Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-07-19
MAYOR DAHLMAN
FEARS RACE RIOT
AGAINST NEGROES
Omaha Executive Issues Proc
|amation Calling Upon All
Citizens to Exercise Calm
Judgment.

Fear OF riot that might involve the
colored people of Omaha, led Mayor
Dahlman last night to issue the fol-
lowing proclamation: ,
WHEREAS, it has come to my at
tention, as we'll as to the attention Of
other citizens OF the city of Omaha
that there are rumors afoat, more or
less indefinite, to the effect that the
city Is being threatened with q race
riot against the colored people of the
city, and, ~
"WHERAS, all patriotic, law-abid-
ing and good citizens ,deplore any such
condition even though it does not go
beyond the state of rumor, and,
WHEREAS RUMORS HAVE
sufficiently circulated to cause some
apprehension and fear among the col
ored people of the city, now, there
fore,
II, James C.. Dahlman, mayor, pro-
claim it the duty of all law abiding
and self respecting citizens to dis
contenance and refute any such ru-
mors when heard and / especially ap-
peal .othose who might be incensed
or excited by such rumors to use a
calm judgment and deliberation which
becomes the citizens of this city to
prevent any undue excitement or
mental agitation that might infiame
the minds of people to do things as a
result of excitement or more magma
ton, and ! especially appeal to all
dealers III fire arms and ammunition
to exercise discretion and caution at
the PRESENT. ime in the matter OF the
sale of fire arms, to the end that they
may not be laced in the hands of ir-
responsible or unduly agitated per-
sons.
"And | further assure the public
that every precautionary step is being
taken by the city officials and espe-
cially by all members of the police
department to prevent the carrying of
concealed we~pons, and that any per-
son found carrying the same will be
dealt with as one violating the laws
of the state of Nebraska, as we'll as
the ordinances Of the city, in as much
as the carrying of such weapons is
forbidden by law and | feel that the
people Of the city of Omaha cherish
too highly the good name OF this city
to permit of any incident to stain that
reputation as has sometimes occurred
in other places as the result of undue
excitement and lack OF deliberate FORE
thought"
To Search For Guns.
The foregoing proclamation was is
sued last night and after rumors had
reached the mayor that there was a
possibility that disorder might be
brought about by reason of a number
of negroes having taken the places OF
teamsters on strike.
Following the issuance of the proc
lamation by the mayor, Chief of Po-
lice Dunn instructed policemen and
detectives on duty to search and re-
move firearms from all unemployed
and strange colored men with whom
they came in contact.
While the chief of police is not an
ticipating any serious trouble, he is
taking extra precaution. All yester-
day and last night he held extra
squads Of police at the central station
in order that they might be on hand
in the event an emergency should
arise.
Residentcolored people, the major
ity Of whom live in the north part of
the city, between Sixteenth and Twen-
ty-sixth, and between Cunning and
Lake streets, were considerably
wrought up yesterday. They had
heard the rumors OF an uprising
against them and asked for police pro-
lection.