Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-28
ROW IN THE C. o. P.
The Factions Had First Tussle of
Campaign Last Night.

and are now raging in unrestrained
fury. A little havoc has already been
created, but 1t is nothing when COM
pared with that which is expected to
happen. The first clash of the war
ring factions, the Kellogg Blakeslee-
Pilling. crowd on one side, the Kelsey
Peasley followers on the other--oc-
CURED at the caucus of the first ward
republicans last night and DIT resulted
in the humiliation of the Peasley fac
ton. But last nights defeat does
not mean the complete overthrow Of
the followers OF Messrs Peasley and
Kelsey as there are -four more eau
cuses to be held vet. One of the
Peasley men said last night that they
expect to win at least two and prob
ably three of the remaining caucuses.
They wish to secure the control of the
party whip and to do the driving.
They think that certain men have run
the local republican machinery too
long and that a change would do
much good. Other persons, beside a
select few, should be given a chance
to hold Office and have a hand In the
spoils. 1t is reported that they are
particularly DESTROYS OF replacing
John 2. Kellogg as chairman of the
republican town committee and city
attorney. But this new element are
looked upon as butters-in by the men
who have been in control OF republic
can politics for years in this city,
where they have resided the greater
part OF their lives. They have as
much respect for the pretensions of
the Peasley crowd to the leadership
as the New York Sun has for the lead
ership of Governor Odell. They are
In control now land mean to stay
there.
Until last night 1T was expected that
everything would be harmonious at
the meeting of the first ward republic
cans. The leaders thought that there
would be only one ticket in the field
the Blakeslee- Pilling ticket-but a
surprise was in store for them. The
followers of James A. Peasley sprung
surprise upon the opposition and
brought ready made ticket and a
number of voters to the caucus.
Though the Blakeslee crowd was COM
pletely astonished they were able to
rally their forces sufficiently to win
by neck. Much campaign work
was done by the opposing leaders be-
fore the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by
Alderman PillingL Attorney Patrick
J.. McMahon was appointed secretary
and Alderman r. N. Blakeslee chair
man. When the chairman called for
nominations Of delegates to the town
convention the following ticket was
placed in the field by Alderman Pill
| ling: Ralph N Blakeslee, Charles r..
Blake. wallace e. Scofield and Louis
Oedell. The other ticket, which was
proposed by William Latham, was as
| follows: James A. Peasley, William
J.. Rigney, Elmer Fl. Blanchard and
William A. Goodrich. M. ID. The bal
lot resulted in a victory for the
Blakeslee ticket, the vote being % to
| % The meeting then adournedj
After the meeting the Peasley
crowd was denounced in ringing terms
| BY members Of the victorious faction
! for trying to win out by n tricky
move at the last minute. One of the
members said: "Their underhand
work was not successful after all. If
we had known that there was to be
any opposition we could have showed
them under. We could have brought
down 200 voters from Scovilps. Be-
cause that crowd won in the third
ward last year they want to run the
city, but they cam do It."
Wallace Scofeld said: "We didn't
know that there would be any other
ticket in the field until shortly before
the caucus. If we had known it we
would have swamped them"
Much surprise was expressed that
the name OF Sheriff Rigney should be
on the ticket opposed to the regular
republican leaders.
Where promises to be a warm battle
In the third ward caucus OF the repub-
lican party on Saturday night be-
tween the Peasley-Kelsey faction and
machine forces. Last year the for
mer won. but 1T is doubtful if they
can repeat their victory this year.
One Of the busiest men in the city
this week is Attorney NJ J. Byrne
Mr. Byrne, as some persons know,
has renowned democracy and has be-
come a. bona f1de member OF the trust.
beridden party. Since Mr. Byrne has
allied himself with the republican
hosts he has become actively engaged
in = politics of his ward, the third
Mr. ne has as much love for the
Pc kelsey faction as he has fol
the democrats. But the Kelsey
crowd is supreme in the third ward
having secured control at the primar
les last fall 1t is ito GUST this fac
ton that the eX-democratic lawyer II
taking such an active interest IL
third ward politics and to him has
been intrusted the management o;
the campaign against the faction nov
dominant. The genial attorney is {
hustler, even his enemies admit this
He has established powerful ma
chine since he entered the field and Il
confident of crushing Judge Frederick
Peasley at the primaries as easily as
Attorney James Peasley was defeated
last night in the first ward. But thu
Kelsey and Peasley followers ar
game and will fight every inch of TIN
ground.
Fourth ward republicans will meet