USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 46
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as a peace officer that justly brought him heavy support in the region of the county seat. One instance in particular is worthy of note. A great burly young man with jaws like a bulldog, and with muscles like a pugilist, had been in town a couple of times and when he got well filled with "bug juice" proceeded each time to run things his own way. He came again, defied authority and started in to paint the town red. Jack was on the lookout for him and encount- ered the stranger at the Russell House. When the burly fellow resisted the arrest and was getting ready to put up a fight, Jack took the heavy jail key from his pocket and struck him over the temple with it several times, knocking the fellow down. Then he grabbed him by the collar and hair, while Deputy Patterson grabbed hold of one foot, and the two dragged the prisoner down the hotel steps and over the ground to the courthouse. Then they tumbled him down the basement steps like a barrel of salt, dragged him to the cell and landed him inside with a severe kick in the ribs. That was the last time that fellow ever came over to run the town. The people's party, that was so successfully led by Pinkerton, was constantly increased in strength from the republican ranks because of the manner in which the republican county conventions were man- aged. Many could not get used to the new order of things. As has already been stated, all of the earlier county conventions were political mass meetings in which all of that party could have a voice in dictating what was to be done. No delegate conventions to nominate county officers were held in the county until 1872, and would not have been for several years later had it not been for two politicians who desired to so arrange matters that they could be nominated for office in the follow- ing year. Asa Brunson wanted to be superintendent and H. S. Vaughn, auditor, and they didn't care to run their chances at a mass convention. They were fore- most in organizing the party on the delegate plan, Doctor Sheetz being the county central committeeman. The younger class of men being most active, ran the cau- cuses and were sent as delegates to the conventions. This disgusted some of the old wheel horses in the party, and they frequently declared that they "took no stock" in conventions run by the "Codfish aristocracy in town." They conse- quently punished the delegate enthusiasts by going over to the new party and supporting Jack Pinkerton.
After canvassing the county over for a candidate to "lay Jack out" in the fall of 1879, the republicans selected A. B. Frink, a wealthy land owner on the Black Cat. He was a man of good standing, had a clean record and was compe- tent to fill the office. He did not want to make the race, but was finally crowded into it on the promise that he and Jack were to be the only candidates in the field. The campaign was exciting from beginning to end and was expensive as well. Jack was determined to have the office for the seventh time at all hazards. The saloons at St. Joe did a wholesale business that summer and fall, but Frink didn't go into that enterprise. The count of the ballots at the election demon- strated that there were seventy-nine more voters who preferred Pinkerton to Frink. That was Jack's last run, and from that time on the people's party declined and soon passed out of existence.
Since the election in 1855 occurred, hundreds of people have been elected to office in the county. Some of them were chosen on account of their genuine worth and merit, some on account of their wealth, some on account of luck, some on account of their trickery, some on account of their poverty, some on account
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of their misfortunes, some on account of their marriage relations, and some on account of their popularity. There was just one man of all that num- ber who owed his nomination and consequent election solely to his good looks. As the result of his being elected that one time he was chosen two years later to succeed himself. During the political campaign of 1893 there were eight republican candidates for the office of sheriff-A. F. Dailey, M. A. Turner, C. C. Samson, Mr. Shipley, W. W. Jones, Tom Sarchett, M. Stephens and George W. Platt. Before convention day the latter left the field, but the others remained. On the first ballot at the convention Shipley received 2, Stephenson 3, Sarchett 8, Dailey 22, Samson 23, and Turner 28. Then Captain Dodge said, "Mr. Chairman : we are voting for men we don't know and have never seen. I move that all the candidates stand before us in a row on the platform and be introduced to us." The chairman acting on that request, ordered the seven candidates to the front and then introduced them one by one. Samson at that time was in a lumber office at Whittemore and was but slightly known except in the region where he lived. Standing before the convention with his fine physique, and with his round face covered with a bashful smile, he presented a perfect picture of health. "That's the man for us" said several delegates in different parts of the room. In a very short time he was the nominee, but would not have been, owing to the combination, if he had not made such a fine appear- ance when the candidates were introduced.
