Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/238

 on the 18th of August. The candidates for Governor first in the field were Lieutenant-Governor, Matt Parrott of Black Hawk County; A. B. Funk, a prominent member of the Senate from Dickinson; J. B. Harsh of Union; L. M. Shaw, a comparatively new man in politics from Crawford; W. E. Fuller of Fayette, and Ex-Senator James Harlan of Henry. It was understood early in the campaign that the men who had for a quarter of a century been the most influential managers of the party machinery had decided to support Lieutenant-Governor Parrott for Governor, and as these managers usually succeeded in their plans, the general expectation was that Parrott would be nominated. Senator Funk was a journalist of ability who had served two terms in the Senate and had the support of most of northwestern Iowa, with strength in other sections. L. M. Shaw of Crawford had never been in any way prominent in State politics and was less known than any other candidate. When the Convention assembled it soon became apparent that the old leaders were about to transfer their support from Parrott to Shaw. Why, it was not generally known, but it proved to be true. On the first ballot the vote stood as follows: Parrott, three hundred forty-four; Funk, three hundred eight; Shaw, two hundred ninety-three; with the remainder of the votes divided between Fuller, Harsh and Harlan. It was in vain that the friends of Parrott appealed to the potent leaders to stand by him, the fiat had gone forth, “rally around Shaw.” Parrott gained a number of votes on the second ballot, but Shaw had gained enormously and it became evident that the next ballot would give him the nomination. Then began the landslide amid great excitement as the leaders whispered about the Convention, “keep your eye on Shaw.” The third ballot stood two hundred twenty-three for Funk, three hundred forty-six for Parrott, seven hundred ninety-three for Shaw, giving him the nomination.

J. C. Milliman a former member of the House of