Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-04
Caucus Last Night Resulted in
Bitterness and Failure,
NO PRESIDENT WAS CHOSEN.
Contest Between Davis, Thomas and
CottreiI Thomas Withdraws In
Cottrell's Favor,

The Republican caucus, held IN the
Mayors Office last night, for the pur-
pose Of agreeing upon a Republican
member to be president Of the Council,
was a fizgle, and after wranglng and
squabbllng all evening over the ques-
ton of whether Il would take six or
seven Of the eleven members IN the
caucus to form a majority, and arriv-
ing at no solution Of the knotty prob
lem, the caucus adjourned til o o'clock
Sunday afternoon.
The contest has now resolved itself
into battle between Davis and Cot
trell Thomas was In the fight at the
beginning but withdrew In favor OF
Cottrell, being one OF the bltterest OPP
ponents TO the choice Of Davis for
president Davis supporters are
Davis, DaveleE Robertson, Nigus and
sharp. Against these five COttrell can
pun six votes: Thomas, Hewlett, Robin
SON Spence Eardey and himself The
whole trouble last night was over the
question Of what constituted a ma
iorlty. II Robertson and Davis had
not blocked the action OF the caucus
before II came TO matter Of voting
the election of Cottrell last night would
have been assured. six Of the eleven
Republicans being pledged to vote for
him at the caucus The point of refuge
Of Davis. and Robertson, his chief sup
porter. and Vigus, who also came into
81 Az hot fl
iorlty vote was sufficient 20 decide all
questions that might come In caucus.
The matter came up ~ a motion Of
Eardley Immediately after Daveler had
been chosen chairman and Sharp secre-
tary. Eardley's motion was that the
caucus be governed I'M All matters by a
majority Of the Republican members
elect Robertson wished 10 ammend
this by making the vote at least 7 TO
T. Cottrell fought the amendment Bit
terly. de said that because the eau
Gus two years ago had adopted such
a rule was no reason why such a rule
! should hamper the actions Of the pres
ent caucus lie drew attention 20 the
| fact that two years ago the rule for
majority OF six ~ three was not
/ adopted until long after the Council
]
back that two years ago ne was one
| OF the hardest klckers against the bare
majority Tn the caucus because
/ hp was afraid then chat me- would not
/ receive fair treatment Now. az the
/ candidates were reversed he wanted
| the rule changed Edrdcv spoke for
the bare majority and held up as q
1 warnirg tine example OF the last Demo
cratic legislature.
The chair then asked for the free OK
/ PRECISION of all present on the question,
! Sic mtm3ttd that they should not bc
| governed by any precedent but make
| rules Goo suit themselves Davis spoke Con
favor of the larger majority Hewlett
I Thomas and Robinson spoke AGAINST 10.
/ Robertson said in answer TO Robinson
! that hc had strong reasons for favorlng
| the largo majority and intlmoted thac
! Il YEAS simply @ question OF selt-lnterest
/ with Cottren that made him IN favor
OF the simple majority He said en-
| phaucallv that no church question iu
/ anyway influenced him IN his action.
! He was member OF no church himself
ari dld not propose to Doe influenced In
! politics by any church,
Davis gave AS his reasons Tor voting
! for the large majority that be had
| been approached by certain members Of
/ Tn Council who lntIm3ted that II hv
agreed To place them ON certain com
! mgees IN ease he was elected they
| would vote Tor him These overtures
ne had moi with q decided refusal lie
! would so M unpledged or not az an
Another reason be- advanced IN favo,
on the larger majority was the six "a
five majority would bring IN the religl-
ous issue which he was anxious "a
| aVcid
when put 20 the vote Robertson's
amendment lost by vote OF seven {,
four its only supporters being Rob
ertsOn Davis Vigus and Daveler M,
original motion FOR bare majority vote