The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-08-26
RFpuRIICAN NOMINATIONS.

REPUbLlChN fOhl&' n tV1NOs
One OF the queerest political gatherings
as to its composition, aims and outcome-ev
or assembled in Ottawa or elsewhere, was
the republican convention on tuesday. Il
was made up, firstly oftwo big rings, describ
able as Plumb and anti.Plumb; McInllrc
and rnt.Mc Intirc, Cullen being the boss
and manager of both the antics" and SO
adroitly managing as to leave all whom he
was fighting for and against as well as him
self beautifully out in the cold.
WHY Cullen should oppose Plumb WAS
simple enough-he wanted the congressional
nomination himself; but why he should
fight Sheriff McIntire was not so obvious, for
by cancellation, he might have had Macs
help and Macs strength is ten tunes that OF
/ Cullen. As it was, though Plumb was easily
beaten, Cullen found that after Plumb was
laid out he had still more formidable oppo-
nent to encounter in Charley Blanchard, and
now the help of McIntire, which he had
foollshly cast off, from suspicion that
Mac was Plumb NAM might have come in
good stead, while without it he was nowhere.
McIntre undoubtedly went into TIE con.
vention with majority Of the delegates in
his favor; but Cullen, as chairman of the
county committee, had SO fixed up the pro.
gramme that, with Macs nomination, Otta-
wa would have had the whole county ticket
with La Sale and the south side furious and
bound to bolt; so that Mac saw readily
enough that there was nothing left for him
but to step down ana out which he did with
the utmost good grace, This Jet in Stevens
for sheriff, and thus avoided rupture with
La Sale and its two hundred republican
votes, but did nothing to concleate the south
which, in consequence, IS ready Tor
open revolt The south side was not only in
dignant because all the delegates to the con
gressienal convention were "hogged' away
from them; but indignant over the defeat of
every other candidate they presented-Stev-
ems, for circuit clerk; Ryon for states attor-
ney, and Nate Mclntlre for representative,
whom to nominate at that stage was but to
insure his defeat, and who therefore declined
the protfered nomination with indignation
and disgust.
We had, then, this make up Of the ticket;
Holmes tor Circuit Clerk, Bernhard for Re
corder, Mayo Tor attorney, Petit for coroner,
and Blanchard for congress, all from Ottawa;
and Stevens for Sheriff, and Croker and
Hazlett for representatives, from the north
west side of the county.
As 10 ,hcimen nominated, no objection can
be urged to the ticket on that score Had
local prejudlces and claims been duly taken
INTO the account and adjusted, the ticket
would have been strong one. Mr.. Holmes
Is an excellent young man, familiar with all
the duties of the office Of Circuit clerk from
all know as pleasant, courteous gentleman
and atnoroughly competent officer. Stevens,
the nominee for sheriff, is one of the best fel-
lows in the world, full OF snap, wide awake,
com petent and if elected will make good
sheriff, and Mayo is a competent and popular
prosecutor. AS to the nominees for represen-
tatives who don't know Loosh Croker? and
knowing him, who don't swear that he is
prince of good fellows? Nothing but over
whelming political necessity and the "im-
minence of the present crisis" &c, &c, pre-
vents MS from going for Locsh ourselves;
and Capt. Heslett, they say, is an equally
good fellow Indeed mis- good nature was
so conspicuous while in command Of COM
pany in the 104th regiment, that it some
times made him the butt of ridicuie. He
was called the "town meeting captain.
Whenever the company was called on for
detail, the men were called together to make
the selection by vote When an order was
issued 10 the company, the Captain, before
Obeying it, submitted it to u vote. Indeed it
is said, after Col. Moore had surrendered at
Hartsville, Capt. 1Iesle,t gravely got his
company together and haC them solemnly
vote whether they would surrender with the
regiment or not OF course he will rigidy
respect the will of his constituents If sent to
legislature; the only fear is, that before he
can decide there whether TO support or OPP
pose any measure, he will want his constltu
ents first to call town meeting and vote on
il!
No-there is nothing to be said against the
men The weakness OF the ticket does not
lie in the material of which 1t is composed;
but in the awkward manner In which the
material is put together
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PING WITHIN PING