St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-09
The men ONE MEETS.
Judge Thomas Wilson, of WI
mona, Disc0urses on P0-
litical Subjects.
Congress May Pass the B,air,
but Not the Federal Elec-
ton Bill.
Cleveland Stronger To-Day
With His Party Than Ever
Before.
Judge Wilson Has Given No
Thought to Running for
Con PASS.

A picturestic and prominent figure
in the corridors of the Ryan last even
ing was that of Hon. Thomas Wilson,
of WinOna, eX-justice of the supreme
court Of Minnesota and late congress
man from the first congressional dis
trict. When Mr.. Wilson's term expired
as congressman he came back to his
home in Win0ns, and, Cleveland-like,
settled down to the practice of his pro-
fessiOn. He will be in st Panl for
nearly all of this present week for the
tant eases in the circuit court of the
United States, the December term Of
which begins its sessions in the govern
ment building this morning.
II have been SO hard at work all sum-
mer and fall" said the Judge, in an
swer to question of the GLOBE re-
porter. ''that haven't had much time
for politics; but think any one can see
the way things are tending now. 1t is
my opinion that were an election to be
held tomorrow with Cleveland and
Harrison the candidates, Mr.. Cleveland
would be chosen by an overwhelming
majority. AT the present time it looks
as though Mr.. Cleveland would he re-
nominated. but, of course, it's too far
ahead to make any definite calculations
OF prophecies. Mr.. Cleveland is Il grand
man, fearless. hOnest-Such a man DIS has
not been in the White hnuse since
Abraham Lincoln filled the office. Few
men there are who would have dared to
have made the tariff issue the issue of
the last national campaign. His adj
ministratiOn is growing i'll the favor OF
the people of the country. and his NOM
nation may be as unanimously made in
1892 as it was in 1888.
''What do you think the present con-
gress will do, judge?" asked the re-
porter. Twill they pass the federal
elections law, the Blair educational bill
and the direct tax bilI?'
II think the federal elections bill will
be defeated, said the judge. "Many of
the best Republicans arc opposed to it
and will oppose it very strongly. The
Blair educational bill. will he very likely
to he passed, although the Republicans
are weakening on that. Any scheme to
take money from the public treasury
and do away with the surplus will be
very popular with this congress. Tariff
Legislation will he next to impossible.
and il will be much easier to squander
overtaxatiOn than to devise bill salts
factory to the manufacturers reducing
any of the tariff taxes.
THE direct tax refunding bill, how
ever, Is the measure that is more certain
of becoming law. and more out
rageouS proposition was never made.
An Indiana congressman, whose state
would get a very large amount by the
passage of that bill, told me that he dis
liked to support the measure, and only
did it because he was in a measure
forced to it by his state. Il can see
some reason for we IndiananS support
ing that BILL he said, for we get very
large slice, but there ought to be no
reason for a MinnesOtaian doing SO.
for Minnesota will have to pay 81 for
every 81 she gets through this BILL
have no apology to make, nor regrets
tor my opposition to the bill, and L trust
it may again be defeated"
''Will you be candidate fNr congress
in the First district, next year, judge?''
queried the reporter.
II want to state that / have never
given thought to that matter" was
the reply. II know there has been
some talk of such a thing, but have
had nothing to do with starting it. ]
presume if l would say that | wanted
the nomination it might be given to me,
but ! have not said so. | feel
proud over the way my friends
stood by me last year. The First
district is nearly 5000 Republican, and
the majority of my opponent was only
1850. lost some votes through fac
tional fights. and the election y the
fact that it was the year of the presi-
Dental election. The First district con-
tains more independent voters than any
other district in the state, and is some
what peculiar in this respect.
ut is wonderful how much we have
been encouraged by the late victories
in Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and New
York, and our prospects were never
better"
speaking Of Knute Nelson" contin-
ned MIR. Wilson, Il Like him very much.
He is fine man. always opposed to
every species of jobbing and question
able legislation. [ have often talked
with him on public questions and found
that our views agreed exactly. and
have urged him to come over to us. But
he has such fear of being called a turn
coat that he had rather drop out of pub
lie life. it seems. than to either change
his politics or remain congressman
Republican in name and Democratic in
principle"
.WhileI am as much opposed to Mr..
RandalFs views on the tariff question
as any one can be-" continued the
judge, ~ want to say that no more hon
est man ever sat in congress. He was
always opposed to johbery of all kinds,
and you always knew just where to
find HIM. l am sorry he is i'm such bad
health. for he will be needed more than
l~,,e