The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-10
A FRUITLEss CAUCUS.
1LcCune the Choice, But Obstruction
lists Wouldn't Yield.

u
| It was a wild-eyed, excited crowd OF
| Democrats that assembled in the senate
] chamber at 11:20 to make one last ef-
! fore TO settle upon a Democrat for
/ senator. President Nebeker rushed to
| the rOstrum and Selling the gavel call
I ed the meeting to order. There were
thirty-eight present, the absentees be
| ing Evans, Shurtliff Cummings. Lar
sen and Eeber Bennion-
I'VE won't wait on ceremony" he
said. IN act as chairman.
Shepard moved that a. secret ballot
lie taken Immediately, but Senator
Peery interrupted by moving that Sen
ator Rawlins, who had come into the
caucus by request be first heard from.
Senator Rawlins spoke from the floor
very briefly and without attempt at
Oratory. i want to urge that you pro-
coed as speedily as possible" he SAID.
Ito agree upon a caucus nominee and
then proceed to elect him before IL
O'Clock. 1 propose that you ballot at
once, taking not more than five bal
lots and that all members be bound by
the result CO the ballot, whenever any
candidate receives a majority of the
votes. If after taking five ballots none
has a majority. then let the one who
has a plurality be the choice of the
caucus.
The obStructiOnistS spoke I'D right
here and right here was the fate of the
caucus settled and the end of tie race
announced. 1t was Representative Cook
who spoke. II want to state right now"
he said, that I'll abide by the result of
the caucus if anyone but A. W. Nc
Cune is chosen, but III leave if he is
the man"
And III go out if you don't leave
him in the list" said Thomas, and
Shepard agreed with Thomas.
L believe that as Democrats plead
ed Senator Rawlins," you ought to
agree on some man on whom all may
unite and I urge that it be done"
L move that we now take a secret
ballot" began Shepard again.
L am sincere in what I say" inter-
rupted Jackson. but L can't vote for
a. W. McCune."
Lets take an informal ballot" sug-
gested President Nebeker. and let it
be not binding on US. 1t will tell US at
least where we stand
i secret ballot was taken. and it re-
suited: a. w. McCune, II; G. G. Rich
ards. Z; W. H. King. ); James H. MOyle.
2; O. W. Powers. 2; Aquila Nebeker. 2;
d. o. RideOut. ,; George O. Cannon, l.
This last vote shows what a travesty Of
a caucus it was.
LLOYD said as soon as the result was
announced: It's evident that we've
got to wipe out the slate. and If were
going to do it at all, we might as we'll
do it thoroughly
Senator Rawlins here interrupted
with a suggestion: Il am going to take
a great responsibility upon myself, he
said. Il am going to suggest a candi-
date whom 1 know well and who would
well fill the office. 1 suggest the state
chairman, James H MOyle."
jackson suggested Henderson, and
Lloyd insisted on putting in Richards.
There was d proposition to vote for the
three and let the one who had the most
be the winner The members were
drifting away in disgust and disap-
prevail, and then President Nebeker
flung down his gavel and shouted:
Let's vote for AIoyle. James N. Moyle,
Moyle!''
A few members took up the cry and
without voting or even polling the eau
Gus to see how many would vote for
MoyIe. the caucus broke up and the
members fairly filed up the stairs to
the assembly room.