Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-31
ANNEXATION FIGHT
WINNERS PRAISED
Congratulations Generally Extended
to Legislature, The Bee. Breen
and E. E. Howell.
GREATER OMAHA FOLKS REJOICE

islature, we're generally sounded in
/ Greater Omaha yesterday. after
,news had been received from Lincoln
that the measure needed only Gov
ernor Morehead's signature to be-
come law.
Many referred to the perennial
battle which has been waged many
times without result. but eliminated
eventually in giving Omaha big
"boost" in the list of great cities of
the nation.
Only Few Exceptions.
There were a few except 1ns TO the
general chorus of rejoicing, some
men accepting the passage OF the bill
as in the nature OF a defeat Of their
desires and predicting the possible
} overthrow of annexation at the polls
or in the courts.
The following statements gathered at
random by representatives of The Bee
illustrate the general attitude of residents
OF Greater Omaha toward the measure,
which. with the governors signature, will
become law.
{, DR. II. Arnold: I'VE should all feel bet
ter when we think that Greater Omaha Is
in sight The Bee has taken fine stand;
in this matter and has won"
James Richardson: Sure | am pleased
at the prospect OF Greater Omaha.
knew Il would come some day and I feel
that The Bee has been instrumental in
bringing this to pass earlier than 1t
otherwise would have been consum-
mated"
Commends Bees Fight.
F. w. Judson: "The Bee has made
rattling, dignified fight and has given the
| facts on both sides. IL has conducted the
/ fight above board and in fair manner.
Those who have opposed annexation viii
be thoroughly convinced of the benefits d
the new deal"
James Walsh: Glad to hear the news
from lincoln. We all know what The Bee
has done for annexation for years. The
Bee has made hard fight and deserves
the credit ,t
| A. @. smith; "The Bee made a good
fight Am glad the bill has passed. be-
Iieve II will benefit all coucerned'
DR.. II. w. Mcconnell: -"The Bee has
linade an ihsistent and consistent fight
for years and deserves great. credit. An
lnexation viii mean 4 great thing for
/ Omaha and annexed territoFy."
Fred Paffenrath: rAnnexations viii
lmean added assurance OF an era OF pros
lperity for Greater omaha. It will give
iuf better standing in the east Much
credit Is due The Bee and feel that all
concerned should feel elated,"
]. j. Mahoneyi Pleased to hear the
bin has gone through The Bee made er
excellent fight and deserves much credit"
Long Entitled 10 Bill.
ID. ]. oBrien: Good thing for Omaha,
South Omaha and the. suburbs. VIII give
" standing we are entitled TO. The
Bee surely has made great fight for
Greater Omaha"
G. r. Sherman: II have always felt
that It would come eventually and why
not now? l favored it six years ago.
four years ago and two years ago. The
course OF The Bee has been laudable all
OF the way through"
General Harries. president OF the Omaha
Electric Light and Power company:
Now that we are big. let us try and be
good Let us show that bigness lie not
the only attribute that we possess.
]. ]. Dodds. Dundee; II am disap-
pointed and feel that we will be handi-
capped, for there were many improve
ments that we had in contemplation that
eannot be gone on with under the Omaha
lcity chatter as IT now stands"
]. j. Kaley: 1T is a good thing for
Omaha and its suburbs IL means great
city, putting us into another class en-
iffraIW Az he \ a.
all the annexed territory The Bee is to
be congratulated upon The fair and inn
partial manner in which 1t presented the
issues during the progress of the fight
that at times has been waged with con
siderable bitterness"
Charles Elgutter. attorney: 'I am very
much pleased with the action taken by
the legislature. 1t is evident that in do
Ing away with forciblc annexation and
by giving the territory TO be annexed an
opportunity 10 vote on the question the
utmost fairness has been displayed The
Bee fought for annexation and aided IN
winning a pronounced victory for an
J. J. Boucher. attorney: THE whole
question to my mind seems 10 be fair.
was opposed to force In annexing the
suburbs. but with force eliminated and
submitting the proposition TO the people.
all possible objections have been re-
moved. I have admired the course fol-
lowed by The Bee during the time the
bill has been under consideration In
my mind this means that Omaha is now
TO forge ahead and that we viii he ,, a
great city here. the largest between the
great lakes and the Pacific coast"
". w. Slabaugh attorney. Dundee:
Even II we have been annexed we have
won a point. for the question must now
be referred TO the people Of the entire
district. AZ tc the result. cannot say
for the. people have not vet voted. / be-
lieve the law Is vulnerable and that there
are loopholes sufficiently large so that
II the matter ever gets into court II will
be held invalid. Even this early after
the passage Of tho bill. understand that
there are some candidates for the city
commission who are anxious, feeling that
the suburbs may not vote according 10
their ideas. believe, too, that there
are many people In Omaha who are on
posed 10 taking over some Of the bur
dens that must bs forced upon them BY
the annexation OF some OF the suburbs
II the law stands Il VIII disfranchisa the
voters OF those suburbs and munioipali-
ties which are annexed and 20 this I am
OF the opinion that a majority OF the
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