The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-16
Board of Election Commissioners
Recognizes the New Central
Committee.
UPHILL FIGHT FOR FUSION.
Anti-kerens Faction Names the
Judges, Clerks and Challengers,
and n Big Vote Promises to
Settle Supremacy.

| The Republican primary to-day VIII be IN
charge of judges and clerks and challel-
gers appointed by the reorganized City
/ Committee recently recognized by the Re
publican State Committee. The Board Of
Election Commissioners. at its meeting les
| terday. decided to ignore the writ OF pro-
hibition issued by Judge waltour ". Rob-
inson OF the Supreme Court. and to exercise
the powers placed in its hands by the stat
utes
| Louis p. Aloe. Republican member OF the
Board. and strong member of the Ker-
| ems faction. dissented and filed d protest in
which he announced that he wished TO
obey the writ issued b. Judge Robinson.
Inis action OF the board was taken after
much deliberation. the two Democratic
| members feeling that unless they Obeyed
me plain letter of the statutes and numsr-
GUS decisions rendered by the entire Su-
preme Court. they would not be fulfilling
| their legal duty.
REPUBLICAN FUSION.
The practical effect of the boards decision
Will be TO give the so-called reform element
| primary. For many years they have given
as their excuse for failing TO carry the
potes ceSnted the ziesaHbein not aeb1s ss5 ,neh n
grammes ''over the plate"
When r. c. kerens attempted to form a
combination to carry st. Louis he engaged
the remnant OF Ziegenheinism as a nucleus
OF his forces. Colonel ''Bilr' Phelps of the
Missouri Pacific helped the scheme along.
Lee Meriwether, who has claimed that he
had "a chance to get even on the game"
cTefed ciIs 70 deliver me & vote which ne . re
accepted as an ally. IL was thought by
Kerens that with Ziegenhein. Phelps, MeTi-
wether and Butler he could beat the Demo-
lican legislative nominees.
The direct primary scheme was adopted
q ha mas - AA1t, ~.
goods" This gave the Ziegenhein majority
N the Citv Committee power to name the
judges, clerks and ehallengers of the prim-
ary election Having selected the nomi-
nees. the Kerens manipulafors proposed to
see that no others were chosen.
The Republican State Committee. after
much parleying. finally unseated the Ziegen-
helm majority which had voted. for the
scheme The reorganized committee was
ary. bat 1t could proceed to beat the fusion
scheme Of shutting out Republican candi-
dates by submitting judges. clerk. and
challengefs of its own choosing. That list
was approved yesterday.
BOTH COMMITTEES BUSY.
At that. the Kerens-Ziegenhein-M -Meriweth-
er-Butler manipulators have not given up
nope OF retaining control Of the organiza-
tion After the board had announced its
decision yesterday. the office of John 3.
Owen was filled with members of the old
elty Sommlttee. who were preparing for
We didn't think the Board OF Election
Commissioners would have the nerve to ac-
lows" said Mr.. owen Now thet it has
We are going ahead and make the best of
i; We think that We can beat them even
tnough they have the primary officials We
have not laid down by a long shot
At the headquarters Of the reorgsnized
there was much rejoicing and more work
The committee met in the afternoon and
methods were discussed. While the mem
bers would not acknowledge that there had
been any selection OF candidates. IL is said
that the danger from a split vote in the on
position to Meriwether candidates has been
That something Ike this was necessary
may be judged from the fact that the fu-
ballots for the different wards. In ali Of
which such Republicans as Richard n
Johnson: William II. Hahn. Fred H smith,
John H Pohlmsn and others were
There were. perhaps. hundred Repuo-
lican politicians al the Office of the Board
OF Election Commissioners when IL con-
vened at 10 o'clock yesterday morning The
decision of the board was not announced
scurrying after William III. BiaEe ISe ISe
chairman OF the new committee When he
was found he was called upon to verify
submitted by his committee.
No particular surprise was manifested
over the action OF the board. Since the Is
Robinson the majority members Of the
board. Messrs. McCanery and Wood. have
pursued they would be subject TO Criticism.
Undoubtedly IL would have been easier
for them to have submitted gracefully to
the writ of Judge Robinson even though
they felt that II was contrary to law. They
could have done this and escaped responsi-
bility for the selection Of judges. clerks and
challengerS.
REASONS FOR DECISION.
That they did not do So" said a lawyer
and politician yesterday afternoon, shows
that they had the courage of their convic-
hay ara md hOp
tain functions. The statute has invested
them with the judicial power OF passing on
and Committees. II expediency had bee1
considered. the writ of prohibition granted
by Judge Robinson would have been fol-
shifted any blame for taking mistaken ac-
ton upon his shoulders
Instead. they. have by their actions
shown that provisional writs OF prohibition
which. IL generally granted. take these in
vested powers from the election boards are
Supreme Court alone fer their decision
They are not responsible until they have
taken action
Judge Robinson. by granting the writ of
prohibition. acknowledged the judicial char
acter of the board. for a writ cannot be
issued except against q judiciary In the
that no writ could be issued prior TO an in
dication of action by the authorized court
sas City. Robinson he'd that once legally
nominated. the candidates have the legal
llgnt to their place upon the ticket of their
party by the express terms OF the statute.
and all questions TO such right must b..
determined In the first instance by the
tribunal fixed by law to wit the County
Clerk and this decision shall be final un-
less an order shall be made in the matter OF
the Supreme Court. or a Circuit Court. or a
Judge of such court in vacation before the
date for the certiIication OF the names of
nominees: and the same rule that governs
the decision OF the clerks must also control
that OF the court.
I'm the Higgins case the Supreme Court
decided that the Board of Election Com
missioners - final authority In determining
the legality OF committees. In the O'Malley
case. to which much reference has been
made, 1t was held that the State Committee
has a right to reorganize a subordinate
committee.
with all Of these precedents before II.
the board took that action which IL deemed
proper and right IL is believed that the
party regularity n reorganizing the COM
mittee- The State Committee is the highest |
authority In the party A recosnition Of
its discrimination TO keep political faith in 4
element here In ST. Louis viii undoubtedly |
squeal and .hoiler," but the cold fact re-
mains that the board showed Courage In
resolving to stand by its convictions"
ALOE PROTESTED.
Judges McCanrey and Wood refused yes
terday afternoon TO give out an interview |
touching their position. saying that the de- |
cision spoke for itself Asked Conserving |
the probable action OF Judge Robinson. they !
suggested that he would be the proper one |
to see
Louis p. Aloe. the Republican member Of |
with the majority. He In Q friend OF the /
fusionists, and has been opposed to the re- /
Organized committee from the Beginning
He refused 70 take any part In the pro-