Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1924-05-22
ELDER WINS
BITTER FIGHT
At ST. MAR|ES
nemocratic National Commit
teeman from Idaho Has Hard
Time to Retain His Seat
Hsttabaugh Comes Near Be-
inc Convention Chairman;
pettibone to New York
DE- staH REPRESENTATIVE


O. wsries Ida, May 20.-In the
most hitter and intensive fight In the
Democratic party in Idaho In many
lars Robert II. Elder, of Occur
Talene Democratic national commit
taeman for Idaho for the last twelve
roors was reelected over Asher b.
wilson of Twin Falls, in the Demo
cratic State convention here tonight
Elder received 52A votes to 4l% Tor
| Wilson. -,
while the convention was called
| for tbe dual purpose of electing dele
| rates to the Democratic National
convention in New York on June "a
and to elect a national committeeman
efforts were conferred on committee
man. and choosing of delegates to
| New York was merely perfunctory,
and came virtually at the last min
| ute.
HATTABAUGH FOR CHAIRMAN
NJ. Reese Hattabaugh, delegate
| from Idaho county, for time gave
/ promise of being the leader OF the
convention, when, nominated by the
Wilson forces for temporary chair
man, in opposition to Il. A. Walters
| of Caldwell, former attorney gener-
! al of Idaho, and Elder candidate fol-
/ chairman, Mr. Hattabaugh was an
| nounced as the victor in a hotly-con
tested battle for control.
Cheer after cheer from the Wilson
camp resoumded through the conven'
/ ton hall as Hattabaugh's apparent
/ victory was announced, following the
roll call, which showed ASH votes fol
/ Hattabaugh to 47A for Walters. j
/ P. Pope, chairman of the state Demo
/ cratic committee, was about to ap
point committee to escort Mr.. Hat
| tabaugh to the chair, when a fatal
/ error for the Wilson forces was dis
4 covered
ERROR IN PRINTING
/ In the printed roll call blanks, as
i used in the convention, Twin FALL
county was given six votes, when
under the secretary of states appor
tionment of delegates, Twin Falls
was entitled to only five votes. Twin
Falls, a Wilson county, eager fol
every possible advantage TO theil
candidate, voted the full six, but wher
the error was discovered, was forced
4 TO take back one vote, giving Walt
ers a majority of one-half vote. The
4 cheering was reversed.
On assuming the chair Walter,
thanked the convention for the "over
whelming vote of confidence he ha(
! received.
Following Walters speech of &C
ceptance, Mr.. Hattabaugh, the defeat
Ed candidate, brought forth tremend
GUS applause when he said:
There has been no ill-will. Thi
Is a Democratic convention. Their,
70 glory enough for all, and that is th,
spirit which should dominate the de
ieated man as well as the successful
man in this convention"
The vote on temporary chairman
"as the first test vote on the strength
VI lne wilson and Elder forces. Will
sOn was confidant of victory. Eide
supporters were nervous. Elder, him
sen Ill In a Spokane hospital, dele
5 sIa 10 his wife the management o
nas campaign, and she never los
o%age Elders candidacy wa
%eAeu Dy the state organization, an,
e hsht IN behalf of Wilson was a
n ~ life-and-death struggle agains
sse state Democratic Organization
tn,o was It aimed at the political flu
lure of Elder.
In CREDENTIALS BODY
with the Elder forces in contro
tr. .ne convention, the battle wa
m; a,aslerred to the credentials com
tba where 1t ragged throughou
CON-. afternoon. With Elder men 4
cd "t M, OF this committee. a contest
so.. n,uer vote from Bannock wa
Nv hatu' ana a contest in Lincoln coun
an y IsS1 Judge Stockslager. vete1
Judau uaNo Democrat, and Probat
each NOBLE, was decided by givin
wo vow half vote. These contest
me- carried before the convention :
sut.orily report, and the conventio
resolnt;e u the majority report of tn
portars ons committee. Wilson sur
camo abandoned hope. for II bt
son ao noIsed about that several WI
Tbronns had gone back ON hin
friends the afternoon. ELDER,
eaper desperate, were willing an
,c ',aue anything for supper