The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-06-29

WatonWan-GcO. P. Johnson.
Yellow Medicine-John Swcnson.
The report of the committee on creden-
tials was adopted.
The convention then proceeded tc an in
formal ballot for candidate for congress.
Wakefield, and Mr.. Freeman seconded the
nomination. NJ. D. L. Collister of Vase
ca was also placed in nomination, when
the convention proceeded with ballot by
counties. The informal ballot resulted in
James B. Wakefield receiving 80 votes and
Mr.. NJ. D. L. Co.lioter votes out of a
total Of LOG. On motion of Mr.. E. B..
Collister of Wascca, the nomination OF
Mr.. Wakefield was made by reclamation.
q. q. GoodenoW were appointed to apprise
Mr.. Wakefield Of his nomination., and Mr..
Wakefield was handsomely introduced by
Mr.. Freeman of the committee. Mr.. Wake
field then addressed the convention at con-
siderable length. After gracefully accept
ing the nomination and complimenting his
predecessors in the old first district, he So d.:
The resolutions you have been pleased to
adopt are in accord with my judgement so
far as am informed of their purport. They
form platform broad enough and liberal
enough for any American citizen to stand
upon. They enunciate, I think, the true
theories and beliefs of a large majority of
our people, and l shall gladly labor to give
thcm force and cifec, in legislation. I shall
hold myself in readiness, both as private
citizen and a public servant, to do all in my
power to enoble and dignity labor: and to
realize to every man, whether farmer, artisan
or professional man, the truth of that au-
lucrative amendment that the laborer is
worthy of his hire.
| shall aim to protect the husbandman in
tic enjoyment of the full fruits of his indus
try, and to protect him from the rapacity of
those who would earn their bread by the
sweat of his brow, whether they are ell
,trcnched behind charters or fortified by
grants. 1 will advocate and sustain such
Legislation as will enable the laborillg masses
!of the country to procure the needs of life
free from oppressive tariffs and discriminate
ing duties. will especially favor the elm
ination from our national statutes ofthosc
burdensome. restrictions upon intellectual
progress which all unwarralltable duty up
on paper has imposed. Believing as I
do that the transportation question is
one of paramount importance to this district
1 will heartily cooperate with those who
seek such a solution of this difficult problem
as will be for the b,st interests Of a purely
agricultural constituency. While 1 not
knowingly lend myself to any action that
will tend to cripple Enthusiastically the resources
or impair the efficiency of those great
corporations to whom we are in large
measure compelled to look for the transport
tation of our products to market, yet
wonld give them to understand that as they
have received their life from the breath of a
generous people, so should they forget their
obligations to their bencfactors that breath
will be withdrawn to their utter discomf-
ture.
The candidate nominated by such an over
whelming vote of the republicans of the
Second district was tremendously APP
convention adjourned after having been in
session for little more than one and half
hours.
SKETCH OF THE CANDIDATE.
James Beach Wakefield was born at
Winsted, Litchfield county, Conn.,, March 81,
1928. His father, Human Wakefield, was
well known as a physician. James had
every advantage of education, and prepared
vile, N. Y. In 1S43. he entered Trinity
honors in 1916. Mr.. Wakefield chose the
law as his profession, and first studied
in the office Of his brother-in-law, Judge E.
T. Wilder, then of Painsville, o., and later
aresidcnt of Red Wing, in this state. It was
in the Ohio village that Mr.. Wakefield was
admitted to practice, the year being 1851, and
until 1854, when he came to Minnesota, he
practiced at Delphi, Ind. Shakopee was his
frst.residence in this state and in 1856 he
moved to what is now Blue Earth City,
where he has made his home ever since.
In 1858 he was appointed deputy agent at
the Lower Sioux agency, and there remained
for several years, returning to Blue Earth
City Immediately prior to the Sioux out
break of 1862. In 1869 he was made receiver
of the Winnebago land district by President
Grant, the headquarters of the office being
first removed to Jackson and afterwards to
Worthington. Mr.. Wakefield retained the
Office until 1875, when he resigned and at
tended more particularly to his beautiful
farm of 240 acres which adjoins his home.
He was member of the house in the first
legislature Minnesota had as a state and was
in the same body in 1868 and 1866, being the
speaker in the last year. In 1867 he was
elected state senator and continued such
through the sessions of 1868 and part of
1869 resigning in the latter year to accept
the position of register of the land office.
In 1875 he was elected lieutenant governor
and was reelected in 1877, and is often spok-
en- Of as one Of the best presiding officers in