Local GOP Factionalism Erupts into Petty Squabble
A promised 'mass meeting' of local Republicans descends into an awkward, small-attendance brawl over internal club politics.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
In anticipation of a large crowd, the meeting of Republicans last Saturday night was held in Koehler's hall. Like the advertised speakers from abroad, the crowd did not materialize. About a score of Republicans and two or three 'other friends of good government' were all who 'showed up.' After waiting awhile for the crowd to thicken, John Perry was chosen chairman and Fred Hart, secretary. Even these sweet speeches of a few of the faithful were not sufficient to dispel the ill-feeling and jealousy that has arisen between the two well-defined wings of Republicanism in Aberdeen, and a heated wrangle, lasting about half an hour, was had over the proposition to organize clubs. The outcome was, much to their surprise and dismay, a defeat for the ring element. After adjournment Jimmie Hood threw up his hat and swore by all that was mighty that he would have another club anyway, and so got out circulars signed by himself as committeeman calling a caucus of the First ward. But after three days drumming all the strength he could muster at the caucus was five votes.
“For God's sake, let us get and do something; the whole town is laughing at us.”
Political infighting and the struggle for party control are as old as the town itself. This episode highlights how the 'ring element' versus reformist factions mirrored broader trends in turn-of-the-century Washington politics.
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