The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-06-27
GOOD AS A CIRCUs1
The Republican Caucus in This
City Saturday was a Corker!
There was Big Split and Two Del
egdtions Named.

ii has been an open secret in Leon for
some time that when the township eau
Gus was held to name delegates to the
county convention there would be a row
between the machine ring and the Cum
Minis supporters, and sure enough there
was.
The caucus was called to meet at the
court house at 3 O'Clock and long before
that time the court house was filled, in
fact it was crowded, even the aisles be-
ing full. 1t looked deal more like a
county convention than township
| caucus
Promptly at 3 O'Clock township com.
mitteeman b. w. Garrett raped the
convention to order, and after reading
the call, made a few remarks in which
he said it was very evident there was
two factions present. but he hoped that
Whatever the outcome was, that all par
ties would work for the success of the
republican party and on behalf of the
Cnmmins faction pledged themselves to
| abide by the decision of the caucus in
the selection of delegates. His re-
marks were vigorously applauded
Mr. Garrett announced that the first
| business would be the selection of a
chairman and A. Biddison was nomina-
ted by the Cnmmins supporters and II.
Farqnhar by the Conger or machine
faction. The ayes and nays being called
chairman Garrett announced that Mr..
Blddison was elected. Then the ma
chine men went wild. They shouted
fraud and called for division of the
house. After considerable loud talk
| chairman Garrett announced that the
decision of the chair had been appealed
from and that standing vote would be
taken. Two tel'ers DIR. b. r. McAlaster
representing the Cnmmins forces and S.
l.. Darrah the machine, were appointed
TO make the count, which was done by
calling on one section at a time to stand
up and remain standing until they were
counted and the count verified by the
tellefs. The result was SO votes for Bid
Olson and SO votes tor Farquhar and
Biddison was escorted to the chair. 1t
was the Cummins mems time to veil and
they yelled with right good will.
Just before the count was made Rev
Joseph Stephen created quite discus.
sion by addressing the chair and asking
if he would be allowed to vote i'm the
caucus as il was not a legal election.
motion was made that he he allowed to
vote. but it was objected to, Judge
Harvey stating that Rev. Stephen was
not yet a naturalized American citizen,
and could not be until next year, and
that he had so informed Rev. Stephen
before the convention assembled. The
chair ruled he had no right to vote.
Another breeze was created when S.
l.. Darrah challenged the right Of G.. NJ
Axes to vote in the convention, saying
he was not a republican. Auditor Gill
replied by saying MIR. Axes had de-
clared himself a republican months ago,
that the authorized statement of his
change in politics had been taken to
the Leon journal office to be published,
and that Editor stookey had promised
to publish it, but afterwards refused to
do so. The chair ruled Mr.. Axes had a
right to vote.
j. Evans was selected as secretary,
and then the ball opened when
motion was made that the chair select
committee Of five to name the delegates
to the county convention.
Then the machine element simply
went crazy as they saw they were de-
feated and the convention was going to
name a solid Cummins delegation.
Everybody got up and talked, staia old
grandfathers acted like lot of school
boys and made themselves ridiculous
Capt. A. j. Allen armed with heavy
cane, endeavoled to get satisfaction by
pounding broadsile with it on the top
of the charman's table, but the only
result was to break his cane and de-
molish the top of the table. Rev. W.
II. Ilsley, pastor of the Presbyterian
church, became very much excited. He
was opposed to Cummins and finally
a., la = H. lat, to
Auditor Gill, who was talking in favor
of Cummins. AS lsley advanced Gill
retreated clear across the room in an
endeavor to get away from the minister,
who followed him up brandishing his
umbrellaland his arms, and grabbing at
him caught Gill's srspenders and broke
them, cutting his hand severely on the
buckle. About this time the convention
was ready to fight and a single word or
blow would have precipitated regular
riot. Nightwatch Lindsey was in the
rear Of the room and he rushed forward
ed him to seat. Judge Harvey at
not listen. Finally the Judge shouted
that they would not submit to such
treatment and requested all Conger men
caucus adjourned and they would hold
another convention. The Conger ele-
ment had demanded that another
division of the house be made on the
appointment of the committee to select
delegates but Chairman Biddison did
not deem it necessary as the first count
showed the Cummins forces had a
majority and we're entitled to the dele
CATION, and he appointed the following
as the committee; DIR. b. Il. McAllaster,
B. w. Garrett, Henry Bright, S. f.
Reed and j. +. Gill.
The committee reported the following
as delegates and the convention APP
proved the report;
A. Blddison, j. f. Gill, c. c. Beck,
DIR. b. K. McAllaster, b. w. Garrett,
F. w. Cross, j. II. Bowsher, II. A. Sigler.
j. Ii. Evans, M. Osborne, j. j. Evans,
Frank Matthews, Henry Bright, Elmer
| Brown, and S. L. Reed.
A motion prevailed instructing the
delegates to vote for delegates to the
state convention instructed for A. B.
Cummins for governor and Judge ID. Nj.
ToWner for supreme Judge.
On motion the caucus then adjourne d.