Snyder, surveyor; and

F. H. Riege, commissioner. The vote on commissioner was very close, being 123 for Riege, and 119 for George Baltes. J. L. Gilmore gave Nate Snyder a close run also for surveyor. On three other candidates there appeared a little "knifing" on the part of republicans. Raymond. Thornton, and Walsh had engendered a hostile spirit of some of their colleagues, possibly the beginning of the north and south feud that politicians have used for

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

twenty years, and fed from time to time. In any event Walsh and Raymond were two of Gering's first people to move to Scottsbluff, and Thornton with his additions to Gering is perhaps a result of this old discord.

In 1900, F. A. Wright went down in a battle for county attorney with Ed. A. Mann ; and Ed. A. Currie defeated Theo. Deutsch for commissioner. Wright lost by 34 and Deutsch by 29. The republican state ticket swept the county by about 125 average.

The election of 1901 resulted in practically a republican victory. Some of the officers were elected by small majorities and but two democrats were successful. The republicans elected Ed. J. Whipple for treasurer ; H. M. Thornton for clerk ; E. S. DeLaMatter judge ; Agnes Lackey, superintendent ; Joseph H. Fairfield, surveyor; L- R. Craig, coroner; and the democrats elected Runey C. Campbell for sheriff, and Thos. Allen for commissioner.

In November, 1902, Wenzel Hiersche, democrat, was elected commissioner.

The November election of 1903 gave the democrats two officers and the republicans the balance. R. C. Campbell was re-elected sheriff and James McKinley for clerk. The republicans elected Thos. Preston, treasurer; E. S. DeLaMatter, judge; A. C. Morrison, commissioner ; F. P. Johnson, superintendent ; R. B. Judson, surveyor ; and F. D.