Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-05-09
Retribution.

For many, many years the demo- !
cratic party in this county has had
to contend with the trickery Of the
leaders Of the republican party, and
the democrats are now enjoying the
bitter warfare that is being waged
between the republican factions, the |
stand-patters and progressives, the
leaders Of each faction are resorting
to all the chicanery. stratagem, arti-
fees and sharp practices that they
can call to mind to defeat each other,
and the defeated ones, not being, in
nured to defeat, howl, groan and de-
nounce the victorious progressives
without stint, for doing just exactly
what the vanquished standpatters
would have done if they had had the
power. 10 throttle and show no
mercy to their opponents has been
the rule Of republican politicians for
nearly forty years, though while act
cd upon, it vas not in terms made a
part of the party creed, until boldly
announced as such by the late Car
Reed. and since known as the gag
rule"
Acting upon this rule the pro-
gressives did the standpatters nip
to fine finish at the recent republic
can convention in this county, by,
says the standpat Manchester Press
"a DISPLAY of hiph-handed trickery
such as the republicans of this coun-
ty have never before SEEM The
method used IN performing this
"high-handed trickery" was, the
Press states, as follows: "The lines
on the governorship contest were
closely drawn. The element favor
ing Governor Cummins' renomina-
ton were in control of the conven
ton by majority Of eight or ten
votes, and they made the most of the
opportunity. 1t is deplorable that
they should have subjected those Of
differing view to such treatment as
was awarded them. The Cummins
men early showed determination
to secure an expression for the gov
ernor, no matter at what cost. In
order to accomplish this, they placed
Mr.. McCloud in the chair, and his
attitude and rulings were such as 10
cause him to forfeit the confidence
and respect of honorable men OF both
factions. No such disgaaceful meth
DDS of convention management have
ever been seen in this county. The
chairman deliberately ignored the
delegates who were not Of his way
of thinking. He refused time after
time, to recognize them on the flool
or to entertain their motions. 1t
two or three instances he declined tt
state motions made by Perkins men
,, but took his cue from suggestion
made by Cummins supporters ane
ran the convention in absolute dc
fiance of parliamentary order and o
, any sort of fairness and honor. HI
refused to put the motion on MIR
Bixby's amendment to the resolu
: tions, but stated the original motion
in precedence, thus making ties
vote impossible. He adjourned til
convention without the formality o
a vote, at time, too, when numerou
of the Perkins men were trying tt
!: get the floor"
And its echo, the Hopkinton Lead
er, like the Press, admits that ever,
past effort of the republican leader
in enforcing the gag rule" was cas-
lily outdone by the progressives, ant
stigmatizes their action as the rot
tenest exhibition Of politics that wa
ever witnessed in this county, Al
of which goes to show that the pro
gressives, in one respect at least, ar
true to name, and that their republi
y can opponents, unless they too pre-
It gress, will remain back number {
!. standpatters.
t "Ring out the slowly dying cause.
And ancient forms OF party strife,
Ring in the nober nudes OF lie.
al With sweeter manners. purer laws"