Morris tribune., 1897-03-10
The Peoples Ticket Is Elected
by Over One Hundred
Majority,
After the Hardest Fought Bat
tie in the History of
Morris.
The Town Goes Wet BY a
Majority of Fifty-Nine
Votes.

One of the hardest fought political
battles ever recorded in the history of
Morris was decided yesterday at the
polls, and was decided very emphati-
cally in favor of the people. The his
tory of the fight is simply this: 1t
has been some years since the people
have had anything to say in regard to
the government of city affairs; it be-
ing controlled by certain handful
who have held sway here for year in
and year out, and heretofore all effort
to bring about change has proved
fruitless. This year the people raised
en- masse and practically refused to
be whipped into line by the old gang.
Consequently a ticket was made up
of WIDELY and solely of the people
and by the people and presented to
the people who accepted it by the
handsome majority of over 100, not
withstanding the threats, bluffs and
otherwise coercive schemes partici-
pated in by the heretofore CLUB
swingers." Last Saturday a caucus
was held at the court house for the
purpose of nominating city ticket.
At the opening of the caucus fight
was at once precipitated, and the
crowd that has usually been in the
habit of having everything their own
way were greatly outnumbered by
two to one. They adopted every
possible means, both honorable and
dishonorable to get control of the
chair, but were unsuccessful, and
finally bolted the caucus, numbering
about fifty leagal voters and declared
themselves Prohibitionists in the
hopes of hoodwinking enough of the
latter to down the people. But such
was not to be the case. The Prohi-
'bitionist were not to be trapped, and
especially by persons who have here
tofore been strong saloon supporters.
The following are the minutes of the
caucus taken from the pen of the
secretary:
Morris, Mimi, March 6, 81.
Pursuant to call the voters of the
village of Morris assembled at the
court house on March 6, at p. M,
for the purpose of nominating a vii
lage ticket for the ensuing year, and
were called to order by Chairman
Tewksbury. The caucus call was
read and nominations for chairman
of the evening were called for.
G. 3. Darling was nominated by
F. E. Newell and J. A. Campbell was
nominated by Erick Peterson. w. J.
Munro here raised the point of order
that the nomination of Mr.. Campbell
was out of order because it was not
made as substitute motion. After
some heated discussion Chairman
Tewksbury sustained the point and
called for vote viva voce on Mr..
Darling's nomination, and was
promptly voted down, but the chair
hesitated to decide and a division of
the house was demanded. The chair
requested all those in favor of Mr..
Darling to take the side next to the
entrance, those opposing, the oppo-
site side.
After considerable confusion and
disorder lasting nearly half an hour
the chair decided the nomination of
Mr.. Darling lost.
j. A. Campbell was then duly
elected chairman of the meeting. A
number of voters then bolted from
the hall under the leadership of A. A.
Stone, who, though declaring himself
not voter, invited all SO disposed to
follow him for the purpose of meet
ing elsewhere to form or reform a
prohibition party.
The caucus then proceeded with
peace and harmony.
j. A. johnson was elected secretary.
On motion it was voted that when
only one candidate was nominated
the vote should be by reclamation,
and in case of more than one, by bal
lot. The following were then placed
in nomination by reclamation
For Village Council-A. Watzke,
president; II. L. Smith, w. l.. Colyer,
l.. Thoele aud Thos. Thomasson.
Treasurer Sam Larson,
Assessor T. Wheaton.
Justice of the Peace-A. L. Stem
ger.
There were three nominations for
street commissioner, which took three