The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-11-19
SECOND WARD SLATEINTACT
FRANK c. BUSHNELL COURTED DE-
 FEAT TO ESTABLISH 4 TACT.

The Opposition to the Blakeslees Say That
 Their Statements That the "Machine"
 Had Fixed Things Have Been Verified
 Only Baldwin Men for the Town Delega-
 tion-Delegates from Other Wards.
 The Blakeslees were. as usual, vic torious last evning at the republican caucus in the Second ward, held for the purpose of electing delgates to the city and town conventions, and to name one alderman and three councilmen to rep resent the ward in the court of com mon council. The opposition was out in considerable force, but not enough to accomplish anything. All that was asked of the controlling faction by the minority element was a representation on the town delgation. This was denied them.
 w. M. Parsons was chairman of the caucus and John w. Hall acted as sec retary. E. s. Swift nominated Coun- cilnan John H. Clarks for alderman,
 
 secretary cast one ballot to that end. This was opposed by James Bishop, commissioner of public works, who wanted every man to have a fair chance to express his opinion by ballot.
 A vote was then taken. Of the 61 ballots cast 59 were for Clarke. An effort was made to have committee appointed to nominate the balance of the ticket Mr. Bishop again inter- posed an objection.
 Benjamin F. Liefield was nominated for first councilman. He was elected by the secretary casting the ballot. The same course was observed in the choice of D. M. Carleton for second and of Theodore Gruener for third council man.
 Chairman Parsons then announced that the voters would proceed to elect delegates to the city convention. At this juncture another attempt was made to have a committee on nom nations appointed. Again it was ob- jected to by Commissioner Bishop, who said it had been currently reported that a slate had been fixed up and that it would be forced through. He hoped that the motion to nominate by com- mittee would meet with defeat. His desire was to have it demonstrated be- yond doubt that no slate had been made and that every man had a chance to cast his ballot for the man of his choice.
 This speech received considerable ap- plause after which the caucus proceed ed with the work of selecting delegates.
 There was no contest on this qelega- ton and the following were elected: D. W. Baldwin, D. w. Blakeslee, w. M. Parsons, H. H. Guernsey, Fred l.. Mead, Robert Shearer, Lyman T. Law, F. C. Lum, F. M. Lloyd, Andrew G. Smith.
 The work of naming the city delega- tion having been completed, the real work of the caucus began-to elect set of men who formed the reelection of Town Agent Baldwin. Frank c. Bush- nell an Baldwin man, wished to be placed on the delegation, and had so stated to "one of the Blakeslees,' as well as to Commissioner Bishop: It later developed that he had been given to understand by both gentlemen that he might have the place-provided he received votes enough.
 According to Mir BushnelIs state ment at the meeting, both men told him there was nothing in his way if he would be for their man" Bushnell was "agin 'em" and said so.
 Then came the contest which ended in the withdrawal of Bushnell from the field. The first delegate elected to the town convention was Commissioner Bishop, who had no opposition. The second nomination was that of A. M. Beebe, the janitor of the town offices. He was opposed by F. c. Bushnell, but when the vote was counted the usual lone hundred and fifty, tried and true" ballots came out of the box in favor of the Blakeslee candidate. Bush- nell had 47 votes. His friends were not disheartened however, and he was again nominated against E. s. Swift. Again he went down in defeat, but came up game in the next round, and went at John w. Lowe with all the force he had left. Once more he was vanquished.
 Undismayed, Bushnell was named for the fourth time against D. A. Blakes- less. "The time has now come" said MT. Bushnell, flor me to make an ex- planation. It was stated at the open ing of the caucus that no slate had been made up. have stayed in the race long, since I saw that there was no chance of an election in order that it might be demonstrated to the minds of the public that a slate had been fix ed. I was informed by both MT. Bish- op and MT. Blakeslee that I could not be elected. The vote has demonstrated the truth of their statements. I there fore wish to withdraw my name.'
 Commissioner Bishop explained to the caucus that he did not tell MT. Bushnell he could not be elected, but did say he could not support him, as he was not in favor of his (Bushnells) choice for town agent. MT. Bishop disclaimed any knowledge of slate making. and re- iterated the statement that he wished every man to have a fair chance
 MT. Blakeslee said, in subSance, the same thing.
 All opposition ceased from this poirt, and the balance of the ticket went through withogt friction.
 The complete list of delegates to the tnurn convention all of whom aTa said