The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-10-08
THE LEGISLATIVE CAUCUSES.

The fog which had obscured the po-
litical situation was cleared away
on Tuesday evening by the action of
the straight Republican caucus. Ru-
mors had been rife and reports circul-
ated to the effect that Mr. Clement,
through the Local Option and Demo
cratic members, would insist upon
measures or institute various proceed
ings to block the wheels of regular
procedure i'll the situation confront
ing the General Assembly. The Repub
licau leaders decided upon the policy
of firmly opposing all dilatory tactics ;
that upon the converting Of the Lcgis-
lature this morning the House should
at once organize by electing a speak
er, Who shOuld appoint the usual
committee to canvass the vote for
Governor; thIt tin comm rtee should
proceed to canvass the vot" after the
customary manner; 1t would probably
report no election Wednesday after
noon, when balloting for Governor
should be at once begun. The caucus
accepted this policy, deciding that if
any dilatory measures were introduced
they should be laid Oh the table to be
considered later.
Hon. Ira Allen of Fair Haven,
chairman of the State Republican
committee, called the caucus to order
and Horace W. Bailey of Newbury
was made chairman. Great care was
exercised in separating the sheep from
the goats, as guards were placed not
only at the doors of the room but also
at the windows outside, and none but
Republican members of the straight
sort could gain admittance-nor could
the scribes of the newspapers. The
choice of a candidate for a speaker
was first taken up. a lively contest
had been expected, but it had been
practically agreed that all the other
candidates would withdraw in favor
of "Honest John Merrifield" of New
fame. An informal ballot was taken
Out Of 13l votes cast, Mr.. Merrifeld,
received 9S, H. W. Bailey 81, Emmett
McFeeters of Enosburg II, and one
scattering. This gave the candidacy
to Mr.. Merrifield, and also demon
strated McCullough's strength.
The Senators and the three candi
ates named did not vote so it would
appear that there were 1874 McCul-
Tough votes in this caucus. There
will be 240 members, one of the PAP
elected having died since the election
and another prevented from attend
ance by illness. Adding the thirty
Senators gives a total of 270 members.
OF these, twenty one Senators are con-
coded to Mccullough, which, with
the 1874 at the caucus, gives total
vote for Mccullough of 155, or ma
jority of forty if all the members not
present at the caucus should vote
against him.
When this estimate was given out it
caused much rejoicing among the
faithful, for it was known that sever
al Mccullough representatives had
not arrived in town whose votes
would swell his majority.
Thomas G. Cheney of Morrisville
was nominated to succeed himself as
clerk of the House and Rev. H. H.
White of Whiting as chaplain,
AS there had been some opposition to
Mr. Merrifield's candidacy for speaker
on the score that he was a strong tenn
perance man, it was agreed that the
m ajority of the judiciary and temper
ance committees should be of mem
bers in favor of Local Option, and Mr..
McFeeters was named as chairman
of the former and Mr. Bailey as chair
man of the latter committee, thus
dispelling insinuations of the opposi.
tion that the Republicans intended to
repudiate the liquor plank of the plat
form adopted by the State convention
in June last