CHAPTER XII
THE first political State Convention in 1896 was held by the Republicans at Des Moines on the 11th of March. Resolutions were adopted presenting Senator William B. Allison as a candidate for President on behalf of Iowa, to the National Republican Convention, and delegates were chosen to represent the State in that Convention.
At the Democratic State Convention, held at Dubuque on the 20th of May, it was unanimously agreed to present the name of Ex-Governor Boies to the National Democratic Convention as a candidate for President.
The Iowa candidates of the two great political parties were able and popular men who were eminently qualified for the high office; they received strong and enthusiastic support in the National Conventions, but the prominence of William McKinley, from the association of his name with a popular tariff bill, carried the Republican convention for him and the wonderful eloquence of William J. Bryan of Nebraska carried the Democratic Convention over any one who could be named.
A later Republican Convention nominated the following ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, G. L. Dobson; Auditor, C. G. McCarthy; Treasurer, John Herriott; Supreme Judge, S. M. Ladd; Attorney-General, Milton Remley; Railway Commissioner, E. A. Dawson.
The Democrats and Populists united upon the following ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, H. L. Karr; Auditor, G. W. Davis; Treasurer, John Foley; Supreme Judge, L. R. Bolter; Attorney-General, W. D. Boies; Railway Commissioner, Amos Steckel. The Populists also united with the Democrats in the support of Bryan for President.
