Jackson County, Minnesota - Chapter 15: Politicair - 1883-1910, 1910

Chapter 15: Politicair - 1883-1910

ANOTHER abortive attempt was made to organize the democratic party of Jackson county in 1883. A call for a mass convention was issued by a few of the party leaders on October 11/ and the convention was held in Jackson Tuesday evening, October 23. D. M. DeVore was chairman of the meeting and F. L. Driggs was secretary. A county committee was named, but no candidates were placed in nomination.

The election of 1883 was quite hotly contested for the few offices for which there were independent candidates. A pretty four cornered fight for the ofifice of sheriff developed among independent candidates. The republican convention had deadlocked over the nomination and had adjourned without selecting a nominee for that important office. Seven hundred forty-four votes were cast. Under the new plan of holding elections only on even-numbered years, the officials elected in 1883 served three years. The vote:

*"The democrats of Jackson county are hereby called and requested to meet in mass convention at Owens' haU In Jackson, Minnesota, on Saturday, October 20, 1883, at one o'clock p. m., for the purpose of organizing for the coming campaign. Let every democrat who has the love of hi? country at heart rally and lend his voice to strengthen and upbuild his party m Jackson county. (Signed) F. L. Driggs, D. M. DeVore, R, K. Craigue, M. Miller, G. A. Albertus.*'

James G. Blaine carried Jackson county over Grover Cleveland for president by a large majority in 1884. There were 859 votes cast, and with one exception, the republican ticket was elected. The vote as officially canvassed :

Histoey Of Jacks05T County

For the first time in the political history of the county, in 1886 the democrats had reached a point where they beUeved they had sufficient strength to warrant entering the field of county politics and put up a ticket. Accordingly a convention was convened at Lakefield October 2 and organized. Then it was found that there were many present who did not care to participate in a democratic convention, labeled as such, but who were opposed to the republican organization and would take part in the deliberations of the convention if another name were given. So the following resolution was adopted:

That, inasmuch as there are many independent voters present ^^^ many persons not ^cntified with the democratic party, but who are united with us in our opposition to rings and ring rule, now be it resolved that we do not as^ a democratic convention, nominate anyone for county office, but that we invite an independent voters and all such as are m sympathv with the common people and against rC and bossism, to join with us ^ "on^nat^^ ing a proper ticket, laying aside all political partisanship.

After the passage of this resolution the democratic convention adjourned and immediately reconvened as the "peoples" convention. A full county ticket was placed in nomination, a permanent organization made, and a determined canvass made. The election was hotly contested and exciting. All the nominees of the new party polled fair votes and three

-Removed from the county and W. C. Portmann appo nted January 6. 1887. The »»"«[ Sto removed from the county, and on March 21 1888. W. W. Heffelflnger received the appointment.

Fifteen hundred seventy-eight votes were cast in Jackson county for president in 1888. For national, state and district officers the democrats made the best showing in the county's history up to that time, Grover Cleveland receiving 475 votes for president. The republicans, democrats and prohibitionists each had tickets in the field of local politics, the prohibitionists having for the first time met in convention at Lakefield September 2. The republicans were generally successful, although a few met defeat. The vote :

There was a political revolution in 1890, caused by the entrance into politics of the farmers' alliance. The result was the almost complete overthrow of the republican party, which had been in control since the organization of the county. The alliance candidate for governor carried the county; the alliance candidates for state senator and representative carried the county and were elected; the alliance candidate for congress lost the county by only a small plurality. Of the county officers only two or three were elected who had not been nominated or endorsed by the alliance party. The legislative situation was complicated by a bad split in the republican convention. The delegates from Cottonwood county, which was then for the first time districted with Jackson county, refused to participate in the convention. The Jackson county delegates proceeded to place in nomination T. J. Knox for senator and Silas Blackman for representative. The Cottonwood county delegates met and nominated Erick Sevatson for senator and H. F. Tucker for representative, and these were later endorsed by the alliance party. Fifteen hundred sixty-eight votes were polled. The result :

An outgrowth of the alliance party was the peoples party, otherwise known as the populist party, which made its first appearance in Jackson county politics in 1892. Now only a memory, the peoples party was an important factor in the politics of the county during the nineties. Its strength was such that during several campaigns, by forming alliance with, and endorsing nominees of, the democratic party, it was able to dominate county politics.

The county was carried by the republicans in 1892 for president by the smallest plurality the nominee of that party ever received, before or since. The nominees of that party for governor and congressman also carried the county by small pluralities. Fusion between the demo^ crats and peoples party was affected for representative, and the nominee of those parties carried the county and was elected.

In county politics the democrats and peoples party also combined, their conventions being held on the same day. By mutual understanding the democrats named the nominees for register of deeds, superintendent of schools, judge of probate, coroner and county commissioners from the first and fourth districts, while the peoples party selected the nominees for auditor, treasurer, county attorney, sheriff, surveyor and commissioners from the third and fifth districts. At the election the fusion forces elected auditor, sheriff, register of deeds, surveyor, coroner and commissioners from the first, third and fifth districts. The republicans elected treasurer, judge of probate, county attorney and commissioner from the fourth district. The nominee for superintendent of schools was endorsed by all parties.

