The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-05-12
IOWA IS FOR HEARST
The Democratic State Convention
Sends an Instructed Delegation
to National Convention.

10 NdIl0ndI Convention.
The democratic state convention held
at Des Moines last Wednesday was in
many respects one Of the most remarka-
BILE conventions ever held by the party
in this state. For months the support
ers Of William Randolph Hearst have
been at work in his interest and the
men opposed to sending an instructed
delegation to st. Louis have been equal
ly active, the result being that the con-
vention was the largest ever held in the
state, and while there were many who
had radical ideas, and some of the dis
trict caucuses were scenes of consider
able disorder, there was no bolt in the
convention as had been SO freely pre-
dicted by the republican press. The
democrats of Iowa are democrats and
believe in doing their fighting before
election time, and there is nothing
strange in the fact that there should be
division of opinion as to who was the
most available candidate. The leaders
of both factions stated time and again
that they were democrats and would
support the nominee of the st. Louis
convention.
1t had been conceded before the con-
vention met that the Hearst element
would control the convention, but not
withstanding this fact the gallant dem
ocrats who were opposed to instructing
the delegates to st. Louis for any one,
made splendid fight and advanced good
reasons as to why the delegates should
not he instructed. Old time democrats
who have not been seen in a democrat
state convention for years were present
and from the interest taken it seems
that the democratic party in Iowa is
still alive, notwithstanding the tremen-
dous republican majority in this state.
The delegates to st. Louis, although
some Of them are pronounced anti
Hearst men, are bound by instructions
to vote as unit on all questions and to
cast the vote of the state for Mr..
Hearst.
The first test mas made when the re-
port of the committee ON credentials
contesting delegations to dispose of
from counties where two conventions
had been held, and in majority of the
contests voted to seat the Hearst dele
cations. The committee returned a
majority and minority report, and on
the adoption of the report was the fight
of the convention made. Such demo-
Gratis as Congressman Wade, the only
democratic congressman in Iowa, Hon.
j. B. Sullivan, late candidate for COVER
nor, NJ. f. Healy, of Ft. Dodge and other
leading democrats supported the
minority report, while a. w. Maxwell,
"A. Walsh, Gen. j. b. Weaver, G. f.
Rinehart and others supported the ma
jority report which was adopted.
The convention was presided over by
Hon. George w. Cullison, Of Harlan, who
delivered magnificent address, and it
was his fortune to preside over the
convention until after o'clock, as it
was this late hour before the committee
on credentials and the committee on
permanent organization were ready to
report. at which time Hon. Walt. H.
Butler was reported as permanent
chairman and during the trying scenes
of the balance of the session which last
ed until half past nine O'Clock, Mr.. But
Ter was given full opportunity to dis
play his ability as presiding officer.
The eighth district caucus was pre-
sided over by James Steele, of Taylor
county, o. E. Hull, of Leon, being named
for secretary. The Hearst element
were decidedly in the majority,
all of the eleven counties favoring
delegation instructed for Hearst ex-
cept Adams, Clark, and Decatur. A. V.
Penn, of Fremont county, and M. B.
Maring, of Appanoose county, were
selected as district delegates to the st.
Louis convention, James Steele, of
Page county, and T. M. Stuart, of Char
iton being the alternates. There was
some opposition to the reelection of
A. w. Maxwell, of Seymour, as member
of the state central committee, j. NJ.
Howell, of Davis City, being named by
the minority, but Maxwell was elected
by vote ,65 to 81.
The following is a complete list of
the delegates and alternates to the st.
Louis convention; and the members of
the various committees:
DELEGATES AT LARGE.
j. M. Parsons, Rock Rapids; General
James B. Weaver, Colfax; Judge e. NJ.
Carr, Manchester; S, B. Wadsworth,
Council Bluffs.
DISTRICT DELEGATES.
First.--W. w. Baldwin, Burlington;
e. P. McManus, KeoBuk.
Second William Desmond, Clinton;
Jerry Murphy, Parnell.
Third-A. r. O'Brien, independence;
Frank j. Fowler, Waterloo.
Fourth-James Kieren, Waukoma;
A. r. McCook, Elma.
Fifth S. S. Wright, Upton; Charles
d. Huston, Cedar Rapids.
sixth-John Doner, Monroe; G. R..
Rinehart, Jasper.
Seventh H. G. Evans, Polk; S. NJ.
Hamilton, Madison.
Eighth-M. B. Maring, Appanoose,
A. B. Penn, Fremont.
NINTH ]. Sidey, Greenfield; E. B.
Haltzman, Guthrie Center.
Tenth-W. |. Branagan, Emmetsburg;
Charles Reynolds, Carroll.
Eleventh Whiting, Monona:
C. A. Cook, Osceola.
ALTERNATE DELEGATES.
First John W. Hanna, Winfield; E. p.
Stahl, Mt. Pleasant.
Second 20. McCaffrey, Maquoketa;