The record-union., 1896-04-19
WILL APPOINT DELEGATES.
That Is What the Republican County
Committee Decides On.
The New Republican Clubs Want Pri.
maries and Offer to Furnish
Election Boards.

~~~~&
Supervisors room, Chairman Clark pre-
siding.
Secretary Richardson read the call
for the State and Second Congressional
District Conventions, on account Of
which the meeting had been held
President Clark stated that the meet
ing had been called for the purpose Of
determining the manner in which del
egates to the conventions should be
chosen.
There was quite a. number of Repub-
ioans present, in accordance with the
invitation of the committee that they
should attend and give their views on
the question. They seemed to be mainly
members of the two newly formed Re-
publican Twentieth and Twenty-first
District Clubs.
Charles F. Gardner appeared for the
Twentieth and Twenty District
Republican Clubs to urge upon the COM
mittee the ordering of primaries. Every
good citizen, he said, favored the power
being kept as near as possible in the
hands Of the people, so that they might
be able to have voice in whatever ac-
tion is taken. It would seem to be the
voice of the committees constituents,
1t appeared to him, that the people
should have something to say in the Sc
lection of delegates.
Looking round ON the committee, he
said, he saw in them old and stanch
Republicans, and he hoped they would
take such action.
Dr. Dixon said he belonged to no
faction and spoke for no faction, but
he was a member of one Of the clubs
and voiced their sentiments when he
asked that primaries be held. He be-
Ieved that the circular of the National
Committee, as it came from that COM
mittee, called for the usual method OF
selecting delegates and he thought the
practice Of the party had always been
for action taken to be as near as posi-
BILE to the wishes of the people. The
fight this fall will be no walkover for
the party, he thought, but will be a
close fight and fight to the finish. He
was sure that a majority of the most
respectable members of the party de-
manded the primaries.
It was just and fair to make this de-
D1and He felt sure that more than 2
COO members of the party in this city
were in favor of 1t, and their wishes
should be considered in deciding this
Men are like a flock Of sheep, and follow
the ones who make a start and it Is un-
wise to arouse antagon1Sm- There will
be many contesting delegations in the
State Convention, and those who are de-
feated will go home disgruntled. It is
asked why go to the expense Of pri-
maries when the business can be done
more quickly and cheaply by appoint
ing.
A GENEROUS OFFER.
The two Republican Clubs, although
not recognized by the powers that be,
will furnish enough members to act as
election officers without any expense.
On the other hand, If delegates are ap-
pointed, these clubs ask that the COM
mittee give them representation on
the primary election boards. Friends
of both factions will be injured II pri-
maries are not held. If this request be
granted. the clubs will stand by the re-
suit.
HOW IN THE PAST?
w. E. Lamphrey asked If they had
done SO in the past, and If the doctor
could account for the fact that Estee
did not receive the vote in the last
State election that he should have had
dn this county? Could he account for
the defeat of Wilson for Mayor? Was
there not a crowd in this city that
whenever they were beaten in the pri-
maries, went off by itself and formed
a new party to fight the nominations?
Dr. Dixon admitted that it was so,
and it was the drift of the people to-day
to be independent He himself had done
so in the past. He wanted to know
what harm 1T would do to have pri-
nlaries.
THEY ARE NOT WANTED.
Mr.. Lamphrey said he had consulted
good, solid Republicans in his distric:
and been told that they either did not
want primaries or that they did not
care. He had asked other members of
the committee what their constituents
said, and they had told of the same ex-
perience.
]. B. Devine said he had spoken with
many as good Republicans as there are
in the city and had not found any out
side of these clubs who asked for pri
maries. This convention is not called
for a State or National election. No
Congressman is to be nominated at this
County Convention or he might be in
favor of primaries. He did not there
fore see any need of holding primaries,
which involves considerable expense
and trouble He had been unable to
find any considerable number who de-
mand primaries, and the committee has
no money on hand with which to meet
the expenses. He would like to know
If those who are asking for them were
willing to put UP the soap to make the
suds with. He believed the Central
Committee holds the respect and con-
fidence of the party, which will be salts
fed with whatever action it takes.
HARMONY WANTED.
w. Henley totally disagreed with Mr..
Devine, and thought that in appointing
the committee would say to voters: I'VE
I'm this matter" He thought harmony
should influence them in favor of pri-
maries. The clubs would furnish all
the election officers without pay.
DR.. Look said he helped organize the
two clubs but they had not yet been
recognized by the committee. He
claimed they were established in the
interest of harmony and to bring out
the honest voters. He did not say that
discord would enter If primaries were
not held, but harmony would follow II
they were.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
w. B. Thorpe asked if DR.. Look had
not within forty-eight hours said to
William Beckman that if a certain can
didate was nominated, and the organ
ization to which he Gook) belonged
pronounced against him, that he would