Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1896 — The Democratic Congressional Convention. [ARTICLE]

The Democratic Congressional Convention.

Martin T. Krueger of Michigan City, is Nominated. The Democratic congressional convention met in Rensselaer yesterday, at Ellis’ opera house. The James’ men from Hammond were the first on the field; a small delegation arriving Tuesday dh the forenoon train, and a whole car load coming on the evening milk train. As the Rensselaer Democrats seemed to be a unit for their old townsman, and arch enemy, and all wore the James badge, it looked for a while as though the James men had everything. But when the 7:11 train came in front Monon, the same evening, a great crowd of Parsons’ men swarmed down from the depot. McCabe men from Warren County and Newman men from Tippecanoe also came in on this train in considerable numbers.

Alf the candidates, except Kreuger, of LaPorte Co., had arrived by this time, and an impromptu reception was held Tuesday evening, in front of the Makeever House, at which the Rensselaer'Band furnished music, and at which each of the candidates were called upon for a speech. Clem Kern, of Porter Co,, who was a resident of Jasper 25 or 30 years ago, was the first and longest winded speaker. And of all the incoherent, desultory and illogical harangues ever heard in this town, Kern’s certainly takes the prize. But to all intents and purposes, so far as there was any connection or sense to it at all, it was <a greenback speech, like we used to hear 20 years ago. H. E. James was called on next, and he, no doubt, could have made a respectable speech, but he merely expressed his pleasure at meeting his old townsmen, of Rensselaer, said the present issues should be discussed dispassionately and on their merits, and retired. Mr. Newman, of- Lafayette, the “boy orator” of the Tippecanoe, came out next, he essayed to make a speech, but got nervous and “fizzled” entirely. Ed. McCabe, of Williamsport, a lawyer, and son of Judge McCabe of the Supreme Court, was then called out. He make quite a lengthy free silver speech, in which we give him credit for correctly quoting what the U. S. constitution says about money and gold and silver; and in this he corrected and directly contradicted an assertion made over and over again by Kern, of Porter, who called the constitution the “consteetooshun.”

Isaac Parsons, of Monon, was the last speaker; as he was a lawyer for many years, he of course is able to talk ; and bis abilities in that line were a surprise to a good many peo pie. Io fact his speech took the best of any made that evening. H. E. James opened beadquarters in the Makeever House, and proceeded with his canvass in a busi-ness-like way; and he had with him the best organized and most experienced corps of workers of any man in she field. The Parsons headquarters was in the Nowels House. The wearers of his badge were much in evidence, but they seemed not to mow how to take hold and hustle for their man, the way the James “cohorts” did. The convention was called to order at 11 o’clock by W. M. Blackstock, of Lafayette, the district chairman. Martin F. Krenger, of Michigan City was chosen chairman and Wm. Darroch, of Newton Co., secretary.

Mr. Kretfger, on taking the chair, delivered a long carefully prepared speech, in which to say the least he evinced considerable ability. But he evinced other qualties besides, as great unfairness, for instance when he said half the Republicans of this district were accusing the other half of having bought the nomination for Congressman, and the other half were saying “you’r another.” Also when he denounced the present congressional apportionment law as an infamous and unheard of gerrymander, when no fairer apportionment of the state ever was made. . He evinced a worse quality than

unfairness in irreverence. Spoke derisively of Republicans as “psalm singing saints;” told of Barney Bailey’s sinner, who was going through h—l with a flannel shirt on, and other like remarks. The roll of the counties was called and all reported “here,” but several of them were very slimly represented. From La Porte Co., for instance, by Mr. Kreuger’s own statement, himself and one other man, and a chance traveling . man, represented the whole county. The rules of order, of the democratic state convention were adopted. This cut out of nominating speeches. A committee on resolutions con- • sistingof one from each county was appointed. H Then the counties were called for candidates. Lake presented/ “The peerless citizen, Hon. Horace E. James.” Porter, “Hon. C. J. Kern.” Tippecanoe, W. L. Newman, and Dr. 8. 8. Washburn. Warren, Edward F. McCabe; White, Isaac Parsons. The first ballot, by counties was as follows: Benton, Newman 1, McCabe 4, Washburn 4, Jasper, James 6. Lake, Kern 20. LaPorte, James 7, Parson 6, Kern 7, McCabe 5, Washhum 6. Newton, James 1, Parsons 1, Kern 1, McCabe 1, Newman 1, Washbum 1. Porter, Kern 13. Tippecanoe Parsons 14, Kern 1. Newman 6,. Washburn 8. Warren, McCabe 6. White, Parsons 13. Totals, James 34, Kern 22, Newman 8, McCabe 16, Washburn 19, Parsons 34. Mr. Kreuger’s name was not voted for. It will be noticed that La Porte, for a county with 31 votes and only two delegates, was badly divided. But there was method in their division, as appeared later on. The second ballot gave James 32 votes, Parsons 29, Kern 30 Newman 9, McCabe 20, Washbum 13. One of Jasper’s delegates broke from James and went to McCabe. Third ballot, James 32, Parsons 28, Kern 29|, Newman 9, McCabe 21|, Washbum 13. On the fourth ballot Parsons was ahead with 35, ! and James fell to 31, whereat the Parsons men set up a great yelling and the James men tried to set up a bigger one. It was votes and not yells that done the business, however. On the fifth ballot both James and Parsons got the drop, James with 25, Parsons with 23. McGinley, of Lafayette was sprang on this ballot but he never got more than three or four votes. On the sixth ballot La Porte’s 2 delegates and 31 votes mystefously got together, and the whole 31 were cast for Martin T. Kreuger. Tippecanoe gave him 3 and White 3, giving him 37 votes. Newman got out after the 6th ballot *

Kreuger’s vote was 39 on the 7th, 50 on both the Bth and 9th. On the tenth ballot Benton gave Kreuger 2 votes. Then Jasper, which had been falling away from James a vote at a time, gave all 6, for Kreuger. Laport’s 31 was still solid for him, and then Newton, which on the last two ballots had tried to stampede the convention for Patrick Keefe, went solid for Kreuger. Porter gave him 4|, Tippecanoe 22, or enough to nominate. Then all the counties which had voted other candidates changed their votes to Kreuger, and his nomination was made unanimous. After a brief speech of acceptance by Chairman and Nominee Kreuger; and the adoption of the resolutions, the convention adjourned, at‘ 2:30 p. m., after a continuous session of three and one half hours. No doubt the delegates were all hungry and some of them, perchance, more or less thirsty. We think they all went home feeling that Rensselaer was a hospitable little city and a convenient place for district conventions. R. L. Martin, of Cincinnati, is back here for a short visit. Miss Ross, of Terre Haute, is visiting her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ore i Boss.