Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-05
THE sITU.i1ION IN WIsCoNs1x.

The campaign in Wisconsin, which has
now been fairly opened, promises to be
greatly complicated through the uncertainty
that exists as to the strength and purposes,
of the National Greenback party. That
organization has been exceedingly busy, and
makes considerable noise-enough for
party that was destined to sweep the whole
country. In four of the Congressional dis
tricts candidates for Congress have been put
the field, and it is proposed by them to
run candidates for the Legislature in every
district in the State. AS the legislature to
be chosen the coming fall will have the choos-
ing of United States Senator in place of
Hon. Timothy 0. Howe, a great deal of in
terest naturally attaches to the political pre-
objections of candidates, and good deal OF
speculation as to the results is rife.
Last year there was partial union of the
parties, and they were able to control the
organization of the Legislature. Few ques-
tions of note came up, however, and it was
found impossible to judge Of how far the
policy of the two parties would harmonize.
This year the National Greenback party has
deemed itself strong enough to take indie
pendent action, and in some districts has
come III contact with and impaired the
| strength of its old allies. If it persists in
| its avowed purpose of nominating full legis
lative tickets, the prospect is that the Repub-
licans will be able to control the legislature
and to elect Senator. To this end they
seem determined to bend all their energies
There has been an agreement among all the
Republican aspirants for Senator Howe'f
seat that they will keep their claims
upon the Office entirely in the
background, and unite in strong, deter
mined effort to secure a Republican legis
lature. The party, too, is united more firm
ly than for many years upon most question,
of public policy. Only on the currenc,
question is there any serious lack of har
mony, and this will be the rock upori which
the party will split if it splits at all. MI
Ruhlee, the boss, avows that the party shal
take its stand upon an extreme hard none
basis and make the fight on that issue. Ha,
ing won the gubernatorial campaign on tina
line in 1877 he fancies he can carry the Con
gressional and legislative tickets through O
the same ISSUE But already there are run
blings of discomfort among the rank an
file of the party, and before the canvas
closes some concessions will have to be mad
to the greenback element.
The Democratic patty has not vet deye
oped its policy. There is apparent hesita1
cy-a desire to form an alliancew with the NJ
J tional Greenback party, or to take up il
candidates. The party as whole is in syn
pathy with the Nationals, although anon
the Germans hard moneyhas a large follow
ing. The leading Democrats do not fanc
! the idea of giving up their own pet primo
$ pies or snrrendering their claims to Office fl
= the benefit of the new party, yet they al
. compelled to acknowledge that single handle
' they are powerless to control the destinies Z
! the State. There are many able men anon
+ the Democrats of Wisconsin-more who 81
JOY national reputation for statesmanshi
than IN almost any other common
wealth in the Union. These ara for a,
g most part rock-rooted in their conviction
j and would rather suffer defeat under the Of
= Democratic banner than enjoy the fruits {
b victory by an alliance through which the
would have to compromise their principle,
2 These men very naturally wish to fight Ii
: campaign on strict Democratic principle
but the mass of the party would prefer su,
cess, by whatever means attained, trustin
other ability in post election days to col
troll the policy Of whatever combination ma
be formed.
From present appearances we are col
strained to the belief that the Republican
stand much the better chance of controllin
the next legislature and electing successq