The Republican journal., 1899-03-09
Caucus or Circus?
a Nondescript Call Brings out Large
Gathering to See the Fun

a Nondescript Call Brings out a Large
| Gathering to See the Fun.
Pursuant to an anonymous call issued sew
eral days previously, a caucus was held in
the Court House Friday evening, March Sd.
The call embraced all classes, and nearly all
| were represented. There was large at
tendance, but greater part of those present
| came from curiosity and to see the fun
| There were few would be office holders in
| the crowd, however, ready to get aboard if
| there was assurance that the craft to be
launched would float, but also prepared to
| desert a sinking ship. W hen the nomination
| for Mayor was made they retired, regarding
| the situation as hopeless. The caucus was
| called at Z O'Clock, but at 20 minutes past no
one had attempted to call the meeting to
| order. Wayland Knowlton, ESQ, then ap-
peared and after an active canvass in the au-
dience raped to order at o'clock 81 minutes
and y seconds. He first read part of the
call, after which he called upon Frank l.
Wilson to preside. Mr.. Wilson started the
fun by a bit of sarcasm. He asked to be ex-
cused, as he had not had parliamentary
experience enough to enable him to preside
over such a gathering Elbridge S. Pitcher
was next called upon but declined. Mr..
Knowlton then called for w. H. Mcclellan,
Esq, who was ont of the room but came in
and was greeted with cheers. He had diff
ferent call from chat read by Mr. KnowltOn.
The call did not state what the caucus was
to do. but Mr. Mcclellan said it was TO nomi-
| nate city officers, which he stated were a
Mayor, five Aldermen, ten Councilmen and
five School Committee men. Some one sug-
gested that Constabes, Wardens and Clerks
should be nominated, but the chair thought
otherwise. After considerable argument pro
and con the matter was decided by Mr.
Knowlton producing the blank nomination
papers furnished him by the City Clerk, and
the business proceeded.
Mr.. Knowlton moved the nomination. by
acclamation, of Capt Sewell B. Fletcher for
Mayor, and the motion was carried.
1t was then proposed to divide into wards
to nominate ward officers, but this plan was
abandoned and the ward nominations were
made in the general caucus, and are as fol-
lows:
For Aldermen-Ward /, James G. Dur
ham; Ward 2, Elbridge S, Pitcher Ward 3,
Hazael McKeen; Ward f. Fred w. Brown;
Ward s. Howard F. Mason.
They skipped the councilmen and started
on the Scnool Committee, and Mr. knowlton
moved the nomination of Owen G. White of
Ward 3. This was objected to on the ground
that Mr.. White already a candidate on
the Republican ticket. The caucus then be-
gan at the beginning and nominated the
School Committee regularly by wards except
Ward 4, as follows; /, Albert j Mudgett .
John 5. Gilmore; 3, Wavland Know lion; ).
Ross L. Stevens, who has been a resident of
Portland for the past two years
The matter of nominating constahes came
mp and Mr., Knowlton stated that two should
be nominated from each war;,. A man lot
up and solemnly ducked his head to signify
that this correct, and the chair announc-
ed that the nomination of ten coustables WAS
in order, but no nominations We're made
The caucus next attempted to nominate
Councilmen and got along famously in Ward
1, where they named Thomas A. Young and
beginning by nominating Edgar NJ. Cunning
ham, of Ward 3, At this stage some one
suggested hat it was time for the old folks
dance to begin and the caucus dispersed
without the formaIity of adjournment. AS
the caucus is technically still in session a
motion to adjourn is now in order, and would
doubtless be entertained by the chairman at
his Office on Main street.
During the progress of the ca Gus several
iocular motions We're made, but the chair
man refused to consider them, He hurried
the business through with commendable
promptness and held the caucus down close
ly to its legitimate sphere, which appeared
to spectators to be to "play horse" with the
committee who called it. AS the caucus
neglected the formality of choosing clerk,
there are no official records OF tue proceed
ings and hence any omissions or inaccuracies
in the above cannct be proved, nor can any
body "go behind the returns"
None of the candidates nominated accept
ed, except Capt. Fletcher, ,Iand many of them
were indignant at the unwarranted use of
their names. Democrats are specially Wig
orous in their disclaimers as to having any
sympathy or RESPONSE biity for this hybrid
nominees could only be placed on the Off
cial ballot by obtai ming the signatures of
voters, twenty-five for mayor, aud twenty
five in each ward for the ward candidates
Nothing was done in the wards, but the fol-
lowing signatures were obtained to put
Capt. Fletcher in nomination for Mayor.
There are 26 names in all but one signer is
not voter. The names are as follows
Leslie Raleigh, T. j. Hopkins, r. w. Patter-
shall, j. W. Pendeton, S. A. Littletied, w.
+. Taylor, l.. w. Hammons, NJ. D., K. T.
Hall, A. E. Clark, Seth Merchant, S. B.
Fletcher, S. G. Small, Wayland Knowton,
Warren W Knowlton, Blyt Annis, Fred
Clark, r. L. Parker, John Ward, A. w.
Burden, Geo. w. Pendleton, f. M. Hall,
Robert Hart, II O. Dodge, Il. f Jacobs, M.
o. Know lton, j. w. w allace.
Resolutions of Respect.