Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1888 — THE POLITICAL FIELD. [ARTICLE]

THE POLITICAL FIELD.

Dakota’s latest Constitutional Convention, held at Huron last week, adjourned after adopting the following: 1. That a permanent committee of three, consisting of the Hon J. A. Edgerton, the Hon. Hugh L. Campbell, and the Hon. A. C. Mellette, be and I are hereby appointed to guard and direct the [ interests of the constitutional movement for | Statehood in South Dakota. 2. That the ques- | tion of appointing Presidential electors this spring be left to the discretion of this permanent committee. 3. That when this convention adjourn, it adjourn till Tuesday, the 10th day of July, 188 s. Judge Campbell, of Yankton, sent a letter advising a strong memorial to Congress, one which would carry the idea that Dakota will do something next summer if Congress does nothing this winter. A New York paper publishes a three-col-umn letter from Senator Stewart of Nevada to a constituent on the subject of the confirmation of Mr. Lamar. Mr. Stewart reviews at length the record of Mr. Lamar since the close of the war, and says: I know of no other man who bore arms against the United States in the late war who has so unreservedly accepted the verdict of arms and so unequivocally and continuously maintained the validity of the new amendments to the Constitution as Mr. Lamar. If he is disqualified to fill the office of Justice of the Supreme Court by reason of his participation in the late war no person who bore arms against the United States can ever become eligible to that office. The Nevada Senator, in closing, says: Unless a very different case can be presented against Mr. Lamar from anything which has come under my observation. I shall deem it my duty to vote for his confirmation, and advise other Republican Senators to do the same. In the lowa Legislature at Des Moines, on Tuesday, Senator James F. W.lson was nominated by acclamation to succeed himself, Mr. Hepburn and other candidates withdrawing. The Senator announced that upon the expiration of his second term he would retire to private life. A thousand or more of the Democratic politicians of Indiana assembled at Indianapolis in response to a call for a conference. Governor Gray was selected as chairman of the conference. President Cleveland’s administration was indorsed, and the sentiment was unmistakably in favor of Governor Gray for Vice President, and Congressman Matson for Governor. When the Committee on Resolutions came to consider the declaration of the conference on the subject of tariff reform there was dissension. A few members known as absolute free-traders stubbornly advocated the adoption of a resolution taking a step or two in advance of the President’s message, audit was only with great difficulty that the free-trade sentiment was suppressed. A Dubuque dispatch says: “Out of 100 interrogations on the choice for President and other questions of National and State interest, sent out to Republican officials and leading politicians in lowa, seventy replies have been received. These replies conclusively establish the fact that lowa’s choice for President is Senator Allison. He leads the list by a handsome majority, as tho first and also as the second choice for President. All of the State officials, from Governor Larrabee down, name Allison as their first choice, except Auditor Lyon, and he is for the nominee of the convention. For Vico President, Harrison, of Indiana, and Hawley, of Connecticut are favorites, Lincoln being third. To the question, ‘Do you favor a protective tar.ff?’ all answer yes, with four exceptions. As to national prohibition, 37 favored it, 25 opposed it, and 10 expressed no opinion. Only four of the entire number opposed the continuance of prohibition in lowa.” The Louisiana Democratic State convention in session at Baton Bongs on the first ballot nominated Gen. Francis T. Nichols for Governor. The convention has been in session four days. The nomination of Gen. Nichols is a victory for what is known as the Reform Democrats over the regular State administration faction The canvass over the nomination had been carried on with increasing bitterness since June, and it was thought would result in a split and two nominations; but State administration Democrats accepted their defeat Gen. Nichols, the nominee, was a graduate of West Point, and commanded at one time Jackson’s Stonewall brigade, and lost an arm and a leg in the Confederate service. He was elected Governor in 1876, and got the office, although the State was counted for Hayes. The Blair educationnl bill will doubtless have the same experience in this Congress that it had in the last, says a Washington special. There is a largo majority in the Senate in favor of its passage, but when it reaches the House it will undoubtedly be voted down, if it is not smothered, as it was before, in the Committee on Education. That committee was made up to defeat the bill, for the chairman and a majority of tho members are decidedly opposed to it.