Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-01
WHY THEY CAME OUT.
TNr1RvIHws WITH DHNocRAfs WHO
LIFT fn CAUCUS Tu1spAY MIGHT.
fhsy Felt That Undue Inausnees We're
st Work to Control Ncmina-
tions, &c.

tions, &c.
-
At the caucus held night before last
The fact that two colored members from
Jackson Ward who vAse e.ceisd b. 1854
- Eepub,icans, sri ~, sr had = =. sns
claim To be RefoYners, had partic. I'D
IN the previous .rocssdings an were
then present, vas commented upon.
and the result was that eleven members
withdfew-as follows: Messrs. Grif-
fitb, Otley, Snead, Ammons, Bowdsn,
Ferriter, Montgomery, Parster, Par
rish, Hudnall, and Hughes. This left
In the caucus twenty-five members.
Two others Of the thirty-five who had
signed the call for caucus were ab-
sent--viz., Messrs, Davis and Kelly.
The former, after Thursday nights pro-
ceedings, had declined to cooperate
further. The Reformers claim Mr..
Kelly as an adherent of the caucus.
This count makesa tie between the
opposing parties, but the Democrats
have good hope that other Democratic
Reformers will repudiate the nomins-
tions made, leave the caucusmen, and
Join them. The Democratic members
| in the Board Of Aldermen number
eleven of the total membership Of eigh-
teen, and the eleven can, therefore, use
their own pleasure as to fixing upon a
time when the Board and the Common
Council shall meet in joint session for
the election Of city officials.
The Common Council will meet this
evening at 5 o'clock. The only posi-
ton they have to gil is president. The
Board Of Aldermen will meet at P.
NJ. to-day. They have to elect pre-
sident and q clerk. All other officers
will be elected in joint session Of the
two branches.
The interviews following set forth in
members own language the reasons
that determined them in bidding fare
we'll to the caucus, and make valua-
BILE addition to the history Of this cam.
paign.
4
Mr.. George E. Bowden, being asked
why, he left the caucus night before
last, said: Well, I'll begin at the be-
ginning and tell you about the whole
thing. At the earnest solicitation OF
the committee from my ward ] con-
sented to let them use my name under
certain contingencies on the labor ques-
ton as a working-man, without any
pledges, and had avoided making any
pledges to any one, taking the ground
that the city would need all the con-
servatiye element in the next Council
that was available. entered the
canvass as q Conservative man, and con-
slider that my election was secured on
that issue. | have tried to carry that
idea out. After the election, in the
conferences that were held have in
yariably expressed myself against
"clean sweeps" and believing that ii
was necessary to 60 into caucus, con-
sented to do so under the two-tbirds
rule. After the meeting Of last
Thursday night my attention was
called to what proved to be fact-that
we had the two old members Of the
Board Of Aldermen that were elected
on the Republican ticket in caucus
with us-which somewhat surprised
me, believing it was composed entirely
of those elected on the 9th. Being in
formed also on my way to the caucus last
night that certain men prominent for
office at our hands were seen going in
and coming out of the residence of Mr..
j. S. Wise, l inquired into it, and
found it was true beyond doubt.
This action proved to my mind that
there must have been either swap or
a combination. Believing was elected
to do all the good ! could for my ward,
regardless CT ofice-seekers, thought
could serve those that elected me
by being free to act as occasion re-
quired, and so withdrew. We had no
previous policy laid out, but met the
issues as they arose.
Do you think your action will be en-
dorsed by your constituentsP
Undoubtedly / do. Some few per.
sons may say we should have stayed
and seen the thing out. Nearly every.
body / have met to-day has endorsed
the action of Mr.. Hughes and myself.
Do you believe that you are bound
by the previous caucus?
No, sir, emphatically, so tar as th'
Joint caucus is concerned believing
what was accomplished was by decep
ton, | think am honorably discharged
from all obligations as to the previous
joint caucuses.
HIDDEN INFLUENCES AT WORK.
Mr.. Evan Snead, of Clay Ward: Th'
reason of my Withdrawing from the eau
Gus was, first, on account Of two mem
bers from Jackson Ward being there
maintain that they had no right to b'
present. Members who were elected
en- the Reform ticket and those endorsed
by them were the only ones invited, a!
| | understood it. These two were
neither elected nor endorsed by the Re
form party. / did not approve of th'
action Of the caucus at meetings helC
before. had reasons for believing
that there were certain influences q
work which did not meet my approval
Candidates were sprung upon the eau
Gus Of whom had never heard before
and were nominated for responsible po
sitions that are now. filed by worthy
and efficient officials. All this wa
done in . manner that proved to mi
that there was preconcerted action OF
the part of certain parties. My sus
picion was aroused at this. The resul
Of Tuesday nights caucus, togethel
with the caucuses held before, convinc'
me that combinations through outsid,
influences had been perfected, and, no
being willing to be party to them,