Republicans Declare For Bonding The City

They Have Nominated Reuben Rempf for Mayor Monday Night

Turned Down the Labor Candidate for Clerk and Adopted Resolutions Favoring Bonding, Kempf Declaring Himself for Mayor

The republican party in convention assembled declared Monday evening in favor of bonding the city of Ann Arbor, in favor of placing a mortgage upon the home of every man and woman in the city, a mortgage entirely unnecessary, for every man can be promptly paid his just dues and the city not have a dollar of indebtedness after August 1 at any time during the coming year and without any increase in the taxes. To carry out this bonding policy the convention nominated a banker. Possibly to make more sure of its being carried out as the banks as a rule own the bonds of the city.

To indicate their love of labor the convention turned down the only genuine labor candidate before either convention this year.

E. F. Mills was elected chairman and Glen V. Mills secretary and the following committees appointed:

Permanent organization, order of business and credentials--W. J. Booth, J. E. Harkins, L. D. Wines.

Resolutions--J. F. Lawrence, H. S. Dean, J. E. Beal, George H. Pond, D. W. Springer.

A recess was taken and after reassembling Chairman Booth presented the report making the temporary officers permanent. On credentials he reported 99 delegates present, each delegate entitled to have one vote.

A. J. Sawyer, sr., tried to be facetious and protested against the report. He knew that the chairman was not full and he was not full. The only man in the convention who was full was--and he mentioned a certain prominent democrat, who was certainly much more sober than the speaker.

The report was adopted on motion of John R. Miner.

Mr. Lawrence reported the following resolutions:

First, that we demand an economical administration of the city financial affairs and that the payment of whatever the city owes should be paid in installments extending over a series of years so that taxation will not be a burden to the taxpayers in paying off the city debt.

Second: Resolved, that we endorse the passage of a primary election law by the present legislature as provided for by the republican state platform.

Glen V. Mills jumped to his feet and offered the following labor resolution as an amendment:

Resolved, that the republican party through its delegates do hereby pledge its nominee for mayor by this convention and its nominees for the common council at the forthcoming election, if elected, to make arrangements for the payment of all claims for labor contracted for by the city or its agents once a week without any deductions, discounts or interest.

The chairman of the resolution committee after hesitating finally accepted the amendment.

D. W. Springer moved that an informal ballot for mayor be taken without nominations. Mr. Sawyer asked that the wards be called by number. Mr. Judson suggested tat the number entitled to vote in each ward be called out. The informal ballot for mayor resulted in the following scattered vote:

Reuben Kempf.........62
Dr. C. G. Darling.........13
Dr. R. S. Copeland.........12
Evart H. Scott.........4
W. D. Harriman.........1
D. W. Springer.........1
Coon.........1
W. J. Booth.........1

On motion of Mr. Miner, Mr. Kempf was declared the nominee.

Mr.  Kempf accepted by promising to do the best he could. We have a depleted treasury. He was not pledged to anyone and intended to be mayor of the whole city. He planted himself squarely upon the charter and the laws. He would try and give a good honest, straight conservative administration. It is not to the credit of Ann Arbor that labor checks are passed around, the city should be in shape to pay this labor. If these obligations are met you will have to provide the wherewithal. We can't give anybody even a bone. If elected I shall recommend that the bill permitting the people to bond for say $20,000 be submitted at the earliest possible moment. This overdraft had been growing until it reached the point that the banks would not longer pay the order. He thought the city was able to pay its debts and pay them as contracted and that there was no authority in the charter for an overdraft. "If you have confidence enough in me," he concluded, "to elect me mayor, I expect you to have confidence in my judgment."

H. G. Prettyman nominated Mr. Charles Esslinger for president of the council and on motion of Frank Jones the nomination was by acclamation.

W. K. Childs in nominating James B. Saunders for clerk said the democrats had put in nomination for this office a soldier and he thought it was highly proper that the republicans do so. But the republicans did not see it that way for after E. F. Mills had put George L. Moore in nomination in a neat speech praising his qualifications, the ballot resulted:

George L. Moore...........51
James B. Saunders......48

Mr. Childs moved that Mr. Moore's nomination be made unanimous and Mr. Moore returned his thanks.

Ald. Hamilton presented the name of E. L. Seyler for assessor and Mr. J. F. Lawrence strongly endorsed him. The nomination was made by acclamation.

G. Frank Allmendinger presented the name of Andrew J. Sawyer, sr., for justice of the peace. The convention broke into a roar of laughter. John R. Miner seconded the nomination. Mr. Sawyer said he was not surprised that the convention wanted to put some respectable person on this ticket. If elected his first duty would be to send a number of people in the convention where they belonged, but he didn't care to depopulate the city. He referred in bitter terms to the Argus and slurred one of the editors. Mr. Sawyer concluded by naming Eugene K. Frueauff for justice.

While Mr. Sawyer was making his speech a loaded cigar in the mouth of one of the delegates blew up, creating a diversion.

Mr. Frueauff's nomination was seconded by Ald. Fischer and the nomination was made by a unanimous vote.

The chairman of the ward committees were made the city committee.

Mr. Sawyer took the floor again to state that the ticket named was one that all could support and wanted Harkins to sing "Reuben is Coming." Harkins didn't know that Reuben was. Neither did he know "When Reuben Comes to Town," but he did start to sing "Trouble" and finished with "I Got Mine."

Mr. Sawyer got the floor again in his enthusiasm for the ticket and hoped that the time had arrived when every republican could march to the polls in a solid phalanx. "Silent Bill" Judson unbuttoned his silence long enough to support this idea. He too wanted solidity because it made him a state boss, and all the antis had gained last fall would be swept away.

The convention then adjourned with Sawyer and Judson leading the phalanx.

Mrs. Mattie R. Newman, proprietor of the Newman house, took an overdose of laudanum Tuesday night and Dr. Pearson was called in Wednesday morning to bring her to consciousness, which took considerable time. Mrs. Newman has been having some financial difficulties of late and had gotten into the habit of taking laudanum to induce sleep. She took too much Tuesday night. She is recovering all right.