Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-20

ter held a large meeting at the City Hall, last
evening, for the purpose of considering gener-
ally their present caucus system, and of act
ing specially on the following proposition =
THAT the republican voters of this city be request
ed to assemble in their respective wards on the even
ing of ---, and elect delegates by wards, to
a City Convention, 10 be held i'll this city at such
time and place may be ordered to be supported
at our next municipal election; each ward to be en-
titled to one delegate Tor every twenty. five republi'
votes in the ward. at the last election for fresi
dent and one additional delegate for majority
fraction
The motion was made and seconded to adopt
the proposition, when DIR. Martin moved as
substitute the following resolves -
Resolved, That, as an expression OF the wishes and
will OF the republican party in this city, we would
recommend the appointment of suitable commit
tee by each ward to receive the ballots of candl-
date for mayor, of each republican voter i'll said
ward accol ding to the check list used at the last
election-the time and place of meeting to be pup,
hshed by said committee. The votes to be counted
and declared i'll each ward before adjournment by
a meeting of the general committee the person hay-
ing The largest number of votes, in all the wards,
shall be declared the nominee of the party.
Resolved, That the same committee, at the time
of receiving votes for candidate for mayor, be au
thOrized to receive votes for candidate for alder
man IN the same MANNER and that the person nav,
ing the largest number OF votes shall be declared
nominated an alderman for said ward
DIR. Martin, in advocating his proposition,
spoke of the difficulties which had been Ell.
countered in some of the recent caucuses, and
of the desirableness of adopting some plan
which had not heretofore obtained. 1t was
better for party, and for its members, to keep
in their own hands the power whic.. belonged
to them, where it was in their power to exer-
else it, than to delegate it to anybody else.
1 al. 1 - al
which he proposed, because it gave the power
of alling the primary nominations TO the
people, and removed them hey ond the control
of managers and cliques.
Mr. S. V. Stone explained the reasons
which had actuated the city committee in
referring the first proposition to a general
meeting of the party. He objected to the
substitute on the ground mainly that it re-
CURED the adoption of the plurality rule in
making nominations, and that in many cases
would secure the nomination OF minority
candidates, and thus thwart The wishes OF the
majority, which it was essential should pre-
vail. The city convention contemplated by
the original proposition would be a body of
upwards Of one hunlred delegates, composed
| Of the best men in the several wards, and rep
resentng, better than in a general caucus, all
the interests OF the party and the city
DIR. Martin replied, in substance, that dele
gates were not always to be relied on to carry
out the wishes OF those who appointed them,
and if they were he was not willing to dele
gate to another even for good power which
he could exercise himself
Mr.. Edwin Draper regarded the first propo,
sition as broad enough, the best one offered
and advocated its adoption. The question was
divided, and the first part OF Dr. Martins
amendment, on gica roce vote, was rejected.
The expression of the meeting being decisive,
the second part of the amendment was with
drawn. The plan given in the call for the
meeting was then adopted.
Upon the suggestion Of Mr.. Albert Tolman,
the meeting recommended that the ward
meetings be held at least ten days before the
election On the motion of Mr.. Stone, it was
voted to allow Ward 3 five delegates in the
convention instead of four. The meeting then
adjourned.