The Dickinson press., 1884-07-19
DAKOTA REPUBLICANS.
Meeting of Central Committee at
st. Paul-Congressional Conven-
ton at Pierre, Sept. II.
st. Paul Pioneer Press, 18th.

FROM 81. raul Pioneer Press, l3th.
MEETING OF H CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
The Republican territorial central commit
zee OF Dakota was called to meet Yesterday
at ~ K Park, Minnetonka, but the metro
polltan instincts of the members from the
great frontier induced them to change to ST
Paul, and the session was held last evening
at the Metropolitan hotel There were pres
ent the following representation: E. P.
Wells, chairman: F. w. Caldwell, secretary;
George W. Halves, w. H. Skinner, w. NJ.
Cuppett, w. F. Steele, G. 7. Mccoy (by
proxy to ]. H. Drake) ]. H. King
(by proxy to R. W. Evart, A. J. Plowman
and H. M. Gregg (hy proxy to R. r. Petit
grew, H. +. Miller and B. w. Benson (by
praxy to A. W. Edwards), liver Larson (by
proxy to Charles H. Dernley), John Fadden
(by proxy to I. T. Wells, A. Boland by proxy
to We. Prentice The purpose of the meeting
was to arrange for holding the next conven-
ton for nomination of a candidate for con-
gressional delegate. and over it all was to be
seen the blister of that sectional fire which
has burned between North and South Dako-
to. The particular complexion of the COM
mittee, which is South Dakotian by nine to
six, is an inheritance from the Grand
Forks convention of 1882, and was
determined as recompense made in
the trade which resulted in the
result of this the member from the southern
half were in position to put through such
measures as to them seemed proper. The
first contest was in regard to the location of
the proposed convention, and in this the
gentlemen from the north endeavored to do
sentatives Of n or the other Of
the towns which desired the distinction.
They throw the largest part of their force to
Aberdeen, making her six votes, the ballot
resulted: Aberdeen 6, Pierre 3, Mitchell 3,
Brookings 1, Big Stone City l. Three others
resulted in the choice of Pierre, the vote
being: Pierre 8, Aberdeen 5, Big Stone City
1. The time for holding the convention
was determined without much difficulty, the
choice being Wednesday. Sept. ~, the only
question being as to what would least in
holding its primaries.
H ApPoRTIoNMENT CONTEST.
The tug of war was on the matter OF ap-
~portionment of the delegates of the several
counties. Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota in
reduced a resolution that the delegates adj
ditlonal to those given nominally to each
county be chosen not upon the basis OF the
number of votes given the Republican can
didate for congress in 1882, but upon the
basis OF population as shown by the total
vote given the candidate of both parties.
as a fire-brand and led to q protracted dis
cussion engaged in by all, which was some
thing of a mixture of bitterness, POPULARITY
and hard horse sense. The Southern major
ity stated it's purpose and its justification for
Northern counties for Raymond the
Republican candidate, was tremendously
because he was a citizen of North Dakota, so
that to allot the delegates upon the basis Of
his vote would be paying a premium for Sec
llcanism. Itwould give to North Dakota in
the coming convention an undue advantage,
not because OF there being q larger aver
age of Republicans there, but because
she had the candidate wv years ago.
Furthermore, in the meeting of the omlnit
tee held two years ago, when Northern Da-
kota had the majority, the representation
allotted to northern counties was arbitrarily
increased thirty-fve votes, the Justification
being that in the campaign previous the Dem
Ocratic candidate was a residentof Northern
Dakota, and this had reduced the Republi-
can vote. 1t was also urged as q precedent
that the basis OF representation, as liked for
national conventions, is ultimated one Of
population, and not of Republican votes.
H OTHER SIDE.
Against these arguments the northern
members made the following points: That
it is not a fact that the large increase in the
proportion of Republican votesin 1852 was
due to the candidate being a citizen of North
Dakota. but because of the radical improve
ment in the quality of the citizens of
is very much increased-the river rousta-
bouts and railroad shovelers being super
seeded by sober and industrious agriculturists
and by other classes OF high grades, making
q population which on account of
its improved quality is necessarily
and overwhelmingly Ranrh1inon EOrtharp
Dakota can be depended upon to cast just as
large a vote for the Republican nominee,
wherever his home may be. And SO far as
precedent is concerned, if what was
done W years ago by the committee
an injustice, to duplicate it now makes it no
less SO, but simply adds iniquity to iniquity
1t is putting into q Republican conven ion
representatives OF Democratic ~votes-some-
thing which is not only, not politics, but
which when O by men simply
because they have the power to do
it, is a damnable outrage.
Maj. Edwards, on the part of the North Da-
kota members, proposed as a basis of repre-
sentation that the a~pportionment for the
convention held at Huron to send delegates
distributing more widely the hon
convention, and maintaining at the
same time the only true system of making
up the membership Of a political body Of
delegates. There was considerable emphasis
INDUCED in on both sides, and the northern
ers threatened for a time to secede; but Mr..
Pettigrew's resolution was finally couched
in the terms which are given in the call
below, and it was unanimously adopted, the
difficulties which for time threatened being
all dispersed. Chairman Wells, Secretary
Caldwell and Messrs. Edwards and Drake
were appointed a committee to formulate
the call and apportion the delegates upon
the basis prescribed, which was done, the
report being unanimously adopted.
A. W. Edwards was selected as an addi-
tional secretary of the committee.
The resignation of G. I. Mccoy as a men,
Der of the committee was received and ac-
cepted, and John H. Drake chosen to fill the
vacancy.
v E. Prentice was appointed chairman of
q local committee to be filed by himself to
arrange preliminaries for accommodation of
the convention at Pierre.
Messrs. Wells, Pettigrew, Edwards and
Drake were appointed to secure transporta-
ton for delegates Following is the text of
the call:
The territorial Republican convention will be
held at Pierre, on Wednesday, September IL,
1884, at O'Clock p. M, for the purpose of plac-
congress, and transacting such other business
as may properly come before said
p qeplesentation shall sh b saia two S Seny = Tor e shs
organized county, and additional delegates based
upon said county's population as shown by its
votes for congressional delegates in 1882, at the
rate Of one delegate to said territorial conven-
ton for each 200 votes, or major fraction Thereof,
cast at said election:
The following apportionment ia given to show
the number OF delegates to which each county is
entitled. Any organized counties not men
toned or organized subsequently will be en-
/! titled to delegates according to the apportion-
ment herein mentioned: