Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-30
THE CAUCUS SPLITS.
WITHDRAWAL OF A LARGE NUMBER
OF DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS.
The Caucus. Left with Less Than Ma
jority, Goes on with Nomi-
nations, &c.

Common Council corresponds to the
House Of Delegates. The Board con-
sists Of eighteen members, three from
each Of the six wards. Aldermen are
elected for four years, and nire come
up for reelection every two years. The
Common Council is composed OF i've
members from each Of the six wards,
all elected for two years.
The results Of the election in May were
that the Democrats had nine members
| Of the Board Of Aldermen and the Re-
formers nine but of the former there
were two Democrats, Dickerson and
Otlev), who having been 6rstnominated
by the Democrats at the Primary Elec-
tion were subsequently put on the Re-
formers ticket.
The Common Council as elected
stood Reformers, 2l; Democrats,
9; and Of the latter there were five
who, having been nominated at the
Democratic Primary, were put on the
Reformers' ticket.
After some time an unsigned card
was published in the city papers calling
for conference Of those elected on the
Reform ticket "and Of the Jackson
Ward Delegation ~; this was followed
by the circulation of a paper calling for
a caucus, which was firally signed by
thrty-fye members. elect.
Alderman Dickerson ard Councilman
StaIke, who were on both tickets,
thought it best not to sign; the other
Democrats who were similarly situated,
after taking advice Of numerous party
friends, resolved to sign and go into
caucus. Into this caucus, also, came
Aldermen Robinson and Adams (col-
ored), Of jackson Ward, who were
elected as Republicans in 1884. They
had never set up any claim to being
Reformers, ADJ were certainly not
elected as anything but Republicans.
Democratic aldermen elected in 1884
were not invited.
The caucus adopted the two-thirds
rule-no nomination was to be made
except by vote Of two thirds-a con-
cession TO those who otherwise would
never have agreed to go into caucus.
Out Of the admission Of the two
colored aldermen, Robinson and
| Adams, there arose q discussion last
night, resulting in the withdrawal from
the caucus of nine Democrats and
Democratic Reformers, leaving the eau
Gus with twenty-three members, two less
than a majority of the City Council.
Alderman Davis, not being willing to 60
any further in the caucus, was not
present last night. Aldermen Snead
and Otley withdrew. The last
named is Democrat, while Messrs.
Snead and Davis are Democratic Re-
formers so that the Board Of Alder
men is now absolutely Democratic.
There will be eleven to seven caucus
men. The Board can, if it pleases,
absolutely tic the hands of the Com
mon Council, in which the caucus-men
have a large majority. Mr.. Otley,
who was i'll the chair and who with
drew, could easily have gotten the cau-
Gus nomination for president of the
Board.
The Reformers claimed last night
that counting some of the absentees
they still have enough members (25) to
control on joint ballot; but that is by
no means certain. If the Democratic
Board will stave off elections for
awhile-as they are fully able to dot
is more than likely that still other
Democratic Reformers will leave the
caucus.
Proceedings Inst Might.
4 Joint meeting Of the Reform
members-elect of the two branches
Of the new Council was held last night
in the Council chamber. Mr.. j. ".
Otley presided, and Mr.. K. u. Jones
acted as secretary.
A call of the roll showed that there
were present thirty.two members--aS
follows: Messrs. Adams, Archer, Ro-
binson, Farrar, Hayes, Griffin, Bahen,
Chappell, Michael Murphy, kaufman,
Griffith, Montgomery, Ferriter, Parrish,
Ammons, Parater, Molloy, Bowden,
Lange, Hughes, Kaufelt, Hill, Frank
Murphy, Bethel, Snead, Bland, Con-
ners, Hudnall, Owen, and Kendler. Abb
sentees-Messrs. Davis, Kelley, and
PeaIce.
POLICE JUSTICE.
Messrs. Hughes and Parrish both
rose while the minutes we're being read
to correct the statement that Mr.. Phil
lips's nomination for Police Justice
was unanimous, and that they had both
voted in the negative.
THE PAPER.
Mr.. Ammons wanted to hear read
the paper which he had signed calling
the members together in q caucus. Tho
secretary read the paper.
THE TWO PROM JACKSON WARD.
Mr.. Hudnall moved that Messrs.
Adams and Robinson (both colored),
who were not elected on the Reform
ticket, be not allowed to take part in
the proceedings of the meeting.
MI. Audlub Sdiu tuo odChoOd w diu
delegation, of which he was a member,
had been invited to participate in the
proceedings Of the caucus but that if
the members did not want his and his
conferrees' support that they would with
draw.
Mr.. Kaufman strongly opposed the
motion. He thought the president had
no right to entertain such a PROPOSE
ton that as their names had been
signed to the same call that the balance
of the members had signed the whole
thing was out Of order.
Mr.. Hudnall understood the meeting
to be only Of Reform members. He
thought that if the two members from
Jackson Ward, who were old members
of the Council, were admitted to the
caucus, it would be just as well to
let all the other members who were
not on the Reform ticket come in on
like terms.
GLORIOUS WORK.
Mr.. Conners was opposed to the mo-
ton. lie wished the meeting TO con-
tinue the work which it had'so glo-
rjously commenced on last Thursday,
s9d finish the list of nominations. He