The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-27
RINGSTERS Won
Bergen Republicans Had
Another Fight Over
Their Secretary.
TOUCHING CONFIDENCE SHOWN
Strict Resolutions Adopted to
Prevent the Members
From stuf1ng the
Rnx.


&sksfa-
After one hour replete with controVer-
sizes, discussions and confusion IN count
ing of ballots, a secretary was uitlmateis
chosen. at the meeting of the Bergen RE
publican Club last evening. Inere were
petty squabbles, personal tits and any
amount of loud talking among those most
interested before the result was obtained.
There was lots of confusion during the
whole session and interest in the proceed
ings was at fever heat. The CLUB mouse
never held as many members before.
Men were present whose presence hao
scarcely ever graced the meeting room.
Among these were Assistant Prosecutor
Wan Wrinkle and Justice J. Herbert
Potts.
The ringsters won the fight, but not
without a struggle. They had secuted
in ordsrSto have enough roi-
bowers on deck to win. The same may be
said of those who claim to represent the
anti-ring element of that ward. Standing
room was at a premium. More than
hundred persons were on hand, but only
ninety-eight were allowed to vote.
On the first ballot, there was one vote
too many in the box and a second ballot
was taken with this result-David CID
son. fifty-fve; Frank a Sofield, forty
Gibson represents the machine faction
Routine business was cleared off in jig
time. Then Mr.. John T. Pringle intro
duced a resolution which was evolved by
by several, into this amendment
.Resolved, That the election for secre-
tary shall be conducted in the following
manner:-There shall be appointed, by the
president, two tellers Of election, who
shall receive and canvass the votes and
announce the result after each ballot.
They shall keep a tally of the number
of members who vote and before pro-
ceeding to a canvass, shall count the ball
lots without opening them. If the total
number of ballots cast does not agree
with the number of members who are
credited with having voted, this fact shall
be Immediately announced to the club and
a new ballot ordered. If the number
of ballots agree with the number of mem
bers who nave voted, the tellers h
proceed to canvass the vote and the can
didate receiving the highest number of
votes shall be declared elected.
All the proceedings of the tellers shall
be conducted openly and in full view
OF the club members.
.The financial secretary sha call the
roll of members and each member as his
name is called shall deposit his ballot
Previous to the adoption of this resolu-
fion Mr.. Charles Prior, who acted In the
capacity of judge at the last meeting,
and the attempted election Of Secretary,
stated that that committee of judges and
tellers had not been discharged. Further.
that in emitting him from the resolution
offered by Mr.. Pringle, he felt that a slur
had been cast upon him.
Mo- that / wish to be judge again.
said he. but as an act of courtesy my
name might have been mentioned along
with the two suggested as telIers. 1 have
not failed to do my duty by this club. and
II mistakes were made at the last cleo
ton was not guilty of any crooked
work.
Mr.. Pringle Immediately moved that the
old judge and tellers be discharged with
thanks.
Mr.. Frank Higgins said that knew of
nc reason why a judge should be chosen
10 oversee the election of secretary. The
club was judge enough, he said. n two
tellers were sufficient to handle the cleo
ton.
Mr.. Pringle added that no slight was in
tended Mr.. Prior, and to prove it he
suggested that the names of the two men
mentioned for tellers in his resolution be
stricken out, and the president be given
the power to appoint the ~tellers. This
amendment was made to the resolution. |
1t was put as corrected. The corrected
resolution is quoted above.
Commissioner Thomas D. Mills and
Isaac Taylor were selected to act as
tellers. Mr.. Pringle nominated David
Gibson and Mr.. John P. Landrine second |
ed the nomination. F. A. Sofield was
then nominated by the anti-ring people.
Ninety-nine votes were cast, when but
ninety-eight men voted. This ballot was
declared irregular and a second ballot or
dered. This resulted to the satisfaction
of the ringsters, Gibson receiving fifty
five votes and Sofeld forty. Shouting,
cheering and stamping followed the an
nouncement. The election was finally
made unanimous.
Mr.. Higgins then sprang a surprise on
the gathering. A important election is
about to be held" he said, ssand I believe
that these petty difficulties should be set
tied in the club. l believe that we stand
an excellent chance to win and would sug-
gest that we all get in line.
THE Ward Association meets tomorrow
night and I move that a committee of
FIVE be appointed by the president to meet
a like committee from the Ward Associa-
tion to plans whereby a
primary ticket agreeable to both sides can
be prepared
The resolution passed. A committee