Two Caucuses, One Town, and a Fight Over Water

Pursuant to a published call of the Citizens' Independent Party a caucus for the nomination of town officers was held at Kelly's Hall Thursday evening. Verne Branigin was elected to preside over the caucus with A. E. Reid as secretary. It developed that there was considerable disagreement as to who was entitled to participate in the caucus, and several warm speeches were made and hot discussion ensued amid general confusion. Resolutions which had been prepared by a committee were presented, but were laid upon the table. The following were declared the nominees for town officers: Mayor—Lute Rowell; Treasurer—Fred Phillips; Councilman for Two Years—Chas. Pike and J. E. Williams; Councilman for One Year—John Flynn. The caucus was then adjourned, but was immediately followed by another caucus consisting of members of the Citizens' Independent organization which was formed some weeks ago. It was the contention of the organization that none but its members were entitled to a vote in the caucus under the call and therefore called the second caucus. Chairman Carl R. Schotte, of the organization, called the caucus to order, and Ed Appel was elected permanent chairman, with W. A. Priaulx as secretary. The following resolutions, which had been laid on the table by the previous caucus, were then read and regularly adopted: Resolved, That all candidates chosen by this convention shall be men of sterling ability, unquestionable character, and duty bound to oppose any further steps leading toward the final acquisition of the water rights or land in question, or toward the construction of any water system therefrom. Nominations for town officers being in order the following were put up: For Mayor—Dr. J. T. Phillips. For Treasurer—Wm. Krause. For Councilman for Two Years—Frank Bennett and George Hynes. For Councilman for One Year—Chas. Stadelman. Dr. Phillips was seen Friday noon by a Miner reporter and said that he would positively decline to accept the nomination for mayor. The matter of filling vacancies was left with a committee named by the caucus.