The Twin City star., 1918-04-27
THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE.

There were many features OF the
old conventions days at the Lincoln
Republican Club meeting at the Au'
ditorium on April 20. The call was
to find loyal candidate to oppose
Mayor Van Lear in the primaries.
The fight on permanent chairman
was won by the election Of John
Crosby. The attempt to put over
woman suffrage resolution. a war
measure by ex-senator Fosseen who
was defeated for chairman, was
failure. The candidates for Mayor
were Aid James D. Williams, State
Auditor Preus. Attorney Edgar L.
Noyes and J. f. Meyers. Among the
"old party war horses" were "Resolu-
tion Bill' Grimshaw, exlMayor w. Fl.
Eustis and ex-Mayor David P. Jones.
Candidates were nominated by the
working class and seconded by the
captains of industry. Ex-Mayor Jones
termed the meeting the white heat
of amalgamation. An attempt to dis
credit the, right and purpose of tho
assembly under the state primary
law was shown in an able speech by
an insurgent whose resolutions tested
the strength of the organization. Al
derman James D. Williams. although
a popular choice, was the first nom.
inee and could not get over the top.
Atty. Harry l.. Scott, Negro nom
mated Edgar l.. Noyes and accused
n1,,h fnr ~
party of Lincoln. whose name it bore.
by attempting to nominate a Demo.
crat. not knowing that Alderman
Williams was a life long Republican.
Mr.. ]. E. Myers made platform talk
and became a possibility. Mr.. Grin
shaw nominated Auditor Preus. Both
had many admirers, but "it could
not be did" Ex-Mayor w. H. Eustis
saw E. J. 'Couper as the man for
Mayor, and regretted that Mr.. Couper
was unable to serve, because of his
war activities, (the applause
would not warrant his acceptance),
but when he drafted J. E. Myers, he
struck popular chord and the fight
was over. Withdrawal of candidates
came in respective. order for usual
convention reasons. Even the insurg-
ents walked in under flag of truce.
The nomination was made unanimous
by wards. Mr.. John i. Gibson,
Negro voter in the Third ward, was
among the hold-outs, standing pat
with his Hebrew friends for Alderman
Williams, who Is a man of integrity,
was defeated in close race for May
or solely because Of his religion, he
being a Catholic. Atty. w. R. Morris,
also a Negro, ratified the nomination
of Mr.. Myers. He said that out OF
every great crisis there comes lead
err and he knew Mr.. Myers and re-
garded his man among men. 1t
can well be said for Mr.. Myers that
he refused to enter into the usual
discussions as to his opponents dis.
loyalty.
There are three opponents to Mayor
Van Lear, viz: DR.. Warham, Judge
Tifft and Mr.. Myers, worthy Of no
tice, also a few sensational starters,
one of whom is Editor Guilford OF
the Twin City Reporter fame.
The convention was an attempt to
revive the convention spirit under a
clean system, to establish party or
eanization and while the issue might
have been to beat Mayor Van Lear. it
was in a great measure to repeal
the primary law which is well intend
ed, but unworkable. 1t does not
break up organization, it cannot take
away the right Of peaceable assembly
to support any candidate or measure.
nor does it remove corruption from
organized politicians as was claimed
by it's supporters. 1t has been
weighed and found wanting. at the
nvpense of individuals, who sought
office and communities which have
suffered since its passage. A long
farewell to all the greatness Of the
Primary Law.