Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-04-25

ty politics of fftv years ago, although
nv personal interest in events mar
rated lead me to more particularly re-
member the same.
7 came to BarabOO from New Hamp-
shire in 1866. | mad been active III
D0litics during the stirring times OF
7hp early sixties in New Hampshire,
and naturally soon became Interested
in the politics Of my adopted state.
After a little I found myself taking
mart in Republican caucuses, and at
tending the county conventions, as
delegate from the town Of Greenfield,
where | lived on a farm, dividing my
energies between farming in season
for such work, and teaching school
during the winter.
The old caucus and convention sys-
tenn was then in vogue for selection
of candidates for state, congressional
and county official positions. Dele
gates were chosen in caucuses held IN
the several towns and villages, to the
county convention, which in turn Sc
lected delegates to the state congress
sional, and senatorial conventions,
and nominated candidates for county
Offices Each voting precinct was en-
titled to delegates, the number OF
which was apportioned upon the party
vote at the last state election.
In 1874. knowing that a change was
to be made in the office OF county reg
lister of deeds, | decided to become
candidate for that position. The han
ding of party politics in tse county
was supposed to be primarily lodged
ding of party politics in the county
seat and men in sympathy with them,
scattered over the county These men
were accustomed to make up "slate"
before each convention, selecting can
didates for the several positions to be
filled, and deciding matters Of party
pOIicy. | soon discovered that my
candidacy was not acceptable to marty
leaders. they having decided upon
Young man, cashier of the local bank
CIV. B. ThOmas) as candidate. New
ertheless | determined to remain IN
the field. The grange was Just then
fiourishing in Sauk county | was an
active member of the order and could
count on some strength from that
source. [ had also as q member OF
the county board made the acquaint-
ance of town chairmen throughout the
county, many of whom would support
my candidacy.
The convention came on and | as
certained that the delegation from
Reedsburg was irregular and would
give me it's support. The convention
was organized by the election OF ES-
quire West of Reedsburg as chairman
Col. A L. Slye was a candidate for
county treasurer, and there was no
opposition to his nomination; but the
colonel had purchased farm in Green
field and was therefore resident OF
the same town as myself, in town of
not much prestige in a political way
The order of nomination of county
officers had for a long time been:
first, register of deeds; second treas
urer. and so on through the list. My
opponents now conceived the idea of
changing the order of nomination to:
first, treasurer; second, register of
deeds, etc.
With Colonel Slye nominated, the
cry was to be raised that not more
than one important office could be CIV
en- to Greenfield, and [ must be de-
feated. Attorney Levi Crouch Of Bar
abOO made the motion for change OF
order but on some technicality the
fhO ont of
Mr.. Crouch appealed from the deci-
sion of the chair, and the test OF
strength in the convention was on.
Knowing that some towns in the west
ern part of the county were represent
ed by a single delegate, authorized to
cast the full vote of the town, and
that a ''viva vOce" vote would not
give a representative show of the wish
of the convention, an ''aye and nay
vote was called for, and the chair was
sustained by majority of about a
dozen votes. l had the support of but
two delegates from the town and vii
1age of BaraboO.
On the first ballot for register, my
lead was so strong that the Baraboo
candidate was dropped, and the oppo-
sition united upon a popular young
man from Spring Green John E. Nor
gam with whom, several years later
had the pleasure of serving two
terms in the state assembly. On the
second ballot l was nominated by a
majority of ten or twelve votes.
Even after my election, l was not
at once forgiven for my political ir
regularity.
Short or granger form of deeds
and mortgages t.t.u Dovu Iegalized by
the legislature, by which the price Of
the recording of deeds was reduced
from seventy-fve to fifteen cents, ant
mortgages from one dollar to twenty
five cents. There seemed to be con
certed action on the part of leading
conveyancers to use these short form:
and it looked as though the normal In