New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-02
FIGHTING AT A PRIMARY.
wARRING FACTIONS HAVE LIVELY
TINE IN WHITE PLAINS.
two BALLOT BONES USED AND THIRD ONE
sMAsIED-A LOCAL soUABBI.E OVER

SMAS1tED-A LOCAL sQtABhi4E oNEh
COUNTY OFFICE.
The Republicans Of White Plains held their
primary for the nomination of delegations of eight
zach 10 the County, Assembly District. Assembly
and School Commissioner conventions yesterday.
The caucus, which was held from o'clock In the
afternoon until In the evening. was the most
hotly contested that has been seen at the
county In years
While there were other issues IN the contest. the
rival candidates. OF Village President Samuel c.
Miller and Edward r. Long OF The News" for
the nomination for County Treasurer this fall were
the point upon which the controversy hinged
SO purely local the contest that the old fac
tiona lines almost completely oberated.
What was formerly known the "Old Guard
of which James H. and John p Moran
spicuous leaders. in this fight devoted its energies
in favor of Mr.. Miller. while the large and hustlins
element of the party known as the Young Re
pubcans.' led by J. W. Stafford James Young.
John Oezuc. John Thompson and j. Irving Carpen-
ter. active In Mr Long a behalf
Shortly before o'clock the time set for the
opening Of the primary the Miller faction discov-
cred that between the regular closing OF the enrol
ment. several days ago, and yesterday about fifty
names had been added to tho list This was done
1t IS alleged by the secretary of the Town Con-
mittee. James w. Stafford the leader of the Long
faction. This knowledge brought forth a storm Of
protests from the Miller faction. The Long people
declared the addition of the names TO be regular
while the Millerites maintained that only Su-
preme Court Justice had the power to change the
roll add TO II after 1t had been regularly closed.
The dispute which followed became warmer
the time of balloting drew near. Every man in the
room sprang to his feet and became involved in a
wrangle such had never before been witnessed
IN the town The benches overturned and
heaped In pile the crowd. In which the war
ring factions weIo evenly divided. surged from
side 10 side 1t looked like convention of maniacs
rather than Republican caucus.
Stafford the secretary, knocked over In the
scramble and time 1t looked if some OF the
crowd would be pushed through windows into the
street Threats Of personal violence and profane
language all that could be heard above the
din. When O'Clock had arrived James Young
chairman OF the Town Committee who either did
could be heard. declared the caucus
open. The Meres grasped this opportunity to
control the primary. In voice that seemed to
still the crowd for a few seconds a motion was
made 10 elect James H. Moran. a Millerite. also
member of the Town Committee. temporary
chairman. The motion seconded. and the
declared open by Moran. Several ballots
were deposited before the followers Of Long rea-
lized they had lost control of the primary. Long
in1mediat ately took a balot-box from pile In a
corner Of the room and set IT up several feet
away from the other box, declaring as he did 80
that he also would receive ballots.
This action precipitatcd another fight, and in the
struggle which followed the second box was
smashed to pieces. II was not until deputy
sheriff threatened arrest that anythlng Ike Order
was restored. Long took another bog and or
dercd all who were in favor of good government 10
follow him. He then left the hall and placed the
box in position in the open air at the loot OF the
stairs. As voters arrived they were pushed about
by the workerS of both sides the one cndeaVoring
to get them to stop outside. while the other tried
to hustle them upstairs.
The Millerites in the Town Hall had possession
Of the roll and the other side had not even an
official copy of il.
The voting was steady all the afternoon ana
evening the followers Of each side depositing theit
ballots in the box maintained by the iaeton OF
their choice. When the votes were counted 1t was
found 245 deposited In the Miller box IN the
hall OF which Miller received 222 and Long g. In
the box OF the Long people in the street lhere
were 2s2 votes of which Long got 275 and Miller :.
Thus It will be seen Long received majority major OF
Had he stayed in the Town Hall and received
the votes according TO the roll II Is doubtful " ne
would have got a ma jOrity, as the names OF many
Republicans we're not the roll, and the Miller
people would not accept the ballots OF the ilfty al.
If whom were for Long Both delegations will
present themselves at the Convention III SeptemDer
o..