Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-10-19
The Third District Contest.

The Madison Journal is carrying the
force of cheek little too far when it
devotes half a column or so to per-
sonal abuse of Mr.. Hazelton, the Re-
publican nominee for Congress in the
third district, accusing him of 'blazen
impudence" and ''mulish obstinacy'' in
not withdrawing from the canvass, and
following this attack with a commenda-
ton of Mr.. Reyes course as ''true to the
interests of the party" Mr.. Keyes was
willing to withdraw if Mr. Hazelton
would, and this, in The Journals opin-
ion, is an instance of great magnani-
nifty We had hoped that Mr.. Hazelton
would withdraw, not because he was
not fairly nominated, but because there
was n large and strong minority OPP
posed to his denomination, and his can
didacy under the circumstances seemed
less likely to be successful than that of
some new man who might have been
found to succeed him. But there is no
justice in placing him on the same plane
with Mr.. Keyes. The latter is simply
a bolter. No candid and unprecedented
person who will investigate the subject
can doubt that Mr.. Hazelton received
the support of twenty-five out of the
forty-two delegates who were entitled
to seats in the nominating convention.
Mr.. Reyes only claim to a nomination
rests upon the action of nineteen dele
gates entitled TO seats in the nominat-
ing convention who withdrew from
it, and. calling in three other per-
sons tried to make believe they
were convention and pretended
to nominate Keyes, not with any
expectation of electing him, but to de-
feat Hazelton. Under the circumstan-
ces it would be strange indeed if Keyes
should refuse to agree to get off the
course if Hazelton would. But if the
situation were reversed, and he had
been regularly nominated, though by a
small majority. it is tolerably certain
that he would exhibit less aiacritv on
the subject of Withdrawing. tits every
mans right to run for Congress if he
chooses; there are several ways in which
he may properly come before the people
as candidate; BY securing the nomi-
nation of convention, by accepting a
call of bis friends, or by annou1&ing
himself as an independent candidate.
But a man has no right to come for
ward rs candidate upon false preten-
SeS, claiming that he has been regularly
nominated by his party when such is
not the case. a party man who runs
against the regular nominee of his party
is bolter. Boiling is sometimes iusti-
fable, but the man who bolts must have
u case which warrants it, or expect to
be condemned by his political associ-
NJ In I, =
do it frankly, and not attempt 20 shield
hims, { under gauzy and inLefensible
preteA,s. A bolter Who tries to deceive
the voters by setting up false claim,
is much worse than the or linary bolter.
As the regular nominee Of the party
in the third district, Mi. Hazelton is
entitled to the support of all Republic
cans who feel bound by the usages of
party organization. His character rs a
man and his record in Congress are
fair subjects of criticism. He has serv-
ed in Congress three terms. Two years
ago, his election was generally desired
by the Republicans of his district. We
believe that Mr.. Keyes went into his
district and made speeches in support of
him. He is the same man now as then:
lAtSA - C0tR u
in character Just rs respectable and
deserving. Only two things have hap
pened since which may serve toexplain
Mr.. Reyes present hostility to him. In
the winter Of 1881. when Keyes was
candidate for Senator. HazeltOn is I'M
derstood to have favored the choice Of
Cameron, and, this year, Dane county
having been incorr orated into the third
district under the new apportionment,
keycs and Hazelton became rival can
didateS for the nomnation for Congress.
These facts may account for the exist
ence of hostile feeling between the two
men. but they do not concern the Re-
publican party. The question for he
voters of the district TO consider is
whether they want Republican or a
Democrat representative in Congress.
Those who prefer Republican cannot
attain their object by dividing their
votes. They viii have to unite ia sup
port of one candidate; otherwise a Demo-
crat will be elected; and it is clear that
the only practicable thing to do, as be-
tween Reyes and Hazelton, is to unite
upon the latter, who is the nominee OF
the party tl,Caatee Republican, SEN
tiHel.