Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-26

t,ut AZ these ESQ advocated the holding OF
the meeting and sec were adverse 10 ". VI
course. those who are supporting Mr..
Blaine voted for the meeting aud those VINO |
opposed him did not. Now, large num-
Der OF those who we're opposed TO the meet |
ing did not attend II. II had not been |
member OF the Executive committee l
should not have gone there myself
Al 10 the character OF the meeting.
I can only say that l do not th'nK
there was Fair play. l got fair chance
myself, being the first speaker. Dut
the others were cut of by the confusion.
There was evidently no anxiety on the part
Of the Blaine men to discuss the question.
All they wanted to do was 10 rush through
resolutions fayoring Mr.. Blaine. There are
eighteen members Of the Executive Com
mittee. or these. thirteen are ant'-Blaine
men and one is doubtful. All the anti
Blaine men Will certainly resign rms
will leave only one Of the original members
OF the Club on the committee. As 10
whether the anti-Blaine men VIII leave tue
Club / cannot say. | think that great
many Of them will not. but they WIN work
against the election OF Mr.. Blaine"
Horace l.. Dcming said: =" The Young
Renubllcan Club has won its lqurels In the
local field. II hadibeeome the custodian OF
the interests Of good government IN the
CITY OF Brooklyn. and was respected by the
citizens because IL furnished the organlzi-
ton necessary TO the maintenance OF an
honest home government. BY the action
Of the meeting il deliberately decided
TO take the risk OF destroying its
influence for good government at
home in order to fulfil the func-
tjons OF vigorous presidential cam
pa,gn club. I'm other words. 1t decided
that il Il were necessary to sacrifice its in
fuence as the most potent factor for honest
local government in order TO enter the
| presidential canvass. il was prepared u do
il. The Club decided that local interests
| were subordinate. l should say that at
least one third OF the assembly was COM
posed OF mel who never before attended a
meeting OF the Young Republican Club,
and considerable number OF them were
not members OF the Club ct all.
81 want one thing understood" con-
tinued Mr.. Dsming. II have not been a
member OF the Executive Committee for a
wear. A large proportion OF the anti
Blame men in the Cluh stayed away because
il was known two weeks ago that the meet
ing was going - be what il was-a chorus
Of noises and shoutines. Many men who
were opposed 20 the Blaine movement did
not attempt to vote after that first chorus
OF mays The Blaine men were there
early. They were packed solidly IN
the body Of the house. The anti
Blaine men were scattered around the
outside Of the crowd. There never was
so large q majority In amcetlng OF the Club
before. and never before was a minority so
unfairly treated there. Any man could see
that there was an organized attempt TO
c-uih ont free discussion. IL the Club can
pose as a campaign club and keep the con-
fdence OF the people OF Brooklyn ia local
matters, it will do more than think 1t can.
II is a big task. II the Club succeeds i shall
be one Of the first to clap hands and cry
'hurrah.' don't think they can do it,"
William Potts was, until the close OF the
meeting Tuesday night, one OF the prOmi-
nent and active members OF the Brooklyn
Young Republican Club. ~ sent in my
resignation rs a member OF the Climb imme-
dlately on returning home," he said TO a
Times reporter Yesterday. "on the ground
that | could not den0unce corruption and
then endorse q man whom | esteem the
most conspicuous representative OF corrupt
methods In politics-Blaine."
"Wbat will be the effect OF the seton OF
the Club endorsing BlaineT'
81 can't conceive that the organization,
bv interesting itself in the national cam
paign in any way strengthens Blaine's POI
sltion, because in doing so the Club pub
fishes TO the world the fact that nearly all
the original organizers and active worker
are opposed TO his election. As TO the Club
Itself, the action tSken will inevitably very
seriously iniure it-injure lis influence
and deprive ii OF very many good MEN,
bers. The action taken at Tuesday nights
meeting was not as unanimous a. reported,
not hy any means. a notice was sent 10
the Blaine men to meet early in front OF
the hall They did. and when the doors
were opened they filled the seats in
the body Of the hall in front OF the
gallery. Those coming in aiterward,
many Of whom were opposed to
the Club entering naiional politics, found
seats under or in the gallery, or were
obliged to stand. The consequence was
that on all the votes the Blaine men in front
made n tremendous howl. and produced
the impression that every thing was unani-
nous, especially on the reporters seated in
front. No one knows what the actual vote
was. for on the standing votes no attempt
was made to count. ! sat nearly under the
edge Of The gallery. ] estimate that the
vote stood three or four TO one in favor OF
Blaine. That is n large majority, but il is
lar from a unanimous vote. 81 the loo
or 400 in the hall, 300 or 400 were against
the resolution endorsing Blaine.
"Let me saw" continued NJ. Potts.
"that never was present in any political
meeting where the minority were treated as
they were last night. They could state
nothing WITHOUT Interruptions that pre-
vented them placing their views before the
meeting. | cannot state Of absolute know
ledge, but from my own observation and on
the information OF others | have reason TO
suspect that there were men in the hall MT
members OF the Club, and that there was an
organized plan Of putting down those
speaking in favor OF the minority. | am
very sorry. | took great pride in the Club,
and il has done efficient service. But itha
injured itself seriously. | don't know how
many will resign. | strongly hope that
those interested in municipal reform will
connect themselves with the non-plrtisan
organization effected last winter especially
in that interest"
"if a full vote OF the Club could be
ROLLED, what would be the RESULT"
"N0thng like the announced result last
night, Many who did not conc out to the
meeting always act quietly, especially when
they differ from their as>Ocl1tc,. This WIS
indicated in the last campaign for Governor
There were - many quiet ones that no Ole
estimated Cevelands majority anywhere
near 1876, 000 in advance Of the election"
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