New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1894-09-26
THE BOGUS CONVENTION.
Sam Peterson Renominates Himself With
the Aid of Dick Gerdes.
Behind Locked Doors He Holds q Bogus
Convention For the Sake of a Bluff.
W. W. Smith, Central Committeeman, and
Il. G.Hays, county chairman, Aid
the Bolt.

When Sam Peterson reached Sleepy
Eye Thursday morning it was after
many months in which his head had
worked with all its cunning. He knew
we'll enough that the masses of the peo-
pie were opposed to him, but he trusted
to his fine Italian hand to manage the
conventions. He had got what he want
ed out of the Republican county conven-
ton by springing an unwarranted resolu-
tion at an unexpected moment, and he
had so much misplaced faith in his slip
perry powers that he thought it was pos
sible to make everybody do his bidding.
But he was terribly disappointed. The
first man he worked upon was D. L.
Bigham of Redwood Falls, chairman of
the district senatorial committee. To
him he proposed that the committee cut
off one delegate from Redwood county's
apportionment and thus make their re-
presentation equal to Browns. But
Bigham knew that it was the custom
with the Republican party to make their
apportionments on the vote cast for the
highest office voted for at the preced-
ing election and he therefore adhered to
the call. He also remembered that Pet
erson had been chairman of the senatori-
al committee four years ago and had
based the apportionment of the conven-
ton that nominated him for senator in
the same manner as was done this year.
1t was useless therefore to try to mislead
Bigham and Peterson was compelled to
have all his threats dis-egarded. Moth
ing was left for him, but to await the ar
rival of the Redwood delegates. Then
his eye became steadfast, his tongue
smooth, his smile bland and his body
busy. But it was all in vain. The Red
wood delegation stood firm and afforded
consolation in minutest quantities. Sam
saw it was of no use to continue the fight
and thought to scare his opponents by
not entering the convention. His faith
fu! "twenty'' gathered about him and
with disconsolate looks they made for
the Commercial Hotel. They took Dick
Gerdes of Morgan with them. Cautious
ly they guarded the entrance from caves
droppers. They acted upon the nonsen
sical resolution adopted at the last coun-
ty convention and made up their minds
to hold convention of their own. Gerd-
es was there and why, thought Sam,
couldn't he cast twenty votes for his old
chum. Peterson? It was true he was not
a delegate from any convention empow-
cred by the people to cast vote of any
sort, but what mattered that in a. gath
ering of the Peterson forces? It was 60
ing to be bolt anyhow,so why shouldn't
Gerdes also bolt honesty and Redwood
county sentiment? Besides, the chair
man of the Republican county committee
and member of the State Central Com
mittee were there to see that it was done
after fashion.
In this rotten manner forty votes were
cast for the champion of the anti-tights
bill, and messenger was at once dis
patched on bicycle to file the nomina-
ton certificate with the auditor at New
Jim. 1t was hoped by this trick to keep
out the certificate of Judge French, for
when Secretary Lyman of the regular
convention arrived here Friday morning
Auditor Krook refused at first to accept
the certificate and file it. He was told
however that legal steps would immedi-
ately be taken to enforce him to his
duty and then he finally gave in and per-
formed what he should have done with
out a moments hesitation.