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It Was For Pingree

It Was For Pingree image It Was For Pingree image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
July
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

When the repnblicau county convention asserabled in Aun Arbor, Tuesday moruing, it was soon dernonstrated that the old timers at republican county conventions were not in it. Sheriff Judson had shuffled and dealt the cards well, and the layout of delegates was distinctly a Piugree one. Not only were the couuty districts well in hand tor Detroit's mayor, but the wily sheriff had managed to work Ann Arbor so successfnlly tliat ont of a total of 45 delegates to tbe convention, 28 of them were avowed Pingreeites. It was au auxious time from start to finish of the oonventiou for the sheriff and others to keep the refraotory ones within bounds, so as to get the county ship safely past the rocks and over the shoals that frequently obtrnded theinselves and threatened to wreok the peaoe and harmony which our republican friends are so fond of boastiug, always charterizes their couveutions. A solid Pingree delegation instrncted to vote as a unit, will go to Grand Kapids. Quite a bombsbell was tbrown into tbe camp of tbe Spaulding men and which may affect the voting of the congressional delegation to Jackson, by E. 3?. Goodrich's resolution instructiDg the delegation not to vote for any candidate who would not stand by the St. Louis platform. W. W. Wedeineyer, chairman of the county couiruittee rapped the convention to order at 11 :30 a. m. and oalled Wirt H. Newkirk to the chair as temporary cbairman. H. G. Prettyman, of Ann Arbor, was chosen as secretary, and John F. Lawreuce administered the oath. The several committees were ou motion appointed as follows: On credentials - Frank Jones, of Saline, chairman; W. H. Wbitmarsh, of Milán; J. T. Jacobs, of Aun Arbor; Emory Leland, of Northfield; Archie Wilkinson, of Chelsea. ün permanent organizaton aud order of business - Wm. S. Osband, of Ypsilanti, chairruan ; R. D. Walker, of Scio; H. D. Platt, of Pittsfield; John K. Campbell, of Augusta; J. L. Hoyt, of Saline. Ou resolutions - John F. Lawreuce, of Anu Arbor, chairman; H. S. Holmes, of Chelsea; James jVIcLareu, of Lima; H. Kingsley, of Manchester ; A. A. Wood, of Lodi. A. J. Sawyer, of Anu Arbor' Capt. E. P. Allen, of Ypsilanti, and Col. H. S. Dean, of Ann Arbori, were eaoh given a place on one or the other of these committees, but severally declined to act on the plea of "urgent business." The convention then adjomned uutil 1:30. At 1 :40 p. m. the convention having reassembled, it was called to order by the chairman. The court room was crowded aud a full delegation was present from each voting precinct. Frank E. Jones, chairman of the committee on oredeutials, reported that all the delegations were full and tbat tbere were no contests. The report was adopted and the reading of the names of the delegates was dispensed with. Chairman Newkirk asked tbe iuduleence of the convention for a few ments until the committee on permanent organization and order of business hould be ready to report. The delay urned out to be caused by the fact that here was a ruajority and minority re)ort. The rnajority report was sigied jy W. M. Osband, J. K. Oarnjbell and G. L. Hort and the minority report, which rcommended that the oonventiou ake a vote on its preferenoe for governor before any more business be transacted was signed by H. D. Platt and R. D. Walker. 8. C. Randall moved that the minorUy report be added to the majority report and it was warmly seconded. Charles E. Hiscock moved as a substitute the adoption of the majority report. Mr. Raudall spoke iu favor of Mr. Platt's minorty report and A. J. Sawyer opposed its adoption on the ground tbat it would taks up so much time. H. C. Waldron, of Northfleld, called on the oonvention to assert its rights and not be bamboozled by any smooth talkers. The convention had a right to cali for this vote and to have it taken. He wanted to see every delégate walk np and deposit his ballot in the hat for the man wbo was his choice for goVernor. John F. Lawreuoe replied to Mr. Waldrou's remarks and urged tbat such a tedious ballot be not taken, feeling snre that the vote ou delegate-at-large would be amply