10 hating.
And yet don't look too good nor talk too wise,
You'll be MAN, my SON.
Mr.. Flynn invites the public 90 look his platform
over He admits II Is a good platform and win stand