Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-09-24
Autobiography InfeliClties In
Jasper County.
cLARK's OPINION OF GATES, MCCoR-
MACK, THE DIXoNs AND OTHER
ANTI-CANDIDATES AT
OTTUMWA.
RICH DEVELOPMENTS.

RICH DEVELOPMENTS.
Last week we mentioned the fact
that Capt. l.. f. Mullins, prom
inant member of the Anti monopoly
party in Jasper county, a popular
man, a farmer, granger, member OF
the central committee, and delegate
to the Ottumwa Congressional con-
vention, had published a long letter
renouncing his connection with the
Anti-Monops and returning to active
work in the Republican party. Here
is sample paragraph from his letter :
| After more than a years honest ~
fort to aid in bringing about reform
In the Anti Monopoly party, esa
driven to the conclusion by its pub.
lie acts, and what have seen Of the
inside manipulations by poltical
wirepullers of that party, that Il u q
base fraud upon the people-that the
cry of reform is a mere dodge 70
catch votes, and that the Anti Mono
poly party to-day is run in the inter-
est of certain designing men and not
for the public good. Its leaders have
proven false to nearly every pledge.
Instead of the pledge that the office
should seek the man, the party is
filled with office-seekers, and our
candidates this fall have been select
ed from this class; in scarcely sim
| gle instance has the office sought the
man-Gates was at Ottumwa, work.
| ing for his nomination, and both the
Andersons sought the judicial NOM
nations.
Thecounty convention which nam
ed the delegates to Ottumwa declar-
ed emehatically against Gates, and
instructed its delegates for j. w.
Dixon first and Stone second. Null.
lins and other delegates were una
bled to go to Ottumwa in the midst
Of harvest time. The Gates politi-
clans went down and voted for Gates.
This surprised and disgusted Null
Inns, and he wrote to Clark the eci-
tor of the independent, the Anti
Monop. county organ, asking an ex-
planation. Mr.. Clark answered as
follows:
NEWTON, Iowa, Aug. 6, 1874.
L. f. MULLINS, Esq,
Dear Sir Your note, making In
qulry in regard 10 the n0minatiopsof
Mr.. Gates, Is received and shall ffetae
an honest answer. The majority Of
our Congressional delegation were
Dixon men at the time of their app
pointment but those who went to
the State Convention brought back n
report SO unfavorable to the character
of Dixon, that his case was consider
ed hopeless at once. Albert Harrah
and Others said he was proud, cold,
and overbearing, and without any
considerable intellectual force, and
charges of intemperance were made
against him. When we got to the
convention, we found citizens Of his
own county his most determined OPP
ponents. AS the delegates came in
we found a large majority were farm
ers who had left their harvest fields
at great personal sacrifice, and who
were determined that nothing but
| farmer should be nominated. They
knew nothing of the ways pOliticins
employ and we could have out man
aged them and secured the nomila-
ton of Dixon; but it would have
been a wet blanket on their enthusi-
asm, Principal was laid aside for
fear of putting wet blanket on
somebody's enthusiasm. endangered
a bolt and made our defeat certain.
Now look at the other candidates:
Mccormack of Knoxville, an edior
and not farmer, man Of very
moderate ability; Gault Of Appa
moose, Democrat, whose vote for
the Railroad Ring in the Senate
would have ruined us; White, of
keokuk, a farmer, but a brewer and
liquor man; Dixon, Of Mahaska, sol
unpopular at home that he could not
carry the party vote, and a man
of moderate ability; and Harbor, of
Mahaska, who is said to be drunk
ard. Gates is an overbearing and
selfish man, and certainly not likely
to make personal friends from frank,
plain, open men like you and me; /
certainly have ten times more reason
to dislike him than any other work
ing Anti-MOnopoIist In Jasper e0un-
ty, and certainly had 70 idea ofvote-
! ing for him at Ottanwa. But we
did not go there to consult our own
personal feelings, but to do our best
for the Anti Monopoly party. Wei
supported Gates unanimously for
these reasons: LIST, The delegates de-
manded a farmer nominee and Gates
is a farmer and Patron; ID, Gates
is the ablest and best posted and the
best speaker of all the candidates
proposed. Mighty poor material
must have been presented. 3D. HeI
has no political record here u bel
overhauled.
We did, friend Mullen, the very
best we knew how. 1t was hafd tol
to do we'll out of such tough bt of
material. We gave up peFonal
feelings, preferences and prejniices,
for the good Of the cause. GATES will
work hard and make good G,ndi-
date. In Congress he will b. hisl
best for us. / hope you VIII bel