Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-07-20
CHURCH TACTICS,
a Little inside History OF the James
town Convention.

A little Inside History OF the James
town Convention.
Woonsoeket correspondence Sioux
City Journal: A democrat who was
present at the jamestown convention
and not III any shape satisfied with the
course pursued by Gov. Church toward
the party in Dakota, has given your
correspondent some inside facts about
that convention which are rather inter-
eetlng in view OF the present oontradie-
tory attitude of the party and it's nominee
for delegate. When the convention as
sembled it was the scheme of the Church
faction to get such control of the organ
zation as to dictate decidedly peculiar
train of events.
Col. Steele, of Deadwood, was Church. q
choice for nominee, MIR. Steele is law
yer with large practice In the Black
Hills, and, in view OF the hopeless
minority OF the party in Dakota, could
not afford to sacrifice his time to make
a canvass. He is remembered as O
Church striker at the st. Louis conven-
ton, where his peculiar course insulted
the better element of the party, and,
backed by the tactics of Church, the
territorial democracy can never point to
that national convention with pride.
The scheme at Jamestown was to nomi-
nate Dol. Steele, who in turn was to de-
cline. The central committee was then
to appoint some strong alliance man
who has heretofore affiliated with the
republicans, and then lay trap for the
farmer vote. But there were democrats
enough present who did not want to
Greelsyize, and plainly told the Church
faction that they would not consent to
any such deed. For time Church was
obdurate, and sought to convince the
committee that such man ss George O.
Orose or IL. l.. Loucke, both republicans
and prominent men, would be strong
candidates. But there were enough
delegates to nip this scheme and say
that none but an out-andou democrat
should be nominated. Then came The
hunt for the right man. To make any
showing ct all it WAS neees
sary to nominate farmer. In looking
the field over the shadow OF J. w. Har
| den, of Jerauld county, crossed thei
vision. He was approached by th
Church faction, but knocked them silly
by saying that he was a prohibitions
and divisionist, They got him into
/ OuCh &OOuu nv WIG 1inApsohO AohCsS bhS
told him il he would make the publ,
announcement that he was in tayor o
high license and one state OF Dakota h
would be the nominee. in th
meantime the other fellows toll
him ii he changed front apt
announced his conversion they woul
beat him in convention. 1t was tryin
/ moment for the fellow. In times pas
he had announced his sentiments 6
meetings when he was in good oompan
republican meetings it can be n
marked. At temperance gatherings b
has also pointed to the beauties OF pre-
hibitlon With the best eloquence at hi
command. Noses were counted and
was found that he could be nominate
!, without admitting any symptoms OF in
sanity in his former utterances. All &C
mitted that he filled the granger bill
but it did not suit Gov. Church as q rur
ner. The governor saw more votes in hi
, scheme than by making straight part
nomination But the governor VIC
drowned and Harding made the nomi
nee
The attempt of Gov. Church to ie
, more the wishes of the party is sempl
, of his general conduct IN ell his dealing
with Dakota democrats who do not kns
down and worship him. A few MOI
} such deals will weaken the party eve
! more than it IS now. There is univers
J disgust with Dakota's New York gov
| ernOr,