The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-06-23
CHAIRMAN THURSTON'
The Host Noted Nsbraska Lawyer
Chosen by the National Com
mittee.
The vete On Rstee and IIiu was Tiea
and Chairman Joaes Cast the
Deciding Vote.


The National Committee met Monday
morning to select Temporary Chairman
for the convention. Forty-one committee
men were present IN person or by proxy
The Importance OF the occasion attracted
large crowd, and the corridors Of the hotel
In the vicinity OF the committee-room were
densey packed with interested parties The
committed got down to business Immediate
ly after Chairman Jones had raped tor or
der. Secretary Fessenden called the roll OF
States for the presentation OF candidates.
California. through Committeeman Davis,
nominated NJ. NJ. Estec. The gentleman
was named as the candidate OF the slope.
Attention was called 10 the recent Rcpubii.
can victory In oregon, and the committee
was told that the selection Of Mr.. Esteo
would be highly appreciated by the CALI
fornians The fact that the Democrats at
the -. Louis Convention had recognized
California and made one of its delegates the
Temporary Chairman was used rs an argu.
mcnt In Mr.. Estoc's favor. lie was declared
TO be pronounced antl-monopolist, an able
presiding officer, and splendid parliament
tartan.
Then Nebraska was called. Church Howe
led of with pithy speech In favor OF John
NJ. Thurston. Mr.. Howe said his candidate
was one OF the most promising young Re-
publicans OF the country. He was first
class speaker too, and had all his life been
an earnest, steadfast Republican. Mr..
Thurston had done everything In his power
10 promote the success OF the party, aud no
greater complim ont could be paid the Re-
publicans of Nebraska than the selection OF
Sir. Thuston. Mr.. Howe called attention
TO Thuiston's speech seconding the nomina-
tIon Of Gen. Logan IN the convention OF
1884, and stood sponsor for the gentleman's
ability as aprcsidng officer.
Committeeman Leland OF Kansas seconded
Mr.. Estee's nomination, saying his anti
monopoly record afforded many reasons for
his selection as Temporary Chairman. APP
person of Oregon also supported Mr. .Estcc,
and roll-call was had.
The interest must have been quite intense.
rs the room was exceedingly quiet while
Secretary Fessenden called the ROLL IChair-
man Jones announced the selection OF Mr..
Thurston by vote OF - against ID for Mr..
Estec. J. Hale Syphcr popped up before
Mr.. Jones made the formal declaration OF
election and asked verification OF the roll.
1t was ordered, aud when the Clerk said the
District OF Columbia was not represented,
Mr.. Sypher handed the Chairman paper.
which proved 10 be proxy I'm his favor from
Perry Carson, the committeeman for the
District. Mr.. Sypher asked and being &C.
corded the privilege OF voting on the proxy
went on record for Mr.. Estce. This tied
Thurston and Estec at twenty votes each.
and Chairman Jones came into action with
the decisive vote. lie did not walt long but
pumped In his ballot for Thurton. This
settled the bushes. In Thurston's favor aud
the vote was made unanimous on motion OF
Committeeman Hamill or Colorado.
John NJ. Thurston, OF Nebraska, tho
Temporary Chairman Of the convention, was
born at Montpelier, VT. Aug. II. is4T. Mr..
Thurston's parents removed to Wisconsin
In 1854, and after living In Madison a year
or two went 10 Beaver Dam. Mr.. Thurston's
father twice enlisted in the Union army
early IN the Rebellion. bit was mustered
out on account OF ill-healfh. A third time
did Mr.. Thursion Sr offer his services 10
his country. lie was accepted, aud died In
the service. Young Thurston was ut that
time ~ or II years Of age. His fathers
fortune had been lot In business ventures,
and the young man went ~ work. lie
sawed wood, built fences. and work ed In the
harvest field. contributing his earnings to
the support of his mother. In the winter he
attended public school In Beaver Dam. and
In 1868 Mr.. Tburston came to Chicago. He
bought an express-wagon and horse, and
for about year drove over Chicago deliver
ing goods for various Wholesale houses
Many Of the old-timcrs remember Thurston,
who was an energetic young man with a
keen eye for business. After one year with
an express wagon In Chicago Mr.. Thurston
returned 10 Beaver Dam and studied law In
the Office II T.. II. smith. He was admitted
10 practice, and tried his first lawsuit i'm a
Justice Court In Beaver Dam. In 1870 Mr..
ThurSton landed I'm Omaha. lie did not
have n dollar or friend. but he did have q
full stock OF Yankee grit lie secured desk
room In the office OF Judge Morris, and
nailed on the front Of the building llttlo
tin sign bearing the words. "John M.
Thurston, attorney-at-law." He oyercame
every obstacle; the want OF money, friends
and good health were as straws In his way.
From the most humble position at the
Omaha bar Mr.. Thurston marched on and
on, until he has reached the head OF his pro-
fesson. lie " the general solicitor OF the
Union Pacific Railroad, and has been on
one side or the other Of nearly every I'M
portant lawsuit In Nebraska during the last
ten years.
Mr.. Thurston's political career can be told
In fewSwords. lie has oeen and Is promi-
ncnt factor In the Republican politics of
Nebraska. While meyer solicitous for cleo
tive ONCE his name has several times beon
used as candidate, but Mr. Thurston has
never at heart crayed or desired political
profcrment His lucrative law practice II
far more remuneratiyc than politics. lilo
was a Presidential Ecctor In 1890 ana
headed Nebraska's delegation 10 the Nation
nj Convention OF 1884. He seconded the
nomination OF John A. Logan and attracted