Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1886-09-23

oAO - Cav iHJAiy W Puu4IS luIClCotS.
A WEEK ago today The Alert gave an
impartial account of the proceedings of
the late Stutsman county convention
which resulted in double header, an
unusual thing for the republicans of this
county. In the newspaper comments
nearly all have expressed regret at the
occurrence-except the democratic pa
pers which are naturally elated thereby.
In printing the comments as they appear,
all can see at least how the matter IS re.
garded by the republican journals of the
district and elsewhere which take, of
course, only general view of the situa
tion. While many seem not to be pos
sessed of the facts, the Darlington News,
from which the following is taken claims
to have drawn Its deductions from care
full inquiry among both parties. The
democratic Capital has tried to make it
appear that the police took a prominent
part IN the meeting and its old friend the
News, erstwhlle ready to chime in with
any of the Capitals talk, repudiates that
paper now, and presents the following
conclusions which it says seem to be
naturally drawn from the facts in the
case. The News says:
apparently, the preliminary caucuses
passed off amicably, and were fairly
unanimous IN their fiual issue. There
was no strongly organized opposition to
Mr.. Dodge mantle sted IN these caucuses,
and it was generally understood that
the delegates there elected were Dodge
men.
But, iE the convention, an entirely new
aspect of affairs was presented. Here
concentrated and eliminated the opposi-
ton to MIR. Dodge, and here was devel-
oped the perfect rganization-hithert
unsuspected-of a strong party cham
pioncd by Mr.. Glaspell. The careful
manipulation of the premedltated attack
upon the Dodge interest was shown by
the overwhelming numbers of the op-
poncnts who took possession of the court
room at an early hour and held it-almost
by force-throughou the session.
The first passage at arms occurred over
the temporary chairma nshlp.. Mr. Frye
claimed to be chairman of the central
committee by election, Mr.. Wallace, the
original chairman, having failed to attend
the sessions of the committee. Mr.. Wal
lace claimed that he never had been noti
fed of any vote to depose him, and de.
manded to see the record, which was not
produced, and, in the absence of it., in
sisted on his right. Mr.. Fancher moved
that Mr.. W. G. White be chairman,
which was voted atlirmatively by the
majority in the room. Mr.. Wallace Was
unanimously chosen chairman by the
accredited delegates, who, alone, 1t
would seem, had any right in the con !.
vcntion.
While the dispute upon the chairman
ship was in progress, another noteworthy
incident occurred. Mr.. White and Mr..
Wallace stood side by si'.e upon the plat
form. Mr.. Wallace turned to Mr.. White
and said to him, elf you will declare up
con your honor that you believe you alone
shave the right to the chair, will stand
"aside in your favor" Mr.. White did
not reply, and Mr.. Wallace made another
proposition, that MIR. White should allow
him to make declaration upon his honor
as to his belief in the matter, which was
refused by Mr.. White.
The meeting finally resolved itself into
two organized conventions.
The following deductions seem natu
rally to be drawn from the facts in the
case.
l. The caucuses were regular, with.
out contest or opposition.
2. Subsequently to the caucuscs
strong opposition to Mr.. Dodge was or
ganized, by men who had failed to make
themselves heard in the caucus, for
the purpose of taking possession of the
convention.
3. A weak point in Mr.. Frye's claim
to the craftsmanship consisted in his
failure to produce, or to offer to produce,
any proof in support of his clam.
4. Whichever of the two might have
been the real chairman of the central COM
mittee, and so, by reason Of his status
there, have held the right to call the
meeting to order, certainly none had any
right to vote in the convention who did
not come into IL as formally and lera lIv
accredited delegates from the caucuses.
S. The men who carried through the
Frye e-White.Gilman busl1ess did not
even pretend to have any legitimate status