Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-01-19

cd thc field at late day, and abso-
lutcly without any organization. Tha,
no effort was made at organizing his
forces till within a week or two be-
fore the commencement of the con-
test here on the final ground. The
support which he received was q
spontaneous support. and simply the
expression in his favor in field which
had already been filed and canvasset
by active candidates. Four powerful
men were his competitors. all OF
whom had participated i'm the last
canvass. and had thus proiitcd by an
opportunity for making friends
which he, confined TO his post Of ,luty
AT Washington City. did moi have
The field had been worked. and care.
fully, skillfullv worked. before he
had entered upon it--and enough
members We're then already pledged
TO the other candidates to make il al.
most sure that the Secretary's only
chance lay in the possibility of dead
set between the others. The warm
feeling entertained by the whole State
| for Gov. Kirkwood. made il certain
from the first that he would lead all
other men. and stand by far the hest
chance on The first ballots. Gen. Bel
knaps friends never entertained i
hope, after he had entered the canvass
so tardily, thatihc would or could BIZ
Nominated before the fourth or fifth
ballot. For Kirkwood's strength wa.
SO well known. and has been so early
secured, that it was generally admit.
ted he would at least hold the ground
that long. His st<nngth he held to the
last, while the multiplicity of candi
dates necessarily made the remaining
votes very much divided.
Gen. Bclknap, in coming upon tht
| ground. was most flatteringly rccciv.
ed, and rallied about him his grea
| throng of personal friends. besides
hosts of others who knew him onl,
! by the lustre of his military fame ant
| the renown of his record as a Cabine
Minister. The popularity of his re
ception, the general expression in hi
flavor, and the many friends he mad,
/ by personal contact. showed YER
iplainly what he could have done hat
he been all the while in the field. ant
directly among the people.
i His friends know that he had TWEEN
i ty-tivc votes pledged him. Thi
was as many, and even more thai
/ they expected he would have in hi
tardy candidacy, in starting ont. TIL
| withdrawal of Mr.. Harlan, which ha,
the effect of giving the impression
that Kirkwood's success was certain
took away a great deal ofhis strength
4 and left him on the first ballot wit
fifteen votes. The next ballot. havin
only to gain three votes, Kirkwoo
Twas chosen.
4 The result of Gen. Belknap's can
, didacy is that he has been brough
into closer acquaintance with all on
Iowa people, that he has greatly in
creased his popularity among then
and that he stands much better an
much stronger than he did before
4 Net few among the supporters
Gov. Kirkwood, early pledged to hin
expressed their regrets at not bein
able to support the Gcneral-both be
caused they liked him and wanted
soldier candidate, and this regret ths
they We're not able TO vote for hi
they still have. When the Gcner.
I came TO pay his respects and tcndc
, his congratulations TO his successfr
/, competition, after The caucus, an az
which Of itself reflected much cretli
; upon him. the 1cree of his entranc
seemed to be nearly as much in hi
honor as in Gov. KirkMood's. Y
So that they Candidacy OF Gen. Be
KNAPP for Senator has moi been strict
| q defeat. He came out of ii with
larger Following among our peopl
than he had when he went i'm. An
he is still young man, with his flat
. tering prospects for the future und
minished by this contest. bnt in
\ creased. ssG