The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-02-13
NO FUSION.
Republicans and Democrats Fail to Agree
on a Citizens Caucus.


"All voters irrespective of par.y"were invited
to meet in the council room of the city build
ing last Friday evening "to discuss the advis-
ability of uniting citizens ticket for the
spring election" The gathering in response
to this call was not large, enthusiastic or har-
monious About three dozen Democrats and
half a dozen Republicans were present One
speaker made stump speech the tariff and
other extraneous matters, in which he pro-
claimed that the Democratic party was the
poor mans party and the Republican the rich
mans party. Its relevancy to city cleo
ton was not apparent nor did it seem well
calculated to enthuse the Republicans with the
idea of playing the part of the cat on the sec
ond Monday of next March to enable the
Democratic monkey to land the spoils of Office
Another speaker brought to the attention of
the gathering the alleged fact that there are
three parties in Belfast today, and said that if
citizens ticket was made up it should include
a representation Of the Bull Moosers This
created decided frost. Mayor Hanson, who
presided, has been anxious for some time past
to have citizens ticket, for which the citizens
who have not only been Represented for
many years but have been villified and warred
upon under a one man city government, might
be held respons BILE; land realizing that most if
not all of the Democrats present were adverse
to his pet scheme he emptied the vials of his
wrath upon their heads. As one of his hear
ers remarked, no Republican "boss' would
have dared to use such language to his follow
ers, and if he did 1t would have led 70 open re-
volt. Several candidates for mayor we're men,
toned, but there seemed general inclination
to evade the honor. One whose name has
been frequently mentioned in out of town
papers as the mayors choice for his successor,
when called upon took to the woods-or rather
to the corridor. The sum and substance of it all
was that while majority of the Democrats
present evidently did not want citizens caucus
on any terms, others were willing to make such
an arrangement, provided they were given full
control of the new city government. like
arrangement on their side would have perhaps
been agreeable to the Republicans. AS an in
dication of outside sentiment Belfast busi-
ness man, Republican, is quoted as saying
that he had no objection to Democrats for the
city Offices provided they were anti Hanson.
A good many Democrats also feel that way.
1t was finally decided that the Republican and
Democratic city committees should meet at
the city building Monday evening to discuss
the situation and if possible come to some de-
finite understanding.
The committee met as agreed and Carleton
Doak, Esq. was called to the chair. He said
that the meeting would probably be of short
duration as a majority of his committee. after
consulting with their constituents, had decid-
ed against entering into any arrangement for
holding citizens caucus. This was evidently
surprise. and not an agreeable one. to some
Of the Democrats present DR.. Kilgore
thought they might talk the matter over and
said he had two propositions to submit to the
meeting. Chairman Doak said he would be
glad to hear the propositions. but an indignant
protest came from the Democrats, and the
meeting was declared ajournsd.