The peaceful exchange of power is a test of a government's legitimacy, and say what one may about the United States, we know how to do elections. Politics was in the news in the first few days of November.

100 years ago

First words in the Nov. 4, 1908, Natrona County Tribune were "GREAT REPUBLICAN VICTORY," and that wasn't strong enough so the second headline declared, "WYOMING IS REPUBLICAN," and to vanquish a local nemesis, the final headline concluded, "BUTLER'S TICKET BURIED."

Proud print: Republicans did have a lot to celebrate. President-elect William Howard Taft was elected by a respectable majority against William Jennings Bryan, dealing a third loss to a presidential bid by Bryan.

Bryan emerged into presidential politics at the 1896 Democratic National Convention where he delivered a populist message casting doubts on the moneyed special interests in his "Cross of Gold" speech.

The Natrona County exception to the Republican sweep was that Allie Dickinson lost the election for superintendent of schools to independent candidate Kate Stanard.

Stanard won decisively with a 241-vote majority - that was more votes than Democratic candidate for superintendent Maggie McGraugh even received with 217 votes.

For a person excoriated in headline and subhead, Alex T. Butler's name doesn't appear anywhere on the ballot, and yet a subhead truculently said, "Old Line Democrats Disclaim the Renegade Leader and He is Rebuked at the Polls by Citizens."

To find an article about Butler in the Nov. 4, 1908, Tribune, a reader must go to an inside page under the unofficial (precincts Miller and Split Rock not reporting) Natrona County returns.

Eugene McCarthy met up with Butler before Justice of the Peace Warren Tubbs, and the two men presented their respective cases regarding $80 that was the subject of an open letter published in the week before in the Tribune.

McCarthy acted as his own lawyer, although Butler really was a lawyer, and Justice Tubbs decided in favor of McCarthy. Butler said he would appeal. McCarthy said he could go right ahead, and he would face him in any court.

75 years ago

The Nov. 3, 1933, Casper Tribune-Herald's lead headline said "KENDRICK'S CONDITION WORSE," referring to U.S. Sen. John Kendrick. Kendrick was in the hospital in Sheridan.

Governance takes: The Natrona County Woolgrowers met at the Elks Hall in Casper, and after retaining county officers, the association reached a consensus in condemnation of a state tax, bandied as a possible measure taken in the special session of the Legislature to convene in December.

Protestation: Gov. Leslie Miller wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Harold Ickes complaining that the "Tulsa Plus" plan under discussion to regulate gasoline prices in Western states would be unfair to Wyoming.

Secretary Ickes wrote back to Gov. Miller thanking the governor for bringing the matter to his attention, and the Interior secretary said Wyoming gasoline consumers would be considered in further discussions about regulating prices.

Lost statesman: U.S. Sen. John Kendrick died Nov. 3, 1933, and the Nov. 5, Tribune-Herald marked his passing with a tribute and photograph and book-end articles running down both sides of the front page.

With no disrespect intended, of course, an article in the middle of that same front page reported that the governor wasn't sure if he would call for a special election or make an appointment to occupy Kendrick's Senate seat.

50 years ago

The lead headline of the Nov. 4, 1958, Casper Morning Star warned, "AIR FORCE TO TRY AGAIN WITH MOON SHOT," but the photo was of local crash victim James Guillory spilled out of his wrecked car.

Patrolman Bill Brandon held Guillory's wrist as they waited for the ambulance. Guillory died at the hospital.

Crowded pages: The Nov. 4 Morning Star was so crammed full of campaign ads that readers had to search for news articles. Nov. 4, 1958, was election day.

There was room for a stand-alone photo of Mills resident Dara Hastings receiving a Bible as a prize for guessing closest to the number of words in the Bible.

Hastings guessed 800,075 words, and the photo caption said the Bible contains 773,746 words.

Among the familiar names of candidates in the campaign ads, there were photos of Edness Kimball Wilkins, candidate for state House, Edness Mokler, candidate for county treasurer, and Louis Cooper, incumbent candidate for sheriff.

25 years ago

Cuban President Fidel Castro was photographed welcoming a wounded Cuban soldier home after the U.S. invasion of Grenada on the front page of the Nov. 3, 1983, Casper Star-Tribune.

Legacy of equality: Another photo in the Nov. 3 Star-Tribune shows President Ronald Reagan signing the law that declared a national holiday to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

"A Look Back in Time" is made possible with the help of Western History Archivist Kevin S. Anderson at the Casper College Western History Center, which is open to the public.