Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-05
A S0mblanC0 of Opposition to
the Republicans Organized
in Iowa.
The Unterrifled Prepare to
Give Battle Against Over
whelming Odds.
The Republicans Harmonious
on All Points but Liquor.
The Authors OF Decoration Day
HonSrsd d at Dos Moines.


Correspondence of The Bee.
DES MONIES, June 3.-Tae democ-
raoy of Iowa meets in etate conven-
tion Tuesday, The outcome Ia almost
y foregone conclusion, The silk stock
lag wing will carry off the honors -
there are but two tho governorship
and the supreme judgeship. The ma.
jority of county conventions that have
instructed at all, have declared for
L. G.. Kline, while some have in.
structed for Clark, Wilmer, Augustus
Caesar Dodge, and Benjamin j. Hall,
but neither of these four would take
It, Clark could not get 1t, al he Is In
favor of tho amendment, and opposed
to delivering the party to the Misnis-
sippi river saloonr. 1t Is quite cer-
tain that Kinne will get the first
place on the ticket and Judge L. s.
the second, although the south
western part of the state
will push Judge Barton of Van Buren,
who is doubtless the better jarist, but
he doenn't happen to live In the Mis-
sissippi river saloon belt, and that
settles 1t. The party 4, determined to
make square issue on the amend
meut business, and force the repub-
liosn party into 1t If they can. The
Carroll county convention voiced the
ideas of shat party as at present con-
structed when it declared, first, oppo.
aition to all sumptusry laws, or any
amendment of the constitution look
Ing that way; second, opposition to o
resubmission of the amendment; third,
opposition to woman suffrage, for the
reason that uomsn's place Ia a. home,
and no true woman wants suffrage,
There will be strong effort made
by the silk stockings to get a free
trade plank in the platform, which
will bring out the old mcSsbsck "taritf
for revenue" fellows, and there 10
likely to be scmo contest over that
matter. The silence of the "bright
and glorious" Ell. Campbell In tho
campaign Is ominous, which leads to
the conclusion that the old-timers are
losing their grip. There is no change
In The outlook of the republican con,
vention. No formidable opposition
presents Itself against the renomina-
tlon of Gov. Sherman, But Judge Day
seems to be iosing ground, and II nov
soems quite assured he will not be re-
IcnIins,sd, ah1 ,nat BClely ga th'
ground that he has had the Office TIVE
years. The most prominent name
mentioned are Judge McDill,of Unior
county, and Judgs Reed, of Potta-
wattamie county, with McDill ahead
and il Is authoritatlvely announced
that he will accept If nominated. H.
Is warm personal friend of Judg'
Dsy, and 30, personally, will take n,
part in tho contest. He is simply /,
the hands of hls friends,
There Is no possibility of dividing
! the action Of the convention on tht
amendment question. There Is n'
unanimity of sentiment among lesd'
ing men Of the party who have com
here from all parts of tho state.
, THE ORIGIN OF DECORATION DAY.
Decoration day was observed Il
Des Moines as 1t never had bsen oh
, served before. The whole cit
. turned oul, evidenoing that tho fire O
. patriotism still burns in the hearts o
the people, and that the dead heroe
are not forgotten. One of the mon
notable features of the occasion wa
; the presence of two of the FIVE wome
=, who originated this most appropriat
custom of honoring the dead soldier
= by atrewing their graves with flower'
!. 1t happened In this way: In 1s6
!. Chaplain May, of the Second Mich
gan, was in camp at Arlington heights
His vile and two daughters, Josl
and Ella, and Mrs, Evans, wife {
George Ii, Evsnr, of the Fifth Michi
4 gan regiment, a young bride
3 eighteen years, were with the chap
il lain. Tao 10Th of April the lsdie
|. were chatting about the war and Il
@ various tcenes. when one of them sug
g gested that the lonely graves abor
j. them would appear more cheerful
covered with flowers, and they at ono
!, gathered Howers from the woods ON
n strewed them over the graves of Mlcl
,, igan soldiers. The noxt year they rt
:, peated the offering, and in 1864 the
q paid like tribute to the dead at FREQ
'r erlcksburg. The war closed and II
e army disoiyed, but the beautiful Gu
g tom thus inaugurated has becom
widespread as the nation. OF th'
original group but two remsin, Mil
Ella May and Mrs. Evans, the LATTE
residirg in this city, with whom Nit
/. May Ia spending short season, The
20 were given post of honor In the CO
IS emoulel service yesterday. The po
1. of G. A, r.. to which mr. Evans b
,r longs will secure photograph
n these women, with which to decora
IF its wall, and every Grand Army po
If In the country ought to have a cop
10 Probably very few fow Of 20
al readers know how this custom origl
8 ated, There Is no question as to Il
correc.nesB of this expanatiO
ID These two ladies hsv9 oeeu elect
A. houory members Of Crocker pos
er with permit to wear the badge of d
* G. A II. This post has three wom
Ia It's membership, the third being
aged woman who gave her husba
aud five sons to the army.
10 The I, xas Way
n Special Dispatch 20 THs BEH.