Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-04-17
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
The Mckinley Men Hold the Fort, hui
~ Reed Men stood Up 60 be Counted

Inc mchlnley wen hOid the Fort, but
~ Reed Men stood Up 60 he Counted.
The Republican caucus to elect delegates
to the state and district convention, to be
held at Montpelier April 20, was held at
the town hall last evening. About $50
voters were in attendance. l.. +. Adams
Of the town committee read the call. G..
W. Hooker was elected chairman and II.
b. Chamberlain secretary. Geo. d. Hit
moved that an informal ballot be taken to
show the presidential preferences of those
present. He said this was not a movement
to instruct the delegates, but he believed
it to be the right of the Republicans of
Brattleboro to thus express their choice.
G. @. Fits opposed this motion, believing
1t to be venture on dangerous ground and
unwise as a matter of party policy. All
Brattleboro Republicans hope to see DIR.
Holton made a delegate at large to st.
Louis. A vote of this kind would be con.
strued as a vote of instructions and there
will be danger of its use to prejudice DR..
Holton's candidacy. j. G. Stafford agreed
with Mr.. Fits. B. d. Harris said the ex-
preston of individual preference must be
given in the primaries If at all, and for this
reason he supported the motion Col. Has
kins supported it as a right of the voters.
He believed the Mckinley preference here
as elsewhere in the state was overpowering,
and he had no fears of making a mistake
in giving it voice. c. f. Thompson
thought it was simply question of expedi-
ency and of good policy. There would be
no doubt of where DR.. Holton would stand
and nothing should be done to prejudice
his chances. Charles II. Thompson said
there was no doubt that a Mckinley dele
NOT i'm trps,1l lao o,,f praff1alnvA L.,
the north part of the district a different
sentiment prevailed, and if it was under
stood that Dr. Hoton was represented in
practical effect by an instructed Mckinley
delegation from his own town there would
be a movement to put some one else in his
place. II. p. Welman asked how long it
had been since our caucuses began to de-
mand an expression like this. The right
way would be to elect delegates first and
then instruct them if it is so desired. +.
{. Crosby said no slate had been made up,
it was simply matter of showing where
Brattleboro Republicans stand. Col. Has
kins added as a final word that he didn't
want any instructions given, but he did
want to stand up and be counted. Mr.
Hits motion was carried by standing
vote of SO 20 80.
The voting then began, printed ballots
for Mckinley and Reed being distributed.
John knowlton moved that the box be
kept open one hour to give all a chance TO
express their choice. c. c. Fits thought
this only just. This movement for a vote
had been made without previous notice
and with no effort on the part of the
friends of Mr.. Reed to bring out his sup
pOrteIs. The motion was voted down.
Thomas Pentland then moved that the
box remain opened 80 minutes, but this
didn't get even one vote in its support.
When the votes were finally counted they
stood, Allison l, Reed %, Mckinley 90
+. {. Crosby then moved that the chair
appoint committee of five TO prepare and
bring in list of delegates. Col. Hooker
announced that, if left to him, he should
put both Reed and Mckinley men on the
committee. The motion was carried
The committee as finally made up consist
ed of Geo. b. Hit, c. c. Fits, II. p.
Wellman, G. w. Pierce, w. II. Proctor
This committee retired. and in due time
brought in these lists of delegates, who
were duly elected:
Sta:e.-J. l.. Martin, X. Haskns, S. +.
Lawton, Geo. W. Pierce, j. G. Estey, L.
F. Adams, G. w. Hooker w. H. Bracket,
w. E. Hubbard
District.-D. u. Webster, j. j. Estey,
S. s. Hunt, o. T. Ware, w. D. Stockwell,
l.. D. Taylor, II. L. Emerson, c. w. Dun
ham, F. l.. Hunt.
On motion of Mr.. Hit the delegations
were given power to fill vacancies. On
motion of Mr.. Fits the delegates to the
state convention were instructed to use
every legitimate means to secure the cleo
ton of Dr. H. d. Hoton as delegate at
large to the national convention.
On each delegation here are three Reed
men, the tickets having been made up in
this way with the full approval of the ma
jority sentiment of the caucus.