The new law prevents a lot of political rottenness that used to be prevalent in the old-time caucus days. It is a good thing for all the candidates for they cannot now be imposed upon by the grafters who always knew where they could place $25 in a community that would work wonders. If they couldn't bleed the candidate for that sum they would try him on $10, $5 or even a box of cigars. The cigars they received they usually smoked at home the next winter. If one grafter succeeded in getting the goods, another one from the same neighborhood would surely appear in a few days for the same purpose. After they had tapped all the candidates they had enough smoking material to last over winter, and money enough to provide for their families for some time. The candidates themselves were to blame for they started that custom. In the long ago a candidate "spiked" a prominent man in Ramsey township to create sentiment in his favor. A neigh- bor having reasons to be aware of this fact declared if any candidate thought that the spiked party was going to run that township he would find out better after the election was over. So he received some dope also. Finally the third neighbor had to be served in the same way. Then the other candidates had to follow suit or be at the mercy of the "prominent" republican. The voters of adjoining townships soon learned what was going on in Ramsey and had to have some of the same medicine to "carry" their townships. So the custom spread from year to year until it went over nearly all the county.
As there was no statute governing the holding of caucuses, the whole system was soaked in pollution long before the Australian ballot law made other regu- lations. Many a caucus has been held and closed, and then later arrivals would hold another one and elect a different set of delegates. Republican delegates to a convention were supposed to be elected by none but republicans, but the sup- position was false. Anxious candidates endeavoring to control the caucuses made a practice of coaxing in all the democrats they could who would support
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a delegation favorable to them. J. R. Jones used to laugh when he told of how he went over to Prairie township, where old John Longbottom and three or four others were the only republicans, and held a rousing caucus of eighteen newly- made republicans. Politicians knowing that a township sending double delega- tions to a convention could have no voice in the organization, learned that it was to their advantage to cause as many as possible of such double delegations to come from townships not favorable to them. Such unfair means were frequently the cause of the will of the people being thwarted at conventions. It seems strange now that such events were common at one time and sanctioned by men of good standing.
Many conventions held to nominate county officers have been exciting and intensely interesting, but usually the work was completed in a few hours. The convention, which assembled September 3, 1886, to place in nomination a clerk, recorder, county attorney and supervisor, was the most prolonged of any ever held in the county. Dr. Lacey had the honor of being the presiding officer. After the delegates were finally seated it took but a short time to nominate Benham for clerk, Creed for recorder and Ernest Bacon for supervisor. The great anxiety manifested did not pertain to these offices or these candidates, but concerned the candidates aspiring for the office of county attorney. There were in the field for the position three lawyers of recognized ability, each having a strong following of ardent supporters. They were W. B. Quarton, R. J. Dan- son and A. F. Call. On the first ballot Quarton received seventeen, Call nine- teen and Danson twenty-one. Balloting continued until supper time without reaching the required result. On the twenty-ninth ballot each candidate had received nineteen votes. On the forty-eighth, J. C. Raymond had received twenty-one votes and Sam Mayne about as many. After the adjournment for supper there were regularly cast for the next eighteen ballots twenty for Danson and seventeen for Call . The one hundred and eighteenth ballot showed seven- teen voting for Quarton, eighteen for Call and twenty-one for Danson. On the final ballot, taken late at night, Danson was named as the lucky man, having received thirty, while Call had twenty-six and Quarton one. At one time when it looked as though no nomination could be made, the chairman entertained a motion to adjourn and proceeded to call the roll of townships. When Fenton was called Mike Weisbrod arose and announced "Three votes for Danson." A loud burst of laughter followed at Mike's expense. He had been steadily casting the three votes of his delegation for Danson and was so enthusiastic for him that he had forgotten the purpose of the roll call.
