St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-16
THE SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN
A Game Of See-SaW Between the
Leaders.
FLETCHER OFF FOR EUROPE.
Washbarl Must Paddle His Own Canoe
.--Buttonhole Bouquets and Kid
Gloves Discarded.

The senatorial fight seems to be a
game of see-saw. Week before last SEN
ator Sabin was absent. and Mr.. Wash
burn was mingling with the throng at
the Merchants. Last week, or the
greater portion of it, Mr.. Washburn
was absent and Senator Sabin was
on deck. Washburn's week does not
appear to- have been productive of
heavy political work, if the attendance
of distinguished citizens from the state
can be taken as criterion. 1t is anus
ing to see Mr.. Washburn trying
to make himself at home with
'.mere people," as his organ, the
Minneapolis Tribune. terms them. He
first appeared in the hotel corridors
with a button-nole bouquet, but discreet
friends suggested that this was not
much more attractive than the kid
gloves he ordinarily wears. So the
buttOn-hole bouquet was abolished, and,
to demonstrate that he really was not
proud, he would sit down in the chairs
reserved for the bell boys.
Just what either candidate has ac-
complished during the past two weeks
it would be hard to say, but the pomp-
Gus Washburnian air certainly does hot
that Sabin's 'hail fellow well met"
manner does.
Loren Fletcher came down from Min
neapOliS Yesterday and was bidding his
friends goodbye preparatory to his de-
parture for Europe next Tuesday. Mr..
Fletcher was a conspicuous figure IN
the senatorial fight six years ago, and
he has had hand in senatorial con-
tests, to a greater or less degree, for
over twenty years. He was Window
man six years ago, but when his candl-
date could not win he did not shed any
tears unless those of joy, over Sabln's
success. There is no man in the state
to whom Mr.. Washburn is more indebt-
ed for political fayors than to Loren
Fletcher, and six years ago
wAsHBURN KEPT THE WIRES HOT
with his opportunities to Fletcher to
abandon Window and support him. AS
soon as Sabin won. Washburn berated
Fletcher and accused him of betraying
Window, though he voted for him to
the last. When Fletcher wanted to go
Congress, Washburn aided materially
needs friends, Mr. Fletcher sails for
Europe. If he was revengeful
he would remain and take a
hand in the game but he is
magnanimous enough to let WaShburn
win-if he can, and as the days roll on
the fine Italian hand of Uncle Loren
will be missed. Still, he evidently has
Washburn on his list, and as he percheS
in the olive trees at Jerusalem he will
feel that there really is balm in Gilead
if the news should be waited to him
that Washburn had missed the senate.
No one seems to know what the mys-
ferrous summons and visit to lndianapo-
lis of Senator Sabin meant, but Mr..
Washburn evidently thinks there must
be some significance in it, as he has
been in Chicago for the past few days,
while his friends at home give 1t out
that he too has gone to Indianapolis.
The candidates for minor positions in
the legislature have not been quite so
thick for few days. As the legitimate
emolumentS of these positions Will not
exceed $3.50 for the session. If the aspir-
ants pay a board bill of $3.50 a day for
sixty days in making the canvass it will
cut down the profits, and those who fail
will go hungry the rest of the winter.
The same energy displayed in saving
wood would be more healthy and COM
Portable, and produce a better-sized
pocketbook in the spring.
Politicians cannot be stars, or else the
saving, might brings out stars" is not
true. All the week past the hotel corri-
doris have been deserted in the evening
and the newspaper searcher for political
items who waits until after supper gets
left. But the afternoon has been lively
enough to make up for the evening
quiet The treason, stratagem and
spoils Especially the latter developed
every afternoon are enough to make
George William Curtis turn over in the
mugwump coffin in which he has re-
posed for the past thirty-nine days.