Morris tribune., 1882-07-13
JgIS IT REGCL-dR:

This is a question often asked concern.
ing the district convention held last
Thursday ut Browns Valley. We an
nounce that it WAS and give our reasons
for so doing No one will deny but what
the convention assembled regularly &C.
cording TO call, and was properly called to
order by the chairman of the district COM
mittee. There were three contcsting dele
cations i'm the convention, with one uncOn.
tested delegation from Big Stone county.
There was u legitimate contest between
the two delegations from Stevens county;
but there were, we believe, but slight
Grant and Traverse counties to base their
claims upon. No one disputed the right
of the Biz Stone county delegates to o scat
in the convention. The only question up
on which there was any disagreement Was,
who shall vote during the temporary or.
ganization? MIR. Washburn demanded
that the organization be made by the Big
Stone county delegates with the SO called
regular delegates from Grant county, and
that the bolting delegation be thrown out
without a hearing This plan would give
the regular Grant county delegates. who
were chosen in the interest of Mr.. Wash.
burn, seven votes, while Big Stone county
would have but five. 1t WAS very safe
plan for the boss from Grant county to
suggest and all can understand why he
clung to it so tcnaCiouslv. II, rs MIR.
Washburn claimed. the boiling delegation
from Grant county should have been
thrown out lin his intcrest,) for the same
reason the boiling delegation from Trav.
ersc county should have been thrown out
and the regular delegation allowed TO
participate in the organization lin MIR.
Campbell's S intercSD. Again, If Mr.. Wash
burn was right i'm demanding that the
regular delegation from Traverse county
| be thrown out on account Of an insignifi-
cant bolt which he himself originated, for
the same reason the regular delegation
from Grant county should have been
thrown out on account Of y similar bolt
there. But Mr.. Washburn could accept
neither conclusion because II might result
in the loss Of the organization to him, and
that he evidently intended to have ut all
hazards. The various compromise meas
ures which were suggested are given in the
report of the proceedings of the conven-
ton. These measures met the approval
of all fairuindcd men in the convention,
but of course did not please Mr.. Wash.
burn. With utter disregard for the voice
of the people, he had made up his mind
to run the convention or bolt. When the
decision of the district committee was an
nounced, Washburn, with part of his
own delegates from Grant, two Of the bolt.
ing delegates from Traverse and two Of
the contesting delegates from this county
left the hall. Chairman Bcvans one Of the
two delegates from Stevens who left, did
SO only after lie had put the question on
the election of the temporary Chairman.
This question he decided in the affirmative
and vacated his chair which he held rs cx.
officio chairman, thus acknowledging that
the proceedings were regular and in order,
in fact by his own actions binding him
self to submit to and abide by the wish of
the majority as expressed, received. enter
tanned and announced by him. The mo-.
ment the vote WAS announced and the
chair filled, a bolt WAS simply an acknOwl
edgcmcnt of defeat, and refusing to aqui
esce in the result was n refusal 10 abide by
the expressed wish of majority Of those
present The two trifling excuses Wash
burn puts forw ard are, first: That Grant
county was not represented on the district
committee. Second: That latter he
bolted) the eOntesting delegates from
Grant were admitted Now Mr.. Wash.
burn was openly vitcd. by Hon. ii. w.
Stone. in open convention, 10 name par
ty 10 represent Grant county on that COM
mittce, this request WIS Ignored. and now
Washburn makes the pgltry claim Of non
representation, when he personally re.
fused to avail himself Of the offer made.
As to the coutesting delegation from Grant
being admit .eil, the committee on credeE
tials had no pther alternative left them
But one set 0f credentials were presented
from Grant county to that committee and
they were compelled to accept them as
Z t1proper so long as their gcnuineness was
not questioned No, Mr. Washburn
l'blundered, and blundcrcd egregiously, he