The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-01
LEIGH AND CALLAHAN WIN
HOT TIME AT DEMOCRATIC TOWN
 SHRIEYALTY CONTENTION.

SHRIEYALTY CONVENTION.
 Moritz spier Took Exceptions to John
 E. Doughan's Point of Order-James
 E. McGann Says He Realizes That He
 Is in the Minorlty-WaIter Leigh Gets
 New Haven's 25 Votes in County Con-
 veMtioM.
 Walter Leigh, despite the predictions
 10 the contrary, last night won out
 easily in the democratic town shrieyal-
 ty convention and secured the tWenty- five delegates to the county convention.
 The town convention was held in St.
 Aloysius hall and was called to order
 at $50 by James B. Martin, chairman
 ot the town committee. No sooner did
 the gavel fall than John E. Doughan
 Jumped to his feet and proposed the
 name of Alderman Henry E. Norris of
 the Sixth ward for chairman of the
 convention. James E. McGann rose at
 the, same time and endeavored to be
 heard, but the chair first recognized
 MT. Doughan. McGann's turn cana
 later, however, and he then offered the
 name of Moritz Spier for chairman.
 MT. Doughan rose, saying that unless
 the name of MT. Spier was withdrawn
 he would raise the point of order that
 MT. Spier was not democrat and had
 not been one for two years. At this
 MT. Spier Jumped to his feet and began
 violent protest against this aocusa-
 tion. He said: An assertion like that
 needs an answer. When the gentleman
 says that I am not democrat and
 have not been one for two years, he
 says what he knows is not true MT.
 Chairman, have been (voice, A Gold
 Democrato I have been a citizen, a
 voter In New Haven since was twen-
 ty-one years of age. For twenty-seven
 years have been a voter in this city
 and defy anyone to say that ever cast any other than straight demo- Ncratic ballot. (Applause). I am not
 only democrat, but a silver democrat.
 I worked for w. J. Bryan heart and
 soul. I contributed my money, more
 perhaps than the gentleman who has just spoken, not for the public perhaps,
 but where I knew it would do the most
 good"
 Chairman Martin said that he
 thought MT. Spier was eligible if he re-
 ceived the greater number of votes of
 the convention. Messrs. Doughan and
 McGann were appointed tellers. The
 question was raised as to credentials and who had a right to vote for per- manent chairman, and it was suggested that each delegate be required to show his credentials before being allowed to vote. In the meantime the nominations for presiding officer were laid on the table pending the arrangement of cre- dentialS and committee had been ap- pointed and reported thereon. It was finally voted to appoint the chairmen of the various ward delegations mem bers of a committee on credentials and these gentlemen withdrew. They re- turned in few minutes and reported, the report being accepted.
 A vote by roll call for permanent chairman was then taken and resulted in Al for Norris and 37 for Spier. MT. Norris election was made unanimous. As the ward delegates were made up at the primaries the delegates stood 42 for Leigh and 36 for Tomlinson. The gain of one vote in the voting recorded above is explained by the fact that Philip Fleming, a delegate from the Seventh ward, and supposed to be for
 Leigh, voted with the opposition. MT. Fleming afterwards stated that he voted as he did under misapprehen- sion, thinking that he was voting with the Leigh faction.
 After the announcement of the vote Messrs. McGann and Doughan were appointed committee to escort MT. Norrig fn fhp oh1ir n11rj rjy,o for chairman an interesting incident oc- cured. When MT. Norris narhe was called with those of the Sixth ward delegates he modestly asked to be ex- | cused from voting for the present. Lat CT when MT. Spier's name was called 1 this gentleman voted for himself and when the roll call was finished MT. Norris rose and said that while at first | he had refrained from voting he would l now do so. He said that he desired to vote, not to protect himself but to as- l sist others. He said that he believed l it was the first time in a local caucus 1 that a nominee was forced to vote for ] himself. This was before the vote had been announced, and there was some | doubt as to which Of the candidates | had been elected. In taking the chair | MT. Norris made brief remarks saying l that after the conflict just passed the l bitterest in local democratic history, he I hoped the gentlemen would make a l wise choice of candidate for sheriff. | John G. McGowan was elected secre- | tary and J. J. Sullivan of the Twelfth l ward moved that the chair be instruct l ed to appoint a committee of five to arrange a list of twenty five delegates l to the county convention. The motion | was put to vote and the chair declar- | ed it carried, but the decision being doubted vote by roll call was taken. James D. McGann then attempted to 1 speak, but for some time the chair re- | fused to recognize him. Finally Mr. l McGann was given the floor and said: | Gentleman, am here in the minority, | but I am here as a democrat. I tell
 you one and all now, you have got your | majority here don't select five men to
 bring in twenty-five names. You
 elected delegates enough from the wards to make the committee certain. l At least one half as many as the coun- tv delapation to he selected. Do this