Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-07-05
STATEMENT BY Mr.. BRENNAN
To The Republican Voters Of Audu-
bon County.

To The Republican Voters of Audu-
bon County.
In last weeks issue of the Audubon
Republican and the Extra Journal
Chas. Van Gorder addressed O letter
to the republican voters of Audubon
county in which he undertakes to
place the blame upon everything
Anti.Cummins for the present condi-
ton of politics in this county. In his
devotion to the caiise of tariff ripping
and laundering methods ip the recent
convention, Mr.. Van Gorder appar-
emily can see no reason why the Per-
kins delegates from Douglas, Came
ron, Viola, Greeley, Audubon, Oaktield
and part of Melville and Hamlin
townships should have been recogniz-
ed.
The people of Audubon county do
not desire to know my personal opin-
ion of the merits of the conventions
recently held in Scott, Carroll or any
other county any more than they wish
to know Mr.. Van Gorder's opinion
and | will not refer to the newspaper
gossip on that subject as did Mr.. Van
Gorder
1t was no doubt the intention of the
Van GOrder letter to convey the idea
that proposition was made to Mr..
Elliott and myself after the primaries
to divide the delegation to the state
convention for the sake of avoiding
strife in the party. This was "a reas-
enable conclusion as many have ask
ed me since his letter appeared If il
was true that such a proposition was
made. answer, No IL is untrue that
such proposition was made. The
facts about dividing the delegation
were as follows: Judge Green stated
to me week or ten days before the
primaries that it would be a good
thing for all concerned to have an
understanding in the matter of dele
gates; also Mr.. Cosson made few
suggestions along the same line. ]
replied that it was not an easy matter
to do as the strife had gone too far.
| think that | conveyed to them the
impression that | was not willing per-
sonally to divide but would leave the
question to be settled at the primaries.
When the primaries were over it
was apparent on the face of the re-
turns that Cummins had a small ma
jority of the delegates l then an
nOunced that | had no further fight to
make, that | would stand for my
rights as County Chairman, call the
convention to order and name tenn
porary chairman, who we knew
would be deposed as soon as the com
mittee on permanent organization
would report. | state positively and
truthfully that the Perkins organiza-
ton had no plans to try to control the
convention.
| had repeatedly announced after
the primaries that | would not permit
of any crooked work in the conven-
ton on the part of the Perkins man
agement. This statement can be YER
fled by any of the Perkins delegates.
The only object of the Perkins dele
gates was to go on record in the CON
ventiOn for what they believed to be
right.
/ will say here that it was unneces-
sary for Mr.. Van Gorder to apologize
for any of the Perkins delegates for
the part they took in the second con
vention. They were unanimous in the
conclusion that they were being film
damned and they were entirely re-
spOnsible for their own actions.
Mr.. Van Gorder states that | came
into the convention hall at two differ
ent times after o'clock. This is not
true. | came into the convention hall
about five minutes after ! O'Clock for
the first time. Some one suggested to
me that it was time to call the cOnven-
!, ton to order. | replied that ] would
be ready in just a few moments. |
called Mr.. LOvelace out of the hall to
ask him to act as temporary chairman.
| had been very busy all day with the
committee meeting and arranging the
hall for the convention. ] stated to
Mr.. LOvelace that ! would call him to
the chair, and that he would no doubt
have to retire when the committee
on permanent organization would re-
port. No plans were discussed to
control the convention. Mr.. Love-
lace expected to open the convention
in the usual manner. | will acknOwl-
edge here that | was greatly surprised
when | returned to the hall in few
. minutes to find that Van Gorder had
called the convention to order at the
suggestion of John MacVicar as many
believe. MacVicar was heard to say,
"Breniman has gone out, now is the
time to call the convention" ! am
not familiar with the MacVicar meth
DDS of conducting conventions or ]
should have been in the chair prompt
Iy at ! O'Clock. 1t is well understood
that our conventions are never called
to order at the time named in the call.
This matter was taken into consider
alton by the central committee when
they decided on the hour of ! o'clock.
| shall not discuss the legality of
either convention. The question is
why did VanGorder delegate himself
to take charge of the convention and
preciptate the trouble when the pegu-
lar authorized chairman was on hand:
and who is responsible for the pres
ent condition of politics in Audubon
county.
G.. u. BRENNAN.