The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-07-12


convention ope1td most auspiciously
atSloux Falls. All the members were
+ present with the exception of Judge
S Inomas of the Black Hills, whose elig-
llDlllty had been questioned and who,
acting on the advice of the attorney
y general of the United States, had re-
NAMED mai away. In the unavoidable ab-
3 sence OF Gov. Mellette, Judge Corson,
Y OF Deadwood, called the convention to
order In GermaEia Hall, which had
peen artlstically and patriotically de-
corated for the occasion. The oath of
office was delivered by Chief Justice
Trip and was a most impressive epi-
Ssode. Judge Edgerton was unanimous
" chosen president of the convention,
II IN spite of the fact that an effort had
Z peen made. largely by outside intill-
ences, to unite the alliance men, pro-
Z h1bitionists and democrats on another
candidate. This effort met with most
dismal failure through the loyalty of
those prohibitionists and alliance men
who were republicans first, through
the clear-headedness of democrats like
Ramsey, of Sanborn, who could see no
reason for lending their aid to snatch
somebody else's chestnuts out of the
fire, and through the effective work of
JudgeEdgerton's friends on the ground.
This attempt created but a temporary
Hurry the night before the convention,
and, although their friends deny it,,
was undoubtedly dueto the combined
efforts OF Campbell, Loucks and Har-
den to demoralize the republican par
ty in this, its most important step to-
ward completed statehood. A repub-
hcan caucus yesterday forenoon settled
this triangular conspiracy and when
the convention met at tnoon, Judge Ed
gerton was put in the chair by ACCLAIM
alton, the democrats withdrawing their
candidate, Van Buskirk, of Codington,
after paying him the compliment of a
nomination. e. w. Caldwell was made
temporary secretary and after the ap-
pointment CT a committee on rules,
and the sending Of a dispatch Of greet
ing to the North Dakota convention,
an adjournment was taken until two
o'clock today.
AT a caucus held in the, evening the
organization of the convention was
perfected as follows: Chief clerk, Rev.
r. A. Burdick of Yanton; enrolling
and engrossing clerk, DR.. A. w. Hyde
OF Breokings; ergeant-at-arlns, James
Carney of Lawrence; messenger, Frank
Hoppen of Beadle; watchman, E. G..
Warner Of Day. There was a large
number of candidates for these places.
and the preliminary canvassing was
quite active. The selections made,
however, are good ones and well dis
tributed.
The personnel of the convention is
not striking; yet the membership is
fairly representative of both parties,
On the republican side are such famil-
lar figures in Dakota politics as Kel
lam, Neil, Humphrey. Elliott, Corson,
Williamson, Caldwell, Ringsrud and
Van Tassel, while among the less fam
iliar ones are McGillicuddy, of Rapid
City, Clough, of Watertown, Sherwood,
of Clark, Stroupe, Of Aberdeen, Willis,
of Plankinton, Spooner of Kingsbury,
and Atkinson of Brookings, who
among others give promise of being
valuable members. Prominent on the
democratic side OF the house are Harris
of Yankton, Ramsey of Woonsocket,
Zitka OF Bon Homme, Price Of High
more, Cooper of Huron, Van Buskirk
of Watertown, Fellows of Plankinton,
Van Fps of Sioux Falls, and Kennedy
Of Parker, all of whom are well known
politically, and may be relied on to do
good work so far as their opportunity
goes.