Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-04-14
Webster Township Caucus.

DStST ISHip SdtCuS'
Last Friday evening in the face of
the bad storm that was raging about
twenty five of the residents of Webster
township met at the Phillips school
house to hold "A caucus for the selection
of three delegates to the republican
caucus to be held in this city April %,
1904. After waiting for some time
those present decided that James Nc
Fadden, the local committeeman, was
not coming. Thomas McKenett
informed those present that a caucus
could not be held without Mr.. McFad-
denis presence. Shortly after nine
o'clock, the majority of those there
gathered taking Mr.. McKcnnett at his
word decided they had better go home
and hold the caucus at some latter date
TO be set by the committeeman and
accordingly a motion was made to that
effect and carried without Il dissenting
vote and all went home with the excep-
ton of Thomas McKennett and two or
three others. 1t was here that the WHY
Tom showed his crookedness III politics
and how he desired to be fair. He
called the meeting to order-the meet
ing of four kindred spirits-was elected
chairman. A secretary was then elected
and then three delegates TO the county
convention. Tom thought he had
played a wise political game. He had
if the voters had stood for it. But they
would not. Mr.. McFadden called an
adjourned caucus for Monday, April IL,
the court house and a very large
number of the residents of Webster
township were present. J. f. McFad-
den was unanimously elected chairman
and j. a. johnson was placed as score
tary by the same vote. The following
resolutions were then presented, read
and adopted without a dissenting vote.
Thomas not exercising his privilege to
keep the stigma off from himself:
Whereas, on Friday evening, April
9Th, 1904, some % residents of Webster
township assembled in caucus in the
Phillips school house in said township,
and,
Whereas, owing TO the inclemency of
the weather and the absence of the
township cOnlmittman, an adjourn
ment to some later period to be named
by the committeeman was unanimously
adopted, aud,
Whereas, after said adjournment was
taken and the voters had left for home,
Thos. McKennett aud four others q
sembled and p%urporting to represent the
republican party of Webster township
did elect three so-called delegates to the
republican county convention to be held
in Webster, 8. d., on April %. 1904,
therefore be it,
Resolved, that, We the republican
voters OF Webster township, hereby
denounce the action Of said McKennett
and followers as a piece Of political
prostitution and trickery unworthy Of
American citizens; as fraudulent and
unfair; as in no sense representing the
wishes and will of a majority of repub-
lican voters of said township: rs con
trary to the policy Of fair play and
majority rule pursued by the republican
party and We hereby notify the repub-
licans i'll convention assembled in Web
ster on April 90, 1904, to repudiate and
cast out the votes of the said McKennett
delegation if presented and in place
thereof to recognize the delegation as
chosen by this body today.
A motion was then made that the
caucus proceed with the selection of
three delegates j. +. McFadden,
Matthew Tracey and August Blank
were placed in nomination. There
being no other nominations these three
were elected unanimously to represent
Webster township in the republican
county convention to be held in the
City of Webster, s. d., April 23rd, 1904.
A republican committee was then
selected consisting of Of J. +. McFadden,
Alonzo Ahlers and August Blank.
There being no further business
before the caucus q motion to adjourn
prevailed.