St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-11
BRIDGE BURNED BEHIND.
THAT'S WHERE FOURTH WARD SMITH
CLUB STANDS.
NON PARTISAN AFFAIR.

Democrats and Republicans
United on h. A. Smith for
Mayor, and j. j. McCardy for
ComptrolIer-Recr Taken
in Last Evening-start Ont in
Earnest.
The Robert A. Smith Independent
club of the Fourth ward was organized
last night in the storeroom of Leo A.
COrnick, near Seven Corners. f. A,
Ellerbe was elected president; Louis
Lerch. secretary; William Al. o. keefe,
treasurer, and l.. a. C0rnick, sergeant
Rt-arms. \ constitution was adopted,
which starts out with the declaration
that the club will use every honorable
means to nominate and elect Robert
A. Smith mayor at the election i'll
May, and will support such other
candidates as the club shall unan-
imOuSly agree upon. President Ellerbe
made a speech in which he outlined
the purposes of the club. He said 1t
had its origin in discussion held few
days ago where the gathering was
and Republicans. 1t was agreed to
meet last night and perfect the organl-
cation. The club is not Intended by
any means To be Democratic. and il was
the intention to refuse to affiliate with
any Democratic club. 1t was under
stood that all the members of the club
were favorable to the election OF j. j.
McCardy as comptroller, and the club
purposes indOrSing him IN case he shall
be nominated and to WORK for his nomi-
nation. He said that the question
had been raised as to Mr.. Smith
being candidate for mayor. He had
interviewed Mr.. Smith, and that gentle
man told him that it was his desire
to be candidate in case the present in
cumbent should be nominated. He was
anxious TO run in that contingency, and
since he had been named as a probable
candidate lie would accept the nomina-
ton in any event if rendered. The
speaker went OH TO say that Mr.. Smith
spoke of some comparison being made
with his administration by the Wright
administration, and he welcomed the
comparison from a financial standpoint
if the comparison should be made of
the period he served after the ADOPTION
of the Bell charter. Mr.. Smith had said
that the comparison as to economy had
been distorted, and that the Democratic
administration should have the credit
for good administration.
Other short speeches were made by
Mr.. Cornick and others that were of the
same tenor as that of the president. An
intermiSSion was taken to allow such as
desired to join the club to do so. An
addition of fifteen members was added
to The club.
MI. Ellerbe has rendered his resigna-
ton as president. asking that some one
be chosen to the office that could devote
more time TO the work. but his reSigna-
ton was unanimously rejected. Mr..
Ellerbe bowed gracefully to the compli-
ment paid, and made second speech.
He said that during the intermis-
sion the question had been asked
as to whom the club would
support in case Mr.. Smith should not
be nominated by the Democrats. Mr..
Elierbe said that that was a contin-
gencY that would not arise. Mr.. Smith
VIII surely De nominated, anu Ill case
the Democrats do not nominate him the
people will. A gentleman in the atl-
dlence suggested that the club is for
Smith in any event, and has burned tie
bridges behind it. The suggestion was
approved by the president and others
Alter The meeting there was a general
talk over the situation, several said that
they had voted for Mayor Wright be-
fore. but they are against him and any
other Republican as long as Il. A. Smith
is i'll the field.