The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-01
An old-TIme Democratic State Con

An Oid-Tlme Democratic State Con-
vention.
DIR. George F. Neal in Fort Madison
Democrat: Your memory is not at
fault; it was in 1880 and the state
Democratic nominating convention
for the selection OF delegates to the
national convention which was to
meet in Cincinnati, Ohio, was held in
Burlington. 1t was a hot day, and I
remember meeting you there quite dis
ltinctlv. We had a drink of brown
pop and we're both enthusiastic for
the nomination of General Winfield
Scott Hancock, as Samuel ]. Tilden
declined to allow the use of his name,
on account of feebleness and paraly-
sis. Dan F. Miller, Jr, was there,
remember, and Charley Doerr. was
a delegate from Louisa county
bought clock that day at the Car
penter jewellery store and it was
good Democratic clock for thirty
years. Daniel F. Miller, Sr., was de
feated for delegate-at-large. In the
crowd at the station, he was robbed
of valuable gold watch, which he
priced as a keepsake. John P. Irish
made the great speech of the day:
What will be the plan of battle?"
were the first words uttered. 1t was
a great speech and both the Hawkeye
and the Gazette published in full.
| remember Joe Williams was on
hand and was intending to report the
convention for some paper, but sue
cumbed to the heat and did not recov-
er till the convention was over and
was a matter of history. l will new
er forget John H. Craig, father of
County Attorney Theodore A. Craig,
and of Hugh, who now resides in Riv-
erside, California. John H. Craig
was an impressive orator and, when
he arose to speak, seemed at all
times to be deeply in earnest. / ad-
mired him greatly.
1t was great meeting, participant
ed in by an army of old Jefferson
Jackson Democrats who believed in
and fought for the faith within them.
John, Zaiser, father of Rev. Father
Zaiser of this city, was mayor of
Burlington, and as mayor he made an
address of welcome. Mayor Zaiser
was a jolly man. rotund, short in
stature, florid, a fine type of the Ger
mans of that day. He made an adj
dress which was loudly applauded
throughout. DR.. A. c. Roberts of the
Democrat was there and I think DR..
George of the Daily Constitution of
Keokuk ] remember the venerable
Judge Ed tombstone was present,
Judge j. NJ. Casey and others from
Fort Madison, whom | cannot re-
member. 1t was almost thirty-two
years ago that this notable gathering
occurred in Burlington The late
greatly lamented Benton j. Hall. then
state senator and the idol of the
! democracy. was a prominent figure in
! the convention. Two years later he
made the race for congress and was
defeated by Moses A. McCoid, by
marked yellow ballots. In 1884, stimuli
4 taneously with Cleveland, he was
elected over John H. Woolson, and in
1885 he was defeated by John II.
Gear President Cleveland then
made him United States commission
er of patents, which place he filed
with distinction He died about 1890.
/ This was the day that Tom Potter
| was almost supreme in Iowa politics,
This, | think, was the last time that
ever saw the courtly Augustus Caesar
Dodge, exsU, S. minister to Spain
first U. S. senator from Iowa, Jeffer-
son Democrat undiluted- one of the
Fathers of Iowa