The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1888-05-25

he two conventions, this and that
one, present striking coincidence and
contrast as well. Four years ago
John King Was the leader OF the south
Dakota forces and occupied the place
OF temporary chairman, while Judge
Bennett was the choice of an opposi-
ton similar in many respects. but
stronger than that at jamestown.
This year Bennett was the choice of
the south Dakota boys for temporary
chairman, and on the same side Of the
fence as the man whom he had COM
batted at Huron, that man occupying
Bennett's former position of perma-
nent chairman. Then as now, .Jutl La
Moure wanted representation on the
Chicago delegation, and then, different
from now, he got it in the person OF
his old father-in-law, Nelson. Then
as now Col Plummer was a candidate,
but with reversed conditions of sup
port. Such are the whirligigs of poll
tics. Yet there has been method in
their whirl. The fight at Huron was
the beginning of the movement which
has resulted in the solidifying of south
Dakota on every occasion since, each
year more and more SO, until the erst-
While northern gang of leaders are
forced to chow to the combinations
made by those damned south Dakota
chumps," as they have been won't to
fondly term us.
~
The episode of the evening session.
If indeed it ought not to he termed a
tragedy, was the discussion provoked
by the second attempt of the minority
to break the solid lines Of the division
lists. Mellette lead Off by q protest
against the motion to appoint com
mittee to select the Chicago delegates,
and made as good speech as though
he really meant what he said, instead
of being actuated by a feeling of sore
! chagrln at the failure of Codington
county to get the earth. He rushed in
where q leyel-headed angel would
| have feared to tread and made q crack
at the gentleman from Grand Forks,
Who had been decided on as one of the
three delegates from that section.
Nlellette sneered athim as an unknown
| quantity, and moved as substitute
the name OF johnson Nickeus, of
whom he could not say enough in
praise for his undoubted services in
behalf OF division. Having closed in
a most eloquent peroration on the in
justice OF a committee chosen by 400
votes in the convention doing what
the other hundred votes didn't like,
Mellette sat down with Voorhees,
like expression on his face, after the
Indiana senator had finished the work
of galyanizing the Kansas cyclone.
a.#
+ The gentleman from Co(!ington
didn't know it was loaded when he
blew down the muzZlc. In fact. very
few suspected it, when clerical look
ing gentleman arose slowly from out
the midst of the Grand Forks dele
CATION, and got the eye Of the speaker.
lie began in measured tones, and
most OF us settled back for tedious
harangue. But it was rather Il thrill
ing surprise. The speaker had not ut
tered half a dozen words before eyery
man in the house was on the alert to
catch his every syllable. In a style
suggesting the brilliant diction of
Emory Storrs and the cutting sarcasm
of John J. ingalls,, he paid his respects
to the gentleman from Codington.
.. ***
1t was as artistic a bit of skinninr
alive as ever was seen. And when the
cuticle of the gentleman from Coding-
ton was sllillfully removed, and hung
upon the seventh standard fence, the
artist from Grand Forks injected So
luton Of vitriol and lunar caustic into
the exposed and quivering nerve and
tissue of his victim by contemptuous-
ly referring to him as the godfather of
the still-born statehood infant, and
then let him drop.
***
Mellette made a feint at retort but
it fell flat, and the man who had hith-
erto enjoyed the respect and favors Of
every loyal south Dakotan, was as ut
terly friendless and without sympathy
from that element as though he had
always been a member of the old gang
instead of a recent ally. This affair
disclosed the calibre of man who
has hitherto stood high in the ranks of
those who have been fighting Dakota's
battles here in the south. And there
are few more of the same stamp, who
may not be able to stand the test of
| fire when put to it.
~.*
The artistic slasher from Grand
Forks was Gen. Ward, and while he
has hitherto been classed among the
unknown, of whom MelIette has such
hearty contempt, he belongs there no
more. One man, at least, knows who
he is for keeps, and the rest of us can
guess pretty close the next time we
| meet him i'll convention.
a;.a;
INCIDENTS OF TIE OCCASION.
When chairman King closed his
speech on taking the chair, he WAS