The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-15
TWO BIG CAUCUSES
HELD SATURDAY
EVENING
No Issues But a Hot Time at
Each Gathering
GHOST DANCE METHODS
Republicans Stirred over Road Com
missioner and Democrats over
Parliamentary Procedure

Two bear dances, otherwise known
as the Republican and Democratic
town caucuses, were pulled off Satur-
day night with good sized audiences
and plenty of applause. The Repub-
lican menagerie performed and fought
at Foresters hall from%S to 1880 o.
clock, while the Democratic perfor-
nance broke loose at Apollo hall at s
O'Clock and it was past II when the
last OF the manned and wounded were
given FIRST aid to the injured and the
lights turned out.
There wasn't any particular issue
before either caucus. The only real
strife over nominations was for the
place of road commissioner in the
north district in the Republican eau
Gus. But even where there wasn't
any issue or even any objection to a
candidate somebody was usually sue
cessful in stirring up chewing
match.
The Republican caucus worried
along without much gunplay or blood
shed until it came to the nomination
of the north district road commission
er. Four names were presented so
quick, the chairman didn't hear any
of them and had to start an investi-
cation. The four finally located were
Myron Stratton, Henry Stratton, Will
liam West and Houghton Rice 1t
was decided that only voters from
outside the village could vote on the
question but it at once developed that
most of the voters present were from
the northeast part of the town drawn
by the road commissioner contest.
check list was called for but the
demand was withdrawn and then trou-
BILE began Votes were challenged,
personalities INDUCED in and for a
time it looked as though it would be
necessary to kill three or four men in
order to prevent anybody getting hurt.
Myron Stratton emerged triumphant
from the fracas, winning easily over
the other three candidates. The eau
Gus then proceeded tonominate Austin
Percy for road commissioner in the
south district though he is said to
live in the north district.
The Democrats delegated the seec-
ton of a ticket to a committee and
after a patient wait of nearly two
hours the committee reported candi-
dates for all the places except select
men, which were left blank. Among
the names presented was that of Fred
Russell for constable and collector
]. p. Gavin, Frank P. Nolan and Fred
Martin objected to It going on the
ticket that way They were not op
posing Mr.. Russell but wanted the
two offices separated as was done at
the Republican caucus and would be
on the town ticket,
II was moved that the report of the
committee be amended by putting in
the name of Richard Hurley as collec
tor. This motion aroused war OF
words and questions of parliamentary
procedure. BY actual count there
were seven men talking at one time
and there was more parliamentary
law suggested and invoked than Cush
ing ever dreamed of. In the end the
committee recommendations were ac
cepted, all of them unanimously ex
cept that of Mr., Russell which was by
a vote of II to II, as nearly as the
reporter could figure it, no official an
nouncement being made. The debat,
on procedure took an hours time ant
it was past II when the caucus ad
journed.