The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-06-09
Loughridge Triumphant in
Grinnell.

Loughridge Triumphant in
Grinnell.
Pursuant to notice in our last
weeks issue, the Republicans Of this
place held their primary election for
delegates to the County Convention.
The only issue made was between
Judge Loughridge and Ex.-Gov. W.
M. Stone, for Congress. The contest
was most exciting and bitter. 1t was
evident from the outset that the
friends Of Judge Loughridge were to
have no fair show whatever, and
that they must fight their ground
inch by inch before the judges of
election, majority OF whom were
violent partizans of Stone. They
commenced by insulting, bullying
and brow-beating those who had the
audacity to vote an open Loughridge
ticket. 1t was not enough for such
an one to reply that he was Repub.
lican, that he was a citizen of this
township and voter, and had paid
his poll tax as such-ho was rejected
if he could not state positively that
when he first came here it was his
decided purpose and determination
to mako this his permanent home.
Several good Republicans were re-
jected on those grounds. We stood
there and saw what we relate. On
the other hand, we blush to proclaim
that we saw once honored citizen
stoop SO low, and so far forget his
station and position In society, as to
take by the arm tho Catholic Irish
and lead them up to the polls of a
Republican caucus, and there tell
them to say they expected to vote
the Republican ticket, and they did
say it, and what is most infamous,
most wicked of all, Notwithstanding
they honestly persisted in asserting
they were Democrats and always eX-
pected to be, Notwithstanding they
declared they had been in the State
scarcely thirty days, and came here
tor the express purpose of working
on the railroad, these Catholic Irish
DEMOCRATS VorED!l This we saw,
and much more at which we sicken
with disgust, as did many Of tho ear
nest but considerable friends of Mr..
Stone. The edict had gone forth,
that Stone must and should carry
this town, by fair means if possible, if
not, by foul. And that foul means
were used, no one doubts who knows
the facts. With such q determine
ton on the part Of Stones friends,
who had the power in their own
hands, and who used it SO wrongfully
and unfairly and aided as they
were by the personal presence and
influence of Stone himself, whose
claims to pre-eminent purity and
worth and dignified craftsmanship
were made fttingly manifest on that
day the friends Of Judge Tough
ridge at the close of the polls feared
the worst, but upon counting the
votes, the checks Of the plotters
blanched with dismay and alarm.
They were routed, horse, foot and
dragon. They had counted in vain
on the gullibility and forgetfulness of
the people of Grinnell. In vain had
they stopped to invoke the aid of
Democrats and Irish Catholics. In
vain had the Hon. J. d. Grinncll pub
licly and upon the street corners
called Judge Loughridge Hoo. In
vain had they besought the people to
take their word for it that Ex-Gov.
Stone had been converted and that
he was helping along Zion valiantly,
and that Judge Loughridge had
/" backslid," was grossly immoral,
and could drink moro whisky and do
more deviltry generally than could
the Elk Governor himself in his
palmiest days,-they were doomed,
the scepter had gone out of their
hand, tho honest, hardworking intel
ligent citizens Of this township
would not down at their bidding.
Out of less than 300 actual bona
fide Republican voters Of the town
ship cast, one hundred and sirty foe
were cast for Loughridgo, the
balance, including, we regret to say
somo of the most honest and upright
citizens of our place,-voted for
Stone. 1t is proper to add that by
tho votes of the resident democrats
of the place, the nonresident Irish
laborers, of the runners, peddlars, and
dead beats generally who mover
dreamed of residence hero, they
bring Stone out 33 ahead, but they
know that set Of delegates
elected by open and avowcd demo
Gratis, mostly nonresident, have no
chance whatever to get into the
County Convention; and unless that
Convention is packed with Stone
men, they have too much sense to
think OF trying to get in. Tho
Loughridge delegation elected last
Saturday by the Republican citizens
of Grinnell will, without doubt, talso
their seats in the County Convention
and without serious opposition
GrinneU Herald.
Ell. T. Helmbold, the famous Buchu
man, who gave $4,000 to the Sey-
incur Committee, and who has
grown immensely rich by advertis-
ing, and administering to tho special
N {, .m;t;as IF tho Nau Yprty domn