Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-21
MARsHA1ITowN

MARSHALLTOWN,
that. am interested only in the plat
form, and then that a man is placed on
the platform who will support it."
But who is the candidate ?'
There will have to be one brought out
yet, and there will be one.' he raid.
This was as far as Sells would COM
init himself. At that time the field was
filled with but two candidates-Phillips
and stiger. And the great mass OF the
delegates were engaged at that very
time in looking for another candidate.
Later in the day some one started the
ley would be candidate. He promised
he would consider the matter. He might
be candidate IL there was none other
suitable Then the talk OF Senator Ball
was revived and he was freely dis
cussed. 1t was evident that many of the
delegates were not satisfied with either.
but they could not find their candi-
date. Then another specter arose. A
Sixth district delegate rushed to Cato
Sells room with plea.
Great Jefferson!" he cried. f1f you
don't consent to be candidate we will
rot know what to do. Gen. Weaver
wants to be candidate. and unless we
support you we may have to support
him. The only way to keep Weaver out
of the race is to keep you in.''
But even this plea failed to reach the
heart of the vinton man. Finally an
ut OrAnx
from Des Moines came on the scene.
This was John F. Kratzer. president
ard manager OF the Kratzer Carriage
Company.
Nominate me-" he said. "Of course
the nominee will not be elected. but 1
might as we'll be sacrificed as anybody.
1t won't hurt me. Just nominate me.
and I'll take train and go up alll down
this state and make such campaign as
was never known before. And I'll fur
nish all the money needed, too, and see
that 1t Is hot campaign
And Mr.. Kratzer was in dead earnest.
He is an enthusiastic democrat and he
could make his word good. A group of
delegates to whom he made the PROPOSE
tion declared it might be good plan to
take him up. If the Polk county dele
CATION would do SO they said 1t would be
good proposition. And this illustrates
the utter chaos of the democrats the
night before convention on the question
of candidate for governor
The situation with regard to the plat
form was not greatly, different An ef-
fort was made to hold conference at
noon on Tuesday to agree on plan for
the platform. But few were present
| Another effort was made at 9 p. M, and
| too many were there. 1t was the most
| thoroughly unanimous democratic con-
ference ever held. Judge Carr was
called to the chair. A motion prevailed
to allow all democrats to remain. Some
one raised the question as to allowing
! the reporters to remain. The conference
room was filledup. Then Charlie Walsh
came in and said he was not in favor
]! Of conferences anyway and doubted the
4 tadvisability OF caucus attempting to
VI do the work of convention, but he
moved adjournment. The chair wanted
il debate on the motion. but 1t passed
i unanimously. The there were repeated
conferences late at night-but the rank
and file were not invited.
4 The most interesting thilg about the
convention is the fact that there are
Il more of the old timers here than have
attended any convention Cor years. A
II good many found it possible to get back
i into democratic convention this year
for the first time in years. There is
II Washington /. Babb, Of Mt. Pleasant
1 who has not been doing anything for q
B good while: Gil Johnson. Of Maquoketa
who wants to get back into the party af-
ter temporary estrangement; Senator
u Cleveland, Of Harlan, VINO has NOT
I, appeared before since 1895; p. Van
Osterhout, of Sioux City, who has not
been coming to conventions for some
!. time; e. c. Herrick, Of Cherokee, who
suffered eclipse; al Morrison, OF Marion
/ who ran for congress in the Seventh
district once and has not been at dem
ocratic convention for some years: John
H. Duggan. of Burlington, formerly OF
Creston; j. B. Sullivan, of Creston; an6
|. many others Charles d. Fullen, Of
Ottumwa, but formerly Of Fairfield, is
taking an active interest in affairs. Or
the other hand there was Gen. Weaver
who'is little new to the party. Their
there is Walt Butler, Charlie Walsh, j
B. Romans, G. F. Rinehart, Mike King
and host of radical free silverltes
1t is convention or contraries.
The fight last night on the question
of reaffiming the Kansas City platform
J or not doing so. waxed warm. The con.
ferences were held, but they were moi
made known to everyone. For instance
J the Eleventh district men called d eau.
; Gus about 10 o'clock. They tried hard tc
: keep the fact from certain of the silver.
ties and only partially succeeded. This
) was the situation in many of the dis.
! tricts. The free silver men were declar.
: ing openly that they would call another
! convention and put up another ticke,
unless the Kansas City platform is spe.
: officially reaffirmed. But there were
many Of the free silver men who were
seeking to compromise. They We're urg.
, ing moderation. In fact 1t was the sill
/ verites rather than the others who were
, doing the most talking about non
committal platform. Said Walt Butler
; to your correspondent:
THE problem before us to make 6
E platform that will avoid fight. We
r want at least the appearance OF unani'
l nifty and harmony in the convention
!, We must reafiirm the party principles
I but how to do 1t in SO mild manner a.
NOT fo offend any who are In fhe rOn.