Keifer-Bushnell Contest
From 20th Century History of Springfield and Clark County, Ohio by Hon. William A. Rockel
Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1908
General Keifer was one of those politicians who did not meet with success without an effort and opposition. He was
nominated for Congress the first time over Judge William Lawrence, then in Congress, and present circuit judge Walter Sullivan, Gen. R. P. Kennedy, and Geo. M. Eichelberger. This was in 1876.
In 1878 Judge Lawrence had not yet given up the idea of being returned to Congress, but Keifer was re-nominated.
In 1880 Gen. R. P. Kennedy of Bellefontaine, Col. W. R. Warnock, Coates Kinney, and others, had Congressional aspirations and sought nomination, but were unsuccessful. In 1882, Keifer being Speaker, the opposition did not manifest itself.
When Keifer was elected to Congress he recommended as post master one John A. Shipman. The latter made a reasonably good official but was not a particularly popular citizen. When his first term expired some protest was made against his re-appointment, but he was re-appointed. In 1881 Keifer was elected speaker of the House of Representatives and necessarily his time was considerably taken up by his duties at Washington and perhaps he did not pay as close attention to his constituents as he otherwise would have done; anyway, opposition developed, and in looking around for a candidate it was decided that General Bushnell should contest the nomination in 1884.
Bushnell had lived in Springfield for a long while, married into a prominent family, was popular and at that time was practically the head of one of the largest manufacturing establishments of the city.
General Keifer had by some rulings in Congress excited the opposition of General Boynton, who was special correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, and through that paper the latter relentlessly pursued General Keifer. Keifer's fighting spirit would not let him withdraw and thus we had the most memorable contest for political votes that this county ever witnessed. It was finally left to a primary, the most pernicious method, when money is or may be used, that could be adopted, and considerable was spent by both participants. Bushnell finally prevailed in carrying the county. The Congressional convention was held in this city and the feeling of opposition among the Keifer adherents was so strong and bitter that it prevented the delegations from the other counties casting their vote at any time for Bushnell. John Little, of Greene County, finally received the nomination.
While Bushnell did not receive the nomination, the result of his canvass gave him much prominence, and paved the way to the governor's chair. In this convention Clark County could have nominated Geo. M. Eichelberger, Champaign County's candidate, and because she did not, secured that county's political enmity, which a score of years has not entirely effaced.
The effect of this canvass in Republican politics was felt for a number of years, but was fast fading away before Governor Bushnell died, and at the time that General Keifer was a candidate again, in 1904, the county was enthusiastically for him, and he was renominated in 1906 without opposition.