Early Day Politics

Squire Biggs and Squire Burke were holding a little reminiscence meeting at the city clerk's office yesterday when a Nonpareil reporter dropped in time to hear Squire Biggs say that he had nominated Squire Burke for the first office ever held by him in Council Bluffs. The circumstances were amusing and interesting. It was in 1860.

Squire Biggs had lived here four years and Squire Burke two. Politics were getting warm in Council Bluffs. There was a Republican meeting addressed by Gen. Curtis, and a Democratic convention being held here on the same day. Squire Biggs nominated Squire Burke in the Democratic convention for justice of the peace. Some one objected on the ground that Mr. Burke was not a Douglass Democrat, but a Bell and Everett man. Col. Babbitt said blank the difference so long as he wasn't a blanked abolitionist, and so he was nominated.

On the night before the convention a mob had taken a fellow named McGuire out and hanged him north of the town. The coroner had gone away and left Mr. Biggs to act as his deputy. On the day named the report of the hanging reached the ears of the authorities and they summoned Dr. Kynett to hold the inquest. He refused to do so as he wanted to hear Gen. Curtis speak. They then went to Mr. Biggs and found him highly indignant because he had been made second choice, and so he refused to hold the inquest, as he wanted to attend the Democratic convention. Accordingly the body of McGuire was left hanging all day, and not taken down until the day after the political excitement, when Mr. Biggs held the inquest. McGuire was hanged for "All Manner of Meanness," as explained by a placard which the mob pinned to his breast.

[Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Published March 25, 1886, submitted by Ann]

Some Council Bluffs, Iowa Political Notes

It is now stated that Dr. F.P. Bellinger did want the Democratic nomination for alderman-at-large, and that his retirement from the race is the result of a faithful promise from the supporters of the other candidates that they will unite a year hence and nominate the doctor as their candidate for mayor. They all saw in Bellinger's candidacy a strong opposition to the other candidates which would be fatal to their plans and triumphant over all efforts to secure the nomination of any other man.

With Bellinger out of the race the friends of J.J. Brown figure that he is assured the nomination. This, however, cannot be announced as a "dead sure thing" because lingering around the corners of the political strongholds in Democratic ranks are such men as L.H. White, J.N. Casady, George H. Champ and John P. Weaver, whose friends are willing to give odds that any one of them can get the nomination.

There seems to be now no doubt but that Pat Gunnoude will be the nominee of the third ward democracy for alderman, although the name of Emmet Tinley has been favorably mentioned in this connection. The race will be an interesting one in this ward, as the friends of both gentlemen are faithful and earnest in the support of their respective candidates.

The Democratic nominee in the fourth ward is put down as George D. Brown, while in the sixth ward the contest will be between J.F. Hunt and W.B. Fisher, with prospects for the nomination tending more favorably towards Fisher.

Apropos of this subject Mayor Macrae's friends are talking of running him again for the mayorality, while the Democratic leaders not so favorably inclined that way think they can send him to the state senate from this district and thus defeat any attempt to get him before the people of Council Bluffs again for the office of mayor. The chief executive's friends assert that the mayor has no desire to go to the senate but that he is very anxious to be mayor for another term. They will not hear to any proposition from Democratic leaders to nominate the mayor for the senate. They are certain the doctor would decline any such honor and that Senator Groneweg is looking for the office again.

[Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Published February 14, 1891, submitted by Ann]