General Fred B. Wood Was Named For Congress
At An Enthusiastic Convention of the Democrats of the District
The Nomination Made on the First Ballot
Gen. Wood was Quartermaster General Under Winans - Jackson County Presented His Name and Lenawee Indorsed it
The democratic congressional convention assembled Wednesday with a full attendance from all parts of the district and an extremely hopeful feeling. Monroe county was on the grounds Tuesday night, but Lenawee, Jackson and Wayne did not show up in force until Wednesday. Lenawee caucused and settled on Lon O'Mealy as her candidate. Jackson wanted Thomas A. Bogle, of Ann Arbor, as a candidate, but it could not be determined that he would accept it. Washtenaw was at sea. Monroe and Wayne talked strongly for ex-Lieut. Gov. John Strong, of Monroe.
The convention was called to order at 11:15 by Chairman James Frank of the Congressional committee, who named Hon. Thomas A. Barkworth, of Jackson, as temporary chairman. On motion of Mr. Mclnerney, of Wyandotte, Fred C. Fisher, of Wayne, was made temporary secretary.
Mr. Barkworth, on taking the chair, said he had fought against the imposition of this duty upon him as he was suffering from what, if he were a rich man, would be called hay fever, but as he was a poor man, was only a cold. He did not believe the importance of this gathering could be overestimated. We are facing a condition which appeals not only to democrats but in a higher degree to citizens of Michigan. We have seen the political situation in this state resolve itself into a question of the control of practically one man. We have seen the legislature submit to the private desires of parties who form no part of the legislature. We have seen this influence upon the executive chair. He thought he was not guilty of slander when he said that the present executive had been a mere puppet in the hands of a master. What will be the condition if these same men are turned loose freed from the restraint of the judgment and intelligence of their absolute master? It is for the democratic party to stand for the demands of the people, to meet the needs of the hour and stand for the sentiment so generally prevalent, the belief that the people of this country have the capacity and desire to govern themselves. We should today help the free and untrammedel progress of public spirit. The people should rule, without regard to cliques or factions, and should respond to the desire of its electorate as expressed in its untrammeled conventions.
THE COMMITTEES.
On motion of E. R. Gilday, of Monroe, the following committees were appointed by the chair:
Resolutions - Dennis O'Brien, Wayne; E. R. Gilday, Monroe; Willard Stearns, Lenawee; Thomas D. Kearney, Washtenaw; James A. Parkinson, Jackson.
Credentials - Franklin L. Raubb, Wayne; B. W. Hurd, Monroe; Dr. Jewett Williams, Lenawee; J. B. Colvan, Washtenaw; John Rockwell, Jackson.
Permanent Organization and Order of Business - James Clark, Wayne; Dr. Canan, Monroe; O. R. Pierce, Lenawee; E. A. Nordman, Washtenaw; Burr Tuthill, Jackson.
The convention then adjourned until 1 o'clock, standard time.
Upon reassembling of the convention, Dr. Williams presented the report of the committee on credentials, all delegations present and no contest.
Mr. McInerney read the report of the committee on permanent organization and order of business. The temporary offlcers were made permanent.
Mr. Stearns read the report of the committee on resolutions, signed by the entire committee. The report was unamimously adopted and was as follows:
Recognizing the wisdom of the state convention in its declaration of principles and in its nominees, this convention pledges its support to the end that success shall come to the work of that convention.
The source of power is in the people and not in one man or any clique. Bargain and sale in politics either for financial consideration or for personal benefit on contract running four or eight years is not democratic and is subverslve of political freedom.
Resolved, therefore, that we condemn the bargain counter system that seeks to bind the people for years to come and pledge to the voters of this district a nominee free from the taint of that method, but zealous for the interest of his constituents.
Resolved, that it is fitting and proper that the state campaign be conducted on state issues and that we affirm on national issues our loyal allegiance to democratic principles.
Dr. Williams, of Adrian, and Mr. Reilly, of Jackson, were appointed tellers and were sworn in.
At this point the Jackson delegation filed in and asked that the Lenawee delegates confer with a committee of three from Jackson. The Lenawee delegation filed out and with them the Jackson committee, which consisted of W. S. Cobb, Dr. Duncan Hyndman and E. H. Howell.
The convention defeated a motion for a recess of ten minutes, but a motion that the chair address the convention for ten minutes was carried. The chair spoke on the trade and barter which controlled the nomination of the republican candidate for congress.
A caucus of Jackson was then cal!ed and afterwards asked for the committee from Lenawee, but before much of a conference could be had, Mr. McInerney called for the general order of business.
GEN. WOOD NAMED.
Mr. James S. Parkinson, of Jackson, presented on behalf of the Jackson delegation the name of Gen. Fred B. Wood, of Tecumseh.
Lenawee was passed in accordance wlth the request of its chairman.
Mr. French, of Monroe, presented the name of John Strong, of Monroe, in an able speech.
Washtenaw reported that they had no candidate. Wayne county, through Mr. Mclnerney, seconded the nomination of John Strong.
Orrin R. Pierce, on behalf of the solid Lenawee delegation seconded the nomination of Gen. Fred B. Wood.
When seconding speeches were called for, E. A. Nordman, of Washtenaw, speaking for himself, presented the name of James Helme, of Adrian. M. J. Martin didn't like Jackson's action and spoke for John Strong. Mr. Mclnerney said all Wayne candidates had withdrawn in favor of John Strong. J. B. Ayres, of Adrian, spoke for Gen. Wood and F. L. Raubb, of Wayne, spoke for John Strong. Chas. Golden, of Monroe, spoke for John Strong. Harry Stearns, of Adrian, spoke for Gen. Wood.
The ballot resulted in the nomination of Gen. Fred B. Wood by a vote of 60 for Wood, 44 for Strong and 1 for Helme.
Gen. Wood's vote was Jackson 26, Lenawee 27, Washtenaw 7.
Hon. John Strong's vote was Monroe 16, Washtenaw 14, Wayne 14.
Senator Helme's 1 vote came from Washtenaw.
Capt. Schuh moved that the nomination of Gen. Fred B. Wood be made unanimous, which was done.
Harry P. Stearns moved that a committee of three be appointed to wait upon Gen. Wood and Hon. John Strong to bring them before the convention. H. P. Stearns, J. F. Schuh and Charles Golden were named as the committee.
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Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat