St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-18
THE RESULT AT wATERTowN.

THE RESULT AT WATERFOWL.
The Republican convention to nomi-
nate successor to Delegate CLIFFORD
meets at Watertown next Wednesday.
1t will be larger body than the Demo-
cratic convention held at Jamestown, as
the basis of representation is larger. and
there is enough contest among the as
pirantS for the nomination to give inter-
est and draw out friends of the various
ambitious statesmen. AS the time for
the decision approaches, the result
looks more uncertain than it did earlier.
1t is evident that CLIFFORD will be
largely in the minority, and if nomi-
mated it will be because it is easier to
unite on him than on any man OF
pronounced character. He has few
earnest friends, but has no enc
mics to speak of. All regard him
as well-meaning, inotfensive sort of
man-somewhat sleepy for representa-
tive of huStling Dakota, and good deal
of a blunderer, short-sighted and de-
ficient III tact-but as he is an intimate
friend of Congressman SPRINGER, and
apparently relies upon him for counsel
and direction. he is not likely to fall into
any very grave errors, to the detriment
of the people of the territory. Still, he
does not now appear to be the winner
and it is even more difficult to name any
man more likely to concentrate the ma
jOrity of the convention. ALLEN has
picked up quite freely in the North of
late, and apparently will have Substan-
TALLY the vote of that section, although
several counties will have favorite SONS
to compliment, and one or two of them
are hopeful of being struck by the light
ming of success. The general is proba-
bly, the most stately and imposing of
the prominent candidates, but it is not
seen where he is to get much vote out
side of the North, as the Black Hills,
where his mines and ranch are, have not
sent any delegates for him. The eX
treme diviSioniStS in the North, like
POTTER, WINSHIP and HANsBoRoUGH,
won't take him. They do not believe
he has been dipped quite often enough
in the division brine, and would con-
sent to admission as whole rather
than stay out indefinitely. PALMER,
too, has been up North and captured
Ramsey, and possibly one or two other
counties. He acquired some land up
there in the easy methods current
before the SPARKS era, and had a sort
OF constructive or visionary residence.
But he will not have votes enough in
the convention to be in any ones
way seriously. The most he can
hope for is to aid in the de-
feat OF any aspirant from his own
county. There is quite a vigorous de-
mand for the candidate in the North on
the ground of rotation, the South hav-
ing had the man the past four years;
but 1t will have little consideration with
the radical diviSioniStS. They would
like to punish the North for voting so
Solldly against division last year, and
Will not trust any man likely to be
named from that section. There is an
effort in the Center to unite that section
upon candidate of its own, with con-
siderable prospect of success. 1t has
two names prominent, but only MATH-
Ews, of Brookings, is likely to have
much support. His connection with
the capital commission will be apt to be
urged against him. The Center is tine
tured too much with one-stateism to be
allowed the man. The Center and
North have the votes to nominate if
they could unite, but that does
not look probable. 1t was expected
that the Black Hills would name JOHN
ii. KING, but his own county would not
even send him as a delegate. That sec
ton is divided, but more friendly to
CLIFFORD than any other man. CAMP
BELL is not showing up much among
the candidates. His Huron scheme
was too near failure to afford him any
considerable assets. He would spoil all
the reasonable prophecies if he should
come in. There is enough uncertainty
as to the result to encourage the friends
of nearly all the candidates. The only
certainty about the matter seems to be
that no man who is not lawyer OF pro-
fessional politician need come into the
field.