suffioient to determine the couvention's choice for governor. He managed to work considerable sarcasm and ridicule iuto what he said, which was especially noticeable when he said that "while he might uot talk as loud as the gentleman from Northfield, there would probably be as much sense in what he said." Capt. E. P. Allen attempted to spread oil on the somewhat troubled waters and said there was no necessity for any quarreling. The republicans had always done better than the demócrata in warding off quarrels. He himself had had many esperiences in conventions, some were pleasant and soiue nnpleasant. Any convention has a right to expres? its ohoice if it has oue, and the only fair, square, houest and manly way for this conventiou to declare its cboice for governor was to take a ballot. Win. M. Osband explained the action of the committee iu this matter and said that it was not done with auy view of wronging auybody. At this point H. D. Platt rose and said the convention had heard long speeches from two lawyers, an editor and a banker, but did not want the convention to be fooled by any smooth speeches, and urged them to stand by their guns and vote for the resolutiou to allow them to show their prefereuce for guvernor. A. J. Sawyer next took the floor aud proceeded to enlighten the convention as to some acts at previons conventious and afterwards in which Mr. Platt aud others figured quite promineutly. He wound np by the demand that no one who did not accept the St. Louis platform should attempt to díctate to the convention. Several excited men were on their feet at once at this hit, but Sheriff Judson. who waa an auxious spectator of this scène, got the floor and after apolgiziug for being no speech maker begged the convention to "keep its eye on the gun." He did not see any good in going over those old convention actions and reopening old sores. He wauted the plain people to have a chance today to express their opinión. H. D. Platt again got on his feet to speak and an amusing bit of by-play was indulged in betweeu him and Sheriff Judson, the latter trying to prevent Platt frorn speaking, while Platt impatiently waved him away with bis hand. When he did speak it was to advise the convention not to be taken in with the oily words of the Anu Arbor men. Mr. Hiscock's motion was theu put bnt the chair being unable to decide which faction made the most noise called for a rising vote. It was then fonnd that ouly 61 out of 191 had voted for it and it was deccared defeated. The motion to embody the minority report in the majority report of the committee was theu carried. On motion to that. effect the recommeudation for groupiug the towns and electing the delegates in that way was uot concurred in and the report as amended was finally adopted. On motion of George H. Pond the chair appointed W. J. Wallace, of Ypsilauti ; N. D. Corbin, of Ann Arbor; Alfred Davis, of Dexter, aud Frank Jones, of Saline, as tellers. A ballot on the preference of the convention for governor waa then taken and the vote resulted : Pingree, 111; O'Donnell, 71; Bliss, 4; Aitkin, 2; scattering, 3. Upou the annouucement of this vote Mr. Allen moved and Mr. Sawyer seconded a motion ing William Jndsoo as delegate-at-large to the state com'entiou at Grand Rapids. The ruotion was carried nuauimously. The report of the cornmittee on resoiutions being called for, John F. Lawrence, chairinan of the coniruittee, read the resoiutions, prefacing his reading with the remark that tbe conimittee bad not deemed it advisable to ruake them very lengthy : "Resolved, Tbat we, the Republicana of Wasbtenaw county, in convention assemblee! do uow. as in the past, assert onr devotion to the Republican principie of protection, that does not impair or lessen the earnings of the wage-worker, that does not cripple and reduce the farmer to acondition of tenauoy, that fosters and builds up Arnercau manufactures aud in all aveuues stimulates Amanean industries, aud hat brings prosperity and coutentinent to all the people of ourcommou country. "Second, The Republican party is not unalterably opposed to the use of ;old and silver as circulatiug mediums - but it is deteiminedly opposed to a policy that would make a depreoiated ind debased coin an only ourreucy. We believe that the adoption of free coinage of silver by