Seventeen Citizens Pick an Entire City Ticket
Two caucuses, seventeen voters and a third ballot to break a tie: Newport's parties choose their men for council and treasurer in a campaign almost nobody seems to care about.
Interest in the city campaign appears to be at a low ebb when only 17 persons in the town turn out to attend two caucuses.
The Independent party met at the city hall and after discussing the names of two score citizens finally placed the following names in nomination: David Caldwell, E. J. Lutz, George Torreson, Walter Rogers, Willard Millard and William Dunwoodie. The balloting was secret.
The first ballot gave Messrs. Caldwell and Lutz a majority, while Messrs. Torreson, Dunwoodie and Millard were a tie. On the third ballot Mr. Millard was declared winner by a vote of 6 to 4.
Fred Phillips, the present incumbent, was nominated for city treasurer. The chances are that Mr. Phillips will be elected, as he was also nominated by the other caucus.
M. M. Sammons acted as chairman and John A. Noble was secretary.
The Good Government caucus was held at the office of Justice Lusher. Seven citizens were in attendance. Justice Lusher presided and J. C. Grover acted as clerk.
B. F. Seeley, Frank Vawter and John McKee were nominated as councilmen and Fred Phillips for city treasurer. Mr. Vawter failed to accept the nomination, and the committee appointed Fred Kimmal to fill the vacancy.
The character of all the nominees is such that there will be no controversy over the election and the town is assured of having good men at the helm.
“Interest in the city campaign appears to be at a low ebb when only 17 persons in the town turn out to attend two caucuses.”
A hundred and some years later the complaint is unchanged — that municipal races draw a roomful of the already-converted while most of the town stays home. Newport still chooses its council and treasurer the same way, and the paper's reassurance that the nominees' 'character' will spare the town controversy is the oldest line in local political coverage.
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