Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-12-21
The Contest Cascs.
NLynTLE, Kas., Dec. &c, 1893.

ED1roRs OF HERALD AS rep esenta
tives OF the peoples party we ask thu
publication Of few facts in regard
to the recent contest in Walnut town
ship. On September 16, 1893, a peo-
ple's party caucus WAS held at Nc
Grath school house to elect delegates
to the county convention at Phillips
burg, September %; also to nominate
township officers. The delegates
we're A. g. Caswell, M. Randall, j. T..
Baker and d. W. McGrath. The
candidates for the township Offices
we're: Trustee, A. G. Caswell; treas-
urer, Seth Day; clerk, j. b. Gosnell
James Coffey was present and when
Caswell received the nomination
moved to make the same unanimous.
At the county convention Coffey was
present with q new set of credentials
and two delegates, besides himself
one the Rev. Stromb, populist, but
a newcomer, who had been kept close
at home on account Of sickness and
had never seen our notice Of caucus.
The other was Eli Holt. who doesn't
claim nor never has claimed to be
popullst. On examination of said crt-
dentials we find another caucus had
been held September % with the
above result. The committee de-
clared said credentials spurious and
threw them out, and Mr.. Coffey even
did not have the gall to call the mat.
ter up before the convention. MIR.
Coffey comes home and calls another
caucus. This time he decides to call
it democratic. James Coffey receives
the nomination for trustee against A.
@. Caswell, populist, Whose nomina-
ton had been made unanimous on
motion of James Coffey). j. s. Eau
bion is nominated for treasurer and
Mr.. HELLER for clerk. Rev. Stromb is
nominated for road oversper district
No. / and g. w. Parker for district
No. 2. Most of the other nomina.
tIons are endorsements of populsts.
w. D. Bovey and Charles O'Neil were
clerks aud j. T. Little, g.
W. Parker and james Coifey as
judges of the election. Little is u dem.
ocrat and Cotfey headed the demo.
cratic ticket. &. w. Parker 10 also
on the democratic ticket
Coffey is challenged on the ground
that he is not a populist, that he
nad voted and worked against
,he ticket for three years. But Cotfey |
serves as Judge. Mr. Stromb will not
vote the democratic ticket, 80 his
name is dropped and one Silas Houck |
substituted. But the ballots are be-
ing counted-half of them are out
md the populists have two.thirds of
hem. One of the judges (Lltle) gets
Iick, turns deathly pale and leaves
he room. He is not able to act as
Judge any longer and requests that
Iome one be appointed in his place.
No appointment is made and the bal
OF box is closed until he returns.
Any one can see that he is, as he
Jays, very sick. The counting goes
IN. The tickets are taken from the
,ox by Coffey and passed to q. W.
Parker, who is sitting on a low seat
,ehind table in one corner of the
DOM. The ballot.box is IN front of
lin an the table, with a low lamp in
runt OF that. We can see his hand
70 up with the needle but cannot see
he ballots strung. The ballots are
III out and the township is declared
democratic. Mr.. HELLER
ails to get there. He came to the
POLLS early in the morning, voted and
vent home. He didn't stay to tell
he boys how to vote; he didn't offer
u. Randall the biggest pay he ever
yot for one days work il he would
'ote for him; he did not cffer Through
me Of the judges) to lease him the
Id Grundy farm; he did not offer
Jharles Lucas 81 for his vote; he did
lot offer j. e. Gosnell IS il he would
ote and work for him; he did not |
end any one to old honest Buckley
o see how much of the stuff it would
AXE to buy the hard feelings that ex-
sted between them.
We have no fault to find with the
commissioners. It was not their place
D plead our case, but we would like
D have offered the testimony of the
ollowing-named electors, who have
lgned an affidavit or affirmation that
hey voted the peoples party town
hip ticket straight: A. G. Caswell,
|. L, Caswell, J. A. Caswell, II.
Vorthman, Chas Lucas, F. Kari, M.
randall, John Wilson, q. HALEY, s.
'odle, A. B. Bodle, w. II. Bodle, r.
'ortner, f. U. Burrell, Zeb Baker, j.
:. Baker, j. W. Baker, f. Buntrock,
. H. McGrath, D. W. McGrath, P.
4. Gipe, D. j. Gipe, H, @. Sheriff.,
cry Shenll, q. Buckley, A. D. Buck
~ II l