this country would bring upon us uuprecedented ruin and disaster. We, therefore, afflrm our allegiance to the doctrine anuounced by the Republican national convention at St. Louis, that the Repnublicau party is uureservedly for sound money." The resoiutions weie carried and another dangerous rock, on which it was feared the couvention would split, was passed by in safety. On ruotion of Mr. Judson, A. J. Sawyer was unanimonsly ehosen delegateat-large to the congreseional conveutiou at Jack3on, and the convention divided into legislativo distriets for tbe eleotion of 18 delegates each to the state and cougressional conventions. The delegates are as follows: To the state convention from lat legislative district - W. V. Wedemeyer, Ann Arbor; H. P. Dodge, Nortbfield; Deunis Walker, Scio; Daniel McLaren, Lima; John Heiuztnann, Aun Arbor; Continued on Eighth Page. ITWASMjTOEE Coutinued froru First Page. S. Paruer, Chelsea; S. C. Randall, Aud Arbor; Fred Brauu, Anu Arbor towu ; Geo. S. Wbeeler, Salem. To cougressional couveution from lst district: H. G. Prettyruan, Ann Arbor; Jos. Staebler, Scio; Wrn. Judson, Aun Arbor ; S. Foscer, Sylvan ; J. T. Jaoobs, Arm Arbor; Wm. F. Rehfuss, Aud Arbor; Jas. L. Gilbert, Chelsea; Wm. E. Blackburn, Ann Arbor; Chas. E. Hiscock, Aun Arbor. To state convention irom 2d legislative district - W. H. Sweet, Ypsilanti ; P. W. Shute, Ypsilauti; W. J. Wallace, Ypsilanti; W. H. Whitmarsb, York; H. D. Platt, Pittsfield ; A. A. VVood, Lodi ; E. A. Hanser, Saline ; Chas. E. Lewis, Manchester; John K. Campbell, Augusta. To congressionai convention from 2d legislativo district - Richard Walter, Augusta; J. H. Kingsley, Manchester; Geo. Burkhardt, Saline; C. C. Dorr, Sharon ; Andrew Campbell, Pittfleld ; E. B. Ford, York; F. K. Owen, Ypsilanti; P. W. Carpenter, Ypsilauti; Geo. W. Esslinger, Ypsilanti. It waa then moved to ratify the delegations from both districts at once. To this Mr. Wheeler, of Salem, objected, and the motion was witbdrawn and the convention proceeded to ratify eaoh delegation separately. The delegations from the first district were ratified unanimously. Before the vote was taken to ratify the secoud district delegation Mr. Wbeeler rose and said he tinderstood that, notwithstanding the action taken by the convention, the j second district conven tiou had passed a resolution that its delegates sbould go to Grand fiapids practically uuinstruoted. If this was so he wauted to know it and if it was not so he wanted that the membeis of that eonvention shonld so state. The resolution was read and it was found to be as Mr. Wheeler had heard. Several of the second district delegates tried to explain that the resolution did not mean anything, but their statement was met by Mr. Wheeler with the questiou "If it does not mean anything why did y ou epass it?" He fnrther demanded that if the delegation eleoted to the state convention froni the second district did not wisb to carry out the wishes of the county couveution, thet they should step out and let others be sent who would do so. Frank Jones, of Saline, said that this was the first instance that had ever come under his kuowledge where the honesty of any part of a delegation had been impngued and he looked upon Mr. Wheeler's attack as an insult. Other explanations and remarks wore made, the rnotion that Mr. Wheeler had made to instruot the delegation for Pingruj before ratifying was withdrawn by that gentleman, and the delegation i f rom the second district as presentect were ratified. A motion was then passed instructing the delegates to the state convention to vote and work as a unit for the nomination of Hazen S. Pingree for governor of Michigan. E. P. Goodrich, of Ypsilanti, offered this resolution which was unauimously adopted : "Resolved, That the delegates to the coDgressional convention be instructed to vote for no candidate for congress who does not unequivocally accept and stand upou tbe Eepublican platform." Chairman Newkirk then thanked the couvention for the courtesy it had shown him and advised united action in the fall agaiftst the democrats and stated that in such a case they could not fail of the election of Win. McKinley as president of the United States, and the conventiou adjourned with cheers for McKinley.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News