Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1908-05-21
MINOT CONVENTION.
Some Incidents and Features Of
the Big Republican Stale
Meet.
Convention attended only to bust-
ness for which II was
called
Especial correspondence. J

Especial correspondence.
Minot, N. D., May 15th.-The big
republican state convention closed
Thursday evening and most Of the
delegates left during the night and
today for their homes. In no repub-
lican state convention has there fol-
lowed as little ill-feeling as 10 this
convention.
The stalwarts we're in large ma
jority, yet their handling 1.-The con-
vention was perfectly fair, and every
'nsurgent was given every opportun.
ity to express his convictions to in
troduce resolutions, motions and to
debate the same. Senator McCum-
ber made an ideal presiding officer,
his rulings. we're prompt ::and there
was not the slightest criticism ..of
any sort on bis work as chairman of
the convention; In fact Insurgents of
the most radical type united In COM
mending the fairness and business
like conduct Of the chairman.
| The convention transacted busi-
ness relating strictly to the conven-
tion itself. There was no booming of
candidates, or detraction of minority
candidates, there we're no indorse-
ments or anything. chat looked to de-
priving the primary election law of
is full scope and intent 10 the CON-
ing selection Of candidates by the
people. This was in great contrast to
the convention called:.at Grand Forks
by the insurgents, and dominated and
controlled by them. The Minot con-
vention recommended and Endorsed
NOBODY as candidate for senatorial,
congressional or state Office. The
candidates Of both factions we're
present and were active in their TO-
dividual capacity, but the subject of
candidates was never brought up in
the convention and little attention
was paid to it at any time.
The stalWarts controlled the con-
vention at--the opening byvote Of 2Ss,
l56 insurgents. This vote showed the
to accuracy and fairness Of the esti-
mates of the relative strength of the
two factions made at the close of the
last convention held Saturday pre-
ceding the state convention. From
time to time the papers representing
the stalwart faction, and Others who
have kept in touch with the results
of county convention have given
forecasts of the relative strength of
the factions. The last forecast was
that the stalwarts would have from
285 to 200 delegates, and the insur-
gents, counting in the probable re-
suits of contesting delegations .wcuid
have in the nefgtborhood of $50 to
155 delegates. The vote on organiZa
tion showed the stalwarts had 288
and the insurgents 1855.
On the other hand, The iDsurgent.
press and the Industrious ::literary
bureau published repeatedly the
claim that the insurgents would con-
troll the convention and gave list Of
\ counties with a. legged results Of cleo
tions to- snbstantiate this claim.
The Grand Forks Herald was partic
ularly unreliable In tilis matter, and
many insurgents throughout the
state we're no doubt Intentionally
mislead by these false reports Of the
results of various county conventions.
| The final test vote was on the
question Of whether the delegates
elected to Chicago should follow the
established precedent In this and
other states and elect the national
committeeman to represent the
Estate, or whether the convention
should recommend the name Of some
Republican to be elected by the dele
gates toSfill such pesition. On this
test vote the insurgents gained q
number Of votes, the votes being stall
| warts 2e6. insurgents 1888. This.was
on a question to indorse Frank
Sprague o. Walsh county for national
lcommitteeman. Mr.. Sprague was re-
garded az neither q pronounced In
surgent or stalwart and had NUM-
Il ber OF personal supporters among the
stalwart delega gations. He was De-
feated, however, and the delegation
was allowed to name is own national
Il committeeman as has always been
done heretofore. It was generally
! Iknown that James Kennedy y, the cam
4 didate of.. the Cass county delegation
{; for the place ..of ommltteeman WAS
\ favored by the stalWart faction and
|, the COM yenti lon voted upon this ques.
|, IttOn With the foil Skn0W ledge And nn-
y landing of tho soteg gnnea anlt,