Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-07-18
The Rochester Convention.
Hon, Mark n. Dunnell the Nominee

Hon. Mark n. Dunnell the Nominee.
The Republican Congressional Con
vention that assembled in Rochester last
Tuesday, differed in many respects from
any of its immediate predecessors. While
there were but few instructed delegates,
most of the delegates were found to have
strong preferences, aud great unwilling.
ness to give up the support of their fav>
erite. At the same time the nomination
OF candidate who could unite the ele-
ments OF the party was the earnest desire
Of all. and the supporters of each man
chung to their favorite, believing that he
was the man to win. The universal de-
sire for the general good rather than per-
sonal advantage, removed nearly every.
thing OF bitterness from the convention
and from the discussions among dele
gates. and made good feeling the promi-
nent characteristic of the convention and
prepared the way for the feeling of har-
mony and satisfaction which was so ap-
parent when the convention had closed.
In this convention, as In many Others
Instructed delegations prevented speedy
choice OF q nominee. Delegates felt
bound by their instructions to vote for a
candidate long after they saw that his
nomination was impossible.
OF the candidates. Mr.. Mullen and Mr..
Conkey were present, but Mr.. Dunnell re :
manned away. his interests being looked
after by Senator Crandall and Mr.. Kelly,
of Owatonna.
The convention was called to order by
A. G. Wedge, of Freedom county. La
fayette French, of Mower county, was
elected Chairman and NJ. Halyorson, of
Freeborn county. Secretary, without op.
position. The usual committees were
appointed and short recess taken.
After recess the committee on crcden.
tials reported the names of delegates en-
titled to seats. There were no contests.
The temporary organization was made
permanent and the convention proceed
ed to an informal ballot, which resulted
in Is for Dunnell. 10 for Mullen, Is for
Conkey, 9 for Daniels, 6 for Start, 1 for
Sinclair and for Braden. Dunnell had
Houston and Steele solid ,13 votes, from
Winona, 3 from Dodge, 2 from Mower
and from Olmsted. Conkey had Fill
more county and other votes. Mullen
had Wabasha and II others. Starts
were from Mower. Daniels had from
Olmsted. On the second ballot the vote
of Olmsted went to Dunnel, giving him
"a votes. Necessary to a choice, 40.
The vote remained about the same for
several ballots until Mower county voted
solid for N. Kingsley, and his vote was
run up to Is on each of two ballots.
Things were in this condition when the
convention closed Tuesday night.
On Wednesday morning, as Fillmore
county remained by Conkey, Kingsley
was dropped, Dunnel gained votes in
Wiaona county, giving him 80 on first
ballot. On the third ballot Wednesday
morning Daniel Bosworth of Mower and
a delegate from Wabasha cast their votes
for Dunnell, thus giving him the 40 nee.
essary to nominate. On motion of Col.
Edwards, seconded by N. Kingsly and
many others, his nomination was made
unanimous. Attemps had been made to
nominate Leonard, Sinclair and O'Brien,
Leonard receiving 10 votes and Sinclair
II, which showed that Dunnell's friends
were in too large majority to permit of
the nomination of any other man. His
vote on the last ballot was not an index
of his strength, as several of his friends
were prevented by instruction from vot-
ing for him.
Five or six delegates from Freedom
county and one or two others dropped
out of the side door and thus avoided
helping make the nomination unanimous
but their support will not be with held
from the regular nominee of the party,
whose nomination was fairly obtained.
A general feeling of satisfaction Was ap-
parent at its close and the universal opin
ion was that its nominee would receive
an old fashioned maj0rlty at the polls in
November.
The platform read by Judge Tawney,
of Winona. and adopted by the conven-
ton will receive the endorsement of the
Republicans of this District. We shall
give it more attention in future issues.
Mr.. O'Bren, Simpson and others made
interesting speeches to the convention.
Chairman French appointed Messrs. Ed
wards, O'Brlen, Yale, Kingsley and Teller
a committee to wait on Mr.. Dunnell and
notify him of his nomination, and
the convention adjourned. =
In the afternoon the committee of mott
fication, having Mr.. Weber in place of
Mr.. Yale and Mr.. Hutchins in place of Mr..
Kingsley, proceeded to Owatonna, accom-
panied by other delegates and represen
tatives Of the press, and Mr.. Edwards,