The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-08-19

on the 346th ballot at Three hiNers.
The congressional convention at
Three Rivers last week Wednesday and
Thursday was in many respects the
most remarkable gathering OF the KIND
ever held in the state. The younger
element of the party was in the ascend
ancy. mickey" Stewart and Frank
Wait of St. Joseph County, Fred Lee
and j. d. Becraft of Cass, Senator Keel
er of Barry and V. M. Gore OF Berrien
had the situation we'll in hand, and
only waited for the proper opportunity
to call votes and bring about the nomi-
nation of +. l.. Hamilton, their candi-
date.
The convention was organized by the
calling of Marshall l.. Cook OF Barry to
the chair, and the election OF ii. h.
Sauier of Van Buren, as temporary
secretary. After the appointment OF
the usual committees, the convention
adjourned for dinner. On re-assembling
for Wednesdays afternoon session, the
temporary organization was made per-
manent. Then came the nominating
speeches. General Prtchard named
Henry +. Thomas, j. j. Phelps did a
like service for Russell K. Pealer, l.. b.
Des Voignes presented the name of Au-
pustus Jewell, Thomas Mars nominated
+. L. Hamilton and Rev. IL. l.. Potter
of Hartford presented the name of Van
Buren's candidate, Judge b. +. Heckert,
in a speech that was decidedly the hit
OF the convention. Barry County alone
had no candidate.
Then the ballotng began. On the
first ballot, Thomas received the entire
vote of Barry and Allegan-24 votes;
Hamilton had Berrien's 10, Heckert the
IL of Van Buren,, Jewell IL from Cass,
and Pealer IL from st. Joseph. This
vote stood unchanged until the 18th
ballot, when three of Barry's votes left
Thomas and went two to Heckert and
l to Pealer. On the 10th ballot,
another Barry vote broke away from
Thomas, giving three to Jewell and one
TO Hamilton. 1t was soon evident that
four of Barry's votes were anti-Thomas,
and that he could not depend upon
their ever coming over TO him II there
was chance of their nominating him.
The four were for anybody except
Thomas, and went alternately from one
candidate To another, were divided
among them all Thus the vote con-
tinued for $40 ballots, without any
practical changes except rs the four
votes from Barry were passed around,
aud excepting, also, the fact that on
the 326th ballot Barry gave a solid
complimentary vote To- M. l.. Cook, the
chairman OF the convention. When
the 340th ballot WAS reached, 1t was
well along in the afternoon OF Thurs
day and the delegates were getting
tired and anxious To get home. Ac-
cordingly, when Hon. II. ID. Smith of
Cass introduced a resolution requesting
all candidates 10 release their delega-
tons from instructions and pledges, 1t
was unanimously passed, and the candi-
dates acceded To the request Then the
battle royal was on. Thirty-nine votes
were necessary for nomination, and
a lively hustle ensued to secure them.
Following is the result of the final bal
lots in detail:
34lst-Thomas 81, Hamilton 90, jew
ell 8, Pealer IL, Heckert II.
342d-Thomas 20, Hamilton "a, jew
ell 8. Heckert II.
343d-Thomas II, Hamilton 81, jew
ell 8, Heckert IL.
344th-Thomas %, Hamilton 80, jew
ell /. Heckert IL.
345th-Thomas 6, Hamilton 81, jew
ell 81, Heckert ~.
346th-Thomas 12, Hamilton 80, jew
ell 10, Heckert 10.
Judge Heckert's support by the Van
Buren, delegation was of the most per-
sistent and loyal kind and, while he
was given but 16 votes at any time, he
was an important factor In the contest.
The NoRTHERNER believes now, as it
always has, that Judge Heckert was the
strongest candidate in the field. But if
he could not be nominated, we are per-
fectly satisfied the convention made
wise choice in the selection of MIR.
Hamilton. The following resolutions
were adopted:
We, the republicans of the 4th con-
gressional district of Michigan, in con-
vention assembled renew our allegiance
to the time-honored principles of our
party, and pledge the republican ma.
tional, state and congressional tickets
our hearty support.
We heartily endorse the republican
national platform of 1896. We sincerely
believe in the general policy of pretec-
ton so earnestly championed by VIM.
Mckinley; in the principles of reciproc-
ity advocated by the lamented James
G.. Blaine, and in the sound money
teachings of our party.
We look back with pride to the patri-
otto American policy that made the re-
publican administration of Benjamin
Harrison an era of unexampled pros
perity and we deplore the business
havoc, general depression and distress
which a departure from those princi-
Piles has wrought throughout the coun.
try.
We pledge our best endeavors to
place the government again in the
hands of patriotic, experienced and
competent republican statesmen, who
will have in mind the best interests of
all the people and advocate and carry
out only such measures as will stand
the test of discussion, maintain the
credit of the nation, protect its honor
and secure the return of business pros
perity