Local politics was much worse in 1884 than in any other year in the history of that county. That was the year when the republican county convention was filled with double delegations and the convention itself divided and sent double delegations to the state, judicial and congressional conventions. A combination of causes was responsible for the political war which estranged so many that summer and fall. The temperance issue had much to do in bringing on the trouble. J. N. Weaver that year was closing the last year of his second term as circuit judge. He had become so disgusted with the prohibition movement that he bolted nearly all the republican nominations made the year before. He had made some very indiscreet statements about the party, for a man desiring
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to be reelected a third time for the position he held. The issue at all the cau- cuses throughout the county was Weaver or anti-Weaver. The first one was held at Algona, and it was a record-breaker for strife and turmoil. It was held at the courthouse about the middle of June to elect thirteen delegates to attend the convention on the 27th of that month. The committeeman after calling the meeting to order, nominated Col. J. M. Comstock for chairman. Geo. E. Clarke arose and substituted the name of J. R. Jones. At this time about 200 people were present, a sight never before seen at an Algona caucus. A rising vote was taken and A. A. Brunson and V. H. Stough were appointed tellers to count and report, but to exclude any that were known not to be republicans. They reported seventy-seven for Comstock and forty-two for Jones. The Jones men disputing the correctness of the count, demanded that he take the chair. Both came forward and took their seats behind the table amid the wildest confusion. Both tried to make opening speeches and both were hissed down. Another test vote was taken which the tellers announced to be in favor of Comstock by a plurality of two. Fully 150 men were on their feet at one time demanding recognition. Men raving like wild beasts mounted the tables, chairs, rostrum and window sills and yelled. Some wanted to adjourn, some to divide the house and count again, some to clear the room of democrats and some to use violence. Cries of "bust the ring," and "put him out" and a hundred other demands were heard at the same time. Men went through the crowd shaking their fists in the faces of others and shrieking like madmen. Their wild yells were heard beyond the business center of town. For an hour it seemed as though a free-for-all fight was about to occur in which nearly two hundred would participate. Each faction declared its intention to seat its chairman at all hazards. Finally to settle the dispute Comstock appointed A. A. Brunson and Jones appointed H. S. Vaughn as tellers and these two tellers then chose as the third, L. A. Sheetz. These three were instructed to pass through the crowd, write every name, and note the name of the political party to which each claimed to belong and his choice for chairman. The Jones following rushed for the west side of the hall, and those favoring Comstock crowded over to the east side. Then excitement was at its highest pitch. A wild demonstration fol- lowed that almost beggars description. It was a human cyclone. In their efforts to place men on the side where their choice of candidates would not be influenced by the opposition, men were jerked headlong across the hall to the other side. Boys yet in their teens grabbed gray-haired men and pushed them where they chose. Another crowd soon brought them back again to where they were before. Some were lifted up and carried across and then detained until their choice was recorded. The contest became a matter of brute strength Out on the streets men were driving others like a flock of sheep to the hall The result of the count at the close stood sixteen in favor of Jones. He then presided over the caucus without being molested, and all went on smoothly the rest of the afternoon. Thirteen delegates were chosen and they were instructed to vote for Weaver at the convention. The Comstock forces believ- ing that their defeat was caused by democrats, who were present, voting against them, took no part in the caucus after it was organized. This memorable caucus was held on Friday, just a week previous to the convention.
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The political conditions were never so bad as they were that fall. The amend- ment campaign two years before had left the republican party divided into hostile factions. Geo. E. Clarke who had bolted the ticket the year before and had presided over the ciemocratic convention at Emmetsburg, was at this time the leader of the forces of Judge Weaver who had also bolted the nomination with him. They found a strong following from the ranks of Pinkerton's old people's party. The opposition forces discountenanced bolting and had aligned them- selves mostly with the temperance agitators. The all-important question to be decided at the coming convention was: Shall delegates be sent to the judicial convention instructed for Weaver? Fifty-one delegates were entitled to seats in the county convention, and twenty-six could control the proceedings. Since Weaver had already secured thirteen of them at the Algona caucus he had only to find as many more to make him a certain winner. Several townships in rapid order held their caucuses and most of them elected delegates to vote against Weaver. Then the judge's friends hurried out into the country and succeeded in having a new set of delegates from several of these townships elected so as to get control of the convention. The opposing forces counteracted this work by doing the same wherever they could.
