The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-09-15
THE DEADLOCK

Manitowoc county is now enjoying the
experience, novel to it but old to Fond
du Lac, of being one of the elements IN a
dead lock. Sam Smead the veteran poll
ticlan, shrewd wire-puller and resolute
campaigner foresaw the complications
which were sure to result in dead lock
and settled himself down with meek res
ignation to await developments. He
knew that waiting was the only policy
which could prevent irritation and he
adopted it with apparent inconcern.
Occasionally John McMullen would
disturb Sans serenity by flush of sar-
castle wit, Sam would strike back with
the seriousness OF religious conviction.
Tits of this nature were the only relief
afforded for the tedium of monotonous
roll call. The nominating speeches were
of an order far superior to the ordinary
addresses of this sort. And indeed would
compare favorably with those at national
conventions. The Manitowoc delegation
sprang instantly into merited prominence
by reason of the magnificent nominating
speech by Judge Kirwan and the able
second by L. J. Nash. Though the dele
cation is lacking IN political astuteness
and have no men competent TO match
Owen Wells and Sam Smead in political
maneuver, they still cause these Nestors
of the arena considerable disquietude,
and the Manitowoc men have to run the
gauntlet of careful scrutiny of their acts.
The very best of feeling prevailed among
the delegates up to the close of the week.
On Saturday there were evidences of lrrl-
tation which may grow in bitterness
should the dead lock continue.
The seven delegates from the three
western counties act as unit. Their
support of Smith seems to have been
meant as blind. A curious feature OF
their preliminary action is that both
Pratt and Schmitz had good reason to
expect their support; but they went to
Wells. Even then it vas confidently as
serted by many who protested to know,
that they were there in position OF
watchfulness and with purpose to cast
their votes to the candidate whose
strength would be such that this acces.
sion would nominate him. No such OPP
portunlty occurred up to final adjourn
ment on Saturday and the credibility of
the rumor was therefore not tested. But
on Saturday it was stated with seemingly
good authority that the seven delegates
were Wells men from the start and pro-
posed standing by him to the finish.
Schmitz made no attempt at directing
his delegates. He announced from the
first that they were at liberty, so far as
he was concerned to go to whom they
pleased and when they pleased. That
they were not his delegates in the sense
that he wished to dictate their action in
anything. To every question as to where
the Manitowoc delegation was going
should break occur the answer was
given that the Manitowoc delegates were
each acting his individual choice, was re-
sponsible to no one and should not be
throughout the whole time the conven-
ton should be III session. This attitude
was seemingly something ew and puzzl-
ed 1.-the Old heads. Schmltz' independence
and Willingness to trust himself implicitly
to his delegation won him hosts of friends,
and the spectators were largely on his
side.
Jere Murphy of The Sentinel was the
most prominent figure among the report
ers. Jere has a more extensive acqualnt-
ance throughout the northwest than any
other reporter. People confde fully in
him and he never violates confidence by
publishing anything which he is told is
not to be made public. He is able to
forecast results Tor this reason. He never
takes sides" as a reporter though he has
his preferences as IN individual. His dis
patches to The Sentinel were read with
eagerness and every day the supply of
copies OF that paper was not equal to the
demand
The delegations from Winnebago and
Fond du Lac are acting under the unit
rule and as these two counties have a
majority in the convention the remaining
delegates have no power to break the
dead lock. The unit rule was adopted
for just such contingency as has arisen,
to prevent a nomination if it did not fall
to the county voting as unit. Many of
the delegates who have their individuality
lost IN this unit measure are growing
FESTIVE and are loud in their denunciation
of this method adopted by experts in poll
teal Vaccination, and announce a deter
mination never to be caught II a similar
| trap again. With the unit rule broken,
nomination would be made in half an
! hour Well is backed by the old guard
who stood by Bragg at West Bend until
| 1000 ballots were cast. They rrideo
themselves on this record and were sur,
prised to find novices in politics whose
determination is equal to their own.
On Tuesday the convention opened
with the same old vote. There were signs
of break but none but the initiated
knew from whence it was to come nor il
whose behalf. Sam Smead looked wor
ried and admitted that for once he die
not know just what was to have birth
After a recess the delegates from The
western counties changed to Geo. W
Pratt. One refused to vote at all and this
l.l Ito INirnI nlnn1c. 2I.lo1-.