Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-09-03
PROGRESSIVE
CONVENTION
Held at the Court House in This City
Saturday Afternoon
Against State -
Ticket. ..-
HAD A VERY WARM TIME
Keltz' Faction Defeated by the De-
cisive Vote of Twenty Eight
to Eight.

The progressive county conven-
tion held at the court house Satur-
day afternoon was the warmest po-
.1itical gathering held in this city In
many years. It reminded one of the
old-time republican conventions
when there were such bitter fights
between progressive republicans and
standpatters for control.
B. F.. Keltz led the fight against
the resolution instructing the dele
CATION to the state convention
against the nomination of a state
ticket, and J. M. Blake and j. E.
Burnstedt were the leaders for 1t.
The debate became hot at times, bor-
dering upon personalities. Mr.. keltz
charged that the convention had
been packed and that the men op-
posing state ticket were not sim
cere supporters of Roosevelt. This
brought Mr.. Blake to his feet, who
declared that the day following the
nomination of Taft he publicly stat
ed that he would support Roosevelt
if Roosevelt were candidate. AT
that time, and for some weeks af-
terward, Mr. Keltz was talking in
favor of Taft. ./
: When the resolution instructing
the delegation to vote in the state
convention against a third state
ticket finally came to@a vote, 1t carr
ried by twenty-eight to eight, show
ing that better than three to one of
the convention were opposed to put
ting a Roosevelt state ticket in the
field in Iowa.
The convention was called to Or
der by D. A. Kent, who moved that
J. M. Blake be made chairman. The
motion prevailed. Upon taking the
gavel Mr.. Blake stated the purposes
of the convention. and made a
strong speech in favor of the pro-
gressive movement and the election
of Roosevelt and Johnson. The men
tion Of Roosevelt's name was always
the signal for vigorous applause.
DR.. Della was on motion elected
secretary.
On motion of B. f. Keltz, D. A.
Kent, Frank Webb and C. S. How
ard were named as committee of
three to recommend to the conven-
tion names of delegates to the state
convention.
J. E. Burnstedt moved that the
delegates to the state convention be
instructed to vote and to work
against the nomination Of a third
state ticket. b. F. Keltz offered an
amendment to the effect that the
delegates be instructed in favor Of
a state ticket.
Then the fireworks opened and
they were highly interesting to the
spectators present.
The question then before the
house was the Keltz' amendment.
Mr.. Burnstedt spoke against 1t, Mr..
KeItz for it, w. w. Loban for it, D..
A. Kent against, Geo.. w. Lee against
all instructions, p. w. Lee against
the amendment, II. A. Maxon
against and Geo. A. ,Walrath
against.
Mr.. Keltz then withdrew his
amendment and moved that the del
egation go uninstructed. On stand
ing vote the proposition was voted
down by fourteen to twenty-five.
Mr.. Burnstedt then moved that
the delegation be instructed against
a third state ticket. After short
debate the motion prevailed by
twenty eight to eight.
The convention then proceeded TO
elect county central committee. j.
r. Burnstedt and DR.. Della were
placed in nomination as candidates
for chairman of the county central
committee. Mr.. Burnstedt declined
to serve and Mr. Della was unani-
mously elected.
Committeeman were then elected
as follows:
Webster City
Chas. Weis-First ward.
Chas. Jones--Second ward.