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MOFFAT
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
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NEWSPAPER
TIDBITS - EARLY ELECTIONS
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| The Craig Empire newspaper on April 8, 1925 |
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Thanks to Nancy T. Green for contributing the information on this page! |
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The Vote For Mayor R. E. Thorpe,
Peoples----------385 Trustees, Two-Year Term Clyde Maxey, Peoples-----------400 |
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Trustees, One-Year Term W. P. Finley,
Peoples----------437 |
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PEOPLES PARTY SWAMPS KLANSMEN R. A. Curtis Only Man to Escape Landslide Which Carries Thorpe and Five Trustees Into Office Non-partisan, visible government received the endorsement of the majority of Craig voters yesterday when the Peoples party candidates were swept back into town offices by small majorities. In the most closely contested, exciting election in the history of Craig the visible government forces were given a vote of confidence of Craig citizens. Only one Peoples party candidate--Thomas W. Rogers veteran trustee--was defeated. He lost by two votes to Raymond A. Curtis, coalition candidate. Counting judges were used yesterday for the first time in a municipal election, and as a result the returns were available shortly after the polls closed. When news of the Peoples party victory became known a wild celebration, surpassing anything of the kind ever seen in Craig, was staged. Impromptu parades, bonfires and music kept the visible government supporters celebrating their victory until after midnight. Yesterday's election, judged both by the campaign and the results, was far and away the most spectacular in the annals of Craig. Party lines were absolutely obliterated early in the campaign and the klan became the outstanding issue of the fight. Klan supporters were able to take both the Democratic and Republican caucuses and place candidates in the field under the labels of these parties. The Democrats were the first to get into action, nominating a complete ticket, with two women named for trustees. All the Democratic nominees except the women, R. H. Howard for mayor and P. I. Holloway for trustee, declined to qualify. After a fight in the Republican caucus, klan supporters won complete control of this party as well and endorsed Howard for mayor. The Peoples party caucus brought the klan issue to the front by nominating all non-members and making "visible government" the slogan. A consolidation between the two klan tickets was affected shortly before election and cards and handbills appeared urging support of a ticket composed of Howard for mayor; Curtis, Holloway and Thompson for long-term trustees and Allen, Colburn and Davidson for short-term trustees. It is understood that this ticket was selected at the last meeting of the local klan. It received the support of the opposition newspaper. More than nine hundred voters were registered for the election and 713 of these turned out at the polls yesterday. Weather conditions were ideal and there was a waiting line at the polling place almost the entire day. Both factions had challengers at the polls and in the neighborhood of a hundred votes were challenged. Peoples party workers challenged some thirty-five votes and klan workers about twice this number. In almost every instance the challenged voter took the oath necessary to swear in his or her vote. Grounds for a contest of the election were laid by these challenges, but it is not expected that a contest will be instituted by either side. The newly elected officers will take office tonight, when the old board will pay bills and turn over the town's affairs to the incoming officers. There is likely to be little change in the policy of the administration, as four of the newly-elected officers are already a part of the administration. Mayor J. G. Clayton, who has held the helm of city government for the past two years, returns to the administration as a member of the board of trustees. R. E. Thorpe, who has been mayor pro tem for several years, will be elevated to the mayoralty. Trustees Kusey and Maxey at present hold the same offices. Trustees Hadsell and Finley have served in the same capacity before and are in perfect harmony with members of the old board. R. A. Curtis is the only trustee who has not previously held town office, and he is thoroughly familiar with conditions, as he had for several years audited the accounts of town officers. The new officers take the reins of government at a most important time in the life of the town. Waterworks extension is now under way and other improvements will have to be made within the next twelve months. A new less stringent building ordinance is likely to be the first important work to be taken up by the newly elected board. News that the Peoples party was the winner was definitely known shortly after 7:30 o'clock last night and was received with wild enthusiasm by party supporters. The fire truck, heavily loaded with cheering men, made several trips through town. This parade was followed by a monster bonfire in front of the Armory, after which the celebrants adjourned to the Good Eats cafe, where the Harmony Kings kept lively music and songs going until well after midnight.
R. E. Thorpe served as mayor of Craig until 1929 and was reelected in 1932, winning the last election by only 7 votes, 189 to 182. He later ran for treasurer but was defeated and an announcement appeared in the paper stating: To The Voters of Moffat County
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