Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-14
THE sT. IoHNspuRY CAUCUS.

deserve more than passing notice. Az the
appointed time and place, on Saturday, the
meeting was called to order BY Emerson
Hall, ESQ, chairman Of the town committee,
who read the call. Without waiting for an
opportunity, Elisha May, ESQ., Poland
man, jumped up and nominated Hon. Calvin
Morrill,, strong Poland man, for moderator
and he was elected. Q. NJ. Stone, editor Of
the CaledOnidn, "a Poland organ) was chosen
secretary.
SO far the proceedings we're all regular.
But the best thing was just ahead. C.S. Dana,
collector Of internal revenue, an Office for
which he can we'll afford to reward Judge
Poland Openly, made himself and his party
appear about as ridiculous as man well
could. He rose and said that he was Uery
sorry for the feeling Of anlmosity that was
engendered two years ago, and that he held
in his hand a ticket IA straight Poland tick
ETY. upon which he hoped the republican voters
of st. Johnsbury might be again united, aud
he moved that it be elected by UiUG UOce
vote, saying that IL the caucus would unsni.
mously elect that ticket il would be great
[uO doubt J personal qualification to him aud
to many others. This proposition was re-
spOnded to by shout of derisive laughter.
There is one man whom the Poland party
would do we'll to hire to hold his tongue, and
his name is Charles s. Da1A.
DR.. Billiard answered by saying that this
was country in which elections are made
by ballot, and every man is allowed to vote
for whom he chooses. He thought it was well
known to every man in the hall that there
was strong feeling Of opposition to Judge
Poland's denomination, and he demanded a
ballot. The ballot was ordered, and the
balloting commenced.
The Poland party for some reason seemed
to have believed. until then, that there
would be but little opposition. They soon
became alarmed at the large number Of OPP
position ballots that came pouring in, and
several teams were started out TO hustle in
all the Poland voters. At five o'clock the
balloting had apparently ceased, and mo-
ton was made to turn the box and count
the votes, but the managers knew their bus
mess aud kept the box open until the re
cruits who had been sent for, had arrived
and deposited their votes. Again motion
to close the ballOt!wAs made, and this tint
it was put and carried. The president
in announcing the result Of the vote on thu
motion said "and declare the ballot closed.
After this, Judge Poland, who had beer
} present the whole time, aud could have votes
if he chose, came forward and deposited hi
vote which was accepted against the protest
} of the audience that the, ballot had been dc
, clarsd closed. Frank N. Brown just then al
rived from the store, and offered his ballo
for the opposition ticket, and it was refuse
on the ground that the ballet was CLOSED
: That is what we get under the caucus syl
tenn, aud are told it is fair play.
t The ballot stood: For the Poland ticke
} 1877 opposition, 1873.
D The ticket elected was Horace Fairbanks
Asa l.. French, Emerson Hall, II. @. Be
9 den, John w. Lewis, Jacob Hovey, an
9 George Ranney.
e There Is little doubt, and the fact hI
been admitted TO US by more than one p,
f land man since the caucus, that full vol
Q of the town would have carried the ant
i Poland ticket by handsome majorit,
s The strength of the opposition is outside c
!. the village, and while the opposition tW
e years ago, when almost every republican
d the town voted, received only fraction ov
C 81 per cent. of the votes cast, this tim
y with the vote chiefly confined to the Villag
l. where the most Of Poland's strength lie
1t aud in the face Of the fact that all the z
It land voters who could be found we're broug
y in after the caucus opened, the opposite
ID received over 40 per cent. of the votes.
10 direct appeal to the voters would beat p
ID land in his own town, and that may yet
t. had.
Mt OF course fraud will be charged on DO
s sides, but we havs only been able to lea
lie Of one case in which the Mead party a
a. charged with it. A Poland man says
re saw Mead man vote twice, but will Il
&c give the offenders name for publication, a
D. says he could not swear to it.
rs On tho other hand are the fact Of the I
IS, land ballot accepted from the judge biI
at self and an anti. Poland ballot refused al
it the ballot was declared closed, aud the Fl
at that democrats voted the Poland ticket, VII
n. John Bishop presented an opposition ball
ad and was refused because be was demOcr
We do not claim that Bishop should Ia
to been allowed to vote, but we do claim ii
a it was fraud to take votes on the other 81
ed from well.knoWn democrats. We do
'se claim that Browns vote should have be
es- received, but we do claim that it was
i'll fraud to allow Poland to vote for himSC
Ter and refuse Brown the right vote for Me
err, under the same circumstances.
,Os ---s-s-@--
HpITTERSD ANN TEMpERANr