Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-19
The Political Caldron

a entITed. WeaCn
"A Ear" would find ready sale just among
host Of candidates and near-eandidates for the
city commission primary. II is Interesting to stcl
TO Of these asprants relate their modus opersnd
The new candidate is most hopeful. He has not been
disillusioned. and he enters the at gallop. lie
is enthusiastic, albeit his viewpoint may not be what
U should. lie mounts the political peaks and scars
In the clouds. He IL optimist and his breast is
full OF the milk Of human kindness because many
have grasped him by the hand and have told him
he has chance and that they will vote for him. All
OF Is wifes relations have encouraged him and his
grocer, butcher, baker and csndestick maker have
poured soothing words into his willing It Is
sweet period in the life Of the political novitate It
Is like loves young dream.
And in the crucible Of time he becomes trans
formed into another being He learns human nature
gets better of proportions and grows Of
gft-besring Greeks. He learns the game He awales
from his dream and out into the stern reality
OF things political He learns that some men are
liars, and that Il is sort OF catchascatch-can game
after all. Some times he stays in the game and wins
again he sees his idols and ideals and ideas broken
into smithereens
"Is the game worth the GAMBLER" he asks himself
The lure Is strong oftirnes II gets hold and he
tries and tries again One tried three times for
the presidency and why should not he too try again?
"If at first you don't succeed. try again
Judge A. L. sutton belongs TO something like
twenty-seven organizations, known lodges. The
political wisacres give him credit for having an ex
tensive acquaintance and the Judge knows how to
get to the front in unobtrusve manner. Should he
file which is the probabilities is generally
conceded that he will be of the fourteen nom-
and II is likewise believed he will give the field
hard for the money That is what some
saying Just now. Others who concede his nomination
contend he would have uphill fight on his hands
for election.
Mayor Dahlman is quite Joiner" too. lie has
the faculty Of getting programs on any and every
He attends dances, social functions, gath
erings Of all sorts, such as improvement clubs.
BY the by the improvement olubs are popular with
dat fIoqa Thava fnr han
TO get before the improvers The combined strength
Of the Improvement clubs Of the city represent quite
a per cent of the voters.
Reaching tho public ear is quite an art with the
successful politician with the partisan feature elm
in the city commission campaign, the old ward
political clubs will not cut much OF figure in
the spring campaign
A concern OF national activity sends out adver-
Using cards and placards bearing the word,
Think" These signs have been posted In many
places. Willard Fillmore Funkhouser former city
councilman and member of the Board of Education,
has secured one OF these signs and every in a
while he looks this word. He Is thinking these
days and he is bordering the question Of whether
he should bear the ills he has or fly to others he
| knows not Of"
Mr. Funkhouser would like to be city commits
sioner. He admits that ambition, but he is in doubt
whether he would be elected IL he offered himself
| upon the altar of public service
He is ready to point with pride to his public
record he says He he served the ''peepui" the
best he could when In the council and on the school
|
that service whether they remember him at all
at all.
~ have until March 26 to think this matter over
| There is hurry about It, How much does 1t cost
| to fie?" his words
| 1T is to think" Is the Eist OF Mr.. Funkhouseri
! conversation just
Does the public want a candidate who thinks?'
| asks irreverent individual
Come on in the waterais fine The political wate
is beginning to take degree OF tepdity weel
or so ago Il chilly. Prospective candidates wer'
shy about committing themselves. Fair and con
tinued warmer" is the political forecast II vol
would have asked Bill Jones John Smith ten day
| away like scared fawns, while today they would cx
| pand their manly bosoms and announce themselves
| with vehemenoe and pride.
Saturday of last week Fred Hoye aud John Drexe
were both the anxious seat Neither knew posi-
lively they declared. whether they would file Mon
day morning they out and took their stand
Both made their decision Sunday. They live oil
the south side and have had experience in politics
Drexel sheriff time and Hoye wanted to b.
sheriff.
Now that a coterie has entered the field Others
feeling the spirit move them The world Is wait
ing to hear from II. ]. Hackett OF the Fontenel
park district and Willard r. Funkhouser. forme
councilman. Both being mentioned frequently.
Many eyes being cast Jeff w. Bedford, wat
is in the legislature. Others who "thinsIng
over are w. @, Shriver. j. w. Metcalfe Sam Sprat
len. w. r. Howard. F. s. Howell, c. l.. Saunders an,
Charles UNFIT.
Louis Burmester. who served several terms in tn
council wants TO come back