The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-14
FEATURES OF A
GREENFIELD CAUCUS

Graphic Description of n Political
Gathering by Dorrance Buckley
Burdette, Who Incidentally Re
lates His Close Escape from Being
Elected Tax Collector-His Terse
Sayings.
Some men have peculiar experiences
With destiny. Sometimes it travels at
4 hand-car rate of speed and occasion
ally it flies along like the lightning eX
press thNt shoots from one end Of the
continent to the other while you are
taking a long breath. In the latter
case the traveller along the roadside, or
the man who is counting ties on the
road of life is left behind. Well. just
now Dorrance Buckley Burdettc, the
Greenfield philosopher is wondering on
which OF these two means of deStiny'S
conveyances he ought to be Il passen
ger He's not quite sure whether he's
ahead of the game or behind it. 1t is
thus wise: He was looking for the tax
collectorship Of Greenfield ana was
certain the office was to be voted on
at the recent caucus in that township.
on the night Of the caucus he learned
that the office was not vacant and
would not be voted on until next year.
Now "Dorie" is wondering whether he
is ahead of destiny or whether destiny
passed him when the last election took
place. :; tBfe is rather inclined 10 the
first belief. fop he had host Of prom
ises of votes in case he would run.
which he proposes To hold until next
year When 'he will again. be IL candi-
tdate. r'."
"Dorie" sends a graphic description
of the caucus and humorousy relates
how he had the pleasure Of voting for
himself for tax collector. He says:
The caucus is over. You know |
think I am what is called an early bird.
l think ! was the choice Of the voters
We're it time To vote for tax collector,
But, ] am sorry to say! I will have to
wait for another year: there amt no
tax collector to Be caucused on this
year. This is all that saved me from
the awful fate of being elected. It's
remarkable what close. escapes from
notoriety and fame some men have,
isn't it?
Myself ana neighbor, Warrington,
arrived at the caucus at 1.3O and found
the Union" i'll confusion. No one
seemed to know how to hold Union
caucus. I listened for some time. They
We're all talking at once, some We're
talking twice and three times and
they could not understand each other
] raised my voice up crescendo and
moved that we organize II Republican
caucus in the other room. Both rooms
We're soon filed. | commenced writing
tickets for myself; the rest done the
same for themselves. After awhile it
was announced that they We're ready
for votes in the Union room. started
out to vote. Mike Mehan secured my
chair, the only one in the room. The
Democrats began To appropriate our
paper which l had with me for report
ing purposes
" Please regard that us my prUDerty,'
said l, in as calm voice as | could
command under thS circumstances.
Let mo have II Small piece, said
an old-time Democrat. This is IL
Union caucus kind OF love feast.
with the love ON the snow bank out
side.
"At this stage of the game came
what the man who writes the old
Sleuth' stories would call denoument:
something like that anyway. There
same on the scene the tax collector.
the man who held the office for which
ny9AGS truly WRs. an humble seeker,
Il saluted him and he informed me
that he had another year 10 serve.
1t was an awful blow for Dorrance
.Iyg .RIyggeclkJley,, ana it came near driving me
home; q" -
----..--.I. don't see said I,why you should
have told Inc ut the election last fall
that your term was up
.," Must have been joking you he.
replied In guilty voice, But l will
help you all can next year he said
as he shied to the right.
We'll, sir, surprise, anger and dis
couagement danced three-step i'm
my bosom as | glanced up at neighbor
Warrington and contemplated certain