The Somerset reporter., 1906-05-24
SAturdAY's Cancus.

The Republicans of Skowhegan assem-
bled al Grange Hall, last Saturday after.
noon to choose II delegates to the
Republican county convention, to be
held June Il, aud 10 delegates to the
Republican state convention to be held
June 81 1t Was upon the delegates to
the county convention that the principal
interest existed and especially with re-
lation to their attitude on the question
of senator from Western Somerset, the
contest Of the afternoon being over the
selection of delegation pledged to E
N Merrill or Edw. P. Page for that
office.
w. l.. Walker was chosen chairman
and Fred F. Lawrence secretary without
opposition and upon suggestion of Hon.
S j. Walton, a committee of four we're
appointed, each senatorial candidate
naming two, To assist the chairman in
receiving and counting the ballots
Alonzo Richardson and B. B. Dinsmore
were named by Mr.. Merrill for this
committee and DR.. L. A. Dascombe apd
W. H. Wildes by Mr.. Page.
During the bslloting one vote was
challenged on the ground that the
citizen Offering same was not Republi-
can and not, therefore, entitled to
participate in the caucus. This ohal-
lenge was subse quently withdrawn it
fatn he
had been regularly enrolled as a member
of the party and that he had never pre-.
viously enrolled in any political organi-
cation Another vote was also chal-
lenged on the all 3gation that he had
cast two ballots but the chairman gave
it as his opinion that this WAS not the
case and the party challenging withdrew
his objection
While the ballots were being counted
for the delegates to the county conven.
ton, resolutions were passed lnstructing
that delegation to support w. T. Seekins
for Clerk of Courts and Lie wellyn Good
win for Register of Deeds and to use all
honorable means to secure their nOmi-
nation.
On motion of Hon. S. j Walton it was
voted to elect the ten delegates to the
State convention. Mr.. Huse took the
floor and endorsed the speech made by
Governor Cobb at Deering and moved
that committee of three be appointed
to retire and nominate list of ten men
who should stand by the principles
enunciated by Gov. Cobb and for tenn
perance as against resubmission. Hon.
Forrest Goodwin questioned the advis-
ability of this method of procedure
inasmuch as it was n departure from the
usual custom of nominating from the
floor. He had been led to believe that
list of names had been prepared and
be asked that, if such was the case, it
be read to the caucus by its sponsors
before any further action was taken A
printed list of ten names was handed to
Mr. Huse and he read them to the
caucus. This list was headed by l.. l..
Walton and it was noticeable TO anyone
familiar with local politics that it con
tanned very few of the original support
ers of Gov. Cobb but did contain the
names of several who had been active in
opposition to him previous to his nomi-
nation at Bangor. The method propos
ed of selecting the delegates was defend
ed by l.. l.. Walton and it WAS explained
that the list had been printed because
the law now TT quiTes that the delegates
be elected by ballot. The method of
nomination by committee was opposed
by K. N Merrill, J. w. Blunt, Forrest
Goodwin, Dr. j. N. Merrill and others
The sentiment was so strongly opposed
to Mr.. Huse's motion for the appoint
ment of committee to place ten names
in nomination that he withdrew it,
STIMULATING, nevertheless, that however
the delegates we're chosen and whoever
they were, they should be instructed TO
SUPP ort the principles expressed by
Governor Cobb in his famous speech and
should be opposed to resubmission
Nominations were then made from
the floor and when ten had been 30
made they were written on ballot and
this ballot cast by the secretary to ex-
press the choice of the meeting. The
names thus chosen as delegates to the
Portland convention were as follows:
l. l.. Walton, Forrest Goodwin, j. w.
Blunt, e. N Merrill, c. H. Smith, F. w.
Bucknam, n. +. Huse, I. G. Lord l.
W. eston, A. K. Gelinas l.. l.. Wal
ton was named as chairman and the
delegation was instructed in accordance
with Mr. Huse's stipulation for the
principles of the Deering speech and
against resubmission. No aternates
we're elected and the chairman of the
delegation was empowered TO fill any
vacancy that might arise
In the meantime the committee who
had been engaged in counting the bal.
lots cast for delegates to the county con-
venlion had completed their labors and
the result was announced by Alonzo
Richardson as follows:
Whole number Of votes, 6Is
Necessary for choice, 3o8
Delegates for Z. N. Merrill, 1888
Delegates for f P. Page, 467
By the above ballot 5. Walton, l..
A Dascombe, Levi G. Emery, Fred f.
Lawrence J. r. Thibodeau, James A
Hozie, r. G. Lord, Meddie King, Elijah
Alden, Wallace Ireland, r l.. Mitchell
5. II Bradbury. Charles E Young and
Mark Savage were declared elected as
delegates 10 the county convention
The following alternates were chosen:
g. J. Abbey, w. ). Stinchfield, w. b
Whittier, f. T. Goodrich, James Lewia,
d. W Lewis, Harley wyman, George