The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-05
County Conventions
Early start for Next Years Political
WOrk-Flryt PreeAedinxs Under
The Richards Primary Law

law the different parties and fac
tiOns all holding conventions at
the same time. The law pro-
vides for two factions in each
party making nominations for
the primaries and the several
conferences or conventions were
for tie purpose of naming the
first county com mittees, who
should have the naming of candi-
d.tes to be placed before the
several primaries for county Off
GERS and also to select a state
proposal committeeman to go to
Pierre. The contest in this
county seemed to center on the
majority conference, as majority
is a good sounding word, and
while there wasn't m uch to fight
over, and the fight when it did
come was SO one sided and deci-
siye that the only thing interest
ing about it was it's ridiculous
ness,-a purposed bolt result
ed in comedy.
Mr.. A. M. Nixon who was one
of the signers of the majority
notice read the call, but when or.
ganization was attempted, he
asserted that the conference was
a progressive" one, and that
no other republicans should
take part, and that voting for
Governor Byrne Or his principles
did not qualify man to take
part in the conference, and that
his pedigree should date back
to the election of Coe l. Crawford:
but those present did not
seem inclined to appoint Mr..
Nixon a committee to examine
their birthmarks, and decide
whether they were really and
truly full-blooded 'progressives,
or only stalwart grades who had
failed to get vacinated in time to
have all the stalwart virus driven
out of their blood. They all
claimed to have beeu sired and
damned by progressive ances-
try, and early enough in life had
had their unprogressiye appen-
dix removed, and were perfectly
sound and in excellent con-
dition to take part in the confer
ence, Notwithstanding Mr.. Nix
on's objections. Mr.. Amsden
pointed out that Mr.. Nixon had
no more authority to say who
should be members Of the con-
ference than one else present
and that neither the call nor the
primary law made mention of
progressive or stalwart factions.
Mr.. T. L. Fuller also believed
that under the call all who had
supported the principles repre-
sented by Governor Byrne were
eligible to sit in the conference.
Mr.. Nixon asked all who were
''progressives to 60 to the south
side of the room, but there were
either no "progressives" present
or they were not longing for the
leadership of Mr.. Nixon, as only
one man progressed" to the
south, and he returned to his
seat on reconsideration. Mr..
Nixon later retired to the south
jury room, where by personal
solicitation he gathered q follow
ing of eight other persons, and
they remained in seclusion for a
good half hour, but what was the
result Of the incubation has not
been yet made public.
When Mr.. Nixon refused to
proceed with the organization of
the majority conference Mr.. T.
L. Fuller took the floor. and upon
motion Mr.. Geo. S. Rix was
unanimously elected chairman.
Mr.. Rlx explained fully the pur-
pose and business of the meet
ing, and stated that he believed
all who were there to take part
in the conference were there
with honorable intentions, and
were entitled to participate-at
least he did not wish to assume
to be his brothers keeper in the
matter.
Mr.. E. D. Thorndike was
unanimously elected secretary,
and Mr.. Thorndike's name was
also presented as majority state
proposal committeeman, and
there being no other nominations
the election was made by accla.
nation.
A motion was made and car
ried that in the election of the
county proposal committee the
delegation from each township
be accorded the privilege of max.
ing the nomination for that town
ship.
A motion was also carried that