Yellow JournalismThe Dangers of the Press

“Black Beast First Sticks Up Couple!”

Omaha – The most daring attack on a white woman ever perpetrated in Omahaoccurred one block south of Bancroft Street near Scenic Ave. in Gibson (Omaha neighborhood) last night. The Omaha Bee, 1918

What are the “underlying” feelings that this headline would make you feel or believe about the people described?

Is there some bias in this story? If so, where?

Yellow Journalism “The printing of news or information from the

viewpoint of the Editor rather than from giving a objective viewpoint.”

The information reported is usually biased (one sided) and inaccurate.

The tone in which the story is written is made to “rile” the reader’s emotions

By reporting the news in this way, it does not allow the reader to determine what is in fact true and what is not.

Yellow Journalism – The Omaha Bee

Owned and operated by Edward Rosewater

In direct competition w/ the World-Herald

Openly criticized the city govt, especially the Police

Embellished stories about attacks by Minority men on White women

Directly involved w/ fueling the 1919 riot

Edward Rosewater

Racial Tensions Rise in Omaha1908-09

Numerous strikes occur due to how workers are treated by the Meatpacking companies

Workers are replaced by Greek men brought in from elsewhere, “Scabs”

White workers are angry Racial incidents happen all

over the city

Greek Riot of 1909 It is a hot, humid summer

night in August 1909 Omaha Policeman, Ed Lowery

is called to a disturbance in South Omaha

Lowery is shot and killed while trying arrest a drunk Greek “scab”

The public is outraged and begin to go after every Greek that they can find literally chasing them out of town

Political Machines on the Rise Operates to serve the lower

class – the “Untouchables” It uses the lower class to get

its work done and gives them a voice

Controls crime in the lower income areas of town

Guides “Black Market” dealings behind closed doors of legitimate businesses

Enter Tom Dennison…..

Tom Dennison

Billy Nesselhouse

“Cowboy” Jim Dahlman

Edward Rosewater

Frank Johnson

Harry Buford

Joe Potash

The Omaha Machine

Tom Dennison “The Old Man” or “Gray Wolf” Born and raised in Iowa Went to Denver and became a

gambler 1893 came to Omaha due to its

reputation and set up shop 1893-1900 – organized the

gambling scene, 1904 became the “Political Boss”

Obtained power by “buying” the mayor

He got “bums” and “low lifes” to go out and vote for “his” candidate a couple of times

Thomas Dennison

Billy Nesselhouse Dennison’s # 2 Man A famous horse jockey who

now fixes horse races Oversaw the collection of

protection money from businesses along with Joe Potash

He made the $ “drops” and passed out the “cuts”

Billionaire Warren Buffett lives in his house today

“Cowboy” Jim Dalhman A Texas rancher who shot a

man and had to skip town He and Tom Dennison become

friends, wants to run for Mayor A town Mayor controls the

hiring of all Policemen Dennison backs him and he

becomes Mayor of Omaha Dahlman is very loyal to

Dennison and never takes a penny more than he was given

Dahlman hires only the cops that Dennison tells him to

Cowboy Jim Dahlman

Edward Rosewater Owner and Operator of the

Omaha Bee Newspaper Acted as the voice of

Dennison Printed only items that the

“Machine” supported When Rosewater dies, Frank

Johnson takes over

Edward Rosewater

Frank Johnson Ran and operated “Omaha

Printing”(still in business today)

Served as Dennison’s link to “legitimate” businesses

If a “clean” business owner got ripped off, they saw Johnson and he got their goods back

Johnson was key in tying Dennison into legal deals for Dennison’s help, the rich owed him favors

Harry Buford A brave black Omaha Police

Lieutenant Dennison used Buford to

oversee control over the Black neighborhoods

He was Dennison’s driver Dennison gave him the

recognition that was owed to him

Dennison had Thomas Kimball design and build him a home on 16th and Lake Streets

Harry Buford

Harry Buford’s Home

Joe Potash An Omaha police officer

known for his brutality He controlled the crime aspect

of Dennison’s org. He was the “enforcer” or

“muscle”. He collected debts owed to Dennison in the 3rd ward

His “Calling Card” was an ice pick through the eye

Tom Dennison and the Ethnic Neighborhoods

Dennison encouraged new immigrants to support him by Dennison giving them jobs and opportunities

He gives them jobs and in return, they vote as he says to…a couple of times

This practice kept the “machine” going on and on…..

The Downfall of Dennison’s Machine In 1932, the Volstead Act was repealed, alcohol was

now legal – Dennison’s “Cash Cow” dried up Progressives were closing in on him Tom Dennison arranges a hit on a very well liked

Omaha Business man – Harry Lapidus