The Portland daily press., 1898-06-01
A RUMPUS At FALMOUTH.
Democrats Accused Of Voting
Republican Caucus.
A TRIUMPH FOR THE DRESSER
CONTINGENT.

The Bucknam Men, Who Had Anticipated
Victory, Enter Protest Which the
County Convention Will Be Called
Upon to Adjudicate,
Another move in the sheriff tournament
was made last evening at Falmouth
whereby Candidate Walter H. Dresser
added to bis list three votes which the
Buoknam faction had felt sure of captur-
ing.
1t was lively caucus, the liveliest, in
fact of all the caucuses that have thus
far been held in the smaller towns. The
presence of Democrats was the disturbing
element. The Buchanan forces. taking
offence at the alleged participation of
Democrats in the proceedings, declined
to exercise their right of voting, and
practically let the caucus go by default,
trusting to thu unbiased Judgment of the
county convention to straighten out the
tangle for them. sGsa9
The caucus was held in the town house,
at Vest Falmouth, whose main hall was
densely packed with citizens from all
quarters of the town. Five o'clock was
the hour named in the bills, and prompt
ly at that time Mr.. Henry j. Merrill of
the Republican town committee called
the assem- blage to order. Mr. Frank
Moulton was elected secretary, by accla-
nation.
A motion was made to make Mr.. Mer
rill, chairman of the caucus, and vote
was taken on it, no opposition to the
choice being exhibited, though he was
known to be in sympathy with the Buck
nam forces. But Mr.. Merrill declined to
accept the craftsmanship. He said he saw
many Democrats present, and participate
ing in the proceedings. This was sup
posed to be Republican caucus, and he
could not understand how a Democrat
could have the cheek to come in and
take part in it. Evidently these Demo-
Gratis had been invited to be present, but
in his opinion their participation in the
caucus would make it illegal, and he
should not have any thing to do with it if
Democrats were to be allowed to vote.
Mr.. Horace Sargent expressed the hope
that no Democrat would be unfair enough
TO cast ballot IN the caucus.
Some of the leaders of the Dresser con-
tingent accused Chairman Merrill Of de-
clining for the.sakesof blocking business,
but he denied any such intention. He re-
manned steadfast, however, in his deter
mination not to take any part in the
caucus SO long as Democrats remained in
the hall and had voice in the proceed
ings.
After the delivery of several racy
dialogues, Mr.. James Edward Merrill
m owed that MIR. George York cast the
ballot of the caucus for chairman. The
motion was declared carried, and Mr..
York announced his choice of Mr.. Daniel
W. Lunt.
Mr.. Lunt; who is credited with being
favorable to Bucknam, took charge of the
caucus He was asked to use his authori-
ty in preventing Democrats from voting,
but Chairman Lunt replied that he
couldn't undertake to pick out the Demo-
Gratis in the crowd, and he didn't see how
he could be expected to act as censor over
the balloting.
Mr.. Elmer F. Huston moved that the
caucus proceed to elect on one ballot three
delegates to the county convention. His
motion was carried, and the balloting be-
gan without the formality of choosing 9
committee to receive and count the votes
+ at duty being entrusted to Chairman
Lunt whose hat served Jas receptacle
to catch the falling slips of paper.
;, ''Don't go near the ballot box "the
caucus isn't legal" ''you are allowing
Democrats as well as Republicans te
VOTE" and other such EXPLANATIONS came
from the leaders of the Bucknam forces.
This warning had the effect of keeping
most of the Bucknam men away from the
cbairman's hat. but the Dresser men kept
right on about their business, caut Joining
one another no. to be frightened off.
When the votes were counted Algernon
Bowie, Wilbur F. Libby and =, Elmer sF.
Huston, the Dresser delegates were de-
olared elected, they having received Sc
votes while only six were cast for Franz
Moulton, E. f. Robinson and George M.
Libby, the Bucknam men.
A storm of disapproval went up from
the Buchanan men, who announced that
the seats of the delegation would be con-
tested. and the county convention be
called upon to adjudicate on the merits of
the case.
Then somebody moved to adjourn, and
the hall was forthwith evacuated. the
caucus not waiting to complete its bust
ness by the election of delegates to the
state convention, which was one of the
Items of the call.
HOW THE VOTE STANDS.
Dresser. Despeaux Buchanan
B Llawin,
Rridgton,
Brunswick,
cumberland, -