The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-01
TOWN MEETING.

mating candidates for Mayor and Common
Council. Mr.. Z. 0. Grimes was called to the
chair. and |. i. Pearson and Vim. l.. Sea-
brook were chosen secretaries. The president
stated TIE object of the meeting, and that the
audience would be pleased to hear any gentle,
man give his views on corporation affairs.
Mr. Chas. I. Reifsnider spoke at some length
on the past actions of the Council, and sug-
gested that ticket composed of the best men
should be placed before the citizens to be
voted for on Monday next, as the present
Council had declined to serve. Mr.. Milton
Schaeffer was placed in nomination for Mayor.
He attempted to decline, but the audience
would not allow him to do so. The names of
several gentlemen were placed in nomination
as members of the Council, among them
Messrs Charles Z. Fink, Z. o. Grimes and
George r. Gehr. These gentleman made
several attempts to decline, but, as with Mr..
Schaeffer, the meeting would not hear them.
Finally the chair asked that Mr.. Gehr be al
lowed to state his reasons for declining, which
was done. When Mr.. Gehr closed his re-
marks cries of Withdraw your declination'
were freely given, but Mr.. Gehr was unmoved.
He was followed by Mr.. Fink to the same
effect. Mr.. Grimes also withdrew, he being
member of the School Board.
Hon. Charles B. Roberts then spoke in
commendatory terms of the present Council,
He was informed that Mr.. Stephan was ex-
tremely i'll, and if elected would be unable to
act as Mayor for some time. 81 grant that
said Mr.. Roberts, shut the President of the
Council, in the absence or sickness of the
Mayor, is empowered to act in his stead.
Mr.. Roberts then reviewed the statements
circulated as to the present Mayor and Conn
ellis action during the two terms they were in
office, and said they had done what they con,
scientiously believed to be their duty, and
that they were more than the peers of those
who were speaking of their acts in deroga-
tory manner; that not one cent of the present
Indebtedness was created by them; that
Westminster had lain dormant long enough,
and now was the time for its citizens to
act, and act promptly; that inuendoes, sus-
picions and charges amounted to nothing,
and that the present city officials were
honest. upright gentleman, all being en-
gagged in active business, and that their tinan-
cial standing was good at home and abroad
Mr.. Roberts closed by asking that the present
Mayor and Council be nominated by acclama-
ton. The motion was carried.
Mr.. Chas. Z. Fink offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That Senator I. II. Shriver, and
Messrs. Arnold, Buchanan, Hoffacker and
Beasman, members of the House of Delegates,
deserve our thanks for securing the passage
of the two laws affecting the city of Westmin-
ster at the late session of the General Assem-
bly,.
Mr.. Fink also stated that Mr.. Shriver owned
property in Westminster, and was deslrous to
have the city put in good condition. The
resolution was adopted.
On motion of Mr. Roberts the chair APP
pointed an executive committee who were to
fill any vacancy and make all arrangements
necessary for conducting the election. The
chair named Hon. Chas. B. Roberts, VIM. A.
Cunningham, John l.. Reifsnider JAS A. c.
Bond and Geo. NJ. Parke. Adjourned.
Since the public meeting a change has been
made in the nomination for Mayor, as will be
seen from the following correspondence:
WESTMINSTER, Nd, April 30, 1886.
MILTON SCHAEFFER, EsQ.-DEAR SR:-ln
seeking to carry out the wishes OF the people,
as expressed at public meeting held at the
Court House on Tuesday night last, we have
found Mr. Andrew N. Stephan too ill for even
a conference, and at the request of his family
we have considered his acceptance OF the
nomination of Mayor as impracticable. There
is but one thing that now remains for us to do,
which is to request that you accept the noml-
nation which was by reclamation rendered to
YOU by said meeting. We fully appreciate
your desire to see some one other than your
self the candidate for Mayor, but under all the
circumstances we are unanimously OF the
opinion that you ought to accept the nomina-
ton thus rendered. Very truly yours,
CHARLES B. ROBERTS,
JOHN l.. REIFsNIDER,
WIN. A. CUNNINGHAM, Committee.
JAS. A. C. BoND,
GEO. NJ. PARKE,
WESTMINSTER, April 80, 1886.
MEssRs CHAS. ID. ROBERTS, JOHN l.. REIF-
SNYDER, WIN. A. CUNNINGHAM, JAS. A. Z.
BOND AND GEO. NJ. PARKE-GENTLEMEN =
Your letter informing me of my nomination
for Mayor of Westminster is just received,
and while l have to thank you for the friendly
terms in which it is couched. | must say that
the information is received with great regret.
You are aware that / would much rather be
excused from serving, and that declined IN
the most positive manner at the meeting at
the Court House, and | now accept the NOM
nation with great reluctance, and only under
the heavy pressure which has been broughtto
bear by the peculiar circumstances of the oc-
casion However, if | am elected | will try
to perform the duties devolving upon me with
such careful fidelity and attention as L can
bring to bear, and always with view to strict
economy, and in this | am sure | shall have
the cooperation of the entire Council, whose
excellent record in the past is the very best
guarantee for the future. With much respect,
| am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
MILTON ScHAEFFER.