Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-09-07
HOW TT WAS DONE.
Some Interesting Points on the
Inside History Of the Wat
ertOWn Convention.
The Convention that Beat Clifford and
Nominated the Man from
BroOkings.


held in Dakota has closed and the smoke
has risen from the field, it may not be I'M
interesting to look at the result. In the
haste following the rapid occurrence of
events the average reporter, and the
average delegate it might also be said, did
not find the time to go into details and
trace circumstances to results; but now
that this small scrap of political history is
written there is much of interest to the
public at large touching this important
convention.
For some years there has been no little
rivalry between North and South Dakota
in all political conventions. Both sec
tons have their laudable ambitions, and
the north has won more than it has lost.
though having representation of tri1e
more than one-third that of the south. 70
the reason that it usually voted as a unit.
This year new element appeared in terri
torial topics, known now as the Central
Dakota combination, comprised of the
counties of Brown, Bookings. Hamlin,
Codington, Dickey. Day, with divided del
egations from Sphinx, Moody, Faulk. Grant
and one or two others. The strength in q
vote of 528 was less than 80. North Da-
kota was present with vote of 1870 for
Gen. Harrison Allen. Grigsby had "a that
held solid to him through the entire strug-
gle. and at the closing moments of the
convention held the fate of the contest.
Clifford had 252 as his highest vote, while
265 was necessary to choice. Those fig
ures of Clifford occurred Just before ad-
journment in the evening, when STAN
pede was made in his favor, but the COM
bined Matthews and Allen strength, as
sisted by that of Grigsby, secured recess.
1t became evident to all that Allen could
not be nominated, and there was much
speculation where his strength would go.
Matthews could not throw his votes to
North Dakota, and many thought Allen
could not deliver his entire strength to
any one South Dakota man. But if there
is any one thing North Dakotans love it is
TO literally mop the floor with his neigh
bors from the south. They are true to any
combination that has that object
IN view. When it became rumored after
supper that the Allen and Matthews forces
would unite on the latter, the incrcdulous
said that Allen could not deliver the goods.
But he did. Other men in convention in
the past has done the same thing, and will
continue to do SO as long as this big terri
tory remains as q whole. When the north
discovered its candidate with only the votes
Of that section, and with no hopes Of get
ting any material strength from either
the central or southern wings, it began to
look around for friend. Grigsby and
Clifford jointly, when several other cand-
dates who became impossibilities had
pulled out, could have beaten the combin-
alton that finally won, but Grisby with "a
votes wanted Clifford with 252 to come to
him. Clifford, during the dark hours of
balloting, told his friends to go to Grigsby
if they chose, but they would not do it.
While not recognizing the necessity. the
monumental gall Of the request disguised
them with the maker of it. Hence in look
ing over the field the North Dakotans did
not want to surrender to combination too
much opposed to some of their schemes
and plans.
On the surface there was no opposition
TO division. There was probably no visi-
BILE issue on the subject. But while the
north seemed to accept the coming result.
il was a matter for suspicion with what
ease it fell i'll with the Central Dakota
idea, led by Brown and Dick counties.
the only outspoken sections in Dakota to-
day in favor of admission as q whole.
the plan is temporarily admitted in that
section because the matter is a part of the
national republican platform. But the old
feeling is the same, as was demonstrated
several times during the convention.
Skiilman was to be the Brown county
favorite in the deal, but the boys We're
shrewd enough to see that the Central
Dakota idea would not center on this bril-
liant young man, because Of the suspicion
OF his location. and the effort was ADAM
doned. Matthews, being an early mover
in the Central Dakota scheme, naturally
gathered in the strength Of Brown county,
and while North Dakota would have pre-
ferred Skillman it had to accept Matthews
or see Clifford nominated. The field from
the start was against Clifford, and the ten
acity with which Grigsbys delegates held
to forlorn hope made Gi1ford's nomination
impossible.
The condition of things became appar-
ent in the temporary organization. Beadle
and kingsbury counties We're instructed
for Hugh J. Campbell. The combination
of Allen and Matthews attempted to elect
Howard, while Clifford tried the same with
Judge Bennett. In this deal Beadle county
supported Mr.. NASH and Grisby's forces
Mr.. Patton. The Howard boys lacked
twelve votes of enough to elect. and to save
themselves changed TO Nash, and thus won.
Beadle county was acting under instruc-
tons from Campbell. and did not want a
chairman; in fact, that county had a
chairman to sell few months after he
was elected. When the case of Camp
bell seemed hopeless Beadle and Kings
bury counties fell into line for Clifford. but
not in time to him much good. Later on
this county cast twelve votes for Matthews,
which brought the necessary votes to COM
plete the nomination. Beadle county
meant we'll, and much of the cussing it
gets is not deserved. Its delegates were
faithful to their instructions, and as such
should not be censured
This Central Dakota combination was
new thing in politics, and as such is a
winner, at least for the time being. 1t got
its man. and that is what it was there for
peculiararity of the contest was how
faithfully the delegates stuck to their
choice. For ballot OF two they might
wander Off to compliment some other can
didatc. but it was noticeable that they all
usually returned to their first choice. The
Stampede to Clifford was evidence of this.
1t is the opinion of many that the cool
ruling of the chairman kept Clifford from
being nominated at that time. In the
anxiety Of delegations to be on the WIN