Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-08-23
The Congressional Convention.

lican candidate for this district, met at
McGregor last Tuesday, at half past one
o'clock P. NJ, and continued in session
until sunrise the next morning. 1t was
one of the most exciting and closely
fought political contests in the history
of the party in this State. The conven-
ton was permanently organized by the
election of Hon, E. E. Cooley, of Win
neshiek, President and j. 7. Metcalf, Of
Allamakee, and B. W. Newberry, Of
Clayton, as Secretaries. Previous to
entering upon the actual work of the
convention, the following resolutions
were unanimously adopted:
Resolaed, That we heartily indorse as our
platform the principles enunciated by the last
Republican State Convention.
RcsOlrcd, That we regard with pride the ofiic-
ial acts of T. w. Burdick, our Representative
in Congress, and hereby tender him the warm
ability and efficiency with which he has dis
charged the duties of his office
RESOLVED, That this convention as body, and
es Itself to the united and hearty support Of the
nominee of this convention.
The Convention then proceeded to
ballot for a candidate for Congress. The
names of Messrs Donnan, Of Buchanan,
Updegraff of Clayton and Cooley of Du
buque being respectively presented in
short speeches to the convention. The
first ballot showed 81 votes for Cooley,
A 3-5 for Updegraff, and 80 2-5 for
Donnan. About the 18th ballot the count
settled down to So for Cooley, 46 3-5 for
Updegraff, and IS 2-5 for Donnan; not
varying much from these figures until
the 120th ballot, when the convention
adjourned for supper. On the 12lst
BALLOT Cooley fell to 4s, Updegraff rose
to 81 3-5, Donnan remaining the same,
30 2-5. These figures were not material
ly altered until the 2OOth ballot-when
the Winneshiek delegates which all
through it's balloting fillibustered for the
chance to introduce dark horse, east
Is votes for Hon. VIM. Larrahee, That
gentleman promptly rose to his feet and
emphatically reiterated his previously
expressed determination not to be a
candidate and from this time it became
apparent that the nomination must be
made from the three names before the
convention. From this time on to the
last, the ballo ting went on with varying
results as the hours of the night wore
away, Cooley, at one time going down
to 43, and Donnan at another, going up
to 4S, his his highest vote. Toward the
last the opponents of Cooley seem to
have played fine game on his adherents
On the Gath ballot, his count reached
67, within fraction of vote of the
coveted nomination This inspired his
followers with the most exuberant an
ticipations of success, but it was de-
fusion, as at no time does it appear that
a majority of the convention designed
or intended his nomination. At half
past o'clock in the morning the last or
326th ballot was cast which resulted as
follows:
Updegratf, 6S $40; Cooley, 60; Don
non, 2 40, and four blank. The vote
of the Buchanan delegation on this bal,
lot was s for Updegraff, for Cooley
and 4 blank.
Hon. Thomas Updegraff, Of Clayton,
was then declared the nominee of the
convention amid great applause. He
was sent for, and coming before the
convention expressed his gratitude in a
short and appropriate speech. He was
followed by Mr.. Donnan, who heartily
endorsed the action of the convention,
and referred to the character and ability
of Mr.. Updegraf in terms of high appre-
citation. Mr.. Cooley was called for, but
was non est.
The District Committee was then
chosen as follows NJ f. Duff, Clayton
county, chairman; j. Z. Metcalf, Ala
makee; T. p. Rood, Dubuque; j. Chap
man, Delaware; NJ. w. Harmon, Bu-
chanan; G. H. Talmadge, Fayette G.
r. Willett. Winneshiek.