St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-21
Mr., MERRIAM BALKED
The Scheffep and MeGill Men
Spring a Trap on Frisky
William.
The County Convention Called
and In Such a Way to
Injure Him.
Gilman'S Dark Horse Scheme
Worries the Machine
Very Badly.
Comments on the Course Of
Mr.. Miller, Of the Central
Committee.

With their usual luck, the Ramsey
county Republicans have involved them
selves i'll fight that sends party har-
mony flying to the four winds of
heaven.
It originates in the contest between
Merriam and Scheffer for the possession
of the delegation to the state conven-
ton.
1t is true that on fair contest there
is no Republican who can carry the
county against Albert Scneffer, espec-
tally since he has perfected a ward
organization.
There has never been day in the
life of W. r. Merriam, good judges say,
that he could carry the city or county
against any other Republican who had
character and reputation.
But this year, to make himself solid
against his opponents, Millionaire Mer-
riaIn secured in his clutches a majority
of the county committee, whose busi-
ness it is to call the convention to elect
delegates to the state convention.
He was so sure that he had control of
Ibis committee that he assured his
friends from the country that it was in
his power, and that he would fix Scheffer.
The ''fiXing' Scheffer consisted in a
plan to have the county convention
called so late that if Scheffer did carry
the county he would do it at time
when he could secure no prestige in the
country for doing so.
The plan worked well until the county
committee was called last Saturday and
Y call issued for the county convention
20 be held on Aug. 90, and the caucuSeS
on Aug. 25.
The Merriam men were completely
Knocked out. Out of sixteen votes on
ihe committee they had but six, and the
combination the McGjll and Scheffer
men formed wiped the ground with
them.
The Merriamites tried to have the
Convention called for Sept. 3, and got
badly left on it.
This for Scheffer is an important gain.
A large number of the county conven-
tions are held after Aug. 30, and the
knowledge that they will have then that
Merriam failed to carry Ramsey county
will have bad effect.
The Scheffer men gained another
point in securing the setting aside of
The Whiteman primary law.
By so doing they limited the number
of caucus places and made the chances
for victory all the stronger.
TO say this has enraged Stanford
Newell is putting it mild.
He painted himself in red and black
yesterday and went forth roaring that
the Ninth ward had but one primary
chosen for it.
His opponents calmly sneered at his
nffectation of political purity, and asked
If he did not carry the county for
McGill in 1886 on the same basis.
Over-confdence beat the Merriam
men. They did have the committee at
one time, but did not calculate on the
proxies that entered Saturdays meet
sag. That is where they were fooled.
H. B. Willis played prominent part
IN the tricking of them. Some one
asked if he did this to make McGill
folid with Scheffer for second choice,
The reply was:
willis is for Willis and his only object
IN this campaign is to stand on the win
ming side and keep hold OF
she oil inspectorship. His motto
Is, "Watch which way the winC
blows and then jump"
The official call for the canvassers
vas issued yesterday. They will bt
mere Friday night and the convention
next Tuesday.