The vote had now increased to 2,09G, a far greater number than had ever before been cast. The Australian ballot system was employed for the first time in this election. The vote in detail :

^'In 1897 the le^slature changed the boundaries of the judicial districts, and Jackson county became a part of the 17th. James H. Quinn became judere of the 17th and presided over his first Jackson county court In April, 1897.

The election of 1894 was one of great excitement in local circles, and the campaign was one of the most bitter ever waged in the county. All three parties were in the field with tickets, the democrats and peoples party combining on only a few officers. In addition to the regular party nominees there were a number of independent candidates, who added their sliare to the bitterness of the strife. The republican county ticket was generally successful, although a few offices went to the other parties. The peoples party nominees for senator and representative carried the county and were elected. Twenty-four hundred nineteen was the highest number of votes cast for the nominees of one office. The result:

In 1896 the free silver issue gained many adherents in Jackson county, and William Jennings Bryan, the democratic standard bearer, received a large vote, although William McKinley had a majority. The democratic and peoples party nominee for governor came within two votes of carrying the county ; the congressional and legislative offices were also carried by the republicans. Twenty-eight hundred fifty-eight votes were cast.

As in 1892, the democratic and peoples party combined on their county ticket. The nominees for representative and sheriff were named in joint convention; the other nominees were selected by separate conventions, the democrats naming candidates for register of deeds, judge of probate, county attorney, coroner and commissioners from the first and fourth districts, and the peoples party candidates for auditor, treasurer, superintendent of schools, surveyor, court commissioner and commissioners from the third and fifth districts. The fusion forces elected register of deeds, coroner, superintendent of schools and two of the four commissioners ; the other offices were captured by the republicans. The vote as canvassed:

The off-year 1898 showed a falling off in the total vote, the number being 2,145. The two free silver parties again combined their forces against the republican ticket, but they were not very successful at the polls. The fusionists carried the coimty for representative and elected the register of deeds; otherwise the republicans were successful. Following was the vote:

"MIss Price served notice of a contest for the office of superintendent of schools on November 23, 1896. The case came to trial before Jud^e P. B. Brown of the district court on Monday. December 27, Attorney W. A. Fiink appearing for the contestant and Attorney T. J. Knox for the contestee. Over thirty witnesses were examined and many votes were thrown out as illegal- Twenty ballots that had been cast for Miss Price were thrown out and Ave or six that had been cast for Miss Frost met the same fate. After the case had reached this stage Miss Price asked that the contest be dismissed, which was done.

in 1900, when 2,988 ballots were cast for the candidates for one office. The republicans carried the county against the fusionists for all state and district officers and elected the county ticket with the exception of treasurer, register of deeds and one commissioner. The vote:

The primary election law went into effect in 1902, and since that time party nominations have been made by direct vote of the people instead of the old style county conventions. This has resulted in revolutionizing county politics. Jackson county being normally strongly republican, the principal campaign is now made for the republican nomination. Under the law anvone can become a candidate by paying a small fee and filing his name, and there are often several candidates for one office. Generally there are only a few contests for county office at the general election.

At the first primary election, held September 16, 1902, the following were named on the republican ticket without opposition: Congressman, James T. McCleary; representative, L. F. Lammers ; register of deeds, Ole B. Olson ; judge of probate, C. H. Sandon; commissioner second district, P. H. Berge ; commissioner fifth district, J. M. Olson. The result where there was more than one candidate was as follows :

All the democratic nominees were chosen without opposition, as follows: Congressman, Charles N. Andrews; representative, A. M. Schroeder; treasurer, H. K. Eue; register of deeds, John Baldwin; clerk of court, John M. Voda.

At the general election 2,350 votes were polled. The republicans elected their ticket with the exception of representative, treasurer and register of deeds, and carried the county for state and cougressional candidates by big majorities. The peoples party went out of existence, so far as county politics was concerned, with the election of 1900. The vote of the 1902. general election in detail:

At the 1904 republican primary election the following were chosen without opposition: Judge district court, James H. Quinn; auditor, P. D. McKellar; countv attorney, E. T. Smith; commissioner second district, Henry G. Anderson; commissioner third district, David Crawford. The result for those offices where there were more than one candidate:

As in 1902, there was no opposition to those who filed for the democratic nominations, and the following were chosen: Judge district court, Frederick A. Mathwig; congressman, George P. Jones; auditor, Joseph J. Jones; register of deeds, John Baldwin ; treasurer, H. K. Rue ; surveyor, J. J. Babcock; commissioner first district, Henrv Thielvoldt."

''The highest number cast for any one office on the democratic ticket Was 73. The smallness of this vote is easily accounted for. There being no contests in their own party, the democrats assisted the republicans in the selection

Two thousand Bine hundred forty-six votes were cast at the general election of 1904. Theodore Roosevelt received a record-breaking majority for president, and the republicans carried the county for all state and district officers. Of the county offices only treasurer and one commissioner went to the democrats. The vote : of their nominees, and under the primary law they are legally entitled to do so. For Instance: The law provides that a primary voter shall vote the ticket of that party, the majority of whose nominees he supported at the preceding" general election. A democrat might have voted for every nominee of his party In the general election of 1902 (also voting for the republicans who had no opposition) and yet vote the republican ballot at the primary election of 1904.

