A Good Clean Ticket Named By Democrats

Arthur Brown Will Make a First Class Mayor of the City

Granger Wins Out as Clerk - Close Contests an Interesting Convention Ending in Good Feeling

The democrats named a very strong city ticket Friday night, a good clean ticket, which will, if elected, give the city a good, clean, business-like administration and without bonding or raising taxation free the city from its floating indebtedness while seeing that labor is promptly paid. The ticket named is as follows: Mayor - Arthur Brown. President of the Council - John C. Walz, Jr. City Clerk - Ross Granger. Justice of the Peace - William G. Doty. Assessor - Benjamin F. Watts. The convention was the largest city convention ever held in the city and was animated and interesting from start to finish, indication a feeling that this year it was believed that the democrats were to be given a opportunity to put the city on a sound financial basis without increasing taxation or mortgaging homes. E. B. Norris as chairman of the city committee called M. J. Cavanaugh to the chair. Mr. Cavanaugh said the democrats were rich in candidates who would honorably fill the offices and expressed the belief that the convention would follow the rule of previous conventions in placing before the voters men worthy of the suffrage of not only every democrat but of all the people. On motion of William Murray, Wil-William Seerey was made secretary. On motion of E. B. Morris, the chair appointed the following committees: Credentials - Col. Frazier, J. W. Dwyer, H. W. Douglas. Permanent organization and order of business - John L. Duffy, Eugene Oesterlin, James R. Bach. An intermission of ten minutes was taken to allow the committees to report, but a little more time was needed by the credentials committee. 

A Speech Which Took.

Warren H. Smith, the democratic candidate for school commissioner, was called before the convention and in a neat little speech created one of the best impressions that a candidate ever made. He spoke of the importance of the rural schools and how their welfare was indirectly of great interest to the city. Referring to his five years' residence here attending the University, he said he had not become so well known because he had not engaged in hair cutting and so had not got his name in the papers. Mr. Smith is a direct, straightforward, pleasing speaker, and indicated his familiarity with schools and the best educational methods. John L. Duffy presented the report of the committee on permanent organization and the order of business, making the temporary officers permanent, fixing the order of business and providing that the city committee be empowered to fill any vacancy that might occur, especially as they understood there was no candidate for assessor. The nominating speeches were limited to three minutes and the seconding speeches to one.

Contest on Credentials

Col. Frazier presented the majority report of the committee in favor of seating half of each delegation from the seventh ward, the minority report of Prof. J. W. Dwyer being in favor of seating the Meyers and Betke delegation. J. C. Lewis moved the adoption of the report down to the part referring to the seventh ward delegates, which carried. M. J. Martin spoke in favor of seating the Betke delegation, Charles A. Ward spoke against it. He said it was not a question between workingmen and silk-stockings as had been charged, but a question of honest politics. He objected to the introduction of Judson methods in democratic caucuses. Mr. Meyers denied this. Mr. J. W. Dwyer spoke for the minority report, claiming that the Betke delegation was the legal delegation. There was a little sparring and Mr. Dwyer moved the substitution of the minority report. The chair put the question and a division was called fro pending which Mr. T. D. Kearney poured oil on the troubled waters and moved that both delegations be admitted, each delegate when it came to balloting being given half a vote. This carried without dissent. On motion of Henry Meuth the chair appointed as tellers William Walz, J. W. Markey and John Fisher.

Brown For Mayor

The roll of wards being called for nominations for mayor, F. G. Schleicher presented the name of Gottlob Luick, James R. Bach the name of Arthur Brown, William Murray the name of Louis J. Lisemer, William Tuomey the name of Eugene Mann. Mr. Mann asked permission to withdraw his name and asked the delegates to vote for some other candidate. The contest for mayor was close and it took three ballots to decide. The first ballot resulted: 

L.J. Lisemer... 47

Arthur Brown... 37½

W. D. Harriman... 27½

Gottlob Luick... 13½

Eugene Mann... 8

Scattering... 2

Total... 135½

The second ballot resulted:

Arthur Brown... 53

L. J. Lisemer... 52

W. D. Harriman... 23½

Gottlob Luick... 11

Total... 139½

Mr. Luick's name was withdrawn and the third and final ballot resulted:

Arthur Brown... 70

L. J. Lisemer... 53

W. D. Harriman... 13½

Total... 136½

An Economical Administration.

