[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Democratic Convention - 1870

TUTTLE, BOWMAN, KNIGHT, MORGAN, JONES, MCLENAN, ROONEY, SCOTT, GRISWOLD, GUTHRIE, BROWN, HAM, KIENE, HARGUS, SALOT, LOCHER TALTY, ROGERS, JENNINGS, MCQUILLAN, HARDY, MCCENEY, MCCANN, SHIELDS, JAEGER, ROGERS

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 5/6/2017 at 21:41:23

Friday, April 1, 1870
Paper: Dubuque Daily Times (Dubuque, Iowa)
Page: 4

CITY POLITICS
~
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
~
List of the Innocence Brought
Out to be Slaughtered
~
The democratic city convention assembled at the court house yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of designating who should, and who should not be slaughtered, at the approaching municipal election. In manner, appearance and behavior, it was similar to all other democratic conventions who have fought, bled and died within the classic walls of our old court house building. Within the railing their countenance lit up with a joy to deep for utterance, could be discerned the old democratic wheel horse, the men who manipulate the wires, who make and unmake nominations and whose whole creed is embraced in the simple words Jackson and democracy. Without was an anxious, eager, expectant crowd; there stood the man who wanted an office and couldn’t get the nomination, and there another, willing to sell out the nomination for the office. The room was filled to overflowing, and many republicans being present out of curiosity, and the combined fumes of bad tobacco, and villainous benzene, mingling with the yelling and the shouting, would lead one without any great stretch of the imagination to suppose that he had been set down in the midst of a five points dog fight. It was a lively old convention, but wonderful to relate we had no fights or broken heads to chronicle. In fact the business part of the institution was conducted with much decorum, and even the women of this period, could have sat there as a delegate and not had her modesty visually shocked.

The convention was called to order at the appointed time, and addressed itself for business by appointing Horace Tuttle chairman, and T. L. Bowman secretary. A committee on credentials was appointed by the chair, and they, after the usual formalities, reported a list of delegates entitled to seats in the convention, who deposed of themselves about the table, and those expressive countenances duly proclaimed the solemnity of the occasion. The first in order was a selection of a candidate for the responsible officer of Mayor, and for this the present incumbent, W. J. Knight, Esq., was chosen by acclamation. On motion of Mr. P. Morgan, a committee, consisting of Gen. G. W. Jones, P. Morgan and William McLenan, were chosen by the chair to wait upon W. J. Knight and carry him to the glad tidings. Mr. Jones begged to be excused from serving on the committee on the plea of sudden illness, and H. A. Rooney was substituted in his place. It is a noticeable fact that Mr. Knight did not make his appearance before the convention, an omission for which the committee is no doubt answerable.

Mr. H. A. Rooney moved that the balance of the candidates be chosen in the order named on the proclamation. After a vigorous search among the neighboring saloons, a copy of the Herald containing the above document was procured, and the convention again settled down to business.

TREASURER
The chairman announced that the first candidate to be voted for, was the office of city Treasurer. Dr. G. W. Scott nominated H. W. Griswold, and Gen. W. G. Jones nominated P. M. Guthrie. At this critical moment Mr. P. T. Brown arose and suggested that the time honored custom of democratic conventions, requiring all candidates to pledge themselves, should not be forgotten. The suggestion was received with a cheer and tapping of boot heels, and heavy lungs shouted for the men to come forward. Mr. M. M. Ham, arose and stated that as the city ordinance required Mr. Griswold to be in his office at that particular hour, he could not be present at the convention, but he appeared for him. He had met and conversed with Mr. Griswold, and could assure the audience that he had always been a democratic, and always intended to remain one.

Mr. P. M. Guthrie arose in his seat. He had always supported democratic nominations, and was ready to do so in the present instance, come weal or woe, despair or ruin. This announcement was also received with applause, and Mr. Guthrie sat down.

Amid considerable confusion a ballet was at last taken, when it was ascertained that Mr. P. M. Guthrie had received 23 votes and H. W. Griswold 48. It was further ascertained that 71 votes had been polled by seventy delegates.

This little democratic dodge, however, was finally overlooked, when on motion of Mr. Peter Kiene, Mr. Griswold was declared nominated, Treasurer by acclamation.

RECORDER
Nominations for City Recorder were next in order. J. H. Shields nominated C. J. Hargus. Dr. G. W. Scott trotted out George Salot, while John Talty and Joseph Locher were each pressed forward by their friends for the office. Each of the nominees pledged themselves.

Mr. Hargus with moistened eyes and a look of Christian resignation beautiful to contemplate, would support the nominees of the convention, whoever they might be. Applause

Dr. G. W. Scott, in behalf of Mr. Salot, who was detained in his office by a press of official duty, was willing to make the same sacrifice. He was willing to fasten his anchor to the glorious principals of democracy.

Mr. Talty was willing to support the democratic nominees and retire into the night of obscurity, if so ordered. He threw himself upon them, they could do with them what they pleased.

Mr. P. Morgan spoke for Joseph Locher. Mr. Locher had always voted the democratic ticket and was never a bolter either. As Mr. Morgan said this, he significantly glanced toward several aspiring democratic and they trembled visibly. The announcement was received with unbounded applause.

A ballot was taken with the following result: Hargus, 21; Salot, 22; Talty, 14; Locher, 13. The chair announced no choice, when the friends of Locher and Talty, somewhat disgusted, withdrew their names.

AUDITOR
For the office of city Auditor, C. J. Rogers, Esq., moved that the present incumbent, J. D. Jennings be chosen unanimously, and he was so nominated.

MARSHAL
For Marshal, Owen Hardy and P. McQuillan were nominated. Both pledged themselves as usual, and both were voted for, the ballot resulting, Hardy 62, McQuillan 9. The nomination for Mr. Hardy was made unanimous.

CITY ATTORNEY
For the above office Wm. McLenan nominated the present incumbent, Edward McCeney, and on motion of Arthur McCann, his nomination was made unanimous.

ASSESOR
For Assessor, the defeated aspirant for the Recorder’s office, Joseph Locher was chosen by acclamation.

WARD COMMITTEES
M. M. Ham moved that a city committee, consisting of one from each ward, be chosen by the respective ward delegations. The motion prevailed, and the committee was chosen as follows:

First Ward-Arthur McCann
Second Ward-G. W. Scott
Third Ward-J. H. Shields
Fourth Ward-A. F. Jaeger

This ended the legitimate business of the convention, but Mr. C. J. Rogers wished to get through one little resolution. He moved that in future democratic conventions each ward should be entitled to one delegate for every fifty votes cast at the last city election preceding the convention, M. M. Ham amended by inserted the words “general election” in place of city elections, but no motion of Wm. McLenan the resolution, amendment was all tabled, the members present evidentially feeling that democratic conventions were thinly attended enough now. Rogers grieved somewhat over the loss of his resolution. But it was too late, it had gone the way of all flesh, and so the convention adjourned.


 

Dubuque Biographies maintained by Brenda White.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]