St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-15
a Review Of the Blaine and
Gresham Contest in the Re-
publican Ranks.
Blaine Apparently Has the
Lead, and No Immediate
Danger Of Losing 1t.
Democratic Harmony Desired,
But Not Visible This Side
of Eden's Gate.
Another Democratic State
Conelave May Be Called
At This Time.

The most careful prognOsticatOrs of
political results in Minnesota find it
difficult to predict the result of Wednes-
days Republican state convention. 'If
surface indications count for anything, >
they say, ''then there will be chosen
an instructed Blaine delegation to
Chicago"
But what about the Gresham cOntin-
gent and the warning gubernatorial fac
tions?
As rule the old-time Republicans
of the state are for Blaine. They keep
one finger steadily pointing at his ma
jority of 4l,00O in Minnesota in 1888
whenever a Gresham man approaches.
They turn deaf ear to the argument
that Blaine and protection Is not good
card to offer the farmers vote Of Mime
sofa. They echo Tim Byrnes:
Minnesota Will give $4,000 for pro
tection.''
Bile King. of Minneapolis, without
much question. has done the real work
for Blaine in Minnesota this year. In
political circles it has never been a
secret that ii Blaine had won in 1881,
King would have been the patronage
distributor and political boss of Mime
sofa. Henry y. Castle and W. ID. Wash
burne are two other conspicuous Blaine
lights. Rumor is not either probably
very far aStray when it declares that
Gov. McCill and his friends have lent
secret aid to the Blaine organizations
throughout the state.
The stalwart Republican counties of
the state have almost without exception
elected Blaine delegates. Hennepin
and Ramsey have both a majority of
Blaine men on their delegations.
Why is this?
The word has gone out from the
Blaine element of 1884. that he is will
ing to be renominated, and that if he is,
his platform will be protection and that
on that he can carry New York. New
Jersey. Connecticut and some of the
Southern states. That Is the powerful
lever that the Blaine men are handling.
without him." they cry, 1--WE cannot
carry New York. and are beaten"
The Blaine movement is being fOS-
tered by the very same men that are
lighting the Mills bill and who are the
staunchest advocates of protective
tariff to be found.
Republican sentiment OH the nominee
is fairly expressed 10y what two Repub-
licans said in the Merchants hotel yes
terday afternoon. First one of them:
Nominate Gresham, or any untried
man, and we lose the East, New York
included"
In which the other replied:
Nominate Blaine and the entire
Northwest becomes dOubtful.''
1t is quite true that large number of
the Republicans supporting Gresham in
Minnesota are doing 1t not because they
think he will be nominated, but he is z
good club with which to beat Blaine.
If they can add Minnesota to the list of
anti-Blaine states. then they will be
content to let the Chicago convention
decide the nominee,
CAPT. CASTLES WISHES.
Capt. Castle said some weeks ago in
the GLOBE that he favored an Instructed
Blaine delegation. This is the secret
wish of the Blaine men, but at this
writing it looks doubtful if any instruc-
tons could be passed. The Blame men
seem TO have the best show for captur-
ing a majority Of the delegates, but the
Greshamites may be strong enough to
prevent their being instructed.
One thing that throws discredit Oh
the Gresham movement here. and which
is hurting it much, is that it is being
used to further the gubernatOrial am
bitiOns of w. Il. Merriam. His agents
have been most conspicuous in forward
ing the Gresham boom, and it is known
that Mr.. Merriam hopes for his nomina-
ton, and that much of his success in
the fight for governor depends upon it.
One of the keys TO the Gresham move
ment is that it is attempting to steal
from the Democrats the fruits borne bv
President Cleveland's message. The
GreshamiteS claim to be tariff reformerS.
By his nomination they hope to counter
act in the Northwestern states at least
the effect of the presidents message
and the onslaught made by Democratic
organizations. In 1884 rabid protec-
tionists, this year, fearing political losses,
they have changed the garb of the wolf
10 that of the lamb and set out to dis
cusS and advocate party eXpediency.
Notwithstanding all this the Blaine
specter will not down. The follow
ing cOgent reasons for his being favored
are taken from an editorial of the
Pioneer Press. and undoubtedly repre-
sent the opinions of the bulk of Min
nesOta Republicans to-day just as much
as they did four years ago. The Pioneer
Press said:
No candid man will deny that he
tBlame) is to-day the choice of a majority
Of the Republican party.
The Minnesota delegates who,
though not primarily for Blaine, sank
their personal preferences and voted
for his nomination, unquestiOnably acted
the part of wisdom and patriotism.''
There it is i'll nutShell-1SS4-1SSS
The Blaine men, in vulgar parlance,
have the bulge.