St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-10
MAKE CHOICE.

Now that everything is in readiness
for the opening of the state campaign,
the first thing the voters will be inclined
to do will be to investigate the person
mel of the tickets and to make compar-
iSOnS between the candidates. 1t is the
proper thing for the voters to do, and
| the Democrats have no reason to avoid
| such an investigation.
Taking the two candidates whose
names stand at the head Of their re-
spective tickets, the GLOBE invites a
careful and impartial scrutiny of each,
| and of their records, and then will ask
of the people of Minnesota which is
most capable of filling the high and re-
sDonSible Office of governor of this great
state.
1t is not the parpose of the GLOBE,
and we feel authorized to say that it is
not the purpose Of the managers of the
Democratic campaign, to indulge in the
muI-slinging practices which too fire.
quently characterize political contests.
In all discussions of the personnel of
the opposition ticket it shall certainly
be our object to keep within the bounds
of good taste and gentility. and to make
no accusation by way of innuendO.
Nothing shall be stated as fact which
is not sustained by incOntrovertible
proof.
Having said this much by way of eX-
PLANTATION, we invite the attention of
the whole people to EUGENE NJ. VIII
son on the one hand, and WILLIAM r.
MT-DIpT NJ tho ~ hnr ond offnr how
ing sized them up. we ask them to de-
termine which is likely to make the
safest and most capable governor.
Both are gentlemen, to begin with. In
their social and domestic relations they
are without reproach. No one can say
aught against the individual worth or
private character of either.
But it is not in their private indivld-
ual capacity they now pose before the
public. They are now on trial before
the great assizes of the people on mat
ter touching their qualification to hold
public office; and in that capacity alone
are we authorized to deal with them.
Mr.. WILSON has a record. Mr.. MER-
RAM is virtually without one.
Mr.. WILSON'S services in both the
state and national legislatures are an
open book to the people. And there is
not man in Minnesota who is not
proud of that record. In diScharging
the duties of state legislator and men,
Der of the national congress Mr.. VIII
son not only gave evidences of possess
ing the highest ability and the most I'M
selfish patriotism, but he also shed re-
nOwn upon the state whose represent
alive he was.
1t was not so with Mr.. MERRIAM's
brief service in the state legislature,
where the only reputation he gained
was that of being a trimmer. He ran
with the hare and hunted with the
hound. just as his individual interests
required. The public service was not
even a secondary consideration in his
mind. He was for himself, and for him.
self alone. The only standard by which
he governed his legislative course was
as to the probable effect it would have
on WILLIAM r. MERRIAM's prospects
| for the next gubernatOrial nomination.
His Yacillating course Oh high license,
the usury laws and railroad legislation
! are all illustrations in point.
With the public records of these
two gentlemen before them there ought
to be no hesitation in the minds of the
voters in determining which is the best
qualified for the gubernatorial office.
Still, there is another consideration
entering into this investigation. We
refer to the influences which surround
these two gentlemen, and which are
naturally expected to govern their
official conduct.
Mr.. WILSON stands before the people
untrammeled by corporate influence,
and wholly free from entangling ALI
ances. Mr.. MERRIAM is not He wentinto
the state convention as the railroad
candidate, and backed by the railroad
influence. He is pledged in advance to
the appointment of a railroad and ware
| house commission that will be friendly
TO the interests of the corporations and
of the wheat ring. 1t is probably within
| the bounds of truth to say that the
names of the members of the next rail
way and warehouse commission have
already been slated by Mr.. MERRIAM
with the o. K. of the railway managers
and wheat barOns affixed to the list.
Such, in brief, is an outline of the
two candidates, one of whom will be
the next governor of Minnesota. Which
will it be? Which ought it be?