The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-08-24

Burch and Shaw Van could not nave
the ward proved an idle boast and Cas-
we'll himself was left off the delegation.
Charles Smith, one of the siiver-re-
publicans,, who has worked with the
gang, held Harvey level in Denison
township and again it was announced
that it was all over but the shouting.
Wheeler had it all figured out and the
news of the utter defeat of Shaw Van
was industriously and jubilantly spread.
In the meantime Swasey and his
friends became painfully aware that
they hadsbeen made monkeys Of. They
planned revenge-and but for their
slowness in carrying it out Shaw Van
would shave won lin spite of the deser-
ton of OConnor.
This was the condition Of affairs on
Friday night. The gang considered
Richardson sure winner. Shaw Van
was still confident. Swasey was justly
indignant at the treatment he had re-
ceived. Wheeler said it was "all set. !"
Saturday brought the delegates and
a decided change in the situation. The
German townships, Hanover Soldier,
Otter Creek, Morgan and Goodrich were
almost solid for Shaw Van. Stockholm.
Jackson, Walls Hays, and Iowa were
largely ifor ihim. Union, Boyer and
Willow had many SHAW Van votes.
For several hours the gang, through
its many emissaries, tried to break the
Shaw Van strength in vain.
1t was Ithen that the gang. defeat
staring it in the.face, complaining that
Richardson was too heavy load for
them to carry. was brought to that bit
ter alternative of O'Connor or Shaw
Van.
Of the two evils they chose that which
they considered the less, and according
ly O'Connor was taken up into the high
and promised the nomin-
alton ifshe would desert his friend.
We do not know whether to congrat-
ulate Mr.iO'Connor or not. Some vic
tories are Edearly bought. We suppose
it is human nature, BUTT is not the
highest type of 1T, thank goodness.
O'Connor had refused to become a
cats paw to defeat ShawVan, earlier in
the campaign.he had supported him.
The Vail delegation was for him-but
the temptation became too strong-the
offer he had spurned before he accept
cd then, the friend he had promised to
support was sacrificed and the defeat of
Shaw Van was accomplished. There
Ire no embellishments to this tale.
Every democrat conversant with coun-
~ politics knows the facts to be true.
The ring triumphed. but at what
cost?
False pledges; false promises; treach-
sry; bull-dozing; deceit, mark every
tep of the rings campaign.
The ring has lost immensely in pres
ige. however. The masses of demo-
.racy asserted their power-in ineffective
" IL Is u uS, Dut, ISfelluel6sS. IQ0Y |
nave found that they have the power,
hat the little cabal is not all powerful. !
The ring is not broken, but it has re-
,eived q severe rebuke.
The REVIEW makes the assertion
that every nomination to be made by |
democracy for the next two years has
already been pledged-given out by this |
Irresponsible Coterie OF self-constituted
eaders
1t remains to be seen whether the
mass Of the democratic voters will fol-
ow up the moral advantage gained by
battle and repudiate the
gang and the miserable bargain and
sale by which the real will of the ma
ority was thwarted. 1t may have been
good politics, but it was not good man
hood either for those who offered the :
oribe of Office, or for him who sacrificed |
1is manhood to accept it.