Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-11
wRITTEN ron TINS PAPER


nor-to-be concerning a matter that Law
near his heart.
MY friends will surely not be forgot
ten when ! am elected" said the candi-
Gate. you'll not expect definite asaur-
ance now, OF course, but know who NV
! friends are" 20
And the Squire made way for another
delegation, carrying a big handful Of
cigars, urged upon him for his abovs -
It was noted, and duly reported AT
/ Spencer headquarters, that from several
/ OF the back towns came the full List Of
delegates who would have represented
these towns had Granger, instead Of
[ Spencer, carried them. These assured the
/ Spencer delegates that they came lust To
see the fun. Though pronounced Gran0-
er men, ii was noted that they wore no
badges. During the evening, at least
one member Of each OF these defeated del
egations crept into Granger quarters and
was eloseted with "Phf' Annis.
Something was up. About midnight.
when much OF the NOISE had subsidized.
came the revelation. The Changers had
/ quietly filed contests against the Spencer
delegations from several towns and
would make an effort to unseat them.
\ The presence OF the defeated Granger del
egates was explained. They were TO take
seats IN the convention IL the returned
/ Spencer delegates were ousted. The
number was clearly sufficient to give
Granger the nomination.
The news spread instantly among those
yet up, and not a few tired Spencer
workers were aroused and hastily sum-
moned TO headquarters for conference
over this latest development.
cts one Of 'Php Annis' sharp tricks.
was the general expression. "But how
can i pull Granger through? Surely,
there's no ground for these contests and
they must be dismissed"
Nevertheless, the uneasiness grew on
the Spencer side, while the machine men
smiled more confidently and finally re-
tired in strong assurance OF the outcome.
'Phi' Annis held the little Joker, as usu-
al, they said.
The state committee, acting as the COM
mittee on credentials, met at eight
O'Clock convention morning to prepare
the usual roll. The meeting took place
in the big hotel parlor. At that hour.
full OF the rumors that had spread. a
dense throng packed the hallway leading
to the parlor and thrust its van into the
very faces OF the perturbed committee
men.
The work had proceeded but a little
way when, the three delegates from
Bushton having presented their eertifi-
Gates, "Phr' Annis, who stood at the
head Of the table, spoke:-
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Committee. In behalf of three gentlemen
| present, who we're candidates for seats in
/ this convention from Bushton, desire to
/ file q protest against the returned dele
\ gates on the ground Of frauds perpetrated
at the caucus sufficient to affect the re-
sult. And herewith file affdavits from
numerous reputable citizens Of Bushton
substantiating my claim and giving de-
/ tails. The rightfully elected delegates
/ from Bushton are these three gentlemen
/ here, and I ask this committee to receive
and weigh the evidence produced and
hear arguments in their behalf.n
/ A buzz of excitement followed.
"Mr. Annis, do we understand you
will contest other delegations on similar
/ grounds 20 asked the chairman, as
though merely suspecting what he al
ready knew.
Eyes, sir, will show this committee
that gross frauds have been perpetrated
in at least seven towns"
After a consultation, the committee de-
cided to make up the roll Of uncontested
delegates, and then take up the contests.
"ft any person present is prepared to
give evidence in these cases, announced
the chairman, 1--WE shall be glad to hear
him. But it Is manifestly impossible for
us to consider matters OF this Importance
overw helmed by such a crush, and we
must have the room cleared before we be-
GIN"
The crowd slowly pushed its way out.
Seven delegations in all "Phr' Annis chal-
lenged and In each case the seats were
left vacant until the committee could hear
aud decide the contests. About thirty
seats were involved.
Behind closed doors these contests were
finally taken up, one by one. In each,
i"Phi" Annis produced a large batch OF
sworn statements covering allegations OF
irregularity. At some of the caucuses.
Democrats had voted; at others the box
had been turned before the prescribed
time; at others the count had been improp-
erly made; all tending to defeat the true
will OF the party, as the afidavits estab-
/ liahed. The contesting delegations In
each case represented the honest Republi-
can majority vote at the caucus and de-
served seats in the convention.
} The Spencer side, not prepared for such
a development and unprovided with am
davits, could only assert vehemently that
each and every caucus under considera-
tion had been fairly conducted and above
the least suspicion Of irregularity; that
! no claim OF fraud had been made until
this late hour, when counter evidence, Of
, which plenty could otherwise be pro
, duoed, was not obtainable, and that i
was a shrewd political trick to accom-
; plish q desired result.
: This did not disturb "Phi'' Annis {