St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-17
SAINT PAUL.
THE GLOBES
GALLERY OF
GOVERNORS

ANDREW HhED McGiLh.
Since the late meeting OF the Repub-
Iican state central committee, and the
Issuance of the call for wnat may very
appropriately be termed "Snap conyen-
tion,' the question ''Wh0 shall be the
Republican nominee for governor OF
Minnesota this year?'' assumes new i'm
pOrtance. For, while it is quite gener-
ally conceded that the early date OF the
convention is move in favor Of the re-
nomination OF the present chief execu-
tive, there are many Republicans who
insist that new man will he taken uD
and nominated. That there is feeling
of dissatisfaction widely prevalent
among tho Republicans OF the state can
not be denied, and should some master
spirit arse to head and COMBINE the
opposition 30 Gov. Merriam, there is no
telling What might be the result. In
case the present chief executive is
dropped, it would be most fitting, in
view of the methods which prevailed in
the Republican state convention OF 1855.
were ey-G0v 4. II. MeGill taken up and
again placed at the head of the
Republican columns. lie would re
ceve the votes of the friends OF Albeit
Scheffer. and. if the admirers of Gov.
Merriam are half as loyal Republicans
rs they pretend to be, there ought to be
no question about the eX-gOverIl ur>S re-
ceiving thier votes as well. While Gov,
McGill was pOWerleSs in the convention
OF two years ago with its secret bal
lot and boOdle-GeSinrched delegates, he
Is man with hosts of friends, and. in
a faira open fight, he could not have
been defeated for the nomination in
that gathering of the Republican partys
rpp"-.s ,ntat0pS held in ST. Paul In
September two years ago.
Ex-Gov. Andrew Il. JcGil was born
In Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Feb.
10, 1910, and is consequently but little
over fifty years Of age. His father was
farmer. and the early life Of the fut-
ure governor Of Minnesota was spent
upon farm.
Gov. McGiil was educated at the vii
lage academy near his birthplace. In
1860. when barely twenty years OF age.
he went to Kentucky and commenced
teaching school near C0VingtOn. Here
he remained a year. In June. 1861, he
came TO Minnesota and located at ST.
Peter. Here he again followed his old
OCCUPATION Of a schoolmaSter with rare
success. In August, 1862, however, he
enlisted as member Of Capt. Shaw's
company Of the Ninth Minnesota yolun-
teers. He remained in the service one
year, when he was discharged on ac-
count Of pulmonary troubles. He
at once returned TO st. Peter
and commenced the publication
of the st. Peter Tribune, which he con-
tlnued at the head of for many years,
ard. indeed, was the owner of the paper
up to about two years ago. During his
early days in St. Peter Mr. McGili read
law, and in 1868 he was admitted to the
bar by Judge Austin. Two years later
the Judge became governor of Mime
sofa, and the young st. Peter editor
was made his private secretary. In 1878
Gov. Austin made his private secretary
Insurance commissioned of the state, and
by virtue of appointments by Cows.
Davis and Pillsbury he continued to
hold this office