Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
The Real Victory at Dubuque.

Whatever else may be thought or
said of the Dubuque convention,
there can be no intelligent, honest
denial that it marked a signal tri-
umph for the principles of free, dem
ocratic government. Whether that
which was done be wise, Or other
wise, it was done by the freely chosen
representatives of the democratic
masses, and that means true demo-
cracy, as we'll as true republicanism,
and true Americanism. 1t is not
competent, nor pertinent, for the
minority of one-third in that conven-
ton to claim that they represented
the business interests" of the state
n that body; that they know infinit-
ely more about financial matters than
the other two thirds, composed main
ly of farmers, mechanics, working
men etc., and, therefore their dictum
should have prevailed in the conven-
ton. Our government and institu-
tions rest on the doctrine that the
collective judgment of the masses is
the nearest human approach, to per-
feet wisdom, and that the judgement
of majorities is always safer than
that OF minorities. Those in that con-
vention who by strategy or trick at
tempted to defeat free expression
OF the judgment of the large majority
in that body, or now seek to repu-
date it after it has been formally, le-
Ultimately declared, practically repu
date, not only the fundamental prin-
ciples of the democratic party, but
the theory upon which our govern
ment and institutions are founded.
1t is true that delegate bodies, from
one or another cause, do not always
give expression to the collective
judgment of constituencies, but there
is rarely any room for doubt concern
ing such failures when they occur.
The most common cause of such
failures is the Vaccinations of the
men who directly or indirectly live,
or seek to live, by politics, the 'prac-
tica" politicians who together COM
pose what is known as political
machine" These trained politicians
skilled in parliamentary tactics and
in the usages and tricks of delegate
bodies, are often able to confuse, mis-
lead, intimidate and entrap inexper-
fenced delegates into positions and
action which is approved neither by
themselves noritheir constituents This
sometimes occurs IN the conventions
of all political parties, and is a most
potent factor in making majority
party the minority party .soeaer or !
later, because It is only question of
time when the people will revolt
against those who defeat their wishes.
The Dubuque convention was the
ripe fruitage of such revolt. A long
series of outrages against the rank
and file of their party, committed by
band of daring democratic ina
chine" politicians in this state, cul-
minated at the Marshalltown con-
vention of last year in reversal of
the will of majority of Iowa demo-
Gratis in at least one important pur-
ticular. That convention marked the
limit of democratic endurance of ma
chine" dictation in this state.
In bis brief speech before the Du-
buque convention Ex-Governor Boies
tells in unmistakable words the
meaning of that convention and of
the fight which led up to it. Among
other things he said: "When this
battle began a few weeks ago, SO for
as have taken part in it, I had a
single desire, and that was that the
masses of the democratic party of this
great state of Iowa should be heard
in this convention. l believed. as l
believe now, that upon many oc-
casions, in many conventions of polit-
ical parties, the voice of the people
has been stified. want you to know
that from this time forward in Iowa
the strength of the democratic party
lies with the masses, and from this
day forward | want the masses to
take the destinies of the party in
their own hands and a thousand
times l thank the masses of the dem
ocratic party in Iowa for the interest
they have taken in this contest
Seldom, if ever before, have set of
defeated, repudiated machine" poll
ticians been compelled to listen to
words of such whitening rebuke from
the acknowledged leader of their
party. Never has Horace Boies APP
peared at SO fine advantage as he
does now, standing forth as the
champion of the right of the people
to express and enforce their will in
public affairs through their own
chosen agents.-Des Moines News.
The Iowa Grand Army suffered a
loss of sos members during the year,
by death, discharge, transfer and sus-
pension. The losses by death were
275. The present membership in good
standing Is 1886. No. of posts in
working order, 437. The highest
membership ever recorded was in
1890, when it was 2O,236. The death