Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-05
RIOT IN THE CAUCUS.
Nomination of Allegheny City
Officers Attended by
Wild Disorder.
THE POLICE ARE CALLED IN
To Quell the Outbreak Caused BY
Alleged Crooked Voting.
THE SLAGLE FOLLOWERS B0LTED,
And Controller Brown Is Geclared to Be
Renominated.
THE POLICE ARE CALLED IN
THE SLAGLE FOLLOWERS BOLTED,
And Controller Brown Is Geclared to Be
Renominated.
ELPHINSTONE AND MACFERR0N LANDED

ber, burst out into the narrow halls,
rushed madly down the broad stairway
and exhausted itself on Federal
street last night when Allegheny
Councils, in what was intended to be Sc
crct caucus were nominating candidates for
City Controller, City Solicitor and City
Treasurer. The scene was the widest ever
witnessed in anv gathering. Fully dozen
rough and tumble fights occurred. Council
man George Schad had his pocket picked of
So. and one Councilman, wild with rage,
tainted, just the more completely to con-
found the confusion.
The caucus assembled at o'clock
promptly. Everyone of the &C members of
Councils attended and it was not until it
was found that 67 votes were being polled,
that the gathering took upon itself
the form of riot. All the
Allegheny politicians gathered about
the City Hall and the crowd
cholled up the street in front OF the place,
crowded the entrance to the hall and filled
every available inch of space from the en-
trance up the stairway to the closed door of
the caucus.
Eiphins;one Was Generally Approved.
City Solicitor Elphinstone was first nom-
mated for his old place without much effort.
The announcement OF the result started a
mild applause in the caucus which extended
along the crowd into the street. City
Treasurer Macferron was then renominated
for City Treasurer and another storm of
applause swept out from the caucus and all
through the crowd into the street.
The real fight occurred on the naming
of the City Controller and the most riotous
scene that ever occurred in Allegheny City
evenly divided between the present Con-
troller, James Brown, and John S. Slagle
with slight balance in favor of Brown.
Someone persisting in voting two tickets
caused number of extra ballots to be taken
and the row followed.
Free Fight in the Lobby.
The yels and cries of the Councilmen at
tracte6 the attention of the curious on the
outside and when a Councilman opened the
door to get out. the crowd rushed in.
Councilmen tried to put the intruders out
and n free fight in the lobby took place
Police officers had to take hand in it, but
il was quite a time before any lull occurred
The Slagle men finally bolted and Brown
was nominated by those remaining.
At S O'Clock, the hour for convening the
caucus. a large number of Councilmen were
present in Select Council chamber. Mr.
Dalinger walked IN, ana as he entered the
door moved they come to order by electing
Mr. Henrichs chairman. The motion was |
seconded and declared carried in IN instant. |
Mr.. Horne exclaimed that the motion wasn't |
carried as there was not a quorum. "You
don't need quorum for caucus" was the |
reply.
Mr. Henricks took the chair saying as he |
did so that he did not think there was a |
quorum. He, however, appointed secreta- |
r'ies and tellers and ordered the roll to be |
called. The secretaries appointed We're |
Charles Dahlinoer. Charles Neeb and A. H. |
Mercer. Tic tellers were Charles Simon |
and Arthur Kennedy.
Declared 1t Secret Caucus.
When the roll was called the room was |
filled, and every member of Councils was |
found to be present. Nj. Henricks, in con- |
sequence, kept the chair He announced |
that it was Il secret caucus of Select and |
members of Councils, except the members |
of the press, would have to retire. The |
lobby was cleared, the door closed and act |
i've operations commenced.
Arthur Kennedy moved that the action of !
the caucus be binding en- all the members |
present. The motion was adopted without |
dissent, and Chairman Henricks announced |
they were ready for nominations for City |
Treasurer. Mr.. Gerwig nominated David |
McFerron, the present incumbent, and Mr..
Dahlinger nominated John w. Kreps.
The nominations closed, hut before the |
ballot was taken Major w. NJ. Kennedy said /
lie was opposed to a secret ballot and moved |
that an open ballot be taken. He received
no second and Mr. Lowe exclaimed: "Why
didn't You want an open ballot two years
ago? Your man was winner then was the
reason"
Major Kennedy said he had not been op-
posed to an open ballot then and wanted it
now.
Mr.. Koehler moved the vote be taken viva
vocc. -t''-.Eai
Mr.. Stauffer said there was no reason to
depart from the old SYSTEM and insisted
on secret ballot. MI. Dahlinger supported
him.
Counted Up Sixteen Liars.
Dr. Clifford replied that there were good
reasons why they should vote viva voce
There were 16 liars in Councils two years
ago who did not keep their promises, and
for Counciimen to establish reputation
they ought to vote viva voce Continuing
he said: People outside have right to
eide what we shall do in Councils practically
the law which says we must elect /
in Councils and by viva voce."
The majority should say how we will
a secret vote and If the majority votes for an
open ballot will at once move to adjourn |
this caucus and take the vote in Councils
Mr.. Nesbit and Mr.. Parke objected also to
an open ballot and the motion, when the
question was called, was declared lost.
The secret ballot was proceeded with, the |
tellers passing around with their hats and |
collecting the votes. The result was: Mac
fcrron, -; Kreps, %, and Dilworth and
Slagle, who were not candidates. one each.
Mr.. Macfeiron was declared the choice of
the caucus.
The nomination of a City Solicitor came
next Mr.. Patton nominated o. ID. Thomp-
son, Mr.. Nesbi: nominated George Elphin-
stone and Mr.. Swindell nominated ID. N. Al
ston. The result OF the first ballot WAS
Al: Thompson, l3 and Alston,
ie Mr.. Elphinston was declared the choice.
Here's Where the Trouble Commenced.
City Controller came next. Mr.. Dahlinger
nominated John S. Slagel, Mr.. Gerwig nomi-
mated Robert Dilworth and Mr.. Wertheimer
nominated James Brown, the present in
T. w. Bigeers name was also
placed in nomination, but Chairman Hen
rickS read a letter of withdrawal from Mr.. |
B gger. The Chair then withdrew the name
Of Mr.. Bigger.
The ballot was proceeded with. 1t stood: |
Brown, g, Slagle, 25; Diiworth, 8. As 81 was
necessary to q choice another ballot was |
-akcn. 1t stood: Brown, 80; Slagle, 2s Dill
worth, g. This made total OF 81 votes |
though only &c were entitled TO vote. There |
was still no choice. Mr. Koehler jumped up
md entered a vigorous protest against
louble voting, and demanded q viva voce |
Fote to prevent it.
Chairman Henricks ruled that nothing
was in order but halloting, and third vote
was taken. 1t was: Brown, 50; Slagle, g. |
As it was seen that there were 81 votes again
roar arose. Members jumped up and
to clamor-some for adjourn |
nent, some for a viva voce vote ana some
20 have Brown declared nominated.
Arthur Kennedy finally made himself
heard, and said that Brown had more than
enough votes TO be nominated and could do |
without the extra one.
EverybodT Ead Different Suggestion.