The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-08-22
Republicans Can't Get Together in
Properly Organized
Factions.
HARMONY SEEMS IMPROBABLE.
Weinbrenner Announces That He
Is With the Majority - Legal
Difficulties Have Tangled
the Situation.


mittee of the State Committee to-day when
it tries its hand at bringing order out of
chaos in the st. Louis situation. The meet
ing is called for this sole purpose.
Chairman Atkins has announced that he
wants harmony. Yet to quote a political
jingle:
This 'harmony's'' curious word.
Its purpose Is polite:
Yet. every time you mention It.
You start another fight.
And that Is what VIII probably occur to-
day. Last night prominent Republicans fig
ured that, though The split IN the party
could not be healed by any manner OF
means, the Executive Committee will to-
day have to decide definitely between Zieg-
enneinlsm and Ker.nsism and the reform
element.
There were some surprises Yesterday
which did not add any great degre of con-
fdence to the friends of the St Louis Re-
publican Club. Last night a meeting was
enue to confer about the situation. The ten
members OF the City Committee who voted
against the direct nominating primary had
CLARKE IS OUT FOR HARMONY.
Pat Clarke of the Twenty-third Ward
sent a letter to the meeting in which he
the majority in the committee; that though
ne was opposed to the direct primary
scheme, he did not propose to join in an
nomination for Clerk of the Court of Crimi-
nal Correction. 1t is not known whether he
has been put on the City Committee in place
morS to that effect.
Otto Stifel presided at last nights meet
ing. Reports were heard from the different
wards W. H. Blake, who announced him
self as In favor of straight ticket said
that he knew of over 200 Republicans in his
ward the. Twenty-fourth, who would abso-
lutely refuse to vote il the direct primary
fusion deal were carried through.
{. o. A. Brunk of the Twentieth Ward
said that Lee Meriwether polled sixty-one
votes in his ward last year. He said that
he knew all of them personally and that
forty-five Of the siNty-one told him that
they simply voted the Meriwether ticket as
protest against Ziegenheinism and the old
City Hall push" Brunk insisted that If
straight ticket were nominated this year
every one Of the forty-five would vote for
Weinbrenner Springs n Surprise.
When the Twenty-fifth Ward was reached.
George P. Weinbrenner, who has just re-
the surprise of the evening by announcing
meeting had voted against the direct pri-
Il want to be perfectly frank with you
fellows he said. II have been in the
minority for the last fourteen years. but
henceforth l shall be with the majority. /
time"
Brunk and schlingmann of the Fifteenth
ward wanted to know what fnducement had
brought this reversal in form. Mr. Vein
brenner insisted that there there was moth
Ing doing: Messrs; Stifel and Nagel argued
the question with him, but to no avail
Weinbrenner, who is at present Jury Com
missioner. was an applicant for the United
States marshalship. and was pushed indus
publican Club. He failed to land, and it
Is said. that he now wishes to retain, IL
possible. his present position. Certain
last night said that IL the direct-primary
slate went through, Mr.. Weinbresner would
probably run for reappointment by the Cir
Anyway. it is considered compliment to
the political sagacity of the old Ziegenhein
gang in uniting Weinbrenner and John H.
faction OF the City Committee. weinbren-
ner. 1t will be remembered, placed Becker
in a bad light in connection with the Kratz
Minority Takes No Action.
NO definite action was taken last night by
t he minority members. Several considera-
slow. While they can nominate a straight
Republican ticket In St. Louis they fear
that they will not be allowed to put the
on the ticket.
This. of course, would be a great disad-
vantage. On the other hand. they claim to
Fave trump card IN the discovery that
the City Committee has no right to fix a
time for nominating State Senators and
tives.
In every district. excepting those Of st.
Louis, separate committees have charge OF
the senatorial districts. In Jasper County,
Where there are three legislative districts,
there are spearate committees. Equally so,
argue the reformers, there should be sep
ara e committees in ST. Louis.
II this Is good law. the State Committee
has a right to challenge the right of the
City Committee to issue call for a direct
nominating primary.
This will probably be done unless present
plans change. The condition at best is
chaotic. If any way can be devised to get
around the law and nominate a complete
Republican ticket. 1t will be done. 9th
erwise the meeting of the Executive Com
mittee to-day will be in vain.
Merchant League Clubs Action.
Members of the Merchants League Club
discussed the action taken the
night before when the City Committee and
fusion were indorsed. Michael Lang one of
the doorkeepers, threw up his job in dis
gust when his co-worker, Tub Becker, al
club room. John H. Becker, Tub Becker,
ed Baumann, Chris Schawacker, Patrick
Reagan. Norman Florsheim and Hiram
Lloyd all had their Indians there and put
the motion over the plate easily
Many members have announced their with
actual membership at the present time Is
less than 150 or about 5 per cent of what it
was when the Ziegenhefn machine was in
full power.
Congress May Meet Here.
the conclusion from correspondence in
possession of Director of Exhibits Skiff
hat the next meeting of the International
Navigation Congress probably will be set
Tor ST. Louis in 1904.
NAVAL MEN HAVE GRIEVANCE. |