Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1888 — The County Convention. [ARTICLE]

The County Convention.

)Vhen Republicans vote against bad pieji on their party ticket they thereby oftep do good service to the party, but when they vote agajnst good men out of “pure cussedness,” as they did last Monday, they are doing what they can to keep that kind of men out of politics, and are doing an injury to the party and an injury to the people. W. G. Thompson, ex-Mayor of Detroit, is the chief fugleman for Don M, Dickinson, the Post-master General. Thompson lately left the Republican party on account of its ‘‘corruption,” as he claimed. He is now defendant in a divorce bun atm oe v vitu ttutuiauiicu w vuieD, including one colored woman, are co-respondents. He is a fine specimen to find fault with the Republican party on account of . “corruption.” Henry Wood, the defeated candidate for Town Marshal, is one of the best and straightest men to be found anywhere, also a hard and faithful worker, who discharged the duties of his office to the fullest satisfaction of eveiy reasonable person. He also received his nomination in the fairest possible manner and by an overwhelming majority. That such a man should be beaten by Shorty Simpson is a shame and a disgrace to the Republicans of Rensselaer. The manner in which the county convention did its work last Saturday, and the character of the ticket nominated, fully justifies the favorable sentiments regarding the delegates, in last week’s Republican. The ticket is without blemish and the work of nominating it was so fairly and harmoniously performed that even the confirmed and inveterate kickers will not, figniatively speaking, be able to find etauding ground for one foot while the other is ' ~ doubtedly favors Judge Gresham for the presidency, but at the same time its attitude towards General Harrison has always been eminently courteous and fair, its course, in that respect, being in

direct to that of the Tribune, and the Lafayette Courier, which unjustly ranked both papers in the same category, in respect to their attitudes toHarrison and Gresham, was severely but deservedly rebuked, by the Inter-Ocean, last week. The Courier ought to carefully discriminate between such an honor-able-and consistently Republican paper as the Inter-Ocean and such an unreliable and dishonest freebooter as the Tribune. To the great offenses of being the foulest most malignant, persistent and abusive of Copperheads and conspirators, and villifiers of the Union soldiers in the whole country, during the war, with the possible exception of Clement L. Vallandigham, of Ohio, Dan Voorhees has, since that time, added the other sins of pretended great friendship for the soldiers and the most reckless and unmeasured and gliinder dTeyefy person wfio |ms presumed to speak the truth regarding his course during that period. A double traitor during the war and a measurless liar and slanderer since; but, at last “his sins has found him out” and the bame of Traitor is stamped upon hisjforehead, with an ineffacable brand. The action of certain of the Republicans of Rensselaer in defeating that excellent, honorable and public spirited citizen, and good inarT of business, Addison Parkison, is much to be regretted, Nbt because Mr. Day will not make a good councilman, for we believe he will; but because it is a bad practice for the party to inflict uncalled for and undeserved defeat upon a good and true man. About the only excuse given, by Republicans, for voting against him, was the alleged act so Chairman 8. P. Thompson, at the town convention,in putting the motion to nominate Mr. Parkison by acclamation to a vote, before allowing a reasonable time for other names to be mentioned. There is little, if anything in this claim, but Republican Mugwumps are the lineal decendants of the fellows who, in older days, would strain at a Grant and swallow a Grover.

Illinois is for Gresham, but Indiana, Gresham’s home State, is not only for Harrison, but against Gresham. It is not so because the Republican people are so, but because Harrison has the party machinery in hand, wants the presidency himself and doesn’t want Gresham to have it even if Harrison can’t get it In the event of Blaine being accepted as out of the way when the Chicago convention meets, it is generally conceded by dispassionate Republicans that Judge Gresham would be the strongest of all the candidates named; but while he has Illinois, his own State of Indiana will be there to protest against his nomination Philadelphia Times. The inaccuracy in the above statement of the situation in Indiana, as seen in other states, probably results from the extravagant statements of a few over-zealous friends of General Harrisdn. The Indiana delegates mil, undoubtedly, support Harfison solidly, so long as there remains a reasonable prospect of his nomination, but it wffi7noF^pose““Judge“ i TGfesli®ffir Ltris possible that apportion of the delegates may adopt the dog-in-manger policy, as asserted by the Times, but the majoritijrrirf them will turn to Gre&ham in'the event of Harrison’s case becoming hopelew.

