 They included T. Marchant Williams, Lewis Morris and the Rev Aaron Davies.Ultimately the two leading candidates proved to be Alfred Thomas, a prominent figure in the public life of Cardiff, where he had served as Mayor in 1881/2, and William Bowen Rowlands, a Pembrokeshire-born lawyer.After a contest lasting several months, Rowlands withdrew, ostensibly to prevent a split in the Liberal vote following the appearance of a Conservative candidate.