The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-23
CUMBERLAND
REPUBLICANS
HOLD CAUCUS

IL n person could Judge from the spirit
OF apathy displayed at the Republican
oaucuses held in the town hall last even
ing and compare II with the enthusiasm
shown by the Democrats last Monday
night, the battle for control OF the town
government for the coming year has
already been settled.
There were less than hundred men In
the hall when the gathering was called
TO order, and large part of these were
men who have always been identified with
the Democratic party They had come
In, not 90 take any part in the proceed
ings, but just out OF curiosity to see what
was going on. The town committee had
long before picked out the men whose
names were TO go on the ticket and no
one appeared TO have the heart or the
temerity TO attempt TO break the clate.
Among the early arrivals In the hall was
w. H. Tobey who is the recognized party
boss in the town. He was in a jovlal
mood because ne knew the slate was go
ing through but evidently felt rather
uneasy when he saw what little interest
was manifested.
About the only thing that could be con-
sidered In any way radical was the en-
dorsement of DIR T. j. Smith. whom the
Democrats had named for a place on the
school committee. Just why the Repubh-
can committee had decided to endorse DR..
Smith Is rather difficult TO understand,
unless II was because that same gentle
man had been named by the Democratic
caucus in place OF Col. =. j. GaSkin.
whom the Democratic town committee
had endorsed
Perhaps the wise ones among the Re-
publicans thought d would be a slick trick
TO make the turn down OF the state COM
mittee secretary stiH more prominent.
But as a matter OF fact the caucus might
just as we'll have endorsed the entire
Democrats ticket because II would have
saved the expense OF making a fight
which can have but one ending, anyway
There was some little delay i'm calling
the meeting 10 order. The reason as
shIned FOR the walt was said TO be because
Wilbur A. Scott. who had been selected
for chairman, failed TO put in an appear
ance. But after a time IL seemed to dawn
on the minds OF some OF those present
that 1t you'd be quite possible to conduct
th-r caucus without the assistance OF Mr.
Scott, and the decision was certainly
relief
Then Nathaniel Brown, the young man
who is the nominal head OF the town
committee. called 10 order Some one
over In the back OF the hall offered the
name OF Joseph T. Tracey for chairman,
and as no one else wanted the job Mr..
Tracey was elected. Just what Mr.. Ira
cey would have done in that position II
there had been such a thing as a good
lively scrap is unknown, but he was quite
equal TO the situation as Il existed. In
fact he would have got along nicely IL
the rest OF the voters had Immediately
left the hall. All he wanted was some ono
to name the candidates and ne at once
declared them nominated without the for
mality OF vote In fact according 10
the ideas OF Mr.. Tracey, 1t was quite suf-
flcient that the names offered agreed with
the list which he had been Informed was
endorsed by the town committee
For secretary another young man was
selected In the person OF Andrew Samp-
son. Mr.. Sampson made no trouble but
got right down TO business and proceeded
TO write names. but It didn't take him
very long. II was all over quickly, and
the sudden fame OF these two young men
was short lived. The thing which must
have startled them the most was the fact
that the younger element in the party
had been given so much prominence But
II appeared to warm the cookies around
the heart of the party boss, Mr.. Tobey,
for his face beamed with JOY as he
watched the proceedings from rear seat.
II took but about five minutes to name
the entire ticket as follows: For town
clerk, John +. Clark; town treasurer,
Cyrus Taft: councilmen. Osborne j. Bal
lou. John Barnes. Charles w. Thornton,
Lucius s. Barnes, Anthony White; tax
assessor. William Taylor; school commit.
tee, DR.. T. J. Smith, John Waddell: mod
orators: District No /. Hinsman district
No. 2. A. w Vose district No 3, Arthur
Smith; district No. 4. William L. Butler;
district No. 5. Leander G. Harris: clerks:
District No. /. Eugene Whipple; district
No. 2, Howard w. Vose; district No g.
John Sidebottom: district No. 4, A. p.
Hazlehurst; district No. 5. Thomas
Downs.