The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-16

The long expected meeting of the
Republican city committee was held
last night There was one remark
able feature about it-that was the
lack of interest Usually when the
party has entire control of a city with
q good strong majority the committee
is ho0bed of political enthusiasm.
But last night there was wait of over
half an hour before quorum put in
fits appearance. Then the absentees
were Joe Lippman, Lance NJ. Earl and
"A. S. Geddes.
II. G.. Button was elected chairman
of the committee to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation Of c. w.
Bennett Ye gods, what d contrast!
However, the election of Button was
due wholly to the fact that no stronger
candidate could be induced to enter
the fight. Strenuous efforts have
been made for the last few weeks 20
get Perm Lynn or Harry McCallum, or
any one Of half dozen others to ac-
cept the position, but they have uni
forrnly and steadfastly declined for
some reason or other. Fred Leonard
has lost almost all his political in
Iuence and cannot even pull his own
ward. Then, too, he was such we'll
known Tribune hustler and manipu-
lator that he could not pull the whole
committee and, therefore, had foresight
enough to keep out of the race. Joe
Lippman had been offered the place,
but absolutely declined, saying that he
was out of politics altogether.
No Other Could Be Found.
Button was satisfactory to neither
side. He had absolutely declined to
make known his position as regards
the fractional fight now on between the
Tribune and the machine. Both sides
are claiming him. The machine has
pointed out that he is d. deputy under
Sheriff Hardy, than whom no greater
enemy 70 the Tribune can be found.
The other side has claimed as con-
fidently that when the time comes for
Button to show his hand he will be
found with them.
When the committee meeting finally
came to order last evening the resigna-
ton OF Judge Bennett dated July 9,
was handed in by Secretary Tom
Lewis. Sam Westerf1eld made a mo-
ton that the election of the successor
be proceeded with Immediately. Frank
KimbalI thereupon objected, saying
the matter was of the utmost import
ance and the matter should be post
poned for some time. However, he
was effectually silenced by being told
that Judge Benefits resignation had
been announced a. week before.
Thought it n Joke.
Then Fred Leonard, in a glowing
enthusiastic speech, took away the
breath of the committeeman by nom
mating the secretary, T. d. Lewis, for
the position. Lewis had not been a
candidate, and said so, and also that
he imagined that Mr.. Leonard was in
very humorous mood and was perpe-
trating a joke at his expense. Leon
ard, however, denied this. Button
was then put in nomination by D. H.
Weager and the fight settled between
these two On the vote Lewis
received the support of Leonard, Cap
tain Paul and Frank Kimball, while
Button was voted in by ]. j. Thomas,
S B. Westerfield, D. H. Wenger, E. e
Ritchie and John James v69 held the
proxy of Lance Earl Lewis himself,
who is understood to have been pledged
to Button, did not vote. L. E. Ritchie.
who held the balance of power, finally
turned to Button because there was
no other candidate stronger than him.
In an UnenviabIe Position.
This leaves the Republican party in
a. very unenviable position. 1t has
faculty of developing freaks in its
chairmen. Charlie Crane and w. f.
James made it very troublesome for
Judge Bennett diplomatic as he is.
Now. however with Button at the
head of the city committee, the fight
of the Kilkenny cats will be dwarfed
into insignificance. Button was
member of the constitutional conven-
ton. His chief claim for notoriety
came from the fact that he riValled one
or the other Republicans, in distribut-
ing promiscuously original English not
found in any standard dictionary. He
has never yet shown any executive
ability that would seem to make him
the best kind of d candidate for such
q position.
Political Sermon.
T.shop Elias Morris, Republican poll
tician. Republican member of the con-
stitutionsl convention, and also bishop
Of the Fifteenth ward, has evidently
been enlisted in behalf Of that patriot
Tom HUI. Last Sunday night he paid
Q visit 70 the western end of his ward
and preached what his congregation
considered political sermon. He be-
gan by criticiZing Presiding Elder IRE
for not consulting him regarding the
holding Of the Democratic society
meeting a few nights before, and said
there seemed % be disposition among
the Democrats not to consult him
about halls for such purposes because
he was supposed TO be on the other
side. Then he said he wanted to give
them some plain talk. He had evil
IDENTIFY been informed of the criticisms
of Tom Hull. for he said, with indig-
nation, that he understood that at that
meeting there had been an attempt to
bl3cken somebody's character. He
warned the people against becoming
divided by politics against one another.
Then he branched off on the subject of
women coming into politics, and said
he feared they would be getting on
their nigh heeled boots soon and throw
their Billies around and become
divided also. He said he was NOT
preaching from any particular stand