McKnight v. Whipple
McKnight v. Whipple
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
The record discloses the fact that in this senatorial district there are two factions of the Silver Republican party,—that represented by the petitioners belonging to what is known as the Broad faction in this state, and that represented by respondent as the Blood faction. The former repudiates all connection with the Blood, and the latter with the Broad, wing. As my brother Goddard remarks, in Liggett v. Orr, ante, p. 462, —a controversy between rival lists of nominees of the same party for county officers,—the convention sending the Plumb, and not that sending the McKnight, delegates was held to be the regular convention of the party; and as the same list of delegates were elected to the senatorial conventions, the rulirig • there controls here. In that conclusion, however, I was unable to agree for the reasons set forth in the dissenting opinion filed therein, and for similar reasons I dissent now.
. But if it be conceded that the Plumb convention, when organized, was the regular convention of the party, still it does not necessarily follow that the Plumb ticket is now entitled to the party name and emblem. It appears in this case that a split exists not only in the state party, but in all its subordinate divisions, including this district. In the case of Whipple v. Broad, ante, p. 407, we held that the Broad faction in the state convention of the party was the genuine party and entitled to the use of its name and emblem. The McKnight ticket here was nominated by the Broad faction of the party in the district, and the Plumb ticket by the Blood wing.
The Broad state convention (which we held to be the regular one) admitted as delegates from El Paso county those
My reasons for this conclusion are set forth at length in the case of Twombly v. Smith, ante, p. 425. The principle in that case is the same as in this, and for that reason I do not repeat the argument. The decision here, therefore, in my judgment, should be in favor of the petitioner.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This proceeding is brought to review a judgment of the district court of Arapahoe county, and involves the right as
The third senatorial district is composed of Douglas and El Paso counties. In the year 1898, previous to the calling of the senatorial convention, George A. Triplet was appointed chairman of the district committee, and A. A. McKnight was elected secretary. Said Triplet duly called a convention of the Silver Republican party in and for that district, to meet in Weber Hall, Colorado Springs, El Paso county, on September 9,1898. Under this call El Paso county was entitled to forty-two delegates and Douglas county to twelve. Pursuant to this call, an uncontested delegation from Douglas county and two delegations from El Paso county—one of which we will designate as the McKnight delegation, and the other as the Plumb delegation'—met at the time and place specified. Triplet and McKnight, in their respective capacities as chairman and secretary, went upon the platform and seated themselves at their respective tables. The convention was regularly called to order by the district chairman, whereupon the petitioner McKnight attempted to read what purported to be an order from the chairman of the state central committee removing Mr. Triplet and substituting Mr. Hickman as chairman of said committee. Thereupon some uproar and confusion arose, McKnight left the platform and retired with his delegation to'the rear of the hall, where they proceeded to organize a convention of their own; elected Hickman chairman and Vincent secretary; nominated James Frank Gardner as candidate for the office of senator; selected the name and emblem of the Silver Republican party, and on September 10, filed a certificate of such nomination with the secretary of state. The Plumb delegation remained with the delegates from Douglas county, organized a convention, elected Henry Trowbridge as chairman, A. E. Dutcher secretary adopted the name and emblem of the Silver Republican party,
We think the court below should have sustained the motion of respondent to dismiss the proceeding because of gross laches on the part of petitioner. The rulings sought to be reviewed were rendered September 15 and 21, 1898, and application was not made to the district court until October 17, a delay of thirty and twenty-four days respectively. Section 18 of the election act expressly provides that the decisions of the officer with whom the certificate is filed, upon matters of substance, shall be open to review, if prompt application be made; and further»provides that the remedy in
Furthermore, it is established beyond controversy by the testimony in the case, that the convention called to order and organized by Triplet was composed of the regularly and lawfully elected delegates of the Silver Republican party in that district; and that the McKnight delegates were not entitled to represent the party, even had they remained and applied for admission thereto; it appearing that the Plumb delegates were regularly selected by the county convention which, in the case of Liggett v. Orr, ante, p. 462, was held to be the regularly organized convention of the Silver Republican party of El Paso county, while the McKnight delegates were selected
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McKnight v. Whipple, Secretary of State
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- 1 case
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- Published