The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-10
THE NORTHWEST.
An Interview with Alden j. slethen.

Among the arrivals at the Preble House
are registered the names of Alden j.
Blethen and family, Minneapolis, MINI. A
reporter OF the PRESS had a short talk with
MIR. Blethen yesterday about the Northwest.
politics, the tariff and Minneapolis. AS
might be expected, Mr.. Blethen is an enthu-
siastic admirer of his adopted city. He had
just received telepraphic information from
his paper, the Evening Journal, of Minneap-
oils, giving the number of names recorded
In the new directories of Minneapolis and
St Paul. The Minneapolis directory was
issued Saturday last and contains 1880
names. This is gain of 1909 during the
past twelve months,-and indicates popu
lation of 223,050 by the common multiple of
three to each name recorded. The st. Paul
directory was issued on the same day and
contains 1924 names, showing population
of 210.702
Ii anybody thinks these two great cities,
whose centres are only 10 miles apart are
standing still he has only to consult these
figures of the directories which are both
published by Messrs. Polk & Co.
Mr. Blethen is quite sanguine about the
political situation in the Northwest He be-
lieyes Wisconsin good for Harrison and Nor
ton by $1,000. Minnesota by 2aoOO Iowa by
10000 and Dakota for the Republican ticket
by $4,000 votes. In 1886 Minnesota gave the
general Republican ticket 16, 900 to 49, 600 ma
lority, but on account Of local matters Nc
Gill, for governor, led Ames by only 1900
votes. Mr. Blaine carried Minnesota by over
al,0o IN 1884, and no one expects less than
Iapr n 80
issue, now SO squarely presented, meets with
less approval there than in any other Repub-
lican State. This is owing to the presence of
SO large Scandinavian population.
In the city of Minneapolis there are forty
nye 70 nifty thousand Scandinavians, and out
Oh state population of 100000 there are
nearly 100000 Of this class. They came from
country which has, until recent date been
an exponent OF free trade; hence the dispo-
sitIon OF its people to that doctrine.
=, Inc republican press, in its efforts to hold
these people to the Republican party, have
gone too FAR, and now find themselves in the
dilemma OF self-reformation in order 10
stand by the party. The tariff issue will un-
douDtedly send many of these hitherto,
9tnerwlse faithful Republicans over to the
democratic party, but not enough to land
the State In the Democratic camp.
speaking OF the recent newspaper changes
IN minneapolis, Mr.. Blethen said his position
was not well understood. 1t seems that the
haskchs anu bletnen owned the Tribune
and the journal, the only Associate Press
papers published in the city of Minneapolis
Both papers had prospered under Mr.
Blethen's management wonderfully up to
the publication Of the now well
known cleveland article, which APP
peared in the Tribune in October, 1887
The effect of that article led Mr.. Blethen to
sell his interest in the Tribune to the Has
kells and to purchase their interests in the
journal; This was accomplished the middle
OF May last. Mr.. Blethen secured morning
news franchise of the Tribune Company and
Will put on morning addition of the Jour
nal about August 10th. The journal is the
Northwest. having now over twenty-six
Thousand circulation, or nearly double that
Oh any other daily in the Northwest, and
when the morning edition makes its appear
paper published northwest of Chicago. The
journal Is estimated at a quarter OF a mil
hon and pays twenty per cent. profit on that