New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1897-12-22
Hacker 5
Defeat.
It Was Accomplished, Not bY Dairymen,
but by the Republican Machine.
The Partisan Spirit Crops Out to an Un.
warranted Extent.
Fears Entertained that the Usefulness OF
the Association Is at an Eul.

For anyone to contend that the defeat
of Prof. Hacker for secretary of the
dairymen's association was brought
about by men actually interested in dairy
ing, and having the welfare of the asso-
citation at heart would be absurd in the
extreme. The presence on the floor dur
ing the election of officers of so many
of Clough's appointees and of those who
train with them was in itself sufficient to
give the lie to such claim.
Hacker was defeated, not for the
sake of preserving the association, not
because of incompetency, nor even be-
cause of failure to do his duty, but, sim
ply and solely because the Republican
machine deemed it advisable to have
control of an organization that would at
| once place them in close touch with the
creamery and dairy men of the state.
1t isn't sincerely believed by anybody
that the change IS going to result in ben
eft to the ASSOCIATION. On The contrary,
many of the most successful and earnest
dairymen of the association fear that by
the introduction of such motives, as
were only too apparent, the usefulness
of the organization has been greatly i'm
paired. The machine is on top--not
the dairymen. Henceforth the associa-
alton will be under the domination of
such men as Lawrence, Smith and An
derson, politicians who, by the grace Of
Clough, hold offices in the dairy and
food department of the state.
How was it done?
The fight Was percipitated Tuesday
forenoon. President Ames had hardly
appointed his committees, including one
on nominations, with instructions to re-
port Thursday afternoon, when J. L.
Harris of Owatonna, one of the dairy
department inspectors, was on his feet
and moving that the report be received
not later than Wednesday morning at
ten o'clock. The motion was immedi-
ately seconded, but Chairman Ames hes
itated about presenting it to the conven-
tion. He said it was the custom to elect
off GERS after all the papers had been
read and on the faal day Of the conven-
ton. Harris said it was the desire of
many, who wished to vote, to 90 home
before Thursday, and he did not believe
it was necessary to detain them.
Professor Hacker suggested that if
they were at all interested in the actual
work of the convention they would re-
main throughout the entire session and
allow things to take their customary
| Course.
G. L. Smith and others retorted that
such had not been the usual custom. This
nominating Of officers oy committee
and electing them after all but the Of
ficers had gone home was an entirely
new practice in dairy conventions. Smith
referred to it snee1ingly as selt-perpet-
uating Institution. Harris insisted on his
motion and the chairman finally consid-
cred it. Those in favor were apparently
in the majority, but a rising vote was
demanded. While this was in progress,
the right to vote of many was questioned
and roll-call became necessary.
At this juncture, while everybody spoke
and volunteered suggestions, John Lind
took a hand in the proceedings and
moved to adjourn. There were imme-
diate cries of unfairness, mingled with
cries that the motion was out of order,
but Lind stood his ground cody, laid
down the parliamentary rule and secured
the desired adjournment. Tuesday night,
the anti Hacker forces caucused at the
Office of Sam D. Peterson. There a slate
was agreed upon to spring upon the con-
ventlon at the opening of the morning
session and arrangements made to swell
the list Of voting members by adding
the names Of friends Of the machine.
Re-inforcements from abroad came in
that night and early the next day, and
prominent en- the floor during the We'd
nesday morning session were Sam Peter
son and b. g. Hays, tile republican
leaders IN Brown county
The Hacker people IN the meantime
had considered the situation, saw certain
defeat before them and concluded to
submit GRACEFUL without . fight.
When the convention opened, there
fore, and the report Of the committee on
nom nominations was asked for, i was not