Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-23
FOOTING THE ACCOUNT.
The Internecine War Among Ramsey
County Republicans-Shall There be Two
County Conventions or Harmonious
WhOle-Lively Correspondence.


There has been trouble in the Republican
camp in Ramsey county for two months
past. The county committee appointed
last year is anti Window. When
the county convention met
in July, to select delegates to Mr.. Wash
burns District Convention, new COM
mittee was appointed, which is understood
to be favorable to Window. The old COM
mittee, through its chairman, Prophet
Foote, announced that it would not sur
render, but would go right along and call
the county convention, to nominate legis-
lative and local officers this fall. This an
nouncement, made while the Prophet was a
little excited, has given rise to numerous
cock and bull stories relative to the plans
and schemes,.of the anti -Windomites, very
eddy inventions. However, that may be there
is lingering apprehension that there
may be two conventions, and when the
new committee met a day Or two ago it
was resolved to resort to little diplo
macy. The result has been the following
correspondence:
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept. 81, 1882.
w. 81. Foote, ESQ.,, st. Paul, MINI.
DEAR SIR: am informed that. not
withstanding the action of the late Repub-
lican county convention appointing new
county central committee, thus retiring
the committee appointed last year of
which yeu was the chairman, you intend
to act in the premises as though no new
committee had been appointed, even to
the calling of convention to nominate
candidates for the several county and leg
islative offices, to be voted for at the next
general election.
l do not propose in this communication
to argue the wisdom or unwisdom of the
action of the late convention in appointing
a new committee. The objects of the
communication do not require it. That
the new committee was duly appointed by
a county convention of properly elected
delegates from the different wards and
townships of the county, uncontested as to
each and all of them-a convention regu-
lar in its forms and aboye-board in all It's
proceedings, is not disputed. It therefore
simply follows that by the appointment of
a new committee by said convention the
old one was retired 1t has been functus
officio from that moment. I can hardly
believe that you have taken the position
credited you in this matter, as above set
forth, but if you have, while most strenu-
ously insist that you are in the wrong ut
terly and possess no authority whatever to
call the next Republican county conven-
ton other than that possessed by any
other private citizen, still, for the purpose
of strengthening at every point for the
coming contest in Ramsey county that
grand old party of which we are both
members, I am willing to put entirely
aside all personal considerations and to
make any reasonable concessions which
will tend to harmonic and strengthen the
party. [ am in favor of giving the fullest
opportunities at the primaries to Republi-
cans and Republicans only, to vote just as
they please. If you and I happen to diff
fer as to choice of candidates for the
offices to be filled, trust we are
agreed that it is a matter to be settled by
the Republicans of the country at the pri-
maries.
If the nominee should happen to be
your special choice, pledge you before
hand that he shall receive my vote. On
the other hand, if he should be not just
the man of your heart, presume, as the
candidate of the party, he would receive
your vote. l am in no sense in favor of a
war in our own ranks. Let US make our
war not upon each other, but upon the
common enemy.
At a full meeting of the county central
committee, raised by the Republican
county convention, of which I have the
honor of being chairman, for the purpose
of avoiding all cause of dissension in our
own ranks, and securing, in view of the
coming election, the utmost possible har-
mony, was authorized to address COM
munication to you and propose that the
old committee and the new unite
in call for the next Republican
county convention of Ramsey county.
We desire only to impose these conditions:
First-Ample notice, say not less than ten
days, shall be given of the time and places
of holding the primaries. Second
the voting shall be by precincts in the sew
eral wards, thus affording the fullest OPP
potunity to Republicans to attend and vote
with the least inconvenience to them.
Third-That Republicans only shall be al
lowed to vote at the primaries. That you
will object to any of the conditions named
1 cannot for moment believe. and
therefore confdentally expect your accept
ance of the above proposition, and thus
will be brought about happy settlement
of existing differences. Hoping to hear
from you in reply to this by the evening
of the twenty-third inst, and respectfully
notifying you that if you do not reply by
that time shall take it that you decline
my proposition. l remain truly yours,
MARX D. FLOWER.
Chairman Rep. Cent. Com.
ST.. PAUL, Sept. 81. 1882.
Mark D. Flower, ESQ.,, st. Paul, Mimi:
DEAR SIR: Your communication
was received. Replying, would
say: In arriving at decis-
ion, but one point can be considered, viz:
Which is the regularly appointed commit
tee at the present time! Your appeal for
harmony would lead me to believe that,
Notwithstanding your positive assertion
that the functions of the old committee
ceased last July. the consciousness that
ysu are an usurper has resulted in coniar-
ing up in your mind the image of a de-
served retributive justice which follows all
wrong -doing. If you are regularly au-
thorized chairman, it is your. priv
lege to call the convention
and in which. I have no de-
sire to intrude. 1 fully appreciate the
foo hot Il