Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-01
d1e Bees&S
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Abort che Consolidation Vote.
OMAHA, Jan. So-To the Editor of The
Bee: I wish to commend and TO thank
you for your logicslly-reasoned editorial
on Greater Omaha Consolidation"
To assert, IS has recently been done
by some Of the opponents Of consoiids-
ton, that omaha is morally and in in
terest one community (and this no one
who has any knowledge Of facts will
deny. and then 20 declare that when II
comes to a question of complication we
ought TO divide ourselves into a group
OF small constituencies. and let each one
Of these decide for itself. is illogical and
absurd
Some years ago, easily within the mem
ory Of a majority OF the people of this
nation today, there was q certain move
ment on the part OF q few of our states
to withdraw from the union. They de-
sired the question as TO whether they
should withdraw OF not to be left en-
tirely with themselves. Lincoln tried
to show them that the very soil OF these
states, the federal posts and postof-
hices ana numerous federal improve
ments had been bought and paid for by
ALL the people of ALI, the union. and
that for q few to withdraw, necessarily
taking with them these properties. would
be an act of grand larceny. His reason
ing had no effect upon them, and so he
had to use the army and navy OF the
federal government TO compel them to
recognize principles of common honesty
and justice. Should that question have
been decided by each division Of the
union to suit itself7 Would those who
are demanding that the question Of con-
solidation be left to each of these COM
munities 70 decide for itself be so alb
surd as TO say that II certain sections
Of Omaha desired to separate themselves
from this city the question should be left
for decision TO the voters of that section3
Hardly. So, declare that II this COM
munity Is morally one and one in COM
mon interest and hope, the question of
whether il should be so in legal fact, Is
one that must be decided by the voters
OF the entire community and not to the
vote OF each separate and distinct ar
bitrary division OF II. This Is just as
true with respect to bringing them to-
gether in legal terms as It would be in
holding them together by legal form
supported by force" II necessary.
Let those who are opposing force"
as they term It, be consistent. Let them
say to the legislature not to pass any
more force" laws. II they did so.
and II the legislature obeyed. 1t would
have 70 adjourn. for 1t passes no act
at all which is not force. and the gov
ernor il enjoined 20 use the state militia,
IL necessary. to enforce 1t.
Those who are the loudest in demand
ing that this matter be left TO a ref
| erendum of the people, would be the
first to oppose such a referendum IL II
included all the people of the community.
Brass bands and noise upon reasonable
men have the opposite effect from that
intended After the noisy session last
| Thursday one of the senators who had
been Indifferent came TO me. saying,
well. am ready to vote" I said
''pid this noise convince youf' He
answered. Yes. 1t convinced me tina.
now il the time for consolidation OF
Omaha and her suburbs. II appears to
| me that Omaha Is surrounded by towns
| swayed by people whose stock in trade
seems TO be to sIur oma1a, and to cul-
tivate a spirit OF antagonism and Jealousy
against the proudest city of this state
1t is time to take from such people tht
opportunity to do that
So. permit me TO add, that consollda-
ton OF these towns into one would wip,
out merely arbitrary boundary lines
That it would put the mere e'srupter Of
community harmony out OF business
That IL would mean that instead Of :
number Of divided little communities
cultivating an antagonism, jealousy,
spirit Of bitterness against this splendid
city. we would have one united. har
/
and one hope. L. J. oUINBY.