The 27th of June came and the town was full of people long before noon. Crowds gathered here and there and indulged in much boisterous talk. Anxiety and determination were displayed in every countenance. About ten o'clock the crowds began to divide. The Weaver forces went to the Watson hall for con- ference and the opposing forces made their headquarters at the office of A. D. Clarke, who was the chairman of the central committee. When the crowds began to divide on the street more pulling of delegates was noticed. At half past two both factions and many spectators took possession of the court room and filled it completely. The Weaver forces again occupied the west side and the opposition the east side. The two hostile armies had hardly reached their designated positions before a bombshell exploded and precipitated the battle. It was on in its fury. J. R. Jones, heading the Weaver delegates, rushed up to the front and hastily calling the meeting to order named L. A. Sheetz as chairman. Talking as rapidly as he could he took a viva voce vote and then declared Sheetz elected, amid great confusion. Before he had half completed this action A. D. Clarke was at the table on the rostrum, had called the meeting to order and had named R. W. Hanna as chairman. He then proceeded to call the roll of townships to take a vote on the preference for Mr. Hanna for the position, while many cries of "put him out" were shouted from the west side of the house. In the meantime Sheetz had come to the front and said "If I am the proper chairman of this convention nothing but physical force can remove me." The roll call went on slowly, owing to the many interruptions caused by the double delegations voting. Sheetz retired to await the result of the ballot. It had been arranged to call Algona the last on the list. When that name was called someone on the west side yelled "Thirteen for Sheetz." In an instant W. L. Joslyn on the east side yelled equally as loud "Thirteen for Hanna." Clarke then declared Mr. Hanna elected and asked him to come forward and take the chair. Following this decision it seemed for three hours that the infernal regions had broken loose and fallen into the court room. When Joslyn cast
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the Algona vote for Hanna the whole west side arose as did also those on the east side. As the two forces faced each other it seemed that a grand gala-day fistic encounter was about to take place. There were many clinched fists visible and many oaths shouted. Had one blow been struck, five hundred or more people would have been engaged in the affray. The crowds begun surging to and fro with up-lifted arms making all kinds of demonstrations in their endeavor to make their sentiments known. Fifteen or twenty at a time were on the rostrum offering their advice as to what was best to be done. G. S. McPherson pounded on the table with an iron rod to restore order but he might as well have tried to confine fire with a pail of gasoline. Men of both factions tried to make motions but they were hooted down and hissed. R. J. Hunt in trying to harmonize the factions yelled himself hoarse and sank exhausted.
The Weaver forces stood some show of winning, as matters stood on the day before the convention, owing to the townships that had sent contesting delegations. On the evening before the disgraceful event G. C. Burtis came up as a delegate from LuVerne and crowded the Comstock men into holding an- other caucus, so Algona could have a contesting delegation also. The caucus was held on the sly and thirteen delegates chosen. None of the Weaver force knew about this matter until Joslyn made it known at the convention. When he announced the Algona vote in favor of Hanna, and the west side rose and protested, the east side arose also and shouted: "Aha! swallow your own medi- cine!" It was no doubt that exclamation, more than anything else, that brought on the wild scenes that followed.
At five o'clock, it being apparent that no business could be transacted, the convention divided, the Weaver forces, presided over by Sheetz, holding the south end of the hall, and the opposing forces holding theirs at the north end with R. W. Hanna as chairman. Each of these conventions proceeded to do the work the main convention was required to do.
At the Sheetz convention Ambrose A. Call, J. R. Jones, D. A. Ellis, G. T. West, E. H. Clarke and Dan Rice were elected delegates to the state conven- tion ; R. H. Spencer, L. A. Sheetz, Wm. Peck, J. B. Jones, H. S. Vaughn, Samt Mayne, W. H. Ingham, Judge Weaver, James Barr and Frank Nicoulin to the congressional, and Geo. E. Clarke, H. S. Vaughn, A. F. Call, J. B. Jones, W. S. Dorland, E. S. Johnson, Harvey Ingham, W. E. Jordan, A. Fisher and J. W. Wadsworth to the judicial. The delegates to the judicial convention were instructed for Judge Weaver.
