Two Caucuses, One Name, and a New Newport Party
After rival caucuses claimed the same ballot name, Newport's People's Progressive Party met at Judge D. R. Lusher's office and nominated a full municipal ticket for December.
A new municipal party was born in Newport Wednesday night. Owing to the fact that there were two caucuses held last week, and both sides offering to file certificates of nomination under the same name, the city clerk could accept but one, and it was necessary that a second caucus be held by the party which last offered to file papers. Pursuant to a call a mass meeting was held Wednesday evening at the office of Judge D. R. Lusher, over which Mr. Lusher presided as chairman and B. M. LeFevre as secretary. The following ticket, under the name of People's Progressive Party, was placed in nomination, which is the same as was put before the people at the first caucus of last Thursday evening:
Mayor — Lute Rowell. Treasurer — Fred Phillips. Councilmen for Two Years — Chas. Pike and J. E. Williams. Councilman for One Year — John Flynn.
“A new municipal party was born in Newport Wednesday night.”
Third-party and independent local tickets still form over ballot access, personality and frustration with the established parties. Newport's 1907 caucus fight is a reminder that the paperwork of democracy—who files first, whose name counts—can decide an election before anyone votes.
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