Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-05
The Political CaldrOn

= 81 wHat YOU wall. there q or pohucs,
- well other things, in this Greater Omaha con-
soiidation proposition and its bearing on the
coming spring city election has been canvassed and
fne-toothed combed by the strategsts in ell
IL will be remembered that Major Jim announced
himself quite while in favor Of consolidation,
but emphatic that he would not stand for taking
in Dundee. Florence Benson without taking In
South Omaha at the time II will be remembered
too that Senator Dodge was always hot for annexa-
ton until just when Be someraauIted over TO
the ants and his switch is mot wholly explained by
the fact that he lives I'M Dundee because he lived
in Qe spot while serving in the last legislature
True, at that time he in neither Dundee nor
Omaha. but he himself remarked. Dundee forcibly
annexed me-" and he never put up whimper. So
Il isn't forcible unforcible annexation but politics.
that is at the bottom of the lineup and this is the
Il is doped OUT Dundee is silk stocking" South
Omaha is ''rough-neck" Dundee Benson and Florence
altogether cast fewer votes than South Omaha by
good deal that consolidation would be expected to
strengthen the "liberals' in city election com
pared with the ''highbrows."
A question OF time and calendar also enters into
this consolidation problem It affects local politics
Ordinarily law passed by the legislature does not
become effective until the following July which would
be two months too late 20 let the voters Of the an
nexed territory IN the choice of the city officers
who TO govern them for the next ensuing three
years The law could become operative at once by
attaching the emergency clause TO t. and passing it
soon enough TO let ambitious like Hector
Tanner, Dodge and others residing In South Omaha
and Dundee file for the municipal primaries as cit
consolidation, and let the annexed neghbors have
representation. In the elective city offices in event
consolidation is enacted without the emergency clause
would be then TO rush through special act post
poning the city election until fall. and extending tho
terms of the present municipal regime for about
seven months II goes without saying that the city
hall bunch would object to this program and It
is also than possible that those who are fight
ing consolidation hardest right being all Of them
politicians first might II beaten the first round
and seeing consolidation thing after next July.
fur In md 40 Their
ton they could climb in on the groundfoor OF the
| political game.
| SO don't overlook any bets in the consolidation
matter. and don't be surprised to some lightning
changes II contingencies require
IL IL said friends of w r Baxter are importuning
! him TO start and head another citizens movement
similar to Citizens Union of three years ago SO
! far. however. Mr. Baxter has declined 90 take more
than ordinary interest In this campaign, urging that
his business affairs at this time demand more OF his
time and energy than they did three years ago when
! he was one of the moving spirits in the Citizens
Union. For that organization Ralph Sunderland was
general In command; David Fitch was secretary; and
c. w. Alden was business manager. suite OF rooms
| in the City National bank building was the Unions
headquarters,
| Politics sure makes strange bedfellows. Here are
Lee Herdman and Mayor J G Daihman friends again
after nearly nine years OF political encouragement
This one Of the important political happenings oil
the week during which MIR. Herdman called at the
mayors office, doffed ms nat ana coat accepleu
cigar the twain agreed TO bury the hatchet and
Renceforth eat at the same political table
The ancient and honorable legion OF political pam
handlers IS making its presence felt in the city hall
Just now although will be two months before the
city primaries Some Of these visitors want little
small change for loyalty and work. while others
| ask for money for what they promise to do this
| spring. They bring in alleged political Information
4 offer suggestions and even claim 10 control votes
Some fairly successful in this form OF activity
others don't get to first base. Usually twenty-five
cents is satisfactory ante at this stage OF the game