The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-03-24


not only one of the largest political
conventions ever held in Missouri
but it was one of the liveliest gather.
ings of Democrats in the history Of
the State organization. There was an
animated and somewhat bitter fight
over National Committeeman that
created considerable bad feeling
Governor Major had previously been
Endorsed for Vice President by the
State Democratic Committee and the
Missouri Democratic Press Associa-
ton at their recent joint meeting in
st. Louis. Horace S. Rumsey, Ex-
else Commissioner, an appointee of
Governor Major, conceived the idea
that he would be the man to boost
the Governors Vice Presidential in
terests as National Committeeman,
and announced himself as a candidate
for that position.
GOltra Reelected.
This didn't please the friends of
National Committeeman Edward F.
Goltra, who had served so accepta-
bly, in that position for the last four
years, and was close friend of
President Wilson, so they started in
to head off the Rumsey boom. When
the Convention assembled last Tues
day it became clear that the Goltra
contingent was in the ascendancy,
and Rumsey withdrew in favor Of
James Cowgirl of Kansas City When
the vote was counted it showed that
Mr.. Goltra was reelected by vote of
754 to Mr.. Cowgill's 582.
Creates AntagOnism to Major.
The contention begun by Mr.. Rum
sey created considerable antagonism
to Governor Majors aspirations, and
there was quite number of delegates
conspired in an effort to sidetrack an
Endorsement by the Convention of
Governor Major as the States "fa-
Norite son" for Vice President. Con-
siderable feeling was stirred up and
some pretty plain talk INDUCED in
things said that it would have been
better to have left unsaid. But the
Governor won out, the minority reso-
luton opposing the Endorsement be-
ing table by vote of 1,075 to 221.
Real Work of the Convention.
Aside from this temporary break
in the amenities of a harmonious po-
litical gathering, the work of the
Convention went along pretty smooth
ly, and its real purpose was well ac-
complished, which was the election of
Delegates to the National Convention,
and appointment of Presidential
Electors. ts al
Eight Delegates at Large.
1t is customary to elect four dele
gates at large and two from each
congressional district, the first being
known as "the big FOUR. But to dis
tribute the honors around as much as
possible, eight delegates at large and
five alternates were elected. Each
Of the eight delegates will have one
half vote in the National Convention.
The eight delegates at large are
Senators VIM. j. Stone and James A. |
Reed, Speaker Champ Clark, Judge
Walter w. Graves, former Governor
Lon V. Stephens, William H. Phelps,
James Cowgirl and j. T. M. johnson.
The alternates Of the eight are, Fred
A. Morris, Frank Farris, James P.
Boyd, Thomas Ely and J. F. Osborne.
Thirteenth Congressional District
Delegates-Charles r. Pratte of St.
Francois County, and Henry E. Bell
# Washington County.
Presidential Elector Of the Thir-
zenith District--E. P. AXE of Iron
County.
resident Wilson's Administration
Endorsed in Whole.
The Resolutions Committee went on
ecord at its meeting for President
Wilson's foreign policy and his adj
in whole, and voted
unanimously in favor of Mr.. Wilson's
at St. Louis.
The resolutions in part recite:
"In the field of international mat
ers we specifically approve and ap-
laud the following achievements of
ur President:
"His success in guarding the honor
nd just interests of America before
he world in face of seemingly in
uperable obstacles, at the same time
eeping his country out of the Eu-
opean war and thus insuring the
rosperity and security Of the people
the United States at time when
ne people Of virtually all the other
reat nations of the world are suffer-
g the devastation wrought by the
ost destructive conflict of all times.