Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-08-17
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
Fits AND EsTEY CANDIDATES
A Straight Fight Between Dillingham;
and GrOut Men.
The story OF the Weeks Developments,
with a Plain Statement of How the
Local Contest stands Today.

The story OF the weeks Developments,
with a Plain Statement of How the
Local Contest stands Today.
The Brattleboro Republican caucus to
nominate candidate for town representa-
tive to be supported at the September cleo
ton will be held at the town hall next
Monday afternoon and evening, the polls
opening at 2 o'clock and remaining
open until 8. The check list will be used.
The situation with regard to this caucus
has changed materially within the past
week. Up to Wednesday it was generally
supposed that K. G. Crosby and G. G. Fits,
both Dillingham; men, would be the candi-
dates for nomination, and that the contest
would lie between these two. But on We'd
Estey would be a candidate on the Grout
side. 1t was then decided by the Dilling-
ham men, as a matter of course, that their
efforts must be united upon one man. Con-
situations on Wednesday evening and
Thursday afternoon resulted in the decision
of e. G. Crosby to withdraw from the con-
test, and in placing Mr.. Fits in the field
as the Dillingham; candidate. Mr.. Crosby's
letter of withdrawal is printed in connec-
ton with this article.
While Gen. Estey has been well known
as a supporter of Gen. Grout, his decision
to enter into this contest as his representa-
tive in Brattleboro was a surprise TO the
Generals friends. In an interview on
Wednesday morning he stated that he
would be a candidate so as to test the
question whether there is any Grout
strength in Brattleboro. he said that The
Phoenix and the other Dillingham; sup
porters have constantly claimed that there
are no Grout men here to speak Of He
thinks this is not true. In his opinion the
people as a whole care very little as to the
choice between the two candidates, and
are Indifferent as TO whether Grout or
Dillingham; is successful 1t was Gen.
CIRCUITS feeling, he said, expressed during
his recent visit here, that it would be very
hurtful to his canvass in other parts of
the state should it not be shown that he
has substantial strength in this town and
county. AS friend of Gen. Grout Gen.
Estey means to put the Grout strength TO
the proof.
1t was suggested to Gen. Estey that his
appearance in the field would put many of
his friends in an embarrassing position,
for the reason that, as friends of Gov. Dill
bingham, they would be compelled to work
and vote against Gen. Estey, while under
any ordinary circumstances they would glad
ly support him for anything that he might
wish. In answer 10 this, Gen. Estey said
very distinctly that he did not regard the
contest as in any way a personal one, and
that he had no idea that anyone would
vote for him on personal grounds. He ex-
pected the lines TO be drawn as between
Grout and Dillingham;. The votes of the
Grout men and of those who are indiffer-
ent would be given to him, while the votes
of the Dillingham; men would be given to
their candidate. 1t was further suggested
TO Gen. Estey that his appearance as a
candidate would have the effect of throw
ing his own personal strength and popular
ity into the canvass in favor of Gen.
Grout, but he claimed not to consider the
matter in that light, repeating his state
ment that he expected to see the contest
in the caucus made strictly on the sena-
torial issue.
He further said that should he receive a
plurality of the votes cast in the caucus,
he would file nomination papers and be
candidate, whatever the final result of
the caucus might be- This was said under
the probability then existing that there
would be a three-cornered fight, with two
Dillingham; men in the field, and on the
supposition that the caucus might adopt
a rule requiring a majority to nominate,
thus probably compelling more than one
ballot to be taken.