Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-06-29
The DEMOCRATS wRANeLED.
Customary Party OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
gates Not Instructed.

gates Not Instructed.
1t was Enthusiastically Democratic
the Democratic caucus Friday night
although there were only 16 of the unterri-
fed there. The business was to elect
delegates to the state district and county
conventions and to choose a town COM
mittee for two years. Now this Is task
that ought not to occupy over ten minutes,
with a 16-man show, but the 16 had to
demonstrate the genuine Democratic
qualities which have been displayed so
often in state conventions, national con-
ventions and on the floor of Congress
lack of harmony, indecision, incapacity,
coupled with disposition to wrangle and
general befuddlement. The session lasted
over an hour and half.
The meeting was called to order short
'ly after o'clock by NJ. ]. Moran, chair
man of the town committee, who read
the call. Martin Austin was elected Sec
retary. On motion of c. H. Davenport
the chairman appointed j. T. Kaine, Z. e.
mittee to bring in a list of delegates to
the state, district and county conventions.
The delegations were made up as fol-
lows, the secretary being instructed to
cast one ballot for all the tickets:
State and district conventions-Arthur
p. Carpenter, c. H Davenport, r. S.
Chlds, w. A Shumway, Martin Austin,
T. ]. Heaphy ]. T. Kaine, NJ. J. Moran.
Alternates-C. A. Boyden, d. ]. Stolte,
A. w. Roel, G. A. Eels, D. Brosnahan,
Patrick Fleming, E. c. Dunklee, John
Calvin.
County convention-J. j. Eckels. T.
Aher, ]. G.. Ullery, e. r. Reynolds, f. II.
Davenport, F. 1. Swift, H. H. Hunter, c.
II. Pratt William Boyce, NJ. Doyle, John
NJ. Dugan, Clifford Baker David Carey,
r. S. Childs, c. F. Mann T. ]. Sawyer
The choice of town committee was a
tedious job. First a committee consisting
of c. A. Boyden, T. ]. Heaphy and John
for a committee. They decided upon c.
A. Boyden, NJ j. Moran and Martin
Austin. Mr.. Austin declined and Mr.
Moran indicated his disposition to follow
suit. Then followed period of drifting
with attempts TO have Austin and Moran
reconsider. with various motions, sug-
gestions, etc, but finally another COM
mittee was appointed to select a COM
mittee, Messrs. Kaine. Roel and Ahel
reported in favor of c. H. Davenport
Arthur P. Carpenter and Fred l. Swift
for a town committee and they were
chosen.
The trouble of the evening was precipi.
tated by an innocent looking resolution
which Martin Austin offered early in The
proceedings, but which was not actet
upon until after the other business was
transacted. The resolution was as fol-
lows: Resolved: That the delegates
elected to the state convention be ant
hereby are instructed TO support a straigh
party ticket"
j. T. Kaine thought the delegates
should not be instructed. T. j. Heaph!
stated several times that he did not wisl
to go with his hands tied and moved tina
the delegates be uninstructed c. H
Davenport believed that the Democrats o
Brattleboro were not in favor of fusiol
but flnof fla n1t,ff kOA 60.
He drew a gally colored picture of tn
possibility of the Clement and Democratic
tickets polling 10000 votes and throwing
the election into the legislature, as wa
done in 1858, and of the triumph there o
the Democrats If they stuck by thei
guns. Frank s. Pratt paid his compli
ments to Mr.. Davenports rainbow chasing
and declared that the only possible wa
that Proctor could be beaten would b
through the Democratic nomination c
Clement. He declared that Proctor de
feated the weekly payment law two year
ago, but that Clement would favor such
law and an employers liability act. ].
Eckels was red hot for fusion, and assev
Grated that the question was not one
party but of the people against an oil
garchy While in favor of fusion he wa
not in favor of instructing the delegate
in any way. Mr.. Eckels moved an amend
ment to an amendment, Mr.. Calvin move
that the amendments be laid on the tabl
Mr.. Boyden moved that the caucus a6
journ, ETC., etc. Martin Austin sal
that the time to have fused wa
four years ago. Then Clement ha
an issue, but he had no use for II
Democratic party and told them so
Burlington. He was going to win alor
and would not give the Democrats eve
the vacant place on his ticket. He turne
them down good and hard. Now that /
hasn't single thing but personal an
bition he is willing to fuse with the DemC
Gratis. Out of the divergent views ar
multiplicity of motions was finally evolve
vote that the delegates go uninstructC
but that the sentiment of the caucus be e.
pressed sin favor of "a straight par
ticket 1t is understood that of the del
gates four are for a straight ticket-Da'
export, Shumway, Austin and Moral
while the other four-Carpenter, Child
Heaphy and Kaine, are not averse
fusion.