Daily globe., 1882-09-28
The Dakota Delegate.

FORKS, little village on the Red river
somewhere north of Fargo, has passed in
to history, and am certain that more
corrupt assembly never disgraced the fair
name of Dakota than this. There were
people there from all parts of the terri
tory in the interests of their friends.
There was Pettigrew, the pickere candi-
date from Sioux Falls; he wanted either
the nomination or the privilege of nam
ing the man in case he himself could not
get there. Then came Hon. Geo. II. Hand,
secretary of the territory. Mr..
Hand was urged by his
hosts of friends for months to become a
candidate, which he finally consented to
do. Then Capt. John B. Raymond, of
Fargo, who gave the nomination to Petit
grew two years ago, was urged by his fol-
lowers in North Dakota to come to the
front AND make an effort for the nomina-
ton. To this he at first dissented (appa-
rently), but at last proclaimed himself as
being in the field.
Well, the ''boys" started for Grand
Forks, where the wires and machinery were
soon put into motion. There were good
many contested delegations from South
Dakota, and few from the north. The
latter were submitted to and settled by ar
bitration, while those from the
south had to be acted upon
by the committee on credentials
appointed by the convention. The first
thing done by the convention after assem-
bling was to appoint this committee, con-
sisting of five from north Dakota, two
Pettigrew and two Hand men. This COM
mittee got together and went to work
pretty lively. Taking up the testimony
and afidavits as they came, they weighed
the same well, and were in honor bound to
admit nearly all of the Hand delegates,
though they squirmed at this, as the pro-
gramme of north Dakota was to seat an
equal number of both contesting dele
cations. Mr.. Hands friends having a
clear walk-over, sufficient num-
Der were now admitted to nominate
him on the first ballot, with the exception
Of about ten, and as Burleigh and Pembina
counties were on the fence with kindly
feeling towards Mr.. Hand, his nomination
was . certainty.
The Psttigrsw and Raymond men saw
this. Two caueusss were called, the Ray
mond and Psttigrew managers made the
combination by which the latter was TO
withdraw in favsr of Raymond. When the
committee on Credentials made their re-
port, they were told that the programme
Was 10 count out all the Hand men and
admit the Psttigrsv followers, and this
ersdsntial committee adhered strictly to
the rules laid down by their clans, voting
with then, irrespective of the report they
had recommended for adoption by the son
veltion.
None dared deny that Mr.. Hand was en-
titled to the nomination. Apart from
being first choice in south Dakota he was
second in north Dakota, a north Dakota
man being first choice here, or rather one
hailing from some other place than Fargo.
Mr.. Hand conducted his campaign in a
gentlsmanly and dignifsd manner, and
not only made himself stronger ia the
north, but added largely to his influence
and popularity at home. He went homo
with . clean record, and if hs ever comes
up again for any Office, his name will go
through with q whoop and cheer that will
cause the blood of tho Grand Forks COM
bination to run cold,
declarations of the political
organs the political pot does not boil "a
serenely as it might in the territory. Let
tors received here from South Dakota say
that the Hand and Ordway men are in
tensely disgusted with the result Of the
Grand Forks convention. They sllege
that more hars-faced trickery and rascal
ity was never practicea in any assembly
since tho Organization Of the territory,
and that the nomination of Raymond was
made by very small minority of the del
egates entitled to seats. They say, too
(and are correot) that it was done by q
most corrupt bargain and by positive and
infamous pledges on the part Of the men
who had hand in it. These gentlemen
also freely allsge that it was net done
without immense concessions to Pettigrew.
by Raymond and his friends
which are to be paid in the future, pre-
vided they can deliver the goods. Under
these circumstances the Hand and Ordvay
men declare that if the Democrats put up
a respectable man of fair ability, they
have in southern Dakota two votes to
north Dakota's one, and there is no telling
what may happen. Even many of the
Psttigrew men express ehagrin at the re-
suit of their own work. In north Dakota,
| in spite Of all the protestations of unan-
unity, there is a very decided difference of
sentiment. Burleigh county generally is
indignant at the outcome, and the state
ment is freely made that Raymond is the
nominee of Major Edwards, of Fargo,
and Edwards himself does not deny
this, but speaks of Raymond
as his nominee, with none to dispute his
claim, except the truly good and noble Dr.
Hall of the Fargo Republican, who i'm
aginss that he nominated Raymond, because
hs mentioned his name favorably several
times. All who hear this claim merely
smile, and remark that 'the old man is q
little cracked" a. he has not got influence
enough to keep spiritualistic medium
within forty reds Of his shop. e .
Here where the neminee il knevn he 10
personally well liked. The general senti-
meat among those Who know him best is
that hA 10 Q good, 1entlenaAly little man