St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-21
KILKENNY CAT AFFAIR.
FIRST WARD REPUBLICANS I'M A
TERRIBLE ROW.
PARTY IS SPLIT TO PIECES.

i Tor Omce - Several Adjourn
ments to Prevent Free Fights
g. %. II. Leaders Knocked
& Out-Very Disgraceful Affair.
that have long and loudly boasted of
being the banner Republican ward Of
the city held meeting last night, or
rather pair of meetings. that would
discount any meeting heretofore held in
the city by either party. 1t is signifi-
cant fact, revealed after the smoke of
fierce and disgraceful fight had cleared
away, that the heretofore leaders of the
Republican party were turned down
and trampled upon so hard that they
left the hall with lowered crests. Aid.
Copeland, President j. II. WOlsterstotf,
ofsthe assembly, and C.. b. Brunson, the
dictators of the ward. ibowed to de-
feat with i'll grace and left the hall in
disgust.
The occasion was the monthly meet
ing of the First Ward Republican club,
the purpose being to recommend some
one whom the club would insist that the
mayor must name for the prospective
vacancy on the board of public works.
The hall at the corner of PAYNE avenue
and Wells street. where the meeting
was held, was packed to its ultimate
capacity; men even stood in the aislcs.
During the entire evening there was
the greatest confusion. and several
times it seemed imminent that free
fights would he started. The meeting
adjourned once, and about 100 men left
the hall. A special meeting was called
a half-hour after, when it was seen that
the crowd would not leave, and the
confusion lasted until AFTER IL O'Clock.
A. p. Croonquist presided, or attempt
ed to do SO. but motions were put from
time to time by dozen others. The
trouble began when it was found that
the leading spirits in the ward would
not he supported in measures they pro-
posed to take to secure the patronage of
the ward. All those who were not
members of the cluo were invited to
sign the roll and pay dollar in
itlation fee or leave the hall. From
that time on it was go-as-you please
meeting in which the outside people
had the best of it.
T.. ID. Sheehan mounted the presi-
dents table after time and said that
the time had passed for two or three
men to control the ward, but that no
one had right to take part in the club
until they became members.
George d. Andrews mounted a chair
and said that the men who are too poor
to pay dollar should not be prevented
from having voice in the selection Of
men for positions in the city govern
ment. He wanted to see all the men
join the club and would pay for those
who had no money.
a doZen men tried to make speeches,
while some called on the crowd to 60
and secure another hall and hold
meeting. The chairman tried to make
himself heard for several minutes, and
finally said that it was no use to try to
do anything. A motion to adjourn was
put and was greeted with storms of
ayes and noes. The motion was de-
clared carried, and a number of the
leaders of the club tried to get to the
door and to induce the crowd to leave.
There was no intention of doing this,
however. The crowd feared that the
club was trying to get rid of them, and
the club feared that the crowd would
stay and do the business mapped out
by the club.
In about half-honr after the adj
journment e. B.. Brunson mounted
chair and explained that this was
meeting of the club. 1t would require
au amendment to the constitution to let
new members vote without paying q
dollar. He said the object of the club
was to recommend men for office. This
being the banner ward of the city it was
entitled to recognition OF patronage, and
it was the intention to demand it and
make their influence felt.
s. S. Crooks, speaking from a chair,
said: I'VE hired this hall and we want
to do business" In very plain terms he
invited those not members of the club to
leave the room. He was greeted with
cheers of derision.
Aid. Copeland mounted the chair
mans table and asked leave to make a
statement. He told the mob that it was
thought that the trouble could be
settled. he said that he was member
of the club and did not want to sec a
split In the Republican party. He did
not want the men to go away in the
humor they were in and have the club
talked about like parcel of Democratic
fighters. He asked the men to come up
and join the club and they could pay
their initiation fees any time in a year.
This quoted the company for time and
over 200 were enrolled.
George D. Andrews said that he was
satisfied with the statement made by
Aid. Copeland. There had been mis-
understanding. aud this cleared the
matter up.
c. B. BrunsoD stated that the misun-
Outstanding grew out of the fact that
some thought this to be mass meeting,
whereas it was only club meeting.
Some one then moved to reconsider
the motion to adjourn. Mr.. Brunson
declared that motion out Of order.
A hot wrangle ensued again
which was ended by Chairman Groom
Quist calling a special meeting of the
club Objection was taken to this
course, and Mr. Bronson declared the
call out of order. Mr.. CroonQuist had
the constitution referred to. which
showed that he could call meeting as
ch lirman without notice, and his call
went.
A motion was then put to proceed to
nominate persons to be voted for as
candidates for the position on the board
of public works, soon to be vacant, with
the view of the club recommending that
that.the mayor appoint such person as
the dub by three-fourths vote should
select. Mr.. Bunson declared the mo-
lion out of order and said the club had
adjourned.
| Chairman Croonquist said: zone
meeting adjourned; but this is a special
meeting, -,
Another said: Eyes it is, and we can