Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-23
SKOWHEGAN.
A Communication.

Editors Kennebec Journal:
v several items nave already appeared IN
v 't'ipns nrWsuanarS Of the State rel
ative to the Republican caucus held in
! -nunnesan on SATURDAY May nth which
are not altogether COMPLIMENTARY to tn.
Y Republican party Of our town. TWO years
ago there was sharp contest between
/ tie Republican candidates for RCpTeSpn-
/ tative TO the 10Th Legislature from this
district. \ Republican caucus was held
v at which were thrown itUl votes in all, 3JG
Y tor Edward y. Merrill 645 for Ed r.
Page, and Ed. L. Page was declared ic-
/ sally nominated and the legal candidate
V "A the Republican party for Representa-
v tive 70 the 1oth Legislature. AT the Sep
temher election. II being the last Presi-
! DENTAL election. the whole number of
votes cast for Governor by the Republi-
\ can party Of this district composed OF the
7 Town ot SkOwhegan. was $50, being 4lJ
loss than were thrown at the Republican
I caucus.
/ The whole number Of Democratic votes
cast Al the September election Of 1860
was l9i; PTnhibitionists. 8: Socialists 10
making the total vote OF the town OF
SkOWhegan Of all four parties. $50. be-
ing III less than the number Of votes
thrown at the Republican caucus Of 1890
| The above figures are official ana speak
for themselves as to the Republican eau
/ Gus held in 1899.
AT that caucus I objected to Democrats.
Socialists and all persons who were not
legal voters taking part. TO my Owl
knowledge votes were east at that eau
Gus by citizens of Madison. Cornville and
Canaan. besides by many persons who
We're not naturaiized voters and had no
right 10 vote. In addition to that | am
credibly informed that men who had no
right to vote. subsequent to the caucus
made their boasts of having voted four
and five times against me, at that eau
Gus.
When was notified by VIM. II. Wildes.
one Of the town committee of the town
of Skuwhegan, that q caucus was about
to be called for the purpose Of nominal ting
delegates to the State. county ard dis
trict conventions, and also TO nominate a
candidate Tor representative TO the list
Legislature. | notified him. and in discus
sing the subject and discussing the lie
gal voting at the caucus Of two years
ago. that / should demand at the caucus
the use Of the check list, and that unless
we could have a fair caucus and fair
expression Of the wishes Of the Republi
can party Of the town of Skowhegan, rs
to their candidate. / should certainly he "A
candidate to the list Legislature and have
my name upon the Oflcal ballot. Mr.
WildcS mas informed me that he notified
the town committee that l should demand
the use OF the check list which ! did at
the caucus. 1t was opposed by Hon. s. J.
Walton ana Mr. Lewis Anderson who
stated in their opposition 10 the use OF
the check list that the only reason that
| wanted it was because it would give
me an advantage. ! fail TO see. and a
majority Of the Republican voters OF
Sk"wheGan fail to see. how it could be
ballot gives a candidate an advantage. 1
cam Inat : had right to that advan-
tdEc.
1 propose under the provisions of the
Australian ballot law of 1891 to accept a
nomination by the Republicans of Show
hogan an Il Republican candidate for Rcp-
rcsenta;ivc to the 1lst Legislature, and to
give the Republican voters OF the town OF
Skowhcsau an opportunity TO vote by the
check list for their choice Of candidates
To represent them in the list Legislature.
1t is perfectly well known, not only in
SkOwhegan. but in political circles out
side of Skowhegan. that the opposition to
my candidacy in 1900 came from certain
party leaders outside Of Somerset county,
and the Republicans Of Skowhegan pro
pose TO enter their protest to such politi-
cal Interference by parties outside OF
their representative district and they
ask and will demand that they alone er
JOY the privilege Of expressing an homes
and legal opinion as TO the choice of can
didates to political office. Scores MON
scores Of leading Republicans have ~
quested that | run upon the ticket az a
Republican to represent this district
What they want and what they propose
to have is an honest vote and with that
everybody will be perfectly satisfied.
EDWARD NJ MERRILL.
SkOwhegan, May Il, 1922