St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-18


governor, shall be atleastable to name
the nominee.
To the Editor Of the Globe.
If the Farmers alliance agitators
meant by their action last March to agi-
tate the politics of this state, they must
be highly gratifed with their success.
No such political upheaval has occurred
in this state for many years. Their ac-
ton in forestalling the ''machine' by
making a platform and naming their
choice for governor before the meetings
of the regular conventions, and even
before the crafty manipulators had de-
cided what the conventions should do,
was a stroke of craftsmanship rarely
equalled IN modern politics. 1t seemed
to knock the politicians all silly, at least
for time, and their shoutings over the
entire state were such as they would
now, doubtless, willingly let die. Pres
emily, however, like Milton's devils,
who had been cast down to hell, they
rallied and began to cast about them
and inquire what they were going TO do
about it.
Mr. Scheffer and his friends, foresee-
ing what the first point of attack would
be, prepared to meet it by resolving that
neither he nor they should submit to
any interviews or answer any questions
that did not directly relate to their own
platform.
That such was Mr. Scheffer's position
was as well known to the Pioneer Press
a month ago as it is to-day. But the
managers of the machine observing
with dismay that the Scheffer boom was
daily growing in favor with the people
with portentious rapidity, saw clearly
that something must be done at once to
check its progress or the machine
and the barrel would be completely
swamped. 1t was at this juncture that
the Pioneer Press consented to be the
instrument through which Mr.. Scheffer
was to be made the victim of the inqui-
sition.
A scheme was concocted to PROFOUND
series of questions to each of the sup
posed candidates with view of testing
their loyalty to the machine. Accord
ingly three categorical questions were
incubated and presented to the three
supposed candidates. In the manner
of presentation, however, there is this
significant difference. MI. Scheffer is
notified that in case he refuses to an
swer, the Pioneer Press will answer foI
him. Right well they knew that
Scheffer would resent their bold at
tempt to coerce him into reply. Two
of the candidates meekly protest that
the questions are offensive, in that
they cast doubt upon their loyalty to
the machine, and hasten to deny all in
tentions to resist its will.
MI. Schtffer replies that the questions
| offend him, and refuses to answer them
| Forthwith the party rack is brought into
| requisition, and Mr.. Scheffer condemned
to torture.
A council of the faithful (all selected
| by the machine) is held and by ar
| almost unanimous vote Shelter is de-
clared hereto, and he and his follow
ers are peremptOrily read out of the
party.
Now, Mr.. Editor, undertake to say
that no man knows better than Mr.
Wheelock that therank and file of the
Republican party in Minnesota are il
sympathy with the platform of princi
pies announced by the Farmers alli
ance. No man knows better than Mr.
Wheelock that if Albert Scheffer is nom
mated by either party he will be over
whelmingly elected. No man knows
better than Mr.. Wheelock that if Alber
Schetfer is elected governor he will
faithfully carry out the principles O
his platform in the administration O
state. 1t is this fact that makes hin
an object of fear, if not hate by
the machine men of both partie
The men who formulated the allianc,
platform believed they were enunciat
ing principles that could be accepted b,
good and true men of all parties. The,
named man as their choice for gov
ernor, known all over the state and be
yond the state to be upright, fearless
independent and manly. They did no