HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY	185

the make-up of the district during this time. In 1872 Clay was con-
stituted a part of the eighth district, with Vigo, Parke, Owen, Monroe
and Vermillion, and so remained for twenty-three years, until the con-
gressional reapportionment of 1895, when it became a part of the fifth
district, with Vigo,’ Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Hendricks and Morgan,
since which time there has been no change. During all this period of
eighty-three years Clay county has been represented in the Congress of
the United States by but two of her own citizens, Elias S. Holliday, of
Brazil, who was elected in the year 1900, and re-elected in 1902, 1904,
and 1906, whose fourth term of service, expired March 4, 1909, and
Ralph W. Moss, elected in 1908.
	Four other Clay countians have been honored with the candidacy
for the position by their respective parties: William W. Carter, nom-
inated by the Republican party of the seventh district, at the Gosport
convention of 1868, the competitor of Daniel W. Vorhees, and defeated
by only 187 votes; W. S. Carpenter, nominated by the Republicans of
the eighth district, at the Rockville convention of 1892, the competitor
of E. V. Brookshire in his third and last race; Frank A. Homer, nom-
inated by the Democratic party of the fifth district, at the Greencastle
convention of 1900, the competitor of Elias S. Holliday in his first race;
William E. Carpenter, nominated by the Prohibitionists of the fifth dis-
trict in the campaign of 1900. Seven congressional nominating conven-
tions have been held in Clay county. The Democratic party of the
seventh district met in delegate convention at the court-house, Bowling
Green, on the 25th day of July, 1854, Delaney F. Williamson, of Put-
nam county, presiding. From its lack of harmony, this was a memorable
convention, dissolving in a storm over the question of credentials, con-
testing delegations appearing upon the floor for recognition from Put-
nam, Sullivan and Clay counties. Among those who withdrew from the
convention were Judge Delaney Eckles, of Putnam, and Andrew
Humphrey, of Greene, the latter declining to permit his name to be
used as a candidate. John Q. Davis, of Parke county, was declared to
be the nominee and choice of the conventiQn by acclamation, when the
convention adjourned informally in the niidst of confusion.
	The Republican party of the eighth district met in convention at
Brazil, Thursday, June 13, 1872, and nominated Morton C. Hunter, of
Monroe county, by acclamation.
	The Republican party of the eighth district met in convention, at
Brazil, Thursday, July 11, 1878, and nominated Morton C. Hunter.
	The Democratic party of the eighth district met in convention, at
Brazil, Tuesday, July 17, i888, and nominated Elijah V. Brookshire.
In this convention the party candidate was nominated on the one hundred
and thirty-seventh ballot. Of the seven counties composing the district
six presented candidates: E. V. Brookshire, of Montgomery; Elliott
N. Bowman, of Fountain; William H. Gillum, of Parke; Murray Briggs,
of Sullivan; Claude G. Matthews, of Vermillion; Cyrus F. McNutt. of
Vigo, Clay county having none to present. On the first ballot, Clay
county, having fifteen votes to cast, gave to each of the six candidates
two and a half. After having cast one hundred and twenty-three ballots,
the convention adjourned for supper at 7 o’clock. On the one hundred
and thirty-seventh ballot (the fourteenth after supper) Brookshire
received fifty-six votes and was declared the nominee of the convention.