The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-24
CAPE ELIZABETH.
Large But od-Tempered Republican
Caucus.

Caucus.
The Contest was Over Delegates to the
County Convention, and was Caused by
| the Rivalry Between Plummer and
/ Barker-P1ummer Wins, e5s to 1853.
Not for twenty years, it ever, has there
been seen in Cape Elizabeth caucus so
large as that which gathered in the large
town house last evening to choose dele
gates to the state and county Republic
can conventions. The great interest was
occasioned kby the contest over delegates
| to the county convention between the
| friends of two candidates for the NOM
ination for sherif-Samuel D. Plummer
and Clark H. Barker.
| The spirited nature of the contest was
evident before the hour of the caucus
arrived. The roads leading to the
townhouse were.full of teams and barges
carrying voters from South Portland.
| Ligonia, Pleasantdale and Knightville,
while farmers from the peak Of the
Cape and intermediate regions kept driv-
ing up in their own conveyances. The
large town hall had all it could hold
when Mr.. ] IS. Pickett called the assem-
bly, to order, apparently about 400 be-
| ing present.
| The call had no sooner been read than
the stalwart form of Captain A. D. Boyd
arose from front seat, while its pos
SCISSOR in tones of thunder nominated Mr..
US. Pickett for chairman. Captain
Boyd was manager of the Barker men,
and at first it looked as though there
might be contest, but the ext instant
Mr.. Edward G. Reynolds, a boyhood
friend of Plummer. and manager of his
| forces on the floor, stepped forward and
| seconded the nomination, which was I'M
| animously ratified. In the same way Mr..
George F. Henley was chosen secretary on
motion of Mr. G. n Trefethen.
| After little debate it was decided to
elect the county convention delegates
first.
Then Mr.. Reynolds moved that in the
balioting
THE CHECK LIST
be used.
Captain Boyd objected to this. 1t
would take an hour and half to vote,
and he did not see why it should be
needed.
Mr.. Reynolds replied: am willing
to put in a little time to be assured of
absolute fairness. In order that there
| may be no question as to the result of
this caucus. /, for one, am willing to
put my time aginst Captain Boyd's for
that end" cloud cheers)
A show OF hands then revealed about
four to one in favor of the checklist.
| This was augured as straw toward
Plummer. and the most enthusiastic of
his supporters cheered.
Then Messrs. Henry Hartford and Will
| liam Jones Dyer were appointed to check
the lists, and the voting sbegan amid
much noise and accompanied by great
crowding about the platform.
Two tickets were presented. That for
| Plummer bore these names: Rotheus
| M. Cole, William L. Bradford, Andrew
S.Sawyer, Walter J. Maxwell, Eliphalet
C. Robinson, Melville B. Fuller and Ed
ward @. Reynolds.
The Barker ticket bore these names:
C.N, Trefethen, E. N. Jordan, Charles A.
Studley, John j. Hankard, Frank E.
Ross, E. L. Benner and Edmond r. Dyer.
The balloting proceeded with slowness
and some difficulty on account of the
great crowd. After it had proceeded
some time, Captain Boyd's voice rang
| out:
"Mr. Chairman-T hear it reported that
names have been added to that check
list today. If that is SO, protest against
the proceedings of this meeting. The
people have right to know if names
have been added to the checklist"
No one seemed to be able to answer
this question. but Mr.. Henry Hartford
moved that any legal voter of Cape Eliz-
abeth be allowed to have his name added
| to the list upon presenting himself
This seemed to satisfy the meeting,
the majority voting with enthusiasm to
proceed with the ballot.
| After the polls were closed, on motion
OF Captain Boyd, seconded by Mr.. C.N.
| Trefethep, it was voted that committee
of two be appointed to count the check
list and see whether the votes and the
| names checked should correspond. Cap
tain Boyd thought that there might have
been serious mistakes in voting. There
was no particular opposition to Captain
Boyd's motion, beyond shout from
one old farmer: They are licked, and
want to crawl out of it.''
1t was further voted that in case the
votes should be in excess of the names
checked, an equal number of Plummer
and Barker ballots should be taken out
Captain Boyd and Mr.. John Parrott
were appoin ted to count the checklist
Their count revealed 40 names
checked.
The count of the votes revealed 25s for
the Plummer ticket, and 1G3 for the
Barker ticket. This made a total of 421