On motion of Col. Frazier, the nomination of Mr. Brown was made unanimous with a will and Mr. Brown was called upon for a speech. His speech was short, but it was evident that he meant every word he said. Mr. Brown said: Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention - I wish to thank you all, but I hope the election won't be quite so close as the nomination. The hour is already late and I will not detain you. But if I am elected I will do all in my power to give you a good, clean, economical administration. I will make it my most earnest purpose to save the taxpayers and to see that the taxes are kept at lowest point possible by an economical administration. I promise that if elected I will not appoint anybody to office who will represent a railroad with which the city is dealing. I have heard it charged that I was for a railroad, but, gentlemen, that railroad has been built. I am not connected with any railroad or with any other corporation. My only effort if elected, will be to give the city a good, clean, business administration." Mr. Brown's speech was received with cheers.

Granger For Clerk

The roll being called for nominations for clerk S W. Beakes presented Ross Granger, M. J. Cavanaugh presented James Boyle and M. J. Martin presented John Baumgardner. It took two ballots to decide this nomination, the first resulting:

Granger... 65½

Boyle... 55½

Baumgardner... 14½

Scattering... 1

Total... 136½

Mr. Granger was nominated on the second ballot, Mr. Baumgardner's name being withdrawn, by the following vote:

Granger... 70

Boyle... 64½

Scattering... 1

Total... 135½

The Other Nominations

For president of the council, S. W. Millard presented the name of John Koch. No other names were presented and a motion was made to instruct the secretary to cast the ballot of the convention for Mr. Koch, but Mr. Koch said that while he appreciated the honor, he didn't think it fair to nominate a man who had served the city for eight years, and declined the nomination. T. D. Kearney presented the name of John Walz, jr. The nomination was made by acclamation. For justice, S. W. Beakes presented the name of William G. Doty, and Mr. Doty was nominated by a unanimous vote. M. J. Martin named Benjamin F. Watts for assessor and he was nominated by acclamation. On motion the chairman of the ward committees were made the city committee and the convention adjourned.

Who Candidates Are.

Arthur Brown, the candidate for mayor, is a lawyer, who has been county clerk and alderman. He is a good clean business man, who has been successful in his own business and has a reputation among renters of houses as the best landlord in the city. He is straightforward and outspoken. Mr. Brown has developed rapidly. He is a close student with a quick mind and with the legal knowledge necessary to aid in untangling the city from the legal muddles into which the last administration has plunged it. Mr. Brown has the disposition and the ability to make a record as mayor and will make one of the best, if not the best mayor the city has had. Ross Granger, the candidate for clerk, is proprietor of Granger's academy. He is major in the state militia and was a captain in the Spanish-American war. He was born in Ann Arbor, has always lived here, and has a clean, honorable record. He is methodical in his ways and will make the kind of a city clerk that the city needs. John Walz, jr. the nominee for president of the council, the second ward's representation on the ticket, is the cashier of the State Savings Bank, the youngest cashier in the city. He has business ability, has always taken an interest in city matters, though never seeking office, will make a good presiding officer and his judgement will be of value to the council. He would also throw his influence in favor of that judicious economy in city matters which while not stopping improvements or robbing labor of its just dues, will protect the pockets of the taxpayers. William G. Doty is the best man for justice in the city. He attends strictly to his duties, is always found in his office, has that judicial temperament which the office needs, dispenses exact justice, is highly educated, has a good grasp of legal principles, is exact in his drawing of legal papers, is just the man for the poor man's court. He has well earned a second term as justice. Benjamin F. Watts, the nominee for assessor, has lived in the city more years than any man who will be named on either ticket. He has been city treasurer and coroner. For years he ran a jewelry store. Everybody knows him and likes him. He has a good knowledge of values and is in every way a competent man for the office. It is a most excellent ticket from top to bottom.