The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-29
Mr.. PRITCHARD OBJECTS.
He Will Not Go Into Republican Caucus if
Spahr Is Candidate.

spirited special meeting of the Board of Aldermen
was held last evening. The six Republican members
Aldermen Cobb. Endly, Prior Pritchard, Rorison and
Tallentire-were the only ones present. whispered
consultation was held in of the Board chamber,
before order called resulting in open revolt by
Alderman Pritchard upon the proposition which was
being discussed and when President Rorison assumed
the chair he announced his intention of at once taking
his departure but there objection to his being ex
cused for the that his absence would break
quorum The proceedings opened with wrangle, and
closed without anything being accomplished. Mr.
Pritcbard stated that the special meeting had been
called for the purpose of amending two rules
which were not consistent with the statutes.
Rule No. 1, he said, provides that the
Board shall meet Monday night, after the hrst
meeting of the Council. The law provides that the
Board shall meet in joint convention Friday night
after the first meeting of newly elected Council
conform to the statutes. He also desired to amend
rule No. g. to provide that the city clerk shall
call the members holding certificates of election
issued upon the authority OF the report
of the canvassing board of inspectors at the
last preceding election He desired that these changes
should be made to avoid revolutionary measures
which being talked about the streets but the
majority OF the committee standing rules refused to
report favoraby the matter unless he would agree
to vote h for ANY man tor city attorney d
to go into the caucus and vote for George W.
Spahr for this position. Under the present rules the
Democratic party take the Board of Aldermen
the clerk being able to act he pleases. 1t the ma
ority of the Board desired TO allow the rules
to remain unchanged he would be content.
Mr.. Rorison said that Mr.. Pritchard had declared
that he would not into the caucus in case certain
candidate should be nominated. naming specially Mr.
Spahr although is known that Mr. Spahr is out of
the The objection to Mr. Pritchard position was
that he made the candidacy OF certain man condi
ton upon which he would enter the caucus, and if
this should be followed by others it would de-
stroy the strength of the party organization He
himself opposed to Mr. Spahr and did not think there
was any possible chance of his being nominated, but
as matter of party policy he did not think that any
mans candidacy should be made condition upon
which members of tie party would enter the caucus
Mr. Pritchard replied that. with the understanding
that Mr. Spain is not to be candidate, he would be
willing to enter the caucus but this assurance could
not be given and it evident, therefore that he
irving to be induced to that he would vote for
Spahr if contingency should bring him into the eau
Gus, He would give up his seat the Board before
he would vote for Mr. Spahr. because he had pledged
himself to vote against him.
Mr.. Prior here explained that Mr.. Spahr had said
that he out of the but could be prevailed
upon by his friends to enter the caucus as a cand
date.
This was what Mr.. Pritchard expected and was the
very thing to which he objected. Mr.. Spahr could not
get the office of city attorney by his VOTE and if that
should be understood. He believed that the nom
nation of Mr. Spahr would be the worst stroke of
party policy that could be made. Mr.. Spahr had
bolted after getting from it all
he demanded, and to vote for him would be in.
dorsement of his course-an admission that he had
been right and that the caucus had been wrong Mr..
Prtchard thought that he was as good a Republican
stood in the majority of the committee rules,
and doubted if they could read him out of the party
in trying to read else in. The Board finally
adjourned without settling the dispute.
The ordinance providing for the appointment OF
committee clerk at salary of 1888 per month was
finally passed,