Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-24
MORE BlLLorlNa FoE OFFICERS.
Another Unsuccessful Effort t" Elect a
Cierk AT the Nieeting of Council.


Clerk nt the Meeting of Council.
Another unsuccessful attempt to |
break the deadlock over the matter of
electing officers was made at the meet
ing of City Council Thursday, when
four ballots were taken for clerk of
Council, but the result proved con
clusively that there was no change in
the situation. On each ballot James
Thompson, the slated nominee, received
six votes: William P. Morrison, the
present incumbent, four, and William
ii. Deer, Republican, three. The
action of the four Democrats who are
opposed to the slate indicated that they
are Just as firm in their position now
as they were Immediately after the
slate was made- At times it looked as
if at least two of the opponents of the
slate considered it aifrontery on the
mart OF the friends of the slate to even
breach the subject as matters now stand.
1t was rumored during the afternoon
and early in the evening that success
full effort had been made to induce one
Of the four opponents to favor the slate
and subsequent developments gave the
| impression that some of the six who
had formed the slate believed they
would capture vote during the even
ing if they continued voting long
enough, but whether they had any
ground for thinking so is not known.
| After the routine business of the
meeting had been disposed of Mr.. Can
non, who is one of the SIX favorable to
| the slate, made a motion that a ballot
be taken for clerk of Council. The
motion prevailed and Messrs. Monaghan
and Stewart were appointed teIlers, and
when the vote was counted the result
was as given above. Immediately after
President Alexander had announced
that there had been no election Mr..
Smith, who is opposed to the slate,
made a motion to adjourn. At the
same time somebody called for another
ballot and Mr.. Smith insisted on the
president putting his motion to
adjourn. The president informed him
that his motion was not seconded, but
he insisted that it was seconded by Mr..
Kane. President Alexander said he
did not hear anybody second tho mo-
tion and ordered another ballot taken.
The result being the same as that oil
the first ballot, there was no election,
and Mr.. Kane moved that Council
adjourn. The motion was put to 6
vote and declared lost by the chair,
whereupon Mr.. Smith called for a yet
, and nay vote and insisted that it bt
taken. President Alexander Informed
him that he was out of order, as hi!
call had not been seconded. He claimed
that he was in order. He held that hi
, call had been seconded, but the presi
dent said he did not hear it seconded
4 and declined to entertain the call. de
. spite the vigorous protest of the mem
Dor from the Eleventh ward. Mr.
| ~ OF fhn lap
into an argument by demanding tina
. he be shown the law upon which tn
q ruling was made. hut Mr.. Alexande
a was firm in his decision and anothe
n ballot was taken, on motion of Mr.
I Monaghan. The result was unchanged
. as was also the case with the fourt
o ballot. Tho fourth was the final al
n tempt, Council adjourning, on motto
Il of Mr.. Kane, by a vote of Z to
n Messrs. Willis, Kane, Mousley an
Smith voting in the affirmative wit
three Republicans.
1t was learned Friday that repol
-, was in circulation Just prior to til
is meeting that there was probabilit
Of of the Republican members voting fl
1t Mr. MORRISON for clerk, the impressio
a being that the Republicans expecte
III some favor in return and also desire
a to see Mr.. Morrison retained, as be
I'd thoroughly competent and the r
I'd publicans know man of their par
g. cannot be elected. This report cou
not be verified, but it was very evidel
that some of the Democrats thoug
re they saw a ray of light somewher
ry One of the opponents TO the slate sa
lg Friday morning that he believed sor
n concession would be made on DO
ed sides and officers elected during II
nd next few weeks.