St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-12
ON TO The CAUCUS.
The Senatorial Fight Now
Centered Around That
Event.
Good Prospects Already for
a Lively Row if 1t Is
Called.
WaShburn Tactics That NAV
Lead to Serious Charges
Yet.
The Caucus Committees Meet
Next Week for Con-
ference.

The interest of the senat0ri al fight is
now centered upon the proposed cau-
Gus. Upon the issue as to whether or
not that shall be held hinges great
many things important to and bearing
upon the end of the campaign. The SEN
| ate committee on caucus--SenatOrS Good
rich, Ward and Edwards--and the house
committee Representatives Flynn,
| Hay, McNelly, F. G. Stevens and Diment
| have not yet held a joint session, and
will not before next Tuesday or
Wednesday, at which time some con-
clusion wills be reached. The COM
| plexion of this joint committee is given
| as follows:
Flynn, Diment, Ward, for sabin; Hay,
for Knute Nelson; Goodrich, for dark
| horse.
The first balloting of the senatorial
election must commence by law on
| Tuesday, Jan. %. II is therefore prob
| able that the caucus, if it is held at all,
| must come between the 18th and the
2lst. Up to the time of the election Of
GU ha saSn GTaves ssa as wasbnan Iaa6er facos Gos
were loud in their professions
in favor caucus. The Donnelly men
said the leaslthen and do now as to
what their actions will be in the caucus,
and it is probable that if it is held. and
they scent the crooked work feared,
they will withdraw and refuse to abide
by the decision reached. The independ-
ent members feel the same way. The
Washburn men figure on caucus at
tendance OF 127, which is probably
about ten too high. Excluding
Democrats and Republicans n who
would not abide by any caucus
decision, it is calculated that if the eau
Gus is held there will be 116 or III menl-
bers present. A majority, therefore,
would be fifty-nine. Deducting from
this total twenty votes claimed sure for
DOnnelly, the caucus is then reduced to
nlnety-seven members to be divided be-
tween Sabin and Washburn. and a
majority of which would be fOrty-nine.
These figures are given for the purpose
of showing just what the successful
candidate must have. and to pointing
out loopholes by which means may be
found to evade packed caucus.
~
With the examples of Ex-GOv. Hub
bard, G. x. Davis, A. E. Rice and others
before them, Republicans who are be-
ginning to believe that dollars and cents
are to rule the proposed caucus, find an
avenue of escape from the tolls of the
WaShburn faction. The best informed
politicians believe that Monday nights
speakership caucus settled the fate
of Mr.. Washburn. But the gen.
erals most sanguine followers, partially
recovered from the shock of that event,
have led him to believe that the sena-
tOrial caucus affords him a last chance
for success not to be ignored. His
workers have seized on this with the
same avidity that they did on the Nor
gan boom, and their endeaver is to capt
ure this caucus by fair means or foul.
If the latter predOminates, as it is
feared it will, the caucus will end in
fight such as Minnesota politics has
rarely seen.
The Sabin men are saving wood and
their adviceS are of the most encOurag-
ing nature The DOnlelly battalion are
spotting Washburn wire-pulling with a
view to discovering crookedneSs. The
influence of money is what they fear.
and they propose. to ascertain
if it is used. And from re-
ports made yesterday it is probable
that one of the first charges the Wash
burn men will have to confront will be
the use of corruption fund. What
L
caucus and vote for Washburn whether
they intend to vote for him afterwards
or not. 1t is the prestige of the caucus
decision that the Washburn men want.
and after they get that-free fight or
none-they think that they are all fright.
Their work now is the most vigorous
since the fight began, although, as at
the start, the generalshp and ability re- !
main on the Sabin side of the house.
~
The Window element continues to
play the part of the cat, assuming that
the Washburn men are mice. Hon.
w. Fl. Yale arrived from Winona yes
terday post haste, and before he
had fairly entered the hotel
was seized upon and uShered
into the Washburn' headquarters
where he stayed for some time. 1t was
quite evident that he came because he
had been sent for. 1t becomes more
and more evident that Mr.. Windom's
game is waiting one. and that while
he will give Washburn an ostensible
support his own interests and ambitions
take first place. When the Washburn
breakup comes it will dOubtlesSly be
Mr.. Window who will claim the lions
share of his votes.
-
1t is Of rare occurrence that Senator
Dodge offers verbal opinion upon any
subject. He usually commits what he
has to say to writing. SO that there may
be no mistake on his part. Father Time
has already furrOwed his face, while
slight stoOp betOkenS that the senator |
is beginning to feel the weight of his |
advancing years. But for all that he |
keeps keen grasp upon politics, and is |
an avowed Prohibitionist. His strong |
leaniDgs in this respect are dem |
Onstrated by resolution he |
has framed for the adoption of |
the senate. This declares '.in the |
name of God, home and humanity" the |
time has arrived when the people of |
Minnesota should be allowed to decide |
upon a constitutional amendment in |
favor of prohibition. His predictions
on the senatorship candidates are an |
unknown quantity. Nay, nay." he re-
marked yesterday. 81 don't know how |
will vote or how the contest will 90. | |
find it as difficult for me to get at the
opinions of my fellow senators as re-
porter does."
Gen. Washburn ventured out of the
sacred precincts of his headquarters
shortly after noon. Head erect, he |
stepped with pompous dignity into the
Merchants corridor. The idle chatter
of the politicians ceased upon his en-
trance. 1t was as if an electric shock
had struck the auditors. The thrill
was only momentary, as the general.
having cast vacant stare around the
hall, suddenly diYed into the back pre-