Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-08-07
1t Took TwentyFour Ballots Decide and Certainly
Was Spirited Contest.
The BALLOTS.

The Republican senatorial conven-
tion for this, the eighteenth senator
ial district, was held in Belding We'd
nesday, and was a hot number. For
a number of weeks the battle had
been raging fiercely in Ionia county
which was the seat of war, although
a good deal of it was under cover and
not known perhaps to the general
public. Nevertheless, two of three
ionia county candidates, or their
friends for them, had lost no oppor-
tunity to advance their claims, and
secure the support of delegates, and
as it proves by the votes cast with
about equal success, although pre-
yious to the first ballot each was con-
tident of his lead and ultimate sue
cess The third candidate based his
chief hopes on the fight between the
two others, thinking ii might fall to
him as compromise. Montcalm
county had no desire to mix in this
fight or take sides for or against these
candidates, believing that Ionia
county should settle it herself, so
they decided tn cast their votes for
G. III. LaFlamboy of their own county
who was not candidate in the active
sense, but was willing to accept it if
rendered him.
Such was the situation just pre-
yious to the meeting of the conven-
ton. The delegates began to arrive
early although the call was not until
, o'clock, and all we're here before
dinner with the exception of two or
three from the extreme south end of
the county. There were also quite a
large number of prominent Republi-
cans, and candidates for county Offices
not delegates, who came to see the
fun They gathered about in knots
and groups and discussed the situa-
tion, but even the wisest political
prophets had to acknowledge that
they were unable to pick the winner
in the race with any degree of GER
tainty.
Promptly upon the hour named
chairman A p Loomis of the com
mittee, called the assembledge to or
der, and secretary Frank Miller read
the call. Mr.. l.. A. Lyon of Mont
calm county was called to preside as
temporary chairman, who returned
thanks for the honor but said he
would not make a speech for he rec.
ognized that the delegates were i'm.
patient to get down to business. NJ
a. Reed of Belding was on motion
chosen secretary.
Committees on credentials-E J.
Bowman, L. NJ. Miel and n. +. Gould
and permanent organization and or.
der of business. A. Brown, Henry
Kent and /. + Waterbury, were ap
pointed, after which a recess was TAX
EN- to give them chance to act.
Upon reassembling the committee
on credentials reported full delega
tions present as follows: Ionia coun
ty-Henry Sheen, Northplains; Hebei
Waldron, Ronald: Arson WardeI
Orleans: A. II. Norton, Otisco: Jas
Renwick, Keene: John McKendry
Easton; |. +. " aterbury, Ionia; + N
Thayer, Lyons; Bert Badgley, Port
land; Riley Taft, Orange: Ed Patricl
Berlin: n +. Gould, Boston; Nj. T
Lamonte, Campbell: Geo. G. Bradish
Odessa: A. Brown, Sebewa: Il. J
Lockwood, Dandy; ID. G. Aelck ant
w. Z. Remington, Ionia City: M. A
Reed, Belding.
Montcalm county-Hal Miel, Henr,
Kent, T.. j. Bowman. j. II. Spier, L
A. Lyon. w. G.. Griswold, S V. Bul
lock, J. H. Arbrogast, j. III Jenson
John Dolan, Geo. Holland, A. $. Nc
Naughton, Geo. Nicholson, V. G. Al
chin, j w Piefer.
The committee on permanent OF
ganizatiou and order Of business re
ported favoring making the tempo
rary organization permanent. Bot
committe reports were accepte
and adopted. ON motion John Jenso
and w. H. Remington were appoint