The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-09-23
Congressional Convention.


gressional District met at Riverside, on
Saturday, to name candidate to com
pete with Congressman Gardner in the
election in November.
/ Considering the fact that there is no
possible show for the success of Demo
crat, there was considerable interest man
ifested and the attendance was larger
than was expected. The reason of this
was that it was determined to show that
Burlington county, where the convention
was held, the home of Thomas II. Birch,
personal friend of William J. Bryan,
would control the sentiments of the party
and declare for the great man from Kan
sas.
The convention was presided over by
Thomas J. Prickett, of Palmyra, and H.
o. Burt, of Cumberland, was chosen as
was as follows: Charles j. Bromley, of
Atlantic; Charles Zimmerman, of Cape
May; Charles Stokes, of Burlington, and
Samuel Iredell, of Cumberland
SOHAO ScI buclr
named before the resolutions are adopted,
but this meeting worked otherwise
With an idea that they had the candi-
date all right, the platform was framed to
suit him.
Charles Stokes read the report, which,
as presented, was as Bryanesque as any
thing could happen. Mr.. Bromley sub
mitted minority report, striking out the
endorsement of the Kansas City platform.
Twice before we have gone down to de-
feat on account of this" he said; land it
is well to abandon such suicidal policy"
Mr.. Zimmerman wanted the platform
adopted as read. He declared it was the
best platform the national Democrats ever
adopted and he would stand by it until the
next Democratic national convention of
fered something better.
Then the music began. The new dis
trict is composed of Atlantic county with
~ delegates; Burlington, 81; Cape May,
Is; Cumberland, 43. When the resolu-
lions were offered the chair got cross-eyed
in his endeavors to see all trying to secure
recognition. After much debate, not all
Of which was harmonious, the vote was
taken as follows:
Atlantic, SO for minority report and
against; Burlington, 2 for, SO against:
Cape May, IA for, 2 against and Cumber-
land, 43 for the report Total, 95 for, So
against. So the Kansas City plank was
laid away to dry.
Then nominations were called for,
Charles Stokes, who probably was the
main factor in the resolution business,
was the first to be presented He had no
use for the empty honor. Then Thomas
j. Prickett was mentioned. But he had
tried this little affair with Brother Gard
ner once before and that was all he want
ed.
Mr.. Rogers, of Edgewater Park, was
the next to be called, but Mr.. Rogers
promptly squelched this boom by saying
he voted in Camden.
Why the next name was left so late is
not known. Possibly the resolution bust
ness was responsible. Thomas FL. Birch
was the fourth on the list He is a per-
sonal friend of Bryan, has entertained
him, and presented him to the people of
this county more than once. Tommy was
not present to decline, but those who were
on hand knew it would be useless to ask
him to go on platform which had COM
pletely ignored his idol, so his name was
withdrawn ''by authority"
Lawyer Bourgeoise, of Atlantic, was
proposed. His health is not good and his
delegates said he would not accept, so he
was out of the question.
The list had been pretty well exhausted
and nobody seemed to know just what to
do, when it was suggested that Tom Cash,
of Bordentown, had been licked so many
times he rather hankered after it, so Tom
was nominated This was satisfactory
all around. The convention was gratifed
to get out of dilemma aud Tom was
pleased to think he was on the road to his
annual defeat.
He was called to the platform and APP
peared to be as thankful as if he had been
given a fortune.
After deciding to hold the next conven-
ton at Cape May, the meeting adjourned