James Charles Dahlman (December 15, 1856 - January 21, 1930), also known as Jim Dahlman , Jim Cowboy and Mayor Jim , was elected to eight tribes as mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, serving the city for 20 years over a period of 23 years. A German-American and an agnostic, Dahlman grew up in a ranch area and started working as a Texas cowboy. He was elected a county sheriff and mayor of a small town in western Nebraska before moving to Omaha.
Referred to as "Eternal Mayor" in Omaha, Dahlman is seen by many as a cover for city representatives. Gaining a reputation as "wettest wettest in America", Dahlman saw the number of saloons in Omaha doubles for his first 10 years as mayor. The term "Dahlmanisme" was created to describe his politics.
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James Charles Dahlman was born in Yorktown, DeWitt County, Texas in 1856. He was the eldest son of Charles and Mary Dahlman, both German Germans. At the age of 17, he won a competition riding the state of Texas and became a man shortly after. He is known as an expert with ropes. In 1878, at the age of 22, Dahlman killed his brother-in-law while fighting and fled to western Nebraska, where he used the name "Jim Murray". Dahlman later learned that the judge decided the murder was a self-defense. After working as a cowpuncher at N-Bar Newman Ranch near Gordon for several years, Dahlman became a boss.
In late 1884, Dahlman married Hattie Abbott who was a student at Wellesley College. His father, Charles Abbott, was a doctor in Maine and Hattie met Dahlman at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where he worked at the time.
Maps James Dahlman
early political career
Then Dahlman became the brand inspector for the Wyoming Exchange Association at Valentine. Soon he was elected a sheriff from Dawes County. In 1885 he became the mayor of Chadron and was elected twice to the office.
While Chadron Mayor, Dahlman formed a friendship with a successful young lawyer from Lincoln named William Jennings Bryan. Over the next few years, the couple maintained contact, with Dahlman raising funds in Chadron for Bryan's 1892 campaign for re-election to Congress. Dahlman served twice as a Nebraska delegate to the Democratic National Convention, in 1892 and 1896.
After refusing an offer as chief of police in Omaha in 1896, Dahlman served as chairman of the Democratic state. He helped Bryan to bring Nebraska on his first escape for the President of the United States that year.
In 1899 Dahlman was employed by Union Stock Yards Company of Omaha.
Omaha Mayor
Dahlman was elected in 1906 to serve as mayor of Omaha, the first of three consecutive elections to which he won. He became a close ally of Tom Dennison, who reportedly supported his first campaign because Dahlman was "tolerant" from Dennison Sports District in downtown Omaha. In 1908 the Nebraska Legislature passed a law requiring saloons to be opened only during the day. Mayor Dahlman leads the opposition in Omaha, where he openly exhibits his dissent in various places throughout the city. In his first term, Dahlman ensured Dennison's political position within the city. However, running on the Anti-Ban ticket, Dahlman quickly lost support from Bryan, who strongly supported the Prohibition.
Dahlman has been noted for early concern for the townspeople, especially calling for caution during the Thanksgiving Day meal. He was also criticized for his "loose" attitude toward Omaha's representatives. Religious leaders throughout the city began to refer to "Dahlmanism", which, according to the periodic newspaper called Omaha Bee, exposes the most sacred interest of morality and public order, its hidden commitment to the elements of representation and evil makes Dahlmanism a threat to public morals. "
Gubernatorial Competition
Dahlman lost the race for the Nebraska Governor against Chester H. Aldrich in 1910. Ran with anti-Prohibition and local controls for the cities, Dahlman lost to Aldrich's promises of progressive reform. Dahlman also hinted to move the Nebraska State Capitol from Lincoln to Omaha. However, Germany in Omaha and the German-American National Alliance supported Dahlman by giving him 70% of their votes that year. In the so-called "Dahlman element", the mayor gained much support from factories throughout the state, but failed to significantly challenge Aldrich.
After serving as the United States Marshal in 1920, he resigned in 1921 to become mayor of Omaha for the fifth time, and became mayor for three more terms thereafter.
