The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-18
The Mercantile Library.

ELECTION OF oFFICERs--IMMENSE EXCITEMENT.
The annual election Of the President aud other OILERS
of this institution took place yesterday. The polls opened
at A. NJ ard did not close till nina O'Clock last night
During the entire day the usual quiet Of Clinton Ha was
greatly disturbed by the voters but the day drew in,
and the clerks from the lower part Of the city, their
way home, for the express purpose OF depospg their
votes began to assemble the scene became stirring and
animated in high degree. Whenever voter presented
himself he instantly besieged with the indea.iga5e
champions Of the opposing partesyoung gentlemen who
frequt ny performed their duties with more energy and
zeal than the circumstances warranted.
Occasionally voter would become confused, show
signs Of uncertainty and mechanically grasp all the prof
fered tickets, while all cndeavored that but the
of their should be by the voter returned
This reused little Spleen and occasionally fstic DIS
play seemed inevitable; but small force Of police de
tailed TO keep order would invariably prevent these
would be conbaans from any other encounter than that
of oral one, which soon terminatsd and the event.
causing only mermert 70 the thropg which crowded the
portals arcases tended TO relieve monotony Of
their curiosity us to the result Of the election.
Sa kept s s the ss guarded BY
other strong boarding. SO that the passage to the ballot
boxes wac unobsrucsed The Inspectors OF Election
Peck and james MKenna, assisted by the Librarian and
his assistant who tested the Legality Of the voters. Mr.
fol President and was opposed by Mr. Frank W. Ballard,
Secretary Of the Importers and Traders Bank The Pre-
sdept has to be elected by separate ballot the other off,
GERS by general ticket
Precisely at nine O'Clock the baloting closed and the
boxes sealed up previous to beng opened in the pre-
of deputaton of friends Of each candidate Frank
Ballard had 2s5 votes and R. A. Bachia 1856 notes.-the
latter gentleman being elected President by majority Of
100 votes The votes had not been all counted when
reporter left, at half past twelve, but doubt enter
tanned but that the following would be found have been
duly electedatandng at that time far beyond their op
pobents:-
Wee Pyestdeni--wm H. wickham.
Cooreg.nding seoe'ary-Joseph T. landlord,
Rec5TdiDg SecretaJy-Jas. II. SkiJm3re
TtdSRrei- - CHARLES T. X. sherman.
Directors William T. Sproe, Charles, Il. Swords,
Charles W. May, Jr., Samuel J. Pollock.
More but mercantile clerks are eligible TO any Of the
otces or have any power to vote No salary is attached
TO any of the above Offices but 70 be elected TO fn any
OF them is esteemed high honor and eagerly sought
alter.
buildings increased to from $50 TO 0C0 persons; and
about eight O'Clock the excitement attained It's highest
point and tsged with unabaed fury till long after the
| polls were cloaed The cheering was tremendous,
rnavpy equrlcd by the grooming and kissing. party
would rtpose three cheers for a NAME which WAC
heartily responded to by his friends, and heartily
froaned and Kissed at by his opponents great
disturbance that the police force had to be doubled
bad occasonly 10 their tuncheops pretty freely. Ia
tbe pushing and scnGng many got exssperaed and dealt
their blows right and left and the affair threatened two or
got ZONE pretty hard knocks, while others had Their
clothes literally torn of OF themhats especially suffer-
ing.
Tho society has been in existence ever since 1920 and
was commenced by few clerks who held their first
meeting The Toptpe Coffee House, at that lime the
corner ct Wall and Water streets Since that it has pros
pered and Possesses So 0o0 volumes and
bers come 500 members, SEQ Of whom merchants
The rest composed Of clerks mostly young men, who
look upon the annual election annual SPREE and
complain that the authorities too harsh &C.. trying
10 prevent them doing as they please
TIE present election has be the most exciting and has
poled larger number Of votes than the same event
for several years pastu fact largest vote that has
Deen rendered since their removal 70 their present
location.