Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

democratic delegates at Cedar Rapids,
is where the story of the convention
comes in. On the night prior to tue
day on which the convention met,
there was secret caucus of the in
ner council to which Mr.. Murphy and
a few other recalcitrants were invited.
| The question of Col. Eiboeck's nomi-
nation was first discussed. Mr.. Muir
| ply opposed him as he had openly
done during the day, but he was told
that he must stop his opposition and
accept Col. Eiboeck. He was further
told that every one realized that there
was no sense in trying to carry the
state ticket and that, acting under in.
structions of Chairman Jones of the
national committee, the managers pro-
posed to parcel out the positions on
the state ticket with an eye single to
benefits which might accrue in certain
congressional districts.
Take the question of the End dis
trict," said Cato Sells, Our friends
down there tell us that if Col Eiboeck
is placed on the ticket, they can hold
the Dutch for their congressional
ticket, but if we throw him down, they
will go like flock of sheep into the
republican fold. We know Of course.
that Col. Eiboeck is not gu: sort of
democrat but he is a democrat
enough for our purpose in this emer-
gency."
Mr. Walsh who, by virtue of his be-
ing secretary of the democratic ma
tional committee, acted as spokesman
for Chairman Jones, endorsed what
Cato had said, and added that it was
the wish of the national committee
that everything should be subordina-
ted to the possibility of carrying one
or two of the congressional districts.
This sort of talk finally won Mr.. Muir
ply over, and he agreed to withhold
his opposition to Col. Eiboeck, and not
make fight against him on the floor
as he had threatened.
The question of the nomination of
S. B. Crane, the populist. for secretary
of state, was next taken up for con-
sideration. Crane had been disposed
to act somewhat offish for the reason
as he expressed it, that the democrats
were always willing to have the popu-
lists vote with them, but were never
willing to give them decent place
on the ticket. 1t was stated that Mr..
Crane had been offered the nomination
for railroad commissioner, but had in
dignantly refused to accept it, and had
threatened to have the populists go
into an Independent and separate con-
yention if the democrats did not do
something better for him. On the
other hand if he was the fusion can
didate for secretary of state, he prom
ised that the populists would not only
vote the democratic state ticket, but
would rally to man in support of
the democratic candidates for con-
gress in the 9th and Sth districts es-
pecially. He showed to the council
that if they had any hopes Of success
as against Congressman Lacey and
Congressman Hepburn. it would be
necessary for them to get the votes
of the populists in those districts.
This sort of argument overcame all
questions of fealty to party. and SO
the inner council determined upon
Crane the populist for secretary of
state and Eiboeck the gold bug for
elector at large.
This is the story Of the sale of the
democratic organization in Iowa to
the populists as contaminated at the
democratic state convention at Cedar
Rapids. Now that the scheme of the
democrats to win in this district is
known and can be guarded against. it
is scarcely probable that they will
meet with success in carrying it out.
However, it certainly behooyes every
friend OF sound money and prosperity
to be on his guard and work hard this
fall for the success of the republican
ticket The sixth district is to be the
center of the battle in Iowa. and must
not be lost thru overconfidence.