St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-30
Do THE DEMOCRATS DESIRE
TO SECURE THE ELECTORAL
VOTE OF MINNESOTA

TO the Editor of the Globe
The call for the Democratic state con-
ventIon begins with these words:
'AQ Democrats and other voters who
favor a reduction of the present eXorbitant
tariff and excessive taxation are invited
to unite" etc.
There was liberality in that call
which struck me very favorably. l
thought it recognized the fact that COM
paratively new issues were presented
in this campaign, and that there were
''Other voters" besides those who had
done missionary work in the Demo-
cratic party who would be welcomed to
the organization. l interpreted that
call to mean that there was to be an
earnest and honest effort to carry Min
neSOta for CLEVELAND and THURMAN.
AS the Democratic party has heretofore
been in the minority in the state, i'm
agined that the invitation to ''other
voters who favor a reduction of the
present eXorbitant tariff" ETC., referred
to those who had heretofore been
classed with the Republican party, but
who were now in accord with the Dem
Ocratic party on that question. In fact,
l can imagine no other way to carry this
state for CLEVELAND than by receiving
some aid from those who have heretofore
been classed as Republicans.
With such views, based as they were
on the call of the Democratic state
central committee, L was gratified to see
the Ramsey county Democratic conven-
tion declare in favor of placing ALBERT
SCHEFFER in nomination for governor.
/ neither took part nor was advisory in
that action, and am not partisan of
either side in the local controversy
which has arisen; but l welcomed the
recommendation because l believe that
such course, followed by the state
convention OH the 18th, would make
Minnesota absolutely certain to give
her electoral vote to CLEVELAND and
THURMAN.
1t is with some surprise. and good
deal of regret, that notice the public
utteranceS of some Democrats (repre-
senting, hope, very small portion of
the party utterly repudiating the call
of the state committee, and opposing
the nomination of Mr.. SCHEFFER by the
Democratic convention because he is,
or has been, Republican. 1t is true
that while Mr.. SCHEFFER supported
GREELEY, TILDEN and HANCOCK, he
has since acted with the Republicans.
1t is also true that at the present time
he stands publicly and squarely Oh the
Democratic platform, in efavOr of re-
duction of the present exerbitant tariff
and excessive taxation"
The tariff question is the alpha and
omega of the present campaign-so rec
ognized 10y both of the great parties; and
the Republican leaders have for months
been repudiating Mr.. SCHEFFER be-
cause he openly and avowedly stands
upon Democratic platform. And now
a portion of the Democracy say they do
not want him because he has not always
stood on a Democratic platform. 1t
seems to me that the gentlemen who
make this point do not fully realize the
| logical conclusion to which their views,
as expressed, will carry them. They do
not seem to realize that, for the first
time since the war. there is an Issue,
recognized by both parties, other than
the ''bloody Shirt" and that the pres
entation of that issue the tariff actu-
ally makes both parties reorganize, and
that that process of reorganization is
now absolutely In progress.
This fact is illustrated by the respect
| i've votes of SAMUEL j. RANDALL and
KNUTE NELSON on the MILLS bill.
Both of these gentlemen, by their ac-
ton on that bill, have cut entirely loose
from their former political organizations,
and eachis typical of thousands of other
men who occupy similar position. If
Mr.. RANDALL lives to continue in poll
tics he must certainly join the Repub-
| lican ranks, and it would be eminently
proper for the Philadelphia Republic
ans to select him as their standard
bearer. 1t would be equally proper for
| the Minnesota Democrats to make
| KNUTE NELSON their candidate for gov
| ernor, and but for the statement (Which
| suppose to be true) that he is under
such business engagements as to pre-
clude his acceptance, it would be very
proper course to pursue.
In response to the argument that men
who have borne the heat and burden of
| Democracy should be honored in pref