Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-07-14
THE COUNTY CONVENTION
HELD AT THE COURT HOUSE LAST
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
Delegates instructed to cast their votes
for ThOs. Updegraf, S. NJ. Wea-
yer and DR.. BabcOck.

L
county convention assembled at the
Court House at one o'clock Friday
afternoon. Delegates were present
from every township and city ward,
together with large number of loyal
republicans who were not delegates; in
fact the Court House was packed full,
and it may truthfully be stated that
those who We're there, although they
came as direct representatives of the
greatest political struggle for nomi-
nation that Winneshiek county has
ever seen, were all of one mind, to
faithfully carry out the wishes of those
whom they represented and to join as
one in deliberations which would be
for the best interests of the party.
Chairman H. L. Coffeen called the
assembly together and read the call
for the convention, which had been
published in the newspapers, after
which he gave short address before
laying aside his duties as chairman of
the county central committee. The
speech was an excellent one, and so
well represents the sentiment of the
party, both those who heretofore sup
ported Blythe and those who favored
Updegraff, that we publish it in full
for the benefit of our readers who were
unable to hear it:
The right to use his judgement in the
selection of candidate is, as it ought to
be, accorded to each individual; to de-
ny such right is not American; neither
is it Republican. 1t Is however more
un-American and un-Republican to re-
fuse to submit to the will of the ma
jority. Rather we must put our
shoulders to the wheel and with or
ganizatiOn, energy and push work for
a rousing majority for the candidate
chosen by the primaries held.
1t matters not if we have been disap-
pointed today; the farmer as he COM
pares prices with the years of Republi-
canism; the gray haired and crippled
veteran as he yearns for the sympathy
and recognition he received from the
administration of his own noble
Harrison. More than all these the
hungry children of our artizans, labor
ers and mechanics; their emaciated
forms in tatters, wanness in their
sunken cheeks begging bread of their
Overworked and almost heart-broken
mothers because papa and husband can
get no work, demand of us, that
patriotism, loyalty to country and
loyalty to party be the pre-
dominant idea especially i'm national
politics. No chagrin, no disappoint-
ment, no local complications, even no
close friendship should he allowed for a
moment to stand IN the way of such
loyalty.
hope we who have been Blythe
men will go to our homes and on the
last days of August when news comes
of Updegraff7s nomination join with
his best friends in sending the report
| to headquarters in November that
Mckinley, Hobart and Updegraff
have received the largest majority ever
given in Winneshiek county and that
the well beaten road of protection, the
only highway to the confidence that
will bring good prices, good wages,
and general prosperity will be followed
despite the seductive and destructive
sirens that endeavOr plead i'm danger
Gus though silver lined bypaths. L
would not be doing my duty to those
assembled here today as lay aside the
position of chairman of the County
Central Committee did / not thank
each of you who have been co-workers
with me in placing grand old Win
neshiek at the head of the Republican
column i'm the 4th district, and l be-
speak even more active help for my
successor, and if 1t is i'm my power no
man in the county will strive more
diligently than to make that 1850
majority round 1000 for Winneshiek
in 1896.
Upon leaving the chair Mr.. COffeen
nominated John b. Kaye, of Calmar,
for temporary chairman, who was
elected and made short, fitting speech
of acceptance. DIR. Jewell, of Ossian,
and o. r. Ringeon, ofRidgeway, were
appointed secretaries. The chairman
appointed as committee on creden-
tials-one from each supervisors dis
trict-the following: M. J. Nicholson,
Springfield. Nels Larson, Highland;
A. X. Bailey, Decorah; Lee Jack,
Sumner; DIR. j. G. Lewis, Lincoln.
A. X. Bailey reported for the COM
mittee that each township was proper
ly represented with credentials. On
motion the temporary organization was
made permanent. 1t was then moved
and carried that the delegation from
each supervisors district appoint one
of their number as a member of a COM
mittee to select fourteen delegates to
the state convention and also one as a
member of committee to select twenty
seven delegates to the congressional
convention. This motion was amend.
ed by adding that the delegation from
each supervisors district also appoint
one as member of the county central
! committee. Following are the names