The Hanna convention elected the following delegates: State-L. M. B. Smith, V. H. Stough, B. F. Reed, M. Taylor, B. B. Bliss and Geo. Frink ; Congressional-A. A. Brunson, J. M. Comstock, M. Starr, C. C. Chubb, R. I. Brayton, R. J. Hunt, J. S. Gallagher, P. M. Barslou, G. W. Hanna and C. D. Creed; Judicial-J. M. Comstock, Geo. E. Boyle, G. T. Sutton, W. L. Joslyn, S. S. Potter, G. S. McPherson, Z. C. Andruss, J. C. Raymond, E. B. Pelton and F. M. Taylor.
Kossuth that year was compelled to do what it never did before or since- send contesting delegations to all three of the conventions. Each convention after hearing the arguments decided which set was entitled to seats. The con- gressional at Webster City and the state at Des Moines seated the Hanna dele-
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gates but the judicial at Storm Lake seated those sent from the Sheetz convention. The greatest interest of course centered at the judicial convention. The Kossuth contest came up first before the committee on credentials. Before that body Comstock, Chubb and Brunson exhausted their arguments in favor of seating the Hanna delegates, and Geo. E. Clarke, Vaughn and A. F. Call resisted them and urged the seating of the Sheetz delegates. Five of the committee were in favor of seating one set, but the other five were in favor of the other set. It was then left for the convention to decide. Each side was given twenty minutes in which to present its claims. T. W. Harrison spoke for the Hanna delegation and Geo. E. Clarke for those favoring Judge Weaver. The conven- tion seated the Sheetz delegates by a vote of 49 to 48, but the Hanna delegates felt partly satisfied for Judge Macomber was nominated to succeed Judge Weaver on the circuit bench.
As an organizer of political forces A. A. Brunson has had but few if any equals in the county. He illustrated his remarkable skill in making things hap- pen his own way during the campaign of 1882. He made such a vigorous attack on Congressman Carpenter that the latter was compelled to come to the county and solicit support from workmen in the fields. When Brunson started in to "lay the congressman out" it looked as though he had undertaken an im- possible task. Carpenter was one of the early pioneers at Fort Dodge, and was well known by our early settlers and much respected by them. He surveyed a portion of this county in 1855 and was often here in after years. At the time Brunson decided to "lay him out" he seemed to be the only one in this region who had any grievances against the congressman.
The trouble between them began during the summer of 1881. For some time previous to that date Brunson had been mail agent on the Milwaukee road, and was feeling quite secure in his position. Without the least warning an order came suddenly from the department relieving him of his place and direct- ing him to give way to James Patterson, his successor. It was the most humiliat- ing blow he had ever experienced. He at once began to investigate to learn if possible who had been at the bottom of the project. He pondered over such questions as : What have I done to cause this disgrace? If I violated any of the rules of the service who was the informant? Why wasn't I asked to correct the mistake if I had made any? If I had to have a successor, why was James Patterson chosen in preference to a dozen others? How did the department get acquainted with him? Who interested himself in Patterson to such an extent that he wrote a recommendation to enlighten the department as to his (Patterson's) fitness for the place? He reasoned something like this : Patterson is a brother-in-law of Dr. McCoy's, McCoy is a leader in democracy and has no love for me because I have been active in helping to elect republican candi- dates. He is in touch with the officials of the Milwaukee road and could get their support in advising the department to bounce me and put in his brother- in-law. These were his conclusions, but whether he was justified in arriving at such an opinion may be open for debate. Brunson soon learned that some time prior to his dismissal from the service Congressman Carpenter had written to Lawyer Vaughn asking if the appointment of Patterson would be satisfactory to the people. He then knew that Carpenter had been informed that an effort
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