Bridgeton pioneer., 1900-03-08
SMITH FOR MAYOR.
The City Convention Also Adopts the
Open Nominating Rules in the In-
terest of Honest POIicts.

terest of Honest POlicts.
The Republican City Convention met
the second time Friday night the session
being called at the Court House. There
were many citizens present in addition
candidate.
Chairman j. Boyd Potter promptly
called the Convention to order. The first
business was to select secretary, John
M. Laning, Jr., being unable 10 be pres
eut, as he was called out OF town. The
Convention unanimously named City
Treasurer Samuel II. Hitchner for the
position.
The various.ward delegations then pro-
ceeded to fill the vacancies existing, and
nominations were called for Mayor, it
being announced that Louis Meyers had
positively declined to stand.
The Second ward nominated Aaron
Smith and the Fourth ward presented the
name of David s. Blew. The roll was
called, and Smith was nominated receiv-
ing eighteen votes and Blew fifteen.
The nomination of Mr.. Smith was at once
made unanimous.
Mr.. Smith was later brought before the
Convention and accepted the nomination,
pledging himself to an honest administra-
ton of his duties should he be elected.
EThe Convention then took up the pro
posed rules based upon the famous Craw-
ford county, Pa system, which means
honest politics. The rules have been
printed in the PIONEER and were last
night adopted with but little amend
meDt.
The Convention was UNANIMOUSLY in
favor of the proposition to make open
nominations by direct vote ofthe people,
thus insuring any candidate named, an
absolute majority of all Republican who
desire to vote at the primary meetings.
The rules were taken up by sections,
and with such amendments as were sug-
gested by the wisdom of the Convention
were5 adopted, and finally, as a whole
weTe adopted by unanimous vote.
Summarizing, the future of the Repub-
~1ican party in the City of Bridgeton, rests
wholly with the Republicans themselves.
There will be City Committee of two
from each ward, who will have charge of
calling the conventions and fixing the
time for the holding of the primaries.
Ihey willl meet each spring at given
hour at the City Hall. and receive nomi-
nations offcandidates. The latter, sigui-
lying b2eir intention of accepting the
Sno,G sSation, will be placed upon one
ballot, which shall be distributed among
tee voters, and sufficient number shall
be placed at the polls at the time of the
primary meetings.
At least one member OF the City Con-
vention shall be present at the primary
meeting in their respective wards, and
shall call the meeting to order. and act as
temporary. chairman until the legal voters
gathered, shall organize by the election
of chairman. secretary and two tellers,
who shall conduct the nominating cleo
ton. Every voter thus has an opportun-
ity of voting direct for candidate for all
offices, city as well as wards. There are
delegates to be elected, and no City Con-
ventions. The voters have direct op-
portunity to vote for candidate for Tax
Collector, for Mayor, for City School
Superintendent, or for City Treasurer.
The officers of the primary meeting will
Immediately canvass the vote in each
ward and make return to the City Com
mittee will meet the next day and can
vass the entire vote and announce those
receiving majority, who shall officially
be declared the nominees. The mem bers
-yot the City Committee will hereafter, be
elected by the respective wards at the
nominating election.
The Convention then adopted resolu-
ton, providing that the ward delegations
should proceed to select two persons from
each ward, who should be known as the
first City Committee, in accordance with
the rules. The delegates elected the Com
mittee as follows:
First ward-Wilson L. Silvers, Jr.a
John S. Turner.
Second ward Samuel II. Hitchner,
Joseph Biggs.
Third ward-Bloomfleld H. Minch, E.
Sheppard Wallen.
Fourth ward-John M. Lanning, Jr..
Isaac 7. Nichols.
Fifth ward = David S. Sellers, Fred
Crosta.
The Convention there upon adjourned.