The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-19
CAUCUS DOES
 NOT ENDORSE
 CANDIDATES
Speech for Mayoralty Can didate Gets, Oh ! An
 Awful Frost

As an experiment in telepathy the Republican caucus. held last night. in the Board of Trade Rooms, was meas urably successful. As means of try ing out delegates it was a failure. As the caucus was doubtless ass smbled for this purpose there must have been was kept a secret. Less of the trans actions than usual leaked. because of the absence of the regular assortment of wire pullers and political hench- mmen. Word had gone out that there were delegates who would severely re- buke the presence of any such. One lone candidate for a. minor office got near enough to the delegates so that they could see him. His chances were not improved thereby. John D. Curtis. formerly of the Adams Express Com pany, one of the delegates from the in compliment to his distinguished military record and also perhaps a few delegates voted for him to further the idea that Mayor Lee will control the convention, because MT. Curtis be- lieved to favor Lees candidacy
 But there was nothing else in the caucus to substantiate the claim that it's members are overwhelmingly pledged to Lees renomination.
 One delegate. whose name could not UG I6dTnGu, luS S0IiGIdl OC- ing that he was another Seventh dis trict delegate, made a fervfd speech in which the accomplishments of the executive in office were enumerated in detail.
 And this was the only discussion oS candidates. It is also the only clue to the real temper of the convention This speech not only did not preciDitate an endorsement. but it was followed by cold. and solemn silence so lengthy as H. II-1 |, 4v,oo phere was derisive if not hostile.
 Whatever interchange of opinion there was among delegates took place after the caucus had adjourned.
 It was the Morris men. it is said who prevented a discussion and en- dorsement of candidates. They dil not desire the delegates friendly to them to be subject to the influences that would be directed against them until the convention is held.
 For the first time in years RepubI- cans will be obliged. like the Demo- crats. to make Q portion of their nominations at least. in public, and not in caucus.
 In three districts solid delegations were sent for Morris. These delega- tions. having received their instruc- tions direct from the people, cannot vary from their pledges unless another prinary is called and, they are re- leased the same way in which they were pledged.
 Thomas Arnold Jr. by himself and his friends. is seeing delegates. But the publicity that immediately follows his, visits does not, in the minds of political students augur well for his prospects.
 The Fifth district delegates are still grooming Coroner c. B. Wilson as hard as they can in the hope that there will be some kind of a slip up. as between Morris and Lee, which will let Wilson in.
 The Booth and Cooney contest even is in the air and neither of thc-n can didates knows this morning where he stands.
 Under the corrupt practices act it is difficult to trade, and any alliances that have been attempted upon a purely trading basis have so far, it is claim ed, been promptly rejected and the party behind the attempted bargain warned to be more discreet