mind this convention that
this is the eighth year that almost the same identical slate has been
presented to the farmers of Rock County and passed against our wishes.
It isn't right that it should pass again. It sha'n't pass without my
protest." Applause. "This convention has been robbed of its right to
nominate every year, and every year we've gone home feeling we've been
made cat's paws of, for the benefit of a few citizens of Rock River. I
protest against the slate. I claim the right to nominate my man. I
don't intend to have a committee empowered to take away my rights to"--

The opposition raised a clamor, "Question! Question!" attempting to
force a vote, but the old man, carried out of himself by his
excitement, shook his broad flat hand in the air, and cried: "I have
the floor, gentlemen, and I propose to keep it." The farmers applauded.
"I say to this convention, vote down this motion and set down on the
old-fashioned slate-making committee business. It aint just, it aint
right, and I protest against it."

He sat down to wild excitement, his supporters trying to speak, the
opposition crying, "Question, Question." Several fiery speeches were
made by leading grangers, but they were met by a cool, smooth
persuasive speech from the chairman of the nominating committee, who
argued that it was not to be supposed that this committee chosen by
this convention would bring in a slate which would not be a credit and
honor to the country. True, they were mainly from Rock River and
Cedarville; but it must be remembered that the population of the county
was mainly in these towns, and that no ticket could succeed which did
not give a proper proportion of representation to these towns. These
men could not be surpassed in business ability. They were old in their
office, it was true, but the affairs of the county were passing through
a critical period in their history, and it was an old and well-tried
saying: "Never swap horses in the midst of a stream," anyhow, he was
content to leave the matter to the vote of this convention.

The vote carried the slate through by a small majority, leaving the
farmers again stunned and helpless, and the further business of the
convention was to restore peace and good-will, as far as possible among
the members. It was amazing to Bradley to find how easily he could be
swayed by the plausible speeches of the gentlemanly chairman of the
nominating committee. It was a great lesson to him in the po