Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1900 — The City Convention. [ARTICLE]

The City Convention.

The Bi gest Attendance: The Best Order: The Finest T cket Ever Seen In The Town. The Tu-ket. For City Mayor. Brazilla F. Ferguson For City Clerk Schyler C. Irwin, ~ 1 For City Treasurer James H. Chapman. * For City Marshal-' John L Jones. The Republicans of Rensselaer held their city convention, Thursday night, in the opera house. It was not only the largest,* but- the I best mauaged most harmonious and altogetber^afisfactorycity convention ever held in the town. C. C. Warner, chairman of tue j city Republican committee and H ;J. Kannal secretary of the sam e ; were made chairman and secretary 'respectively, of ‘the convention. The lower floor and half of the balcony was set apart for Republican voters Spectators and no n voters occupied the other half of the balcony. The voters took their seats, and kept, them, and their votes were collected by tellers. To prevent any “stuffing,” the ballots were handed to the tellers, and by them dropped into the hat. Voters whose politics was unknown, were required to declare themselves Republicans, before their votes were received. There was no “stuffing” of ballots, no voting twice and no voting by non-Rcpublicans. The nomination of a candidate for mayor, was first in order. Two names only were presented, B. F, Ferguson and C. Q- Spitler both excellent and popular men. It was a very even race and the single ballott taken resulted in 169 votes for Ferguson to 149 for Spitler. Mr. Ferguson was declared the nominee.

For city clerk, the candidates were Schuyler C. Irwin, the present incumbent; Ray D. Thompson and Moses Leopold. A single ballot settled the matter. Irwin 168 Thompson 81 Leopold 81 Whole number 330 Necessary to choice 168 Mr. Irwin was declared the nominee. For second place the two popular state university graduates, Ray aud Muse were neck and neck. For City Treasurer, James. 11. Chapman was the only candidate, and he was nominated by acclamation.

The great contest was for city marshal, for which nomination ten good men were competing. Namely: Thomas McGowan the present incumbent, and John L. Jones, C. L. Thornton, J. T. Penn-, Harry Wiltshire, Burgess Dillon, Geo. L. Morgan, Chas. W. Platt, John, Hodslnre. and Ancil Woodsworth. Five ballots were necessary to nominate. The following are the first three. f ' Ist 2nd 3rd McGowan o 7 61.... 43 Jones j'. .fi4.-.. . .92.. .. 123 Penn 21 ..... 13.... 12 Wiltshire 13 5..0 Dillon' 41.....36.... 23 M0rgan'........ 13 7.... 1 Platt...., 3....*. 3.... 0 Thornton 62... . .76.... 96 Hodshire 8 1.... 0 Wood worth .... 47 48.... 31 Totals 332 309 326

At the end 6f the second ballot Platt and Hodsbire withdrew. At the end of the third McGowan, Penn, Dillon and Morgan announced their withdrawal; leaving the fight to Jones, Thornton and Woodworth. Fourth ballot Jones. 160 Thornton ..... 122 Woodworth 44 Whole number 326 Necessary to choice 164 Fifth ballot Jones 184 Thornton 120 Woodworth 2c. Whole number 327 Necessary to choice 164 Mr. Jones, having received a majority and 20 to spare was declared the nominee. The convention then adjourned, Peace, Harmony and fragrant smoke from Bro. Ferguson’s two big box of cigars, prevailing—especially the peace and harmony.