1898-06-19-sr-p16-big-bend-politics-populist-convention
June 19, 1898 Spokesman-Review Page 16:
BIG BEND POLITICS
POPULIST CONVENTION PROMISES TO BE INTERESTING,
SOME OF THE CANDIDATES.
Reardam Will Send More Delegates Than the Call Provides: May Make Trouble.
Davenport, June 18.—The populists will hold their county convention in the new auditorium in this city next Thursday. As yet there seems to be few aspirants for county offices, and the indications are that there will be no serious opposition to the nomination of several of the present incumbents. For sheriff, O. G. Devenish, who now holds the office, will probably receive the nomination. Of the 31 delegates who will compose the convention a large majority have declared themselves for Mr. Devenish, and so far he is the only one mentioned for the office. County Clerk J. L. Alkire, Treasurer C. G. Griffith and School Superindendent. Alice E. Neal are also candidates for a second term, and no opposition to any of them has yet developed.
For auditor there will probably be two or three candidates, Ed. Holland, at present a deputy in the treasurer's office, apparently being in the lead.
For the offices of representatives, commissioners and coroner, no candidates have yet appeared, and for the office of assessor J. J. Minnick is the only aspirant at present. H. N. Martin and Joseph Sessions will contest for the honor of prosecuting attorney.
Notwithstanding that the proposition of fusion was downed by the mass convention held in February and again by the county central committee at its last session, it will not stay downed. It will again bob up serenely in the county convention, where there appears to be no doubt that it will be indefinitely shelved, as a large majority of the delegates-elect are said to be straight middle-of-the-roaders. The fusion forces are led by Auditor J. M. Gunning; his deputy, Frank Garber, and Commissioner T. G, Stevenson. The question of fusion was made the issue in the primary election in this precinct, and the middle-of-the-roaders were elected by majorities of from 20 to 25 out of a total of 66.
There will probably be a warm fight in the convention on the seating of the Reardan delegation. That precinct was allotted but four delegates by the call for the convention, but will send in a delegation of 10 and ask that they be seated. They base their claims upon the fact that had the representation been based upon the vote of any other officer than Representative C. T. Irvin they would have been entitled to 10 delegates. In making the call the vote of Mr. Irvin was taken by the central committee for the reason that the other candidate for representative, Mr. Witt, was also a candidate on the fusion ticket, and the senator was elected jointly for three counties. This left Mr. Irvin at the head of the ticket. At the last election one of Mr. Irvin's opponents on the fusion ticket was John Wickham of Reardan, who received a large complimentary vote in his own precinct, cutting down Irvin's vote, The demand of Reardan for 10 delegates has a number of supporters, but a majority of the convention appear to believe that it has no right to change the apportionment made by the call, and say that if Reardan saw fit to scratch the head of the ticket two years ago she must now abide by the consequences. The fight will be a hitter one, and threats are already being made that if the delegation is not seated the Reardan populists will refuse to support the ticket nominated.
