Semi-weekly herald., 1910-09-26
THE REPUBLICAN STATE coNvEN
TON.

The Republicans of Colorado are TO
be congratulated upon The grand and
glorious work accomplished by the Re
publicans assembled at Colorado
Springs Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday of this week.
1t was undoubtedly the most rep
resentative set of men ever gather
ed in a political convention in the
state. being composed of men whose
Individuality was far above the aver.
age-men who exercised their own free
will irrespective sof so-called party
leaders and bosses If there were any
bosses in attendance they did not
count more than their own vote. There
was no coercion on the part of any
one in any of the different delegations
and the statement made in "A Denver
paper that money was literally used to
influence votes is false in every par
ticular.
The Independent attitude of the dele
gates was clearly expressed in the
adoption of the platform. In select
ing members OF the resolutions com.
mittee no thought was given as to
how they stood on the different propo.
sitions affecting the people and when
forty-two members of the committee
submitted platform 1t looked very
much as though It would go through,
but not so. There we're two minority
reports. one signed by seven members
and another by Merle d. Vincent and
two others. There was able discussion
en- all three reports. Before vote
was taken Mr.. Vincent, by consent OF
the convention withdrew his report
in favor of minority report No. 2.
Right here is where the individuality
o. the convention was manifested. On
Saturday before the Denver county
convention had adopted a platform
strongly condemning the initiative and
referendum and it was supposed a
solid delegation was elected along the
same lines. and also that most OF
the other counties would fall in line
but those who entertained such belief
were doomed to disappointment be
cause every member of the conven
tion was given an opportunity OF ex
pressing his or her views by vote with
the result that the minority report
dealing with the initiative and refer
endum carried nearly two to one, and
such men as Robert Bonynge. A. Nj
Stevenson and others were turned
down. the Denver delegation voting ia
to seventy-one In favor OF the amend
ment to the majority report and
against the recommendation of theii
member on platform, Mr.. stevenson
the total vote being 59S in favor OF
the minority report to 372 for the
majority report.
In the selection of candidates the
same freedom of individuality prevail
ed and where contests prevailed there
were but few solid delegations except
for governor. By the adoption of the
minority report of the committee on
resolutions the convention really elm
mated several candidates for governor
and they withdrew from the race, max
ing the nomination of John ID. Stephef
a certainty from the time the platform
was adopted. A complete vote by coun
ty was taken. however, after 1t was
demonstrated he had been nominated
in order to show the real strength oi
his opponent, Merle d. Vincent, who
received thirty-nine votes, although
most of the delegates from his home
county were glad to have Mr.. Stephen
named as the standard bearer.
Another notable Characteristic of the
convention was the manner in which
Denver divided her vote for and
against candidates. each member being
polled and voting his or her individual
preference, thus practically eliminating
the Denver contingent from being a
potent factor in the nomination OF any
one candidate. something quite un'
usual In past conventions where Den
yer, with her big delegation voted as
the leaders and bosses dictated
When nominations were made II
was Impossible to even guess who
would be selected until the last coun
ties were called as there were 10
states or ''favorite sons"
In the final wind-up every delegate
favored the selection OF the Hon. Jesse