Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-27
THE BATTLE OF THE "NINEs."
IA Open Letter to the Management Of the
Pioneer Press.

y
morning last in the editorial department
for Minneapolis occurs an article under
the caption, 'Caucusing with Cranks,' -
which we as parties directly interested do
not hesitate to pronounce as scurrilous
and false and cite your report of the eau
Gus in question in another column in proof
of the assertion. We feel that the least
that you could do after permitting the use
of your columns for such an outrage is
to give US room for a defense. We ask
the privilege of giving our version of the
affair in plain, brief manner. The con-
ference consisted of twenty seven, repre-
senting Republicans, Prohibitionists and
the women voters of the city. Without
thought of partisan matters the organiza-
ton was given to the Republicans both in
chairman and secretary. No pre-
vious meeting of the Prohibition
lists and ladies' committee had
been held either separately or together
and their acts were purely voluntary and
spontaneous. On motion the conference
proceeded to an informal ballot, with the
understanding that two names should be
written upon each ticket. Prof. Ofte-
dahl led, DR.. e. Phillips next and Capt j.
n. Gross third with others scattering. A
discussion then arose concerning the pro-
priety of selecting one director from the
new territory in the Seventh and Eighth
wards. A motion was finally made that
Capt. J. n. Cross be the first nominee. To
this objection was made by the chairman
Of the Republican committee, as it would
be precedentfor other nominations. He f.
nally amended the motion, however, by ad-
ding the name of j. w, johnson because he
1vaS Democrat. He also objected strong
ly TO Dr.. Phillips because he had made
himself odious to the people by running
on the Prohibition ticket, and could not be
elected. This at once precipitated par
tisan fight. After some time motion was
made substituting the name of DR.. Phil
lips for that of DR.. johnson, which was
carried by vote of Is to s. A rambling
discussion for nearly one hour took place
with frequent conferences of the commit
tees, until finally the Republicans declared
that if the stubborn eighteen persisted the
non-partisan nine would Withdraw from
the caucus. A motion was made to that
effect, which was declared out of order.
That committee made several feints to
leave but finally said if we
would withdraw the name of
DR.. Phillips and offer another he would &C.
cept it. On consultation and for the sake
of harmonious action the doctors name
was withdrawn and the name of Prof. z.
W. B. Harvey substituted. To him they
Immediately objected on account of local
ity, he living in the East division. They
then suggested that the candidate be Sc
Iected from the Fourth ward. We yielded
again and named S, B. Williams. To this
gentleman they made no special objections
except that he had not been in the city
long enough, but they still refused to act
They still demanded a Democrat. We re-
piled that as the Democrats had not had
anything to do with the conference they
had no claims upon Us, but the Prohi-
tionists and ladies who had acted in good
faith had. At 1890 the conference ad-
journed to $50 p. N.
The Republican committee fastened
from the room and down on the sidewalk
and organized a rUmp convention and
nominated ticket with which they return
ed to the hall as an ultimatum, thus refus-
ing to give the majority any voice what
ever in selecting the candidates. During
the interim some of our number still de-
sirious of harmonious action interviewed
H. f. Lilibridge and procured his consent
if it would harmonic matters to accept q
nomination. The Republican com
mittee was hunted up and
the matter reported to them
with evidently satisfactory results. As
sembling at 1870 the chairman neglected
to call the conference to order, although
invited SO to 90, and intimated that each
committee must consult separately. Yield
ing again after time of private converse
ton the names of J. n. Gross and II. T.
L1llibridge were presented and refused,
the Republicans still insisting on a Demo
crat.
Having by this time reached q conclu-
sion that no candidate whom we could
name would be acceptable, we withdrew,
not however until the ladies' committee
had made the proposition that if
the Republicans would name a
man and the Prohibitionists another
they would endorse them. The Prohibi-
tionists consented, the Republicans refused.
Now we submit that considering these
circumstances the epithets as applied to
these gentlemen and ladies and the false
statement concerning the continued can
didacy of DR.. Phillips, the insulting
language he used concerning these persons
while in the discharge of their duties as
citizens AID the exercise of their rights as
voters, was brutal outrage. We call your
attention to them as follows: Cracked
Drained idiots" 'imbecile aggregation
''coterie of impracticables," "clique of OBJ
stinates," etc. Now, sir, when the Pioneer
Press lends its position and influence to
this boiling committee, which
at the first entered into the
organization with US as whole and cast
the first ballot in that way in its determi-
nation to practically disfranchi.e US in
saying of its nominees ''That two better
men could not be selected in the length
and breadth of the city as they represent
the only parties entitled by their strength
at the polls to any voice in the nomi-
nation" thus practically declaring that
the Prohibitionists and the ladies had no
rights which Republican committee is
bound to respect. We do hereby protest
and must hold the Pioneer Press RESPONSE
bic until disclaimer Of the same is made
public.
PROHIBITION COMMITTEE
H. H. Rentfrow, Mrs. N. J. johnson,
E. W. B. Harvey, C. j. West.
GAVIN Il. Fix, W. W. Sattsrlee,
J. B. Stevens, III. Gallagher.
| c. B. Smith,