Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-09-22
County Republican Convention and
Candidates-Personal.

The CON- held last week at
Lancaster for nominating candidates
for the County Offices was some~
thing of an Improvement over its
predecessor of the year before in not
being gotten up and run by any ring.
1t however fell greatly below for
mer county conventions, not SO much
in the men composing it, for many of
the familiar faces Of years gone by
were present as delegates but there
| appeared strange designs for accom-
plishment, and new tests for official
qualification never before thought Of.
Indeed the past official tests ap-
pear reversed and what were once
! considered essential qualifications
are no longer recognized. The idea
that the offices are to be given and
held as rich gratuities for favored
ones, and not for the public conve-
nience and profit, is certainly the
first in mind. 1t was said the other
day, :" if you'll go for our man for
Coroner wen go tor yours for Sher>
iff," and "if your part of the county
will go for our man we'll go for
| yours" and the like-no inquiry as
to qualification or fitness. 1t was
thus a bargaining and jockeying
from first to last--no man or candi>
date knowing where he was or who
were his friends or whether be held
a ghost ola chance or nothing in his
| hand until a ballot revealed the
point. The candidates strange to
say and for their credit we write it,
had nothing at all TO do with such
swapping and bargaining. Indeed
they sat apart, no appearance of
their being parties in the play--each
successive ballot revealing swap
and transfer of some one and his sud
den disappearance from the official
arena.
This new practice we shall aim to
unmask and dispel from the future
party conventions. We shall insist
that character, fitness aud ability
are sthe only true tests, and that the
offices are supported for the public
interests and not for favored individ-
uals.
That soldiers shall be preferred for
the offices there appears hardly a
dissent in the republican party
This means however that such pres
fered soldiers must be duly qualified
in moral character, integrity, fitness
and ability for the stations they are
to fill. BY losing sight of such qual>
ifications we hazard the name, lame
and trust for those who served in tho
army, because if it go happens that
one or two of the offices chance TO
be- filled by incompetent soldiers the
whole fraternity of brave boys IN blue
will suffer in good name for official
service, and the people will say. =" no
more soldiers for Offices" Even the
soldiers themselves will take to sup
porting others than soldiers tor the
offices, and then disorder will reign
in Warsaw
But the public may be glad that a
good county ticket was nominated
, no thanks 10 swapping convention
The good fortune came alone from
the fact that none but men of worth
and integrity had offered, and genor-
ally of t0lerable ability. Such only
offered, knowing OF the thorough
tests previously required. But the
danger is, men very greatly below
standard grade may offer at future
conventions, knowing that the door
stands so wide open.
The candidates for the several off,
ces appear under our editorial head.
". Ii. elise was nominated for
Sheriff on account of mis- we'll known
, fitness for the place.
: For Treasurer, V. +. Kinny had no
: opposition to his nomination ana re-
election.
r The office of Clerk Of tho Circuit
e Court was given to David Shriner in
j pursuance of bargain to which he
Q had no part, he being a candidate fol
= Register, for which latter Office he
;, was we'll qualified, while for clerk he
o pretends to small qualification II
o was a great blunder, but Shrner is Q
: worthy and honest man and none
f more deserving. He will devote hi:
). utmost time and pains to qualifying
e himself to fill the office.
r For Register, Samuel Woodhouse
e "a man OF good standing and char
r acter, and reported we'll qualified.
f For Clerk Of the Board, John Alti'
, ger, no doubt worthy man and OF
good character and integrity, but OF
9 limited business experience. He
however carries the eye and face of a
} quick observer and of tact and
| shrewdness. and cannot fail to ioarn
, the whole business routine of his Off
CO in brief time.
George Clementson for Dist. At
, torney, qualified, trustworthy,
t Same of Joseph Allen for surveyor
DR.. Sampson for Coroner-well, we
feel unable to do justice to this nom
nation.
Kinney, Shriner, Woodhouse and
Altizer are disabled soldiers, and of
! course the tavOrp Ones az tho Dnhlic