Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-10-06
.P0PuLIST CONVENTION.
In Two Acts-Opening and Clos
ing-With Slow Curtain
and Red Lights.

The opening chapters OF the indepen-
dent convention, up to the time OF the
split that occurred when the delegates
divided among themselves-part entering
into Joint convention with the democrats
and the restselling out their heritagcfora
mess OF pottage at the hands OF the re-
publicans-is furnished our readers
through the courtesy OF Editor Frawley
and X. n. Syuerud, the secretary OF the
convention.
|. The Independents OF Cavalier county
held their convention in the city hall at
Langdon last Friday james Dobie was
elected chairman and Il. y. Syverud
secretary.
The fusion committee reported that
they had been unable to agree with the
democratic committee on the division OF
offices. They were discharged and another
committee appointed to confer further
with Il like committee from the democrat
tic convention then in session and wrest-
ling with the same problem. The meet
ing OF the two committees was held at
supper time and resulted no nearer an
agreement. The democrats proposed
giving the independents the office OF
auditor and half the minor Offices and
the independents proposed taking in ad-
dition to that Offer the office OF states
attorney. Each convention rejected the
offer OF the other Then the democrats
sent in an offer to go into joint conven-
ton on the Offices OF states attorney and
sheriff This bait seemed quite tempting
to some OF the independents, believing
that ii they were to throw theircandidate
for states attorney into the jointconven-
ton he would receive the vote of suf-
ticient number Of those in the democratic
convention who voted to accept the in
| dependent proposition, tonominate their
candidate when added to theindependent
vote. But the Others remembered the
old saying: something to the effect that
| il the devil and the editor We're running
for office the devil would get all the dem
ocratic votes-and that offer was rejected.
Just as the re!ormers were about to
wander out into the middle OF the road
the door flew open and admitted three
distinguished members OF the grand old
party; viz: Laidlaw, Pinkerlon and Nc
IntCsh. Their faces We're covered with
three vivid expressions OF sincerity
trimmed with deep lines OF humility and
lined proiusely with the realization of the
sacredness OF the ground upon Which
they trod. After proclaiming the author.
ity vested in them by the republican
county committee they proposed fusion
by giving the Independents: two repre-
seatatives, register OF deeds, auditor
clerk OF court, superintendent of schools
states attorney. y vote by written bal
lat on the proposition resulted 3G fol
accepting and 80 for rejecting. At the
announcement OF this vote Chairman
Dobie called w. ]. Thompson to the
chair and he and several others left the
hall.
Mr.. Thompson asked to be relieved
from the duties OF chairman and w. L
belong was chosen. John Butterwick
Halvor Torgerson and Mr.. Berger were
named as representatives. A vote by
ballot resulted in the nomination OF But.
terwick and Berger. Those who noticed
the countenance OF Torgerson and the
parallel attitude OF he tail Of his coat
could haveseen that there was something
about the vote not particularly pleasing
to him.
Frank Wrightson was nominated for
register of deeds, Robert Work for audi
tor and W. j. Thompson iorstates attor-
ney. The other places We're left for the
committee to fill.
Just prior to adjournment the chair
appointed Il committee to confer with
the republicans relative to the filling OF
the vacancies on the ticket all ready
nominated. The five gentlemen named
were Messrs. Wrightson, Butterwick,
Cameron, Syverud and Work.