Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-08-10
Intense Interest Shown in Party
Welfare and the Cam
paign Work. (,
Something About the Able and Pop
ular Men Who Were Nomin-
ated for State Offices.
Chairman Weaver Points Out tho Duty
Of Republicans, and Tells How
They May Make Sure of Victory.

Des Moines, Ia, Aug. 6.-The rerIb'
lican state convention held here last
week resulted in the nomination of an
exceptionally strong ticket. The spir-
it of the convention throughout was
harmonious in spite of the spirited
contests that were waged for the varl-
GUS nominations. There was more in
terest in this convention than in any
other in the history of the party in
Iowa. Never was such great crowd
gathered together before to attend a
state convention. Republicans came
for two reasons, to assist their friends
who were candidates for state offices
and because of the interest in politics
generally in this presidential year.
Delegates from all parts of the state
visited the state headquarters and ex-
pressed their interest in the work OF
the committee, promising to do their
part toward securing perfect or
ganization in their township. After
the nominations were made the
friends of all the candidates forgot
the rivalry which had existed for sew
eral months and united in pledging
to the ticket their hearty and unre-
served support. There are no sore
spots and the ticket is one which
speaks for itself, requiring no ex-
PLANTATION or defense.
William Birney Martin. Of Greenfield.
Adair county, nominee for secretary Of
state. was born In Rochester. Windsor
county, VT, March II, 1876. His ancestors
were Scotch and were early. pioneers IN
central Vermont. MIR. Martin came west
in 1867, lived two years in Illinois, came
to Adair county in 1869 and was farmer
and teacher there four years. In 1873 ne
was elected county auditor and served
four years.. Since then he has been IN
the real estate business, He has been
mayor of Greenfield and was a, member
of the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh
general assemblies. where he attracted the
notice of the state as an advocate OF ex-
animation of private banks. He Is man
of high character and good business
ability.
Gilbert S. Gilbertson. Of Forest City.
nominee for state treasurer. was born in
Spring Grove, Houston county. Mimi. DC
tober II, 1853. He has good common
school education and took course In a
business college in GAINESVILLE, Wis. In the
spring of 1879 he came to Worth county.
Ia. and there engaged In farming and
later In the mercantile business. In 1889
was elected clerk of courts in Winnebago
county and held this Office until 1896. when
he resigned to enter the state senate.
where he served four years. He Is prom
inent banker in Forest City and Is inter-
ested in numerous business enterprises.
He is the owner Of the Winnebago Sum-
nit He Is universally popular In the
state and his nomination was due to his
attractive personal traits more than to
anything else
- Frank +. Merriam. renominated for audi
tor of state. is q native of Iowa. born IN
Delaware county December %. 1866. The
family came to Hopkinton, Delaware coun-
%ty IN 1856. Young Merriam was educated
in common schools and in Lennox col
lege, from which institution he graduated
in 1885, He earned his own way through
college and after his graduation contin-
ued to teach school until 1898, when he
went into the newspaper business in Hop
kinton. In 1895 he was elected member
of the house from Delaware county and
reelected two years later. During his sec
end session he was chairman of the COM
E.littee on appropriations and was men,
Der Of the examining committee whose
VIVA - Va
He has always been very active In poll
tics, having been several times associated
with the management Of the state cam
paign In 1888 he was nominated for audi
tor of state and elected by large ma
5ority.
David J. Palmer, renominated for rail-
way commissioner. was born in Washlng-
.ton, county, Pa, November Is, 1899. He
came with his parents to Iowa in 1885, set
Ting in Washington county, which IS still
his home. They began on a small piece
of raw prairie and had all the experiences
Of pioneers. Col. Palmer served with dis
tinction in the civil war, rising from a
private in the Eighth Iowa infantry to
lieutenant colonel OF the Twenty-fifth
Iowa. He was wounded several times and
was in many battles. He has been promi-
nant in Iowa politics many years and was
a member Of the state senate from Henry
and Washington counties, elected in 1871
and serving two terms. He resigned in
April, 1898. to accept the appointment OF
railway commissioner rendered him by
Gov. Shaw to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of G. l.. Davidson. He was NOM
mated that year and elected by a hand
some majority.
Senator Charles w. Mullan, Of Waterloo,
nominated for attorney general, has been
an Industrious republican worker in Iowa
for many years. He was born in Wayne
|
to Iowa more than 50 years ago, when he
was but a little child. He has been in
the practice of law in Waterloo since 1870
and is known as one Of the ablest lawyers
in the state. His ability was demonstrated
during his service in the state senate to
which he was elected in 1897. He has been
city solicitor Of Waterloo six years and
county attorney OF Blackhawk county six
years, and is man of scholarly attain
ments who will ornament the Office he will
hold. He also served in the union army
during the civil war.
Chancellor Emlin McClain. of the law
department OF the state university, nom
| mated for Judge of the supreme court, is
widely known in Iowa and throughout the
county as an eminent author of law books
and annotator Of the code of Iowa. He
was torn in Salem o., and is of Quaker
descent. He came to Upton, Cedar county,
Ia, in 1855 and for a time was a teacher
! and to some extent farmer. His father
| founded the Iowa City academy. In 1856
Enliin at the age of Is entered the state
university and graduated in the philosoph-
| zeal course in 1871 and a year later took the
classical degree and in 1913 graduated
faoIn the law department.. He was con-
! ;iected with the firm of Catch, Wright &c
Runnels in Des Moines, and practiced law
! in Des AIoipes until 1881, during which time