The 190G republican primary resulted in selecting the following without opposition: Treasurer, H, K. Eue; register of deeds, 0. J. Wagnild ; judge of probate, John Woolstencrof t ; county attorney, L. F. Lammers; coroner, D. P. Maitland; clerk of court, William Crawford; commissioner second district, Henry 6. Anderson. Those selected with opposition were as follows:

The democrats chose the following without opposition:. Congressman, W. S. Hammond ; representative, A. P. Van- Dam; treasurer, Bruno Poppitz; sheriff,

county commissioners on July 22, 1904, redlstrlcted the county Into commissioner districts as follows: No. 1, Sioux Valley, Minneota. MIddletown, Petersburg:, Wisconsin and Alpha; No. 2, Des Moines, Hunter and Jackson; No. 3, Rost. West Heron Lake, Welmer, Heron Lake township, Lakefield and Wilder; No. 4. Round Lake, Ewlngton. Alba, LaCroase and Heron Lake village; No. 6. Delafield, Chrlstianla, Kimball, Belmont and Enterprise.

So far as county politics were concerned, party lines were ignored at the election of 1906. The election closely followed the bitter county seat contest, and the political affiliations of the candidates had little weight with the voters. But the actions and sympathies of the various nominees during the fight and their geographical location had considerable weight; residents of the north and west parts of the county voted almost solidly for men who had been in sympathy with Lakefield in its attempts to remove the county seat, while those of the east and south part of the county voted as solidly for men who had favored Jackson. Many political obligations were paid at the election of 1906 ; friends were rewarded, enemies were punished.

For the first and only time in the history of Jackson county a democrat carried the county for governor, John A. Johnson receiving a plurality of 102 over A. L. Cole. The republicans carried the county for the other state and district offices. In the county election the republicans elected seven nominees, the democrats three, and two independent candidates were chosen. Twenty-seven hundred fortv-seven votes were cast. The official vote was as follows :

At the primary election of 1908 the following republicans were nominated without opposition: Auditor, P. D. Mc- Kellar; sheriff, 0. C. Lee; superintendent of schools, J. B. Arp ; commissioner fourth district, Duncan McNab. Where there was more than one candidate for the same office the results were as follows :

Again a few democrats filed for the nomination and were selected without opposition. They were: Congressman, W. S. Hammond; representative, John Baldwin; sheriff, Henry TerHaar; register of deeds, L. J. Dostal; surveyor, J. J. Babcock ; superintendent of schools, Mrs. Della Best; commissioner first district, Henry Thielvoldt.

At the last general election held in Jackson county before the publication of this history, that held in November, 1908, 2,821 was the highest number of votes cast for any one office. The republicans carried the county for the national and state tickets and elected the auditor, treasurer, judge of probate, county attorney, superintendent of schools, coroner and two commissioners; the democrats carried the county for congressman (the second time in the county's history) and elected the representative, register of deeds, sheriff, surveyor and one commissioner. The official vote of the general election of 1908 :

And now the political history of Jackson county is brought to a close. It covers a period from the time in 1858 when the first county official took the oath of office - when there was a mere handful of men in the countv who availed themselves of the privileges of voting - up to and including the last general election before the date of publication of this volume, at which time the total vote reached nearly 3,000. A brief summary of the conditions during this time may not be out of place.

The county has always been normally republican. In the early days it was considered a disgrace, and almost a crime, to have other political affiliations. There Imve been county elections held when every vote was for the republican ticket. Although the party of Jefferson polled 1,150 votes at one election, it has never carried the county for the national ticket; the nearest it came was in 1892, when the Cleveland electors were only 48 votes behind those of Harrison.

During the entire early history of the county and up to 1886, the republican party was the only one maintaining an organization. But during this time there was a strong independent movement, kept alive by one faction of the republican party and the few democrats, which opposed the republican organization and on sev-

With the later settlement of the county came the organization of the democratic party - in the middle eightiea - and since that time it has been a factor in (*ounty politics, although always as the luinority party. On one occasion it carried the county for its candidate for governor; at two elections it has returned majorities for its nominees for congressman; on several occasions it has secured majorities for legislative candidates.

During the free silver days of the nineties the peoples party came into existence, and for a few years was a power in county politics. When its power began to wane, fusion was accomplished with the democrats, and for some time longer the combined forces furnished strong opposition to the dominant party.

very strong in Jackson county. In one or two campaigns they placed nominees for county offices in the field, but they have not maintained a permanent organization. The socialists and other minor parties have little or no strength in the county, and have never had organizations.

While the county is normally republican, normal conditions are rarely normal (if such an expression may be used). There is a strong independent vote, not bound to any party, which sways the county from the dominant party frequent- Iv when it is believed better candidates appear upon another ticket.

Jackson countv has been fortunate in its selection of county officers. During its political history of 51 years, there has not been a defaulting county officer, so far as I am able to learn. Nor has there been a removal because of criminal action or incompetence.