Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-17
RECALL PETITION
WILL STAND TEST,
SAYS O'SULLWAN
Attorney Declares Fraud
Charges of Thomas, Speak
ina for Four Commission
ers, Are Absurd.

Eugene O'Sullivan, the attorney
who filed the petition Friday seek
ing the recall of Mayor Smith and
City Commissioners Ringer IRE
and fowl, is OF the opinion that the
$500 names signed to the docu-
merit are ample and meet the re-
quirements of the law in every re-
spect.
Elmer f. Thomas. speaking for
Mayor Smith and Commissioners
Ringer, IRE and FOWL and Corpora
tom Counsel Lambert, is in error
and looking for an opportunity II
dodge the main issue on technical
grounds when he asserts that 6,84j
names should be affixed to the pc
titior, Mr.. O'Sullivan charges.
"The law is perfectly plain" con-
tinued the attorney. 1T is SO clear,
in my opinion, that no attorney who
is honest with himself will miscon-
stfue it."
Afraid of Vote, Charge.
Mr., OISullivan declared he was
not familiar with the case of c. J.
King, the Lincoln commissioner,
cited by Mr.. Thomas. Il do know,
however," he said, that the law
provides the petition shall contain
80 per cent of the vote cast in the
last general municipal election fo-
the leading candidate. The propo-
sition for the city to purchase the
gas plant was special issue and
does not enter into the considera-
ton"
Mr.. O'Sullivan asserted that he
expected that Mayor Smith and
Commissioner Ringers attorneys
would be instructed to exert every
possible effort to keep the contest
away from the voters.
"They have indicated at the very
beginning they are afraid to meet
the issue before the people" he
said, land | venture to say they
will exhaust every means and fight
to the last ditch before they will
come out into the open and face the
issue.
They will be forced into the
open, however. Hiding behind
technicaltief only will serve to pro-
long the agony for them. They will
be compelled to leave it to the peo-
pie"
Mr.. O'Sullivan explained that the
city clerk was allowed only 10 days
in which to check the petition. He
then will render a report TO the
city commission. If it is found that
the petition contains insufficient
names, 10 additional days are al
lowed in which to obtain the neces-
sary number of signatures. I'VE
will be able to supply any defcien-
cies on this score" declared Mr..
O'Sullivan. I'VE will be able to
procure 10000 names if necessary,
but we are going to insist on square
dealing and a proper count. No
short cuts will be tolerated"
= Speaking on the comment of Mr..
Thomas, the police commissioner
press agent, to the effect that the
petition presented indications of
fraud, Mr.. O'Sullivan said:
ut only proves the bent of the
mans mind. The campaign is too
young for Thomas to find anything
to talk about. The man is not very
busy these days. Perhaps he feels
he is not earning the $500 a month
the committee of 500 is paying him.
Thomas absurd and unfair COM
ment is not even worthy of denial
"By the way, l wonder what has
become of Thomas threatened re-
call of Commissioner Zimman.
Thomas has made two plumbers al
ready. They were serious blunders
too and the fight has not yet opened
up. Give him enough rope and he
will not only hang himself, but he
will help execute Mr.. Smith and
Ringer. too"