Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-08
An Unprecedented Proceeding

An Unprecedented Proceeding.
Republican, Of this city will note With
surprise that for some unexplained rea
son four OF the seven ward caucuses
have been called on Wednesdays day
when the churches have their regular
prayer meeting. and which has hither-
to been respected by the political par
ties. They will also observe with sur
prise that the etlstom OF holding
all the Caucuses on the same
day has been ,lisregardel
Just why four wards should be selected
for the holding OF caucases 80 early in
the week as to trench upon the time
which by common consent has hitherto
been freely accorded by secular organic
atoms TO the religious praise meetings
Is not announced. Would it not have
been wiser TO have selected some later
day In the week when church goers
would have been at liberty to attend the
caucuses without neglecting divine wor'
ship, or is 1t held that this class of peo-
pie are not wanted at the eau uses
Certainly the unprecedented time
Of holding these caucuses furnishes
ample ground for this inference. We
have looked back on our files for a mum
Der OF years. and find that, with single
exception when ward held its caucus
saturday night the KepublicaR ward
caucu4s in tbs city have ali been held
on Friday. The wisdom of this
course Is apparent. and is doubtless the
reason that has prompted the party 10
adoptit in years past. When all the
caucuses are held the same evening
there Is less nance for frictiCn-less
opportunity to claim that men from
one ward have participated in the Affairs
OF another, a thing that the citizens Of
no ward should tolerate for mo.
ment. More than week ago
the report was brought to the
JoUHNhl office that the Republican eau
cuses 10 certain wards Of this city were
to be held on Wednesday night but we
dismissed IL AZ absurd We did not believe
that the committees in charge Of them
would incur the lust criticism that would
result from such an Ignoring Of the re-
spectful consideration due the religious
organizations OF the city. We had heard
that a prominent member OF the party
had openly declared that this was to be
done because "the ministers and church
people would be at the prayer meetings
and could not participate in the eau
cuses." also that the liquor in
terests had been lined up "
for a certain candidate by threats Of per
secution. It seemed Incredible; but
whether true or false il gets a seeming
confirmation from the astonishing depar-
ture from party custom that has lust
been announced.
Republican caucuses must be above sus
picion. All proper measures must be TAX
en- to insure them go, for we must have
the full party strength when We line up
against the common enemy. The Jol r.
NAL knows the general criticism that
the unusual time of calling these
csucuses has provoked. and it cannot
too strongly urge upon the committees
the advisabllity of changing TIER calls
and having all the ward csucuses come as
heretofore at about the same hour on
Friday night. We know that such action
would meet with the hearty approval of
the Republican voters OF this city. 1t
would obviste all possible chance for
misunderstanding or discord; it would
silence criticism; is would promote har
mony and thereby insure the best posi-
BILE party front upon election day. II
there is any reason why this course Of
action, which has proved so satisfactory
in years past, should not be followed
now, we confess that we are unable to
see it.