Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-08-28
One Account of 1t.
Pennington Tim es I.

No event in the political history of
st. Francois county ever stirred the in
dignation of our people 80 much as the
scheme of few men on the 18th of
June to overridei the will and senti-
ment of the Democratic party of this
scheme was finally sue
cessfully carried out at the State Con-
vention in Jefferson City last week.
The history of this outrage, the subse-
ouent action of the Democratic Execu-
tive Committee of the comfy, and the
immense mass meeting of Democrats
that convened under their call in Far
mington on the Goth of July to protest
against the shameful jngglery of the
28th of June, are SO well known to our
people that further allusion to it here
is unnecessary; but a little history of
the final elimination of the fraud at
Jefferson City is due the Democrats of
the county as well as their representa-
tives in the contest there.
Three of the delegates elected by the
Democrats of st. Francois county-Col.
DeLassus, Mr.. George E. Walker and
the writer-arrived at the scene of &C.
ton at an early hour. They were not
long in discov ering that they had an in
f1uential and willy combination against
which to contend. There was an effort
being made on the part of the old State
Central Committee to be retained. The
defeat of the regular delegation from
this county was necessary for the sue
cess of the committeeman from this
district. whose part in the Maffftt-
Campbell meeting made it impossible
for our delegation to give him It's sup
port. The complexion of the Commit
tee on Credentials was therefore an OBJ
ject to be looked after. Our delegation
was contending single-handed in the
uneven contest--with the exception of
Col. John O'Fallon, who gave US no in
amount of support -
against a majority of the old Central
Committee and some of widest politi-
clans in the State, whose effort in be-
half of Mr.. Burks reacted directly
against us. AS each member of the
Committee on Credentials was elected
in district caucus, it can at once be seen
how member of the Central Commit
tee, who might be SO disposed, could
that member from his dis
triet.
When the names of the Committee
on Credentials were read out in Con-
vention we were strongly impressed
US; but knowing the justice of the cause
of the Democrats of this county, we
went before that committee with de-
termination to win, if they could be
made to see the Justice of cause that
was backed and endorsed by both the
and the new Democratic Ex-
ecutive Committees and nine tenth OF
the Democratic voters of this county.
There We beheld the novel and unpre-
cedent display of a Lieutenant-Gover-
nor and disgruntled candidate for Gov
ernor in the role of legal counselor and
for a delegation In which ne
was largely instrumental in foisting
upon the Democrats of this county,
backed by Mr.. Burks, o member of the
old State Central Committee and chair
man of the Mafitt- Campbell meeting
held at Pennington on the 2Sth OF
June. Lt.-Gov. Campbell made a
speciOus argument in favor of his dele
CATION, such as his long experience IN
such matters enabled him to do, and
the desperation of his cause demanded.
The facts and documents showing that
the regular delegates were endorsed by
the only known organization of Demo-
Gratis in our county. and the manner in
which the so-called delegates were
chosen, were then presented; and MIR.
Burks followed in his usual style of or
atOry in behalf of the Maff1tt-Camp
delegates. The committee refused to
listen to any reply. The vote against
the regular delegates stood
eight to five. as it did on every other
that came before it, show
ing that they had been selected with
care and for purpose.
But hohors were easy We had, In
the organizations of the Tenth congress
sional district caucus, succeeded in car
rying every point. by electing w. r.
Edgar Of Iron county as our member of
the State Ceutrai Committee. and Col.
John O'FalIon as presidential ell etor.
Our delegation in the Convention was
not necessary &, Gen. Marmadnke's
success; but refusal to admit them de-
prived the Democrats OF st. Francois
county of voting for the man of their
choice. Tire admitted delegates from
this county east four of Sire seven votes
given To Mr.. Campbell, and for which
be fought SO hard and so disgracefulIy.