Arizona republican., 1905-04-20
Melting of the Citizens
 and Democratic Parties
ELEVENTH HOUR FUSION
Powers for Mayor - Mccormick, En-
 sign and Cooper of the Citizens
 Ticket TranSplanted = Democratic City Convention Considered a Joke.


 night
 The attempt at fusion did not really end when the caucus committee of the citizens party adjourned at II o'clock on Tuesday night. The democratic committee remained in session until one in the morning mourning over the hardness of heart of their erring brethern who coveted the whole hog. As one of the democrats expressed 1t yesterday morning: What kind of a fusion proposition do you think them damned citizens made to us last night? Why. they says, You democrats go ahead and nominate Powers. leave the rest of the ticket blank and don't both CT about it; we'll fill it. They never said turkey to us once"
 But early in the morning the fusion movement was resumed and continued throughout the day with little hope of success. Both the democrats and the citizens were blufing but neither knew of the deceit of the other
 The democratic convention had been called for o'clock. At that hour the committees of the two parties were still trying to get together. Nine o'clock came and no sign of an agree ment. The thing was not yet hot enough to fuse but fifteen minutes later there was plenty of heat It was so hot that Langston. Baker, Spauld- Ing were melted off the citizens ticket. The fervent heat also withered the as- pirations of James Shott who had been slated for the democratic nomination for council from the First ward. It was then announced that the conven- ton was ready to come to order.
 Quiet was restored by w. B. Cleary q temporary organization was formed by the election of Mir. CIeary as chairman and $. P. Hoefer was made temporary secretary. The audience or a considerable part of it was not aware of what had been done but it was judged from the smiles on the faces of the democratic leaders that they had been engaged, in the perpetra- tion of some sort of a joke.
 The following committee on creden- tials was appointed: J. Ernest Walker, R. Allen, J. D. Marian. Seth Byers and A. H. Davidson. The report of the committee was adopted and the tenn porary organization grew into perman- ency.
 The following committee on platform was then named: T. T. Powers, A. s. Arthur. John R. Norton, J. NJ. Shott and Joe Bush. The report of the com nittee was adopted and the following declaration of principles was received by the audience as a continuation of the joke;
 THE PLATFORM.
 We the democratic party of the city of Phoenix, Ariz-, in convention as- sembled. do hereby adopt the following platform:
 JTirst vva ora in favor of +Io oor, pIete and absolute suppression and pro- hibition of gambling either in public or private within the limits of the city of Phoenix and pledge our candidates for mayor and councilmen to the pas sage of an ordinance absolutely and completely suppressing and prohibiting gambling either in public or private within the limits of the city of Phoe- nix at the first meeting of said coun- cilmen after their induction and in stallment into office.
 Second: We are in favor of the en- forcement of all existing ordinances and especially those for the protection of the morals of the youths of our city and the enforcement of the ordinance prohibiting women frequenting saloons and wine rooms within the city limits.
 Third: We deplore the extravagant and wasteful administration of the af- fairs of this city in ali of it's depart ments under the present republican party and promise an honest, eeono- mic and businesslike administration under the democratic administration.
 Fourth: We believe in municipal ownership of public utilities and pledge our candidates in favor of the city owning it's own water system and to the h1f nn emit nf ,fs against the Phoenix Water company will be prosecuted with diligence and dispatch.
 Fifth: We take a just pride in the fire department of our city and the ef- ffcient service rendered by it in the protection of the property of our tax payers and pledge our candidates to do all in their power to increase the efficiency of this department by sup plying it with the latest and most ap- proved apparatus and appliances known for the fighting of fire and the protection of property, and we further believe that the fire department should be devoid of politics of any kind and the officers of said department should be selected by the fire department itself.
 Sixth: We are in favor of grading and improving the streets of our city at the earliest possible moment con sistent with good business Judgment.
 Seventh: We are in sympathy with the democrats throughout the United States in their fight for municipal ownership of public utilities and are opposed to the granting or giving of franchises without just compensation to the people and believe that all such grants of franchise should be surround ed with full and proper safeguards | for the interest of the municipality.
 Eighth: We pledge our candidates | for recorder and marshal together with | our candidates for mayor and council |