Policy creation
Under Dahlman, Omaha claimed the status of "strong city" for the first time. Before him, the city must get permission from the state legislature to provide a raise to the police. Dahlman led the battle to gain city autonomy and was accused of wanting to "separate" Omaha from the state of Nebraska. State MPs ridiculed Omaha's ability to control his own affairs.
When the constitutional amendments were handed over to the electorate, however, they agreed to give the Omaha government more authority. Other major accomplishments from Dahlman mayor include the purchase of the city of Florence Waterworks, a gas company and the establishment of the Metropolitan Utilities District in 1921.
Dahlman was reviled for his response to the disastrous Sunday Easter Tornado of 1913, when he rejected federal aid and donations from people across the country. The city has suffered more than 100 related deaths, and millions of dollars in property damage in plots of destruction for miles through the city.
Civic engagement
Dahlman is a member of several social and philanthropic organizations, including Omaha Community Pier, Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Young Christian Men's Association, Omaha Library Commission, Union of Brotherhood Assistance, Royal Arcanum, Woodmen of the World, Old Order of Trade Unions, Moose and Elks. He is the president of the Americanized League.
Omaha Race Riot 1919
After defending the mayor for three consecutive periods, Dahlman lost the 1918 election by Edward P. Smith, a reformist Republican backed by the powerful Omaha Federation of Churches and the Douglas County Dry League. Smith focused his attention on making Omaha a dry city, clearing the city's "representative" elements, and securing a positive future for the city's business. Smith and the city commission who share his reformist goals are the curse of Tom Dennison.
Later, a grand jury found that the "representative element" or Dennison's men, had attacked women while in dark conditions, to increase racial tension in the city. Postwar social problems, like in other industrial cities, are growing, as groups compete for space and work. Blacks are recruited by the meat-packing industry as a problem-solver, which increases the white ethnic hostility towards them. Their numbers increased dramatically in Omaha between 1910 and 1920; it is the only place in the state where many black people live. Ethnic Irish were involved in previous riots in Greektown, which resulted in attacks, burning buildings and the Greeks leaving Omaha.
In September 1919, an African American named Willy Brown was accused of rape and taken to a local court for protection. A group of white men from South Omaha, most of whom are of white immigrant descent, marched to the Douglas Courthouse and ended up punishing Brown, after attacking and setting fire to the courthouse. While there are reports that the violence was led by various men, one of Dennison's henchmen looks urgent on the masses. Dennison immediately took him out of town after the riots. Contemporary historians believe that Dennison, acting on behalf of Dahlman, contributed to the toxic atmosphere of the city, if not to a specific event.
The grand jury trial, which begins two weeks after the riots, says the riot "is no ordinary affair; it is planned and planned by secret and invisible forces that currently fight against you and those representing good governance."
Because of the unrest, Smith was never able to restore his political career. He just survived because he hung himself. He hired more than 100 police officers for the city, but could not recover political momentum. He refused to take any action with the city commission. In 1921, Dahlman and his ticket were re-elected to control the city.
Death
Dahlman died at the office of 21 January 1930.
Legacy
After his death, the Dahlman neighborhood, Dahlman School, Dahlman Park and Dahlman Avenue in Omaha were named in his honor.
In 1964, Dahlman was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners, referred to as "Mayor of Omaha Cowboy, rancher and Sheriff of Dawes County."
His two grandchildren went to the US Naval Academy. USS Collett (DD-730) is named for the oldest grandson, John A. Collett, and the first commander is another grandson, James Dahlman Collett.
Political timeline
James Dahlman is a lifelong Democrat who serves in the following positions:
See also
- Omaha History
- List of mayors of Omaha
References
External links
- "Memories of Cowboy Life in West Nebraska." An address given by James Dahlman at the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska State Historical Society on January 10, 1922.
- Dahlman's Photos
- (1909) "Mayor James C. Dahlman," Omaha Police Library Book.
- Dahlman's Photos from Omaha Police Library Book.
- 1908 photos
Bibliography
- (1927) "Sketch of the mayor of America," Review of the National City. 16 (2). p 111-117.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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