St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-03-29
A FUNNY CAUCUS.
How One Ring Outwitted Another.

When the republicans assembled at
the caucus Saturday afternoon at SIS
o'clock they found man stationed
just inside the door with printed tick
cts for delegates to the convention to
nominate delegates to the national re-
publican convention at Chicago. On
the ticket were these names:
w. P. Fairbanks, G.. B. Bullard,
Walter P. Smith, Lambert Packard, C..
NJ. Spencer, Harry Blodgett, j.: G.
Hovey, Asa P. Taft.
There were an unusual number pres
ent at the caucus, but just what the
ticket meant or where it originated
nobody seemed to know, though it
seemed to give general satisfaction.
The caucus organized with the choice
of M. Montgomery as chairman and
C. Il. Walter as secretary, and it was
at once voted that the delegates to the
Burlington convention April also
serve at the district convention in
Montpelier, April 5.
H.C. Bates referred i'm somewhat
sarcastic manner to the fact that
somebody had provided for the caucus
list of names, but he disapprOved
ratifying the evident work of some
clique and moved that delegates be
voted on singly. Moreover he had
never known a caucus to be called so
early in the day and wanted matters
explained.
E. L. Hovey thought the list re-
markably good one. He didn't deny
but that it was the work of a sort of a
ring, but there were rings and rings
and this was the work of a good ring.
AS to the time he had never seen so
many in attendance upon caucus be-
fore and thought the choice of the ear
ly hour great success.
Alex Dunnett said he moved here a
few months ago from Ryegate where
he had never known delegates to be
elected in any other way than one at a
time. He seemed to agree with Mr..
Bates in the general view taken of this
particular caucus.
III. X. Ide of the town committee ex-
planned the reasons for calling the
meeting atethe early hour, and was
very sure now that it was wise move,
as he had never seen so many present
at caucus.
Chas. Calderwood moved to adjourn
one week, but the motion didn't seem
to move the audience, while G. P.
Carpenter could see no reason why the
business of the hour should not be
pushed ahead.
DR.. Bullard said he answered to the
| name of G.. B. Bullard which he found
on the ticket. He couldn't serve but
! thought there was no reason why the
caucus shouldn't go ahead, that he had
never seen so many present and that
he shouldn't resign until after he was
elected, and then the adjournment mo-
ton was voted down.
Mr.. Bates, who seemed somehow
not to exactly like the way things
were going, then withdrew his motion
that the delegates be elected singly,re
marking that he wanted the caucus to
do just what they had mind to do
'I guess they will, Brother Bates" re-
sponded Chairman Montgomery,w where
at everybody laughed, and then, OF
motion of w. S. BOyntOn the names oil
the above ticket were elected delegates
by large vote.
But after all it is doubtful if rings o
any kind are wise in town matters, in
asmuch as it is a game that two cal
play at, and the bad rings generally
clean out the good ones sooner or later
But it was a decidedly funny caucus
for all that.
1t is understood that these delegate
are not pledged to the support of an.
delegate but that majority of then
are favorable to III. G.. Ide.
Accident With Fatal Result.
Mrs. Mary Hidden, the mother o
George Hidden and Mrs. Gen. Ide o
this place, fell in their back kitchen
last Friday, breaking the neck of on
thigh bone. The kitchen was withou
fire, and some water spilled upon til
floor made ice which caused the acci
dent. Two days after this accident
pneumonia set in and Mis-. Hidde
died on Tuesday evening. She was 6
years of age but quite strong and vigor
Gus for one of her years, and such a
accident with so speedy and fata
family and friends. Besides the so
and daughter living in this place
Charles Hidden of Derby and Mrs
Moses Porter of Danville are all tina
is left of the family, Mrs. Hidden
husband having died in Alabama som
40 years ago, where he was engage
in the stage business with the lat
Hiram Hill of this place. Funers
services are held today at the home {
George Hidden and Gen Ide, sout
end of Summer street.
, Educational Meeting.
The state committee on educatiO
will be at the st. Johnsbury house th
afternoon. The members of the boar
desire to meet a few Representative
men interested in education and in ed
ucational matters. 1t will be an in
formal gathering and any who are an