The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-08-14
HERBERT G. BARBER
HAD A MAJORITY
Victorious in a ''Disgustingly
Corrupt" Caucus
"ooeft u Bacon Was a Poor Second
and L. .. Holden a Poorer Third
Tactics Adopted TO 0e, in the Vote
Not countenaneed by Republican,

Ia q caucus which az oopnef,,ly.,.,l +.
Irlnhiioan a. Congressman ilaskins eaIl,l
va. most disgusiingly ooitan pfitnaf, NJ
had ever had the misfortune Ia attend
hrsi'~n Il, Harder was nominated fol
Town representative SATURDAY, defeating
hohrn T. hacon aud Lyman 4, Holden N
,n''r-co'i,riod contest which was Mas~l
without 4 lri'np from o'rl0ek until D
ihe total vote east was ll1i. az his
number Mr.. Barber had ga, MIR. Raron
iAl and Mr., Holden aO5.
| Never before, 4 is safe to say, Was such
q determined hight made in a primary IN
lhis town, nor we've such mefcenafy tao.
lies adopted. Even the famous Clem,nt.
Mccullough caucus OF May, 1900, pales
into insignihcancc when compared 10 the
battle which took plao. SATURDAY and
which RESULTED IN Mr.. BARRIERS nomina.
ton, From the time the caucus was
called 10 order until the box was dc.
elared closed the path which all citizens
70 traver.e, from the Vermont savings
bank TO the voting place in Festival hall.
was lined with henchmen OF the various
candidates layishly distributing ballots.
Toward the latter part Of the time the
Barber heelers handed out cigas with the
ballots. As soon as a voter reached the
hall itself he was grlsped by the arm by
the lieutenant Of this or that candidate
and literally marched TO the box. Ere.
quently able.bodicd men with a bunch OF
cigars IN one hand and a bunch OF ballots
IN the other Were escorted from the street
to the polling place by at least two paid
employees OF the various aspirants. Every
available automobile Ia town was pressed
into service and kept running from early
afternoon until long after the caucus
closed. Each machine had conductor A.
well As chauffeur and the rounding up
process was carried on according 10
wellregulated system. The main idea o.
the scheme was 10 get IN the votes aud II
mattered not whether man lived two
miles or two rods from the town hall
II he hadn't voted by a certain hour h.
was sent for, voted and carried home
again.
The hall was packed when the result
was announced at about $3.50 and ths sup.
porter OF the victorious candidate yelled
Themselves hoarse with delight, and then
adjourned to the corridor Of Crosby
block. where further demonstration took |
place. Mr. Barber himself made 9 speech, |
). 4. Daniels, his campaign manager, was |
carried about the hall on the shoulders |
o. group of lusty followers ana every |
body smoked up" and enjoyed himself.
While this jollliication was going on s'nall |
groups OF republican voters were zen or |
the street corners earnestly discussing the |
methods which had been used at the eau
Gus and openly decrying them.
Congressman llaskins was among the
most outspoken in condemnlng. tn, man.
ner in which the caucus had been man.
aged. in all my Years in politics, he
said. Il never had the misfortune to at
tend such a disgustingly corrupt caucus.
II was nauseating, and there is absolutely
no defense for it. When cigars are hand
ed out with ballots, voters are almost car,
ried to the polling place and able-bodied
men who live only short distance away
ire brought to the polls in automobiles |
think il comes pretty near being a case
If bribery--or at least using undue intiu-
,nce. ! am free to say that do not con.
,ider myself bound by the out 'cmc OF
INV such caucus as that.
In addition to the nomination OF can
lidate for town representative the follow
NO Justice ticket was placed in nomna.
ion by committee of three, composed OF
4. +. Schwenk w. A. Gilbert and Il. w.
iibson:. William S. Newton, Ernest >.
Waterman, Anthony +. Schwenk, Charles
4. Boyden. Hiram +. Weatherhead, Her
,ert q. Barber. Michael j. Moran, Frank
J II Stowe. Robert G. Bacon, Arthur z.
spencer. William X. Daley, Arthur T.
,arpenter. Sanford A. Daniels, Herbert
B chamberlain and James +. Hooker.
On motion of f. w. Gibson OF the re-
,ublcan state committee local republi
an league club was organized with TIE
GLOWING officers: President, James +.
locker: vice presidents, George L. Dun
am. Warren L. Walker and Linn d. lay
Or: secretary, Frank Z. Barber; treas {
rer, Frederic c. Adams. Ii