Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-23
DEETS GETS OFFICE.
STRENUOUS POLITICS PRAcTlcED
AT l. 8. T. M. A. CON-
vENTloN

AT ]. 8. T. M. A. CON-
vENTloN
Nobody But Victorious Des Mones
Candidate Had Voice Loud Enough
to Receive Recognition Says G. c.
Porter Of ottumwa.
Corrupt politics, in Colorado, when
Adams was declared defeated, was not
starting to the menu served by a
few Of the followers of L. G.. Deets,
at the convention of the Iowa State
Travelling Mems association in Des
Moines Saturday" said Clarence 9.
Porter, one of the defeated candi-
dates for the Office of secretary-tr
urer OF the organization. Nobody
had voice in the convention but
Deets. Deets had everything. He
even exercised a sort of a hypnotic
! spell over the chair, and what he die
tated, despite the many loud protests
uttered by my following and those of
other candidates, went with hurrah.
Il was beaten, but it was by no fair
means" continued Mr.. Porter.
The result of the election in Satur-
days convention follows:
Secretary-treasurer-L. G. Deets, of
Des Moines.
Vice president-J. w. Hill, of Des
Moines.
Directors-E. j. Concannon, T. M.
ILange, w. A. Tucker, A. 3. Cobb and
| Fl. A. Gum, of Des Moines.
More than 1,400 votes were cast,and
the convention brought hundreds Of
travelling men to the city because of
the fight made on the administration.
More than 5000 members and visitors
were in the large auditorium and at
times the noise and excitement made
the gathering resemble bedlam. Every
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton was defeated.
Mr.. Porter tells of the convention
as follows: Following the reports
of the president and secretary-treas-
urer the excitement began. Scenes of
4 disorder were participated in when a
motion to adjourn for caucus was
made. AS the opponents Of Mr., Deets
had been unable to get an informal
ballot, they decided to endeavor to
get an adjournment that they could
caucus, but the motion was lost on
the ruling of President Hedge who de-
clared there could be no caucus, be-
!, cause nominations had already been
made. The convention hall was
packed by the administration with
!. Transfers street sweepers, ETC., who
were not members of the association,
as it had not been necessary for mem
bers to produce membership cards or
other forms of Identification. Argu'
ments pro and con were delivered in
the midst of the confusion. Men left
their seats and crowded down the
aisles in an attempt to secure recog
milton by the chair. Unable to caucus
the opponents Of Deets were forced to
fight for the office of secretary-treas
urer individually, and that is the rea
son for my defeat as we'll as for that
of the other anti-Deets men. There
probably was fair ballot as all mem
bers had to produce their membership
cards or last receipt before being priv
, |ileged to vote. Some ballots, howev
er, were marked for certain candi
, dates before distribution which unfair
politics caused large number Of
votes for myself and other candidates
to be null and void or count for the
man whose name was preceded by an
t x. The largest vote polled at any
]. election was the one of Saturday
, which aggregated over 1,400. The
largest previous vote did not exceed
$780,"
: Porter Thanks Friends.
> Mr.. Porter states that old time poll
r ticians say that Saturdays meeting
: was the nosiest convention they hat
: ever attended. 1t was also the worst
case of gavel rule they ever expert
) enced, they say as the presiding Off
: Ger would not listen to any motion ex
cept those from supporters Of Mr.
3 Deets. Consequently none of the pro
: posed amendments was carried al
! though on one or two the affirmative
| side had large majority. Mr.. Porter
was agreeably surprised at the large
attendance from Ottumwa, as there
were eighty in the convention hall ou
!, lof a total Ottumwa membership o.
! liz. lar. Porter wishes to heartily
: thank his Ottumwa friends for show
ing such earnest support during his
!, long campaign and for their evidences
OF good will in attending the meeting
Saturday.
The Total Vote.
The total vote for secretary-treas
, urer, according to figures secured b,
Mr.. Porter follows: Deets, 571; Der
: rymen, 242; Christy, 220; Porter, LAT
Vandevere, 8S; MacVicker, rs; Elkin
ton, 81.
I May Affect Membership.
While it Is understood the Ottumw,
members of the |. s. T. M. A. will con
tinue to be affiliated with the organi
zation, it is the general opinion among
local drummers that the convention
of Saturday Will materially decreas,
: the membership. It is almost certain
:. the Illinois members will Withdraw
RI and join the Illinois state association
A call for Illinois members to with