St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-07
elimination Of the Scheme
Carefully Worked Out Two
Years Ago.
Mavor Ames Will Introduce
Mayor Babb, Fresh From
the People.
The County Officers and the
City Boards to Whirl
About To-Day.

Inc Dl6nnldl S6e-SdW LII llt iuuLiO
ipal politics of Minneapolis will be COM
pleted to-day. The Democratic Gins
will take walk out into the cold and
the Republican "outs" will take turn
at the flesh pots of Egypt, as far as
those dainties may be found in Mime
apolis. For two years and nine months
the local Democracy has been reVeling
in the surets of office. Everything
worth having, with the single exception
of treasurer, was in their possession,
and into it they had entered with Zest
and unanimity that gave promise OF
long lease of power. 1t seemed lncred-
ible that without the pressure of a ma
tional campaign the Republicans could
ever again enter the promised land.
They scarcely expected it themselves,
so their minds were at once bent upon
scheme that should relocate them III
power. The scheme was hatched and
it worked to nicely. Helpless
of themselves, they called upon the
legislature and there obtained the pow
erful aid. The first move was to jerry
mander the city and make thirteen un-
even and disproportioned wards, SO as
to capture the council. Then the terms
of the general city officers were eX-
tended and the spring elections abol-
ished, throwing the election Oh the
same day as the presidential election.
This completed the plan. At the first
spring election-the only One-folloW-
ing this act, the people denounced this
course by electing a Democratic council
and park board in spite of the jerry
mander. This set the Republicans
guessing, and when the time rolled
around for the fall election, they bit
terly deplored the
WANT OF WISDOM
that had placed city and general cleo
tions together. ''The city election will
absorb everything" they reasoned,
land the Democrats are hard local
fighters" Then come the conventions,
bringing that bowling circus at Turner
hall, generally known as the Democratic
county convention. Its effect was felt
Oh election day, but even it was sWal-
lowed up in the general cyclone. The
city took complete and wonderful
sommersault, as every nook and corner
went Republican. The First ward
alone was plucked like brand from the
| burning, and one alderman in the Third
ward was Snatched from the jaws OF
| defeat. 1t was terrible thraShing the
| Democracy received-decidedly the
worst in its history. A practically solid
council, solid legislative delegation.
| and a solid set of city, county and state
officers were the Republican fruits OF
victory. The demoraliZed Democracy
scarcely yet realizes what struck it.
| BE SEATED, GENTLEMEN.
| To-day winds up the career of the
present city and county office holders.
| The new deal will go into effect, and
to-night's sun will set upon a wonder
ing caravan of eX-officials. The scene
of the city sacrifice will be at the city
hall, and o'clock is set for the graceful
act. The old council will meet at that
hour and give way to the new. Mayor
| Ames will become eX-Mayor AmeS, and
Mayor Babb. Each will have some re-
marks to make. Mayor Ames was busily
| engaged upon his yesterday, with his
| secretary at the door and Ed NJ. Stevens
in the room. His honor will review
his administration. but whether he will
treat his hearers and the public to his
| usual caustic address remains to be seen.
| He is far from we'll man. and his
health of late has been decidedly
broken. Mayor Babb has prepared and
| submitted his inaugural and it has
passed the criticisms of the party
censors. He will take the oath, deliver
| the address and metaphorically assume
| the reins of government. The new
council will then organize, elect the
city officers it has nominated and the
| fun will be over for the time being.
THE OTHER CHANGES.
With to-day Mayor Babb will become
a member and president of the police
commission. That august body has a
| mighty raft of work laid out but will
probably pass over to-day's meeting
without tackling it.
The new park commission will prob
ably not organize until Saturday week,
as the law prescribes no time and that
| is the next regular meeting day.
| Several chairmen of council committees
| are eX-offico members and have not
yet been named, though E. NJ. johnson
| has his committee slate ready.
The new school board will also organ
| ize this afternoon. Soen Oftedal and
| George III. Miller will give places to r.
| l.. Pratt and M. Falk Giertsen, the
board otherwise remaining the same.
| A. T. Ankeny will probably be chosen
president and Mr.. Pearson be reelected
secretary.
The changes at the court house will
| be compar lively few. Sheriff Sven
son. Clerk Davenport and School Supt.
Warren retire and give place to their
successors The clerical and official
changes which follow have already been
| given.
And now for long season of pros
perity, progress, high wages and light
| taxation. The Republicans promised all
this, in the event of their success. and
they always keep their political pledges