The Van Buren press., 1867-09-06
CRAWFORD RADICAL CONVENTION
so CALLED.
The COlOrod people Deceived, Humbugged
and Swindled

iiouHt w b4liH Wy On cdluIhal last. ih'ic
was good representation from all the Town
ships in the County, and the Convention, ap-
parently, had the elements Of a strong party,
but the whole proceedings were extremely
farcical from beginning 10 end.
Gen. Bowen called the meeting to order,
and nominated;
ID. II. DIVELBlSS, President, :.
ID. n. CgErKNoRE, Vice President,
HENRY PUFFER Secretary.
II was apparent to all shrude observers,
that Gen. Bowen had (as our next door
neighbor would say,) worked the "Ogleasn
finely, and had the Convention in his pocket,
and out-gcneraled his enemies at every point.
The ticket Ggeed upon before the opening of
the Convention was Josiah Ilarrall and 4. VI.
Bowen for the State Convention. But the
Generals friends finding mulish opposition
to him from Lafayette and one or two other
townships, dropped Squire Ilarrall and united
their forces with Meadows friends, which Sc
cured the nomination Of Bowen and Mead
ows.
The Committee on credentials, reported the
names of fifty-one delegates, as entitled to
seats; Van Buren township, was allowed
twenty.
The Committee on Resolutions were APP
pointed, and retired TO bring forth the resolu-
tions that were gotten up during the week.
In their absence, (by hunch from the Gen
eral to one of his neighbors). I. NJ. Bowen
was called on for speech. After thanking
the Convention, for the honor of being called
on to address them etc, opened his battery on
the head of the editor Of the Fort Smith Neu
Era, for charging him. Bowen, with being
"copperhcad, interloper and bastard repub-
lean in the radical party. He went back
TO Kansas, at its formation, and proved by
satisfactory evidence that he was "all right
on the goose" then, and so down TO the close
of the war; where he got in a fog and ionnd-
cred about terribly, and we were not able to
to see that he got out at all,
lie asserted one thing that we do not believe
there is a word of foundation for, that was,
that he had understood that the rebels had
said "he or any other Union man should not
make the canvass of the county during the
coming election" There is not an honest
sensible man that believes any such thing and
none but a shallow-pated demagogue would
attempt to make capital out of such an un-
blushing falsehood.
The General is one of those soft-shell ;"
politicians, that no party claim, but who can
boast of changing" only because "other
people change" He will do the Conserva-
tive party of this county about as well as any
one the radicals could have selected-he is
jrst as apt (if elccted) to fall on the conServa-
tive side before the Convention is over. as to
remain with the radicals. He is bitterly op-
posed to DELL of the New Era, and DELL is
the embodiment of Radicalism in Western
Arkansas. The manager" had everything
"cut and dried" in the usual STYLE not eX-
cepting his speech; which was an awful lame
affair, interspersed with smutty jokes and
sayings although the result of mature prepa-
ration. AS a general thing, the Conservatives
have not much to find fault with in his speech
as the greater part of it was devoted to the
scoring of ~. Dell or ". Tel" as he termed
the editor of the Era. As the General had his
speech written out, we suppose it will appear
in full, in the STANDARD of this week.
The Delegates went into Committee of the
whole, for the purpose Of nominating candi-
dates to the State Constitutional Convention,
and the result was rs follows:
T. NJ. Bowen, 3G Josiah Harrall, l5
J. K. Meadows, 35 J.W. Turman, Is
Some little discomfort was manifested, ON
the result being declared, and with rather a
feint exclamation, the nomination of Bowen
and Meadows were made unanimous.
In this case, is the fact that one of the most
honest and respected men in the county, 10
siah llalral, "a radical from principle) is
thrust aside, for one that is hardly y year from
Kansas; and j. w. Turman, as promising n
young man as can be found in the ranks of
the radical party, and one that there is no
question as to his political standing, is re-
quested to take back seat, to give place to
John Il. Meadows, who it is admitted gave
doubtful support to the Radical ticket at the
last election.
The delegates proceeded to nominate candi-
dates for County officers, although there is no
telling when an election will be held:
County Judge-JosIAH HARRALL This was
empty honor given to the esquire" to heal
his wounded feelings in the defeat for the
Convention.
Sherig-H. S. ANDERSON. Capt. William
Fears name was attempted to be used as an
opposing candidate, but he refused to allow
his name TO be run, for any Office, in this
Convention.
Clerk-GEoRGE KILGoRE, He Is new man
here-almost year in the State. There was
a lively contest between him and Enos Cole
man, very worthy young man and native
Of the county; but Wisconsin had the track
and Arkansas was again crowded to the wall.
To ease off his chagrine at defeat, he was
nominated (thankless oiiice) for
Neasurer--ENos COLEMAN.
Assessor--WM. A, FEARS, Without his con-
sent the nomination for this perpexing office
was forced upon him, with the hopes Of draw
ing him in to the active support Of the State