The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-09-07
HOW II WAS DONE.
Some Interesting Points on the
Inside History OF the Wat
ertown Convention.
Tho Coayentioa that Beat CLIFFORD and
Nominated the Man from
Broeklngs.

has risen from the field, it may not be UNI
intcre ting to look al the result. In the
haste following the rapid occurrence Of
events tho average reporter, aud the
average delegate it might also be said, dill
not find the time to 60 into details aud
I ace circumstances to results; but 10Y
that this SIN Ill scrap of political history is
written there is much Of interest to the
public ut 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 lauiable ambitious, aud
the north has won NOR, than it has lost.
though having u representation Of n trifle
more than one-thirl that Of the south, fol
the reason that it usually voted "a unit.
This year Il new element appeared in terri
torial topics, known now MS the Central
Dakota combination, comprised of tile
counties of brown, BrOo.ings. Hamlir,
Coding:on, Dickey. Day, with divided del
cgatioMs from Sphinx, Moody, Faulk, Grant
and one or two sthers. The strength in IL
vote of 5sS was less than SA. North Da-
kota was present with a vote of 100 for
Gen. Harrison Allen. Grigshv hal24 that
held solid to him through the entire stiug-
gle, and ut the closing moments of the
convention held the fate of the contest.
Clifford had 252 as his highest vote, Viii o
2i5 was necessary to choice. Those fig
nres OF Giiford's occurred just before adj
iournment in the evening, when a SIAM
pede was made in his favor, but the COM
bincd Matthews and Allen strength, as
sisted by that Of Grigsby, secured i recess.
not be nominated, and there was much
speculation whore his strength won'd 20.
Matthews could not throw his votes to
North Dakota, and many thought Allen
could not deliver his entire strength to
any II South Dakota man. But il there
is ANY one thing North Dakotans love it in
to literally mop the floor with his neigh
bors from the south. They IRE true to any
comb. nation that has that object
in view. When it became rumored after
supper that the Allen aid Matthews forces
would unite on the latter, the i%ncredu!ous
said that Allen could not deliver the goods.
But he did. Other mon in convention in
the past has done the same thing, and will
continue to do SO as long rs this big terri
tory remains as q whole. When the forth
u NAltuAuhtc MAtuO uly tuC SOtCS
Of that section. aud with no hopes of get
ting any material strength from either
the central or southern wings, it began to
look around for ~ friend. Grigsby aud
Clifford jointly, when several other cnndi-
dates who became iMpossibilities had
pulled out. could have bciton 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 til " chose, but they would not do it.
While not recognizing the necessity, the
monumental gall of the request disguised
them with tho maker of it. Hence in look
ing over the field the North Dakotans did.
not want to surrender to u combination too
much opposed to some Of their schemes
and plans.
On the surface there was no opposition
to division. There vas probably no visi-
BILE issue OH the subject. But while the
north seemed to accept the coming result,
j. was u matter for suspicion with what
ease it fell in with the Central Dakota
idea, led by Brown and Dick y counties,
the only Outspoken sections in Dakota to-
day i'll favor of admission as q whole.
North Dakota is not for admission, and
the plan is temporarily admitted in that
section because the mhtter is q part of the
national republican platform. But the old
feeling is the same, ms was demonstrated
several times during the convention.
Skillman was to he the Rr ,wn county
~favorite in the deal, but the boys were
shrewd enough to see that the Central
Dakota idea would not center IN this bril-
limit young man, because of the suspicion
loned. Matthews, being III early mover
in the Central Dakota scheme, natural v
gathered i'll the strength of Brown county,
and while North Dakota would have pre-
ferred Skillman it hadto accept Matthews
Or see Clifford nominated. The field from
the start was against Clifford, and the ten
acity with which Grigsby's delegates held
to forlorm hope made Gifford's nomination
impossible,
The condition Of things became appar-
ent in the temporary organization. Bendle
and k%ingsbury counties were iustructe |
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 Readlp county
supported Mi. Nash. and arishy's forces
MIR. Patton. Tho Howard boys lacked
twelve votes Of enough to cloct, and to save
Beadle county was acting under instruc.
tions from Campbell, aud did not want q
chairman; in fact. that county had n
chairman to sell o few months after lie
was elected. When the case of Camp
bell seemed hopeless Beadle and Kings
bury counties fell into line for Clifford. but
not in me to him much good. LATER on
this county east twelve votes for Matthews,
which brought the necessary votes to COM
plete the nomination. Bendle county
meant we'll. and much of the cussing it
gets is not deserved. It's delegates were
faithful to their instructions, and as such
should not be censured.
This Central Dakota combination was
a new thing in politics, and us such il o
winner. ut least for the time being. 1t got
its man. and that is VIII, it was there for.
a pecnliara.ity of the contest was how
choice. For a ballot or two they might
wander off to compliment some other cam
d1idate. but it was noticeable that they all
usually returned to their first choice. This
stampede to q ford was evidence of this.
1t is the opinion of many that the cool
ruling Of the chairman kept Clifford from
being nominated ut TINT time. In the
anxiety of delegations to be ON tho WIN
ning side, there was for q few minutes .
b. diam, but tho chairman refusedio recog-
nize any speaker until quiet was restored.
and while this was going on the shattered
Allen Mnttews forces gathered til ,mse.yes.
The victory achieved by tho Matthews
boys Is one they. may we'll be proud of.
They stood faithfully together all through
the hight and showed such q determination
to win, that o confidence was created. The
nominee is u splendid young man; bright,
clean and progressive. a representative re.
publican with o good record us q citizen
and d%iyisi0nist. Il is nothing against him