St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-25
Democrats Packing Their Grip-sacks Pre-
paratory to Making a Descent on
Aberdeen.
Speculation Regarding the Attitude This
Great Gathering is Likely to
Assume.
Mere Mention of Several of the Can
didates Who May by Named for
Congress.
The Delegates Chosen--Most of Them
Favorable to Admission as
u Whole.
The Democratic Convention.

DIT aOeIQGSu u6IdycO dllllOullCOlHClO VI WV
names in order to secure those who would
attend in person, and not by proxy. The
following are the delegates, all of whom are
expected to be there:
John D. Benton, chairman; w. III. H. Mat
teson, J. E. Robinson, G.. L. Thomas, w. e.
Judd. ID. F. Polk George Egbert, Terrence
Martin, +. ]. Wilder, CaSSelton: Edward Nc
Neill, Armenia; John NJ. Wagor Tower City;
K. Emerson, Fargo; Samuel Corbet, HARDWOOD.
1t is alleged that some parties have been
induStriOuSiy gathering proxies from other
counties, but it is expected the rule
will be enforced to require proxies
to be residents of the counties they
represent, which will leave them out.
In the case of the Republican convention at
Yankton, the nomination made was so
clearly foreshadowed that it was only nec-
essary to know that the north was divided
to anticipate that no other name than that
of Clifford would be presented. There was
a majority who preferred other names, but
he was the second choice Of nearly all, and
they could not combine. In that conven-
ton there was a notable break in sectional
lines, but in the Aberdeen gathering on the
goth, the 10th parallel will have no recog-
milton whatever. 1t is true that north of
that line there will be an unbroken front
for admission as one great state, but
SOUTH OF THE LINE
there will be nearly as great unanimity in
opposition to division. Only ten or twelve
counties will be found favoring division
most of these influenced by the ambition OF
certain localities to secure the capital OF
state, which would seem to require the
formation of state not extending north of
the 10th parallel. IL is believed all of these
will acquesce in the voice of the majority
representing the evident policy OF the
Democratic party. The action Of the Re
publican convention, especially in the
nomination of the representative of the ex-
treme sentiment on this subject and the adj
vOcate of the Harrison bill, affords the
Democrats chance to take the popular side
of local question that will bring them
a grand harvest of votes if distinctly
and strongly pressed This is the flood tide
that leads OH to the fruitiOn of party hopes.
Just here it may be noted that during and
since the recent visit of Congressman Hill
to the territory there has been sedulous
and unwarrantable attempt to use his name
to bolster up the division cause and to create
the impression that he is committed to that
policy. A letter is at hand, written by Mr..
Hill to a prominent Democrat of Dakota
since his return to his home in Ohio. in
which he defines his positian on the Dakota
question. He says:
MR.. HILLS POSITION.
am perfectly willing 20 admit Dakota as
whole, or am willing to admit Dakota as two
states Allow me to say once for all that it is
matter of entire Indifference to me whether
Dakota territory is admitted into the Union
as whole or as two states. am not citi-
zen of Dakota and never expect to be; there
fore am not interested except as Democrat
in the United States. When so many con-
flicting statements were made to me by men of
undOubted veracity, on both sides, L thought
the best way to settle the matter was to leave
it to the people OF the whole territory.
It has been alleged that Mr. HilfS bill
simply required majority vote OF the terri
tory. He says in regard to that:
You will observe by reading my bill that
do not recognize the right of the majority of
the whole territory to determine the question,
or, in other words, that / do not recognize
the right of the people Of the south part of
the territory to vote for a division on any
| line, unless they have the cooperation and
sanction of the people of the north half of the
territory, so my bill provides that before the
| territory can be divided it should receive
majority OF the votes south of the 46th par
alel and majority of the votes north of the
| 46th parallel. This precaution was taken by
| me to prevent the people of the south half
| from controlling those of the north If the
| people north of the 46th parallel do not desire
| division. they ought to be able and willing to
trust themselves. 1 am utterly opposed to
the Harrison bill. I would mot have voted
for it under any circumstances, nor would
vote for any bill dividing the territory unless
I knew the people wanted it.
THE DIvIsIoNlSTs.
| The Campbell and radical divSiOniStS are
as bitterly opposed to the Hill bill, with
! the provision requiring majority vote of
both sections. as they are with the Springer
enabling act They show by their arbitrary
course at Yankton, Wednesday, that they
were afraid to trust the people to vote on
the question at all. There can be no ten
able ground of opposition to the Hill propo
sition, unless it is shown that the people
have otherwise uneQuivOcally indicated
their wishes. The election of a Demo
crat to congress on this issue
would be such declaration. 1t affords an
| opportunity such as is rarely offered any
party. with clear and square ground on this
question. and ringing utterances in favor of
unity and admission. 1t is not partisan en-
thusiasm to anticipate success, in spite of
| 55, 900 Republican majority two years ago.
| The North and Center show that they are
almost a unit in opposition to division, and
| it is doubtful if in the more SOutherly coun-
ties, as whole. much of a majority can be
had for the defunct equine of division. In
half dozen counties, perhaps, Clifford may
gain some votes. but the upper region will
come down. as deluge. Aside from dis
tinct utterance on this point, the need
now of the Democrats is to
nominate strong available candidate-one
who will thoroughly canvass the territory
so far as a short campaign will permit, and
present the great local issue effectively,
without much disturbance of party pre-
| judces The Aberdeen convention will be
| favOrably situated to make the best Selec-
| lions of candidate from the fact that no
| asplrant, if there is such, has announced
| himself as a candidate, and very few of
the delegates will be hampered by instruc-
tons.
THE CANDIDATES.
A dozen or more names have been men
| toned in this cOnnection-Sheafe Miller,
| Wilson, Becker, Maratta, Engle, Inman,
| Boynton, Church, Mcconnell and others.
Several of them have two or
three counties;instructed for them, and the
| friends of Judge Becker claim that seven
have given instructions, and about fourteen
| others are in his favor. If this is the case,
| he will have nearly one-fourth of the vote.
as there are eghty-five counties. He is
said to be quite willing to make the race,
and, as secretary of the general committee,
has a wide acquaintance. Among the
others it is not definitely known who is
willing to run. Some of the gentlemen
whose names are spoken OF hold federal
offices, and possibly may be reluctant to
make the canvass, with its fighting
chance" but if the convention believe the
party and times have urgent need of any
doubt that he will be found loyal and
nomination. No individual will be likely
to press any claims, but delegates from
nearly every county will be there with no
other aim than to secure the most available
and capable candidate. There will be very