Grant County Herald

THE REPUBLICANS MEET.

For Babcock and La Follette Enthusiastic Gathering of Republicans From All Parts of the County Harmony Prevails.

If any doubt of the strength and vigor of republicanism in Grant county, existed in the minds of any, it was dispelled by the conventions held in this city last Saturday. Differences of opinion there were among the delegates as to who should be standard bearers this year but no disposition to sulk or do aught than submit to the will of the majority and cheerfully support the party nominees.

The Babcock delegates outnumbered the Baxter men about 3 to 1. The exact number of each is not known as no ballot was taken. The two sides measured strength only once which was on the motion to instruct for Babcock, and that vote was by acclamation.

In the Assembly District Conventions the interest in the candidates for governor overshadowed all other questions. The north district was clearly a La Follette district; the south was about equally divided and until about noon it looked as though there would be a contest there. A careful polling of the delegates, however, showed the La Follette men slightly in the majority, so the Scofield adherents gracefully submitted to La Follette instructions without any show of opposition. The real sentiment in the south district is probably for Scofield; the reason for a La Follette delegation being secured lies in the fact of an aggressive, active campaign having been waged there by La Follette workers, while absolutely no concerted action was taken in the interest of Scofield. Except for the spirited congressional contest the result would have been different.

COUNTY CONVENTION.

The county convention was called to order by Chairman Parker. On motion of R. Meyer, Jr., Dr. Bishop, of Platteville, was chosen to preside. Clyde R. Showalter and H. J. Johnson were elected secretaries.

The list of delegates was read and accepted without contest except in the case of Wingville. There were two delegations from there, each claiming the right of recognition. The convention asked one man from each faction to present his case. P. T. Stevens and J. B. Johnson were the spokesmen. It seems from the remarks of the gentlemen that the party headed by Mr. Johnson withdrew from the regular caucus because of alleged arbitrary and unfair rulings by the chairman of the caucus. That party claimed to have been denied justice in the caucus and to have taken more than two-thirds of the voters present to another hall where delegates were regularly elected. The Stevens party denied that there was any arbitrary ruling in the caucus or that more than one-half the voters withdrew.

Geo. B. Clementson moved that the contesting delegation be seated. C. R. Showalter proposed the substitute motion that both delegations be seated and that in case of a ballot or a vote by towns each delegation cast one-half the vote to which the town is entitled. The amendment prevailed and both delegations were so seated.

On motion the chair was instructed to appoint a committee of five to propose delegates for the Spring Green Convention. This was done in order to fairly apportion the delegates and also to make sure that only Babcock men were elected. The chair appointed the following as such committee: A. C. V. Elston, Matt Metcalf, Al Chase, L. Philipson, J. G. Harshberger.

A resolution was offered by G. B. Clementson instructing the delegates to support Mr. Babcock. The resolution was adopted with but little opposition.

The committee's report recommending delegates for the Congressional District Convention was then received and adopted after which the convention adjourned.

Delegates: A. C. V. Elston, T. W. Bishop, Geo. B. Clementson, Lou B. Ruka, M. F. Woodhouse, Geo. Kruel, C. R. Showalter, James Harcleroad, Geo. H. Lewis, James Edwards, R. Meyer, Jr., L. G. Armstrong, J. N. Swingle, Ira Fox, D. W. Clark, James Jeffrey, Joseph Gates, R. A. Goodell, W. G. Palmer, A. L. Utt, John Longbotham.

FIRST ASSEMBLY CONVENTION.

This convention met in the City Opera House. S. H. Taylor was made chairman and David Schreiner secretary. A committee of five, David Eastman, A. B. Bailey, Geo. Garthwait, W. D. Garner and Herbert Johnson, were appointed to propose delegates to the State Convention.

The committee selected the following who were elected delegates: S. H. Taylor, W. Pollock, C. H. Hinn, D. B. Brunson, J. P. Chandler, W. E. Howe, A. C. V. Elston, F. H. Schuppener, J. M. Lewis, Herbert Johnson, O. J. Arnold.

SECOND ASSEMBLY CONVENTION.

This convention was called to order by Thos. Metcalf. S. E. Smalley was elected chairman and R. A. Goodell secretary. A resolution was adopted instructing delegates to be elected to support La Follette for governor after which the following gentlemen were elected delegates to the State Convention, by acclamation:

Wes. Hymer, Geo. Mills, Conrad Weittenhiller, M. N. McIver, W. P. Hartford, S. E. Smalley, R. A. Goodell, Warren Johnson, Grant Eastman, George MeFall.