Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1870-03-11
A Political Outrage 4!
A County Excluded from Repre-"
sentation In Convention on
Account OF Alleged tr-
regularity.


Last Wednesday, the Senatorial
Convention for the 44th district, was
held at New Hartford. The district
embraces Bremen, Butler and Grundy
counties. After temporary organi-
cation was effected, a committee
was appointed on credentials, con-
sisting of the Hon. ~ G. w. Rud-
dick of Waverly, F. Leavens of But
Ter, and c. G.. COPYRIGHT of Grundy.
The committee, IN due time, report
ed the credentials of Bremen and
Butler all correct, but the chairman
stated that the Grundy credentials
were not considered sufficiently reg
uiar, therefore the com ittee would
not make any recommendation on
them, but leave them for the conven-
tion to decide upon. 1t is proper
here to state that Mr.. Leavens and
Mr.. COPYRIGHT, urged Judge Rud-
dick to recommend that the conven-
ton admit the Grundy delegation
notwithstanding the aIledged irreg-
ularityo the credentials, as there
was no other delegation from that
county claiming seat, and it was
right and proper that Grundy should
have voice in the proceedings, but
he steadfastly refused to accede to
the proposition, and made his report
accordingly. Before we 60 further,
st Ia proper to refer to the alledged
irreguiarity of the Grumpy creden-
tials.
The call for the convention was
issued one week, to day, before the
convention was held. A very short
time in which to hold the necessary
county convention for the purpose of
electing delegates. The matter " rs
submitted to the county officers, and
several of the prominent men of the
county, and it was by them recon-
mended, i'm view of the fact, that 1t
was too late to hold county conven-
ton, that the county central COM
mittee meet and select q delegation
10 represent the county iu the con-
vention at New Hartford. The
chairman of the committee was writ
ten to by another member of the
committee, and time and place for
meeting mentioned. Two of the
central committee were present, and
the third one failed TO put in an APP
pcarance.
The committee appointed five del
egates, and stated as a reason for
their action, that 1t was utterly inn
practicable at that late hour to hold
a convention. and that with the ad-
vice above mentioned they had acted
In the premises, They therefore
claimed their seats in the convention.
But Wdrerly mot Bremen county, as
the sequel will show objected to the
admission of the Grundy county del
egation, and by a division of the
report which, being adopted, admit
ted the Wdrery and Butler county
delegations, giving these two delega-
lions only, the right to vote, and
Waverly having three votes more
than Butler, of course Grundy was
excluded from the convention, thus
making Wdperly "master of the stu
alton" Butler county then asked
that the Grundy delegation, appoint
ed by the central committee, and
who were there, be admitted on the
ground of courtesy" And stated,
what was the fact, that no other dell
egation from Grundy was present
asking admission, and that the coun-
~ was entitled to represen tation-
that the informalities of credentials
be waived and the county accorded
its rights. To all this, Waverly
turned deaf ear, and for q purpose.
They had come there to nominate
their man, and they feared that If
Grundy was admitted, her five votes
and Buffers eight, would foot up
more than eleven, all that Waverly
had, and that would defeat their
purpose, viz: to send a Waverly
man to the State Senate, regard.
less Of right or justice, consequently
they said "Grundy shall have
no voice in these proceeding" and
Judge Ruddick declared, when he
east the vote of WaUerly" on the
question, that if Grundy was admit
ted that Butler could join forces with
her and defeat the "Waverly" man,
therefore they must vote it out. Did
ever a Judge" since the days of
fancy get down deeper into political
mud and mireP \ man elevated to
the high position of Circuit Judge,
saying, i'm substance, before public
assembly, that one third Of Senato>
rial district should be excluded from |
representation because it was ap.
parent they would vote as they saw
ft!! Shades Of Judge Nero" was
parallel ever recorded? Grundy
county Will vote for a Butler county
man if admitted, therefore she shall
have no voice in this Convention. |
We can prove that that was the rea-
son assigned by the learned Judge
from "Waverly." The Hon. ]. L. |
Burke, an Elk District Attorney, and |
iate q candidate for Congressional |
aonors in the the 3rd District of
Iowa, was also a delegate from "Wa-
verify" and chief spokesman. He
SCARED 10 dizzy nights" in an argyll
menf, showing to logical demons
sration, that central committees had
no right under any circumstances to |
select delegates to represent county
in such body. lie also showed that
Tie only way to choose delegates was
'or each township to hold caucuses
and elect delegates to County Con-
ventions, aad these delegates, "fresh !
rom the people," in county Conven-
ton assembled, could legally elect
delegates TO a District convention,
and this was the only proper, correct
and regular way that they could be
Clothed with true "delegatorial'
powers of which, was as clear as
mud. But here is little fact that
somewhat disfgured the eloquent
gentleman's argument o.. The EVA.