St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-05

4. /. /. !: ! ! g. !. d !
" NTtfTJN way so completely
~ ~V in that section of the
Nk state that his retire
N n ment from congress
N !. n SlOnal hOnOrS at once
~ J threw into the field
~ X. a host of men who
- " \ have been waiting
~AS for years to succeed
the doughty Norwegian. The heritage
OF over 10000 majority principally made
up OF Scandinavian votes that he leaves
is too choice plum to be ignored, and
OF the half dozen candidates in the field
undoubtedly there is not one but what
thinks that he can hold that SelfSame
10000 solid next November.
But 10000 does not represent the real
Republican majority of the district
When Mr.. Nelson corralled that vote he
had no Democratic nominee to oppose
him, and his Prohibition opponent was
too weak to materially affect the result.
MI. Nelson could then and now get 90
600 majority without sneeZing. His inn
mense personal popularity and his tariff
position count as long odds in his favor.
In many respects though Mr.. Nelson is
not the Republican party, as for in
stance, is evidenced by his vote in the
Fifth district in 1886 and the vote for the
Republican state ticket. There is no
Republican in the district the superior
of Mr.. Nelson in ability, and without his
strong nationality hold, no one who can
command the votes he did. There is
every reason to think that whoever is
nominated to succeed Mr.. Nelson will
not have walk-over nor take his seat
Qf elected) by majority one-half of
that which was given in 1896
OF all the Republicans anxious to put
on Nelson's shoes none approach as
near his tariff position as Mr.. Barto.
He, it has been freely said, would, if
nominated, declare himself for the Mel
son free list. None of the others have
been as bold as this, apparently think
ing the point too slight to be made. But
when district is SO exclusively made
up of farmers as the Fifth, it would
seem that to be in accord with them on
the tariff would be one card to success.
Unfortunately, perhaps, to Mr.. Barto,
his tariff stand has been negatived by
trait in his character. Commemorate,
perhaps, but harmful in politics-often
over-sanguinity. Since his canvass
opened he has looked at the field with
spectacles so focused that in every
y
and in every township he has seen only
a reflection of himself. The result has
been to fill his brain with pleasant
fancies and delusive dreams. The very
birds chattering over the plOwed field,
or by the shallow course of the Sank,
have to his ears called "Barto." To
himself he is man of destiny. And
that-that will be the one stumbling
block to his success. If he gets over it,
it will be one instance where over-con-
fidence has won against cooler heads
and better campaignerS.
-
''Barto," said a Fergus Falls resident
yesterday, Twill go into the convention
with the largest vote. On the first ballot
he will receive 81 or 81 voteS-or more,
and after that he will lose one or two,
and then a few more until his strength
dwindles to 20. There it will stand. and
some one else carry off the nomination"
The canvass of Judge Stevens for the
nomination has been hampered some by
his judicial position, and then st. Louis
county, despite its commercial import
ance, lies too far east to control or
dictate the more shrewd western tier of
counties. The judge took a nap and
woke one morning to find that Norman
county, supposed to be for him, had
gone to Barto. The county was in the
territory Of S. G. Comstock, another of
the congressional candidates, but
Barto got it. Now it is said
that when the convention meets
the Norman county delegation
will divide itself between BartO and
COmStock. Some way or other Com
stock has not materialiZed the strength
that his enthusiastic friends in the leg
iSlature of two years ago claimed he
would. His capacity for ShrewdneSS
has not been questioned, but if he has
E. f. C0rliss, of Fergus Falls. will have
the Otter Tail delegation. which is to
be chosen next Monday but they say of
him, that if he is nominated that his
own county will be one of the first to
slaughter him at the polls. Calculators
on the result of the convention say that
he will be the nominee or Buckman.
Buchanan is the enigma OF the conven-
ton.
Who is he? A sunburnt, jolly-faced
lumberman, senator from Morrison
county, and new one to political
work. He is young, untrammeled and
has been groomed carefully by his
shadow and other half, Hon. j. G..
Flynn, of Little Falls. Buchanan will
be the disturbing quantity in the con-
vention from present appearances. His
county has Endorsed him with whoop.
but many knowing ones question
whether this was done to help him out
or to give him the chance of nominating
someone else. There is question UNI
determined yet and limited at above.
''lS Mr.. Buchanan candidate or does
he wish to help out friend?" Allah is
good, but it must remain unanswered
this week. As side lights to the con-
vention HalvOr Stevenson and Judge
Locke are spoken of as candidates with
out positive strength, but strong hopes
very strong hopes.
%*
The Democracy of st. Paul and Ram
sey county, and possibly Hennepin, are
already planning for reception and
jollification on the return of the Mime
sofa delegation from st. Louis. 1t will
be in its way local ratification of the
nominees of the convention. Plans for
the affair will materialiZe to-day and to-
morrow, and may include bands,
speeches and parade. Thursday night
or Friday afternoon the delegates may
be looked for.
Thomas G. Hodgson, of the Farmers
alliance, has just returned from the