Enthusiasm anti Harmomy Prevail. A Ticket jt That Can’t Be BeatFpjr County Treasurer, ISRAEL B. WASHBURN. T 1 For'Cotihty Sheriff. , PHILIP BLUE. For County Coroner, 1 imaLp. BENJAMIN. For County Surveyor, - JAMES C THRAWLB. For County Commissioner, First District, PRESTON M QUERRY. For County Commissioner, Second District. F. WATSON. For County Coinmissioner.-Tiiird District, OLIVER P. TABOR. The Republican county convention met last “Saturday afternoon, pursuant to call of the central committee. Of the 131 delegates required in the call 130 were present .and participated in the wofk of nominating a ticket The convention was called to order by the county chairman, M. F. Chilcote, and by his direction the county secretary read the official call for the convention. Permanent organization was then effected by the election of W. H. Coover of Carpenter tp., as chairman and F. W. Reubelt, of Marion, secretary, and Chas Hanley, of Gillam, assistant secretary. A committee on rules was appointed as follows: E. P. Hammond, Marion, E. 'G. Warren, Keener, O. M. Vickery, Carpenter, James Cowden, Barkley, A. C. Robinson, Gillam. Also the following committee on credentials: E. D. Rhoades, J. M. Wasson, Marion, James Bullis, Jordan, John Martindale, Newton, C. O. Spencpr, Keeper, Clips. Penham, C. E. Mills, Cprpepter, W. D. Meyers, Walker, l|. p. P. Massey, Gillam, W. S.Hamilton,Wheatfield, Granville Moody Berkley, Walter Ponsler, Union, Charles Peregrine, Hanging Grove, John Biggs, Kankakee. Messrs. Hammond, Robinson and Cowden, a majority of the committee on rules, reported in favor of voting the convention, by ballot, in alphabetical order, each delegate to walk forward and deposit his ballot as his name was called. Messrs. Warren and Vickery brought in a minority report in favor of voting by ballot, but the delegates to vote by townships and precincts and openly announce the result. The minority report was unanimously adopted. The committee on-credentials reported that the delegates from Milroy, in which there was a contest, were Zibe McCashep and John E. Brbwn. Also that Wm. Kennedy, alternate, should act as a delegate in place of Wm. Hanley, of Walker and John W. Teeters, alternate, as delegate in place of M A. W. Bellows, of Carpenter. With the exception of these four names the convention was composed of the delegates as published last week. The only absentee was W. H. Churchill, of North Marion, and whose place was not filled.

THE NOMINATIONS. The nomination of a candidate for Treasurer was first in order, and Dr. I. B. Washburn, the pres, ent incumbent, was enthusiastically renominated, by acclamation, without a dissenting vote. FOB SHERIFF. The roll of townships was then called, for candidates for the nomination for sheriff. R. B. Harris, of Barkley named G. W. Payne; VV. H. Gwin, of Marion, Erastus Peacock; B. F. Ferguson, of Marion, Philip Blue; A. Wood worth, of Marion, George. J. Dexter; C. E. Mills, of Carpenter, A. G. Hardy. THE EIBST BALLOT. Following is the first ballot by townships: W d M Hanging Grove 6 Gillam : 4 1 Walker 6 Barkley 11 Marion rY 6'19 Jordan 6 Newton 5 1 Keener 1 2 5 1 Kankakee .5 Wheatfield * 3 Carpenter 27 Milroy _ 2 Union 8 Totals 21 10 47 6 41 Whole number-rotes cast, 130. Necessary to choice 66. ' SECOND BALLOT. After the second ballot things looked blue for Blue. He lost two votes and his leading competitor, Hardy, gained one. The changes on this ballot, from the former, were that Gillam transferred one of Dexter’s and one of

Blue’s votes to Payne. Barkley gave two of Payne s votes to Blue and ope to Dexter. Marion took 6 votes away frqm Blue and gave 3 of them to Dexter, 2 to Peacock and three to Hardy. Hardy’s one vote in Newton went to Bltie. In Keener Blue got a vote each away from Payne and Peacock. In Wheatfield 1 of Blue’s went to Payne and in Union 1 of Payne’s went to Blue. Result: Payne 24, Peacock 12, Blue 45, Dexter 7, Hardy 42. third ballot. third ballot gave Payne 20, Peqqock 10, Blue 50, Dexter 4 ? Hardy 46. Tljiere were numerous changes, but none of much importance. FO.TBTH BALLOT. . The fourth ballot was without much interest. Eat-h of the two leaders lost a little, Blue 1 vote and Hardy 2. The total vote for each candidate was, Payne 24, Peacock 8, Blue 49, Dexter 5, Hardy 44. FIFTH BALLOT. The most marked feature of this ballot was a greAt falling off in Peacock’s and Dexter’s votes and a great increase in Blue’s, by getting all lost, except 1 to Payne. The total vote stood, Payne 25, Peacock 1, Blue 58, Dextej 2, Hardy 44. Union went solid for Payne again, on this ballot. SIXTH BALLOT. On this ballot Blue forged ahead 4 votes while. Hardy got out of the 44 hole only to slip back 3 notmies. The changes were not nunwrous, the most important 4)eingjhatthe coquettish Gillam vote, which had, at times, trifled with the young affections of all the candidates, now dropped solidly into the arms of the brave captain from Barkley township, but his gains in Gillam were offset by losses in Union. At ballot Marion nearest to voting solidly of any time, giving 25. votes for Blue. The total vote was, Payne 25, Peacock 1, Blue Dexter 1, Hardy 41. Blue’s vote lacked only 4 of nominating him. SEVENTH BALLOT. It nas now evident that Hardy could not reach the prize and a strong effort was made to combine his vote and Payne’s upon Dexter, with the result that the latter received more votes than at any. previous ballot and that the heretofore Solid vote of OarpentOT was at last divided. On this ballot the fair but fickle Gillam delegation forsook Payne as unanimously as before it had gone for him. The following is the vote by townships: S W S —♦ —. ■ ■■ ■ g ft , * * * * Hanging Grove 1 5 Gillam 7 2 Walker ' 6 Barkley 16 1 Marion 1 24 2 5 Jordan 6 Newton 5 1 Keener 8 1 Kankakee 5 Wheatfield 2 1 “Carpenter . 6 7 14 Milroy’""' , " 2 Union 2 6 Totals 9 70 16 32 This nominated Mr. Blue, with 6 votes to spare. On motion of Mr. Mills, of the Carpenter delegation, the nomination of Mr. Blue was made unanimous. The convention gave three rousing cheers for Hardy. FOB COUNTY SURVEYOR. \ There was no opposition to j. C. Thrawls, the present incumbent, and hb 1 was renominated by acclamation. FOB COUNTY CORONER. The names of Moses B. Alter, Thos. Thompson, R. P. Benjamin and A. McCoy were placed before the convention. Thompson and McCoy both withdrew their names and a ballot gave Benjamin the nomination by 72 votes, to 52 for Alter. FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER. For Commissioner in the First District the names of Preston M. Querry, of Gillam, Chas. Meyers, J. H. Tilton and Win. Dahncke, of Wheatfield and I. D. Dunn, of Kankakee, were placed before the convention; —— ■ .. On the part of Mr. Dunn, it was announced that he was not a candidate. The first ballot resulted as follows: Querry 60, Meyers 31, DahnckS 18, Tilton 10, Dunn 8. Necessary to choica 64. The second ballot gave Querry 86, Meyer’s 26, Dahncke 6, Tilton 8. Mr. Querry was declared the nominee. For Commissioner for the second district J. F. Watson, of Marion, JolniE.Randle f of Hanging. Grove and Alfred Thompson, of Marion, were put in nomination. The first ballot renominated Mr. Watson by the following vote: Thompson 22, Randle 17, Watson 86. Tn the third district O. P. Ta-

bor, the present incumbent, was renominated by acclamation. NOTES AND INCIDENTS. The only delegations that never changed their vote on sheriff were Walker and Kankakee, which stood by Blue, true Blue, and Jordan and Milroy, which were likewise, always solid for Hardy. Newton’s vote was 5 for Blue and 1 for Hardy every ballot except the second, w£en it was solid for Blue. Carpenter was always solid for her well deserving candidate, until the last ballot The race for champion wobblers was a dead heat he? tween Gillam anti Barkley, with Marion a good second. The court room wqs crowded throughout the entire proceedings, almost beyond standing room. Many Democrats were interested spectators in the proceedings, and it has beep intimated that some of them hoped to witness a big ruction, but if such were the case, they were entirely disappointed. There was plenty of animation and, at times, some little disorder, but no animosity or ill-feeling. Mr. Coover made an admirable presiding officer. He thoroughly understands parliamentary rules, is impartial in all decisions and presides in a graceful and dignified manner.

The following is a specimen of the oratory of Daniel W. Voorhees during the war. It is from a speech delivered in Greencastle, Aug 6, 1864, and reported for the Cincinnatti Commercial by Mr. J. B. McCullagh, now editor of the St. Jjouis Qlobe-Democrat, one of the most expert stenographers in the country: ’’When Mr. Lincoln was nominated at Baltimore I was at Washington. Each delegation hurried down to congratulate him, and to tell thd story of their servile, base devotion to a mere man—and a very ordinary specimen of a man at that. The contractors, the thieves, the money-changers, the substitute hirers, the cotton speculators, the greedy tariff plunderers of New England, came rushing down upon him to congratulate him upon.his nomination for the presidency. I have watched and looked around Washington City. I have read the papers that recorded the devotion of these men to Mr. Lincoln. They say that Mr. Lincoln flashed with wit, and merriment, and jest when they waited on him, and that lie had a joke for every one of them. One of them says, in giving an account of it: ‘You ought to have been there to have heard the laughing.’ Now let me tell you that on that night, from Mr. Lincoln’s "window, there was in plain sight at that time not less than a section of land covered tfitli hospitals—not less [thana mile square of hospitals in which men were lying with one leg and, one arm off—wounded, sick and dying. Every jest he told was marked by at least three deaths in the hospitals of Washington City. Three human souls were heralded into eternity by each of Mr. Lincoln's jests and jokes. Another section of ground r in view of Mr. Lincoln’s room, had been dug up for a grave yard, and while he jested and joked with this servile crew he could look out on this scene of dying and death, and yet you propose to me to retain that monster in another term of office—that monster that, with an utter disregard for human life and human misery, has proposed to prolong his term of office. Gentlemen, it seems to me the that I can hear the spirits of the hundreds: of thousands who have been uselessly sacrificed in this war pleading against the re-election of this man. It seems to me that the very stones would rise up to protest against it. It seems to me that inanimate objects and dumb beasts would cry out: ‘Enough—he has had his day.’ Bloody, gory reeking, let him go out into a hateful obscurity, there to spend the rest of his days with the ghosts of the J murdered dead gibbering around his unhappy pillow.” ■