The Detroit times., 1914-01-14
DINCEMAN IS
VICTOR in FIGHT
TOHEADCOUNCIL
Aided by Democrats. He De
feats Aid. Allan BY Vote
of 20 to 10
WILL WIPE OUT PARTY
LINES ON COMMITTEES
O'Brien Gets Important Chair
manship, and Other Plums
Will Go To Democrats


or the Seventeenth ward as presl-
dent of the common council for 1914,
( in the initial meeting, Tuesday eve
ming. means that party lines will be
practically obliterated as far as the
aldermanic body 70 concerned. and. for
/ the srst time In the history OF the
| Detroit common council, the personnel
OF the new committees Will be aDso-
| lutely PARTISAN. For years the
| Democratic members or the council
have been hopelessly in the minority.
and, as a result. they have received III
tie consideration AT the hands OF the
Republican leadeT/
Tuesday night the SIX democratic
aldermen voted solidly for Aid. Dinge-
man, and the reason for their undivid-
ed support was. as one OF their num-
| Der explained after the meeting, they
had been assured that the Seventeenth
warder, IL elected, would establish
precedent By disregarding party lines
/ I'm making up his committees. The sue
cess of the proposed new cnarter. 10
( be voted on Feb. 10, IS practically
certain. 1t carries among its provisions
/ the nOn-partisian ballot. In declaring
himself for a non-partisian council
Aid. Dingeman has simply anticipated
one Of the charter reforms. Several
OF the older politicians warned Dinge-
man that it will mean his political death
To distribute committee plums among
the Democratic aldermen. Dingeman
showed his independence by appoint
ing Aid. O'Brien. for years the lead
ing Democrat in the council. as chair
man OF the committee on claims ana
accounts The old-line Republicans
gasped at such an unprecedented
move; and the Democrats in the coun-
ell are wearing a broad smile.
The contest between AID. Dingeman
and Aid. Albert T. Allan, OF the Fourth
ward although one of the most bit
terly fought in the history of the coun-
Gil, went OFF quietly and true to form
in every particular Fourteen Republ-
cans and six Democrats combined TO
elect Dingeman, while the 10 'Republi-
can aldermen, who attended the ma
jority caucus. voted for Allan
The candidates were not even
placed in nomination Thfrty-six alder
men answered roll call. Aid. Tom Gin
nan. under indictment on graft
charges, making his first appearance
in the council in months TO east his
vote for Dingeman.
The vote for president was as fol-
lows:
For Dingeman Barnett, Burton,
Case, De Galan. Dingeman, F'riewald,
Gilman, Guthard, Jakel. Heating,
Littlefield, Lodge, Move. O'Brien.
Owen, Rutter, Schemansky, Skrzycki,
Vernon, Wartell.-2O
For Allan--Allan, Behlow, Bliel.
Dill Field. Goldner. Hess. Hindle,
Knapp Lempke. Reid Reinhardt,
Schultz, Thompson, Wenzell, Wilson.
lie.
Aid. Vernon was elected president
protein, but not without a dsagreeabe
incident occurring that showed how
bitter was the feeling among the sup
porters or the rival candidates. Aid.
Vernon voted for Dingeman. Aid Louis
Lempke, OF the Thirteenth ward, was
placed IN nomination against Aid. Yer
nor. The vote was IS for Vernon, IL
for I.empke and one for Littleheld,
Vernon casting his vote for the latter.
There was some question as TO wheth-
er plurality was sufficient to elect,
and Aid. Burton, TO check the dis
tuhSlOD, UlONtu ludt the vote DC
unanimous for Aid. Vernon
II object" shouted Aid. Field. The
clerk thereupon proceeded with the
rollcall and Aid. Field voiced the only
dissenting vote. At the end of the roll
call the alderman attempted TO extri-
cate himself from an embarrassing
situation by changing hrs vote His
actions furnished the only laugh or
the evening.
President Dingeman named two OF
his committees, which are as follows:
Ways and means: Vernon. chair
man; Lodge, burton, Friewald, Guth-
ard. Jakel and Schemanslsy.
Claims and accounts: O'Brien. chair
man; Wardell. Case, Rutter, owen,
Guthard and Move.
Dingeman will announce his full
list of committees in the next coun-
ell meeting.
Retiring President Burton was pre-
scented with q silver-mounted gayel
Aid Vernon, his colleague, made the
presentation speech.
Aid. Burton will trade jobs with
Aid Dingeman and will act as chair
man OF the liquor committee for 1914
Aid. Burton's appointment has not
been officially announced, but the
chairmanship has been rendered him
and he has animated that he will &C.
cept. In the event of AID Burton
being unable to serve. Aid Heating,
the second man on the old liquor com.
mittee. will be advanced TO the chair
manship. The selection OF Aid Bur
ton or Heating means that the 1913
policy OF the liquor committee which
resulted In "a saloons being eliminat
ed last year. will be continued II is
not probable that the new committee
will be able 10 reduce the number of
saloons by more than a dozen WHIT.
ever action the committee takes. il *
sure TO draw fire from both the lib
erals and the drys, so the 1914 chair,
| manship Is not q particularly desir
able position.
Aid. Vernon retains the chairman
ship OF the committee on ways and
! means. but Aid. John Thompson. Al.
Ian supporter. is dropped from the
committee. Aid. O'Brien replaces Aid.
Allan as chairman OF the committee
on claims and accounts Aid Field
/ Biiel and Wilson, all Allan support.
ers. are ousted. and their places filled
by aldermen who voted for Dnge.
man.
In making up the balance OF his
icommittee list, President Dingeman
/. will Insist that Aid. odge CONTINUE as
icbairman OF the committee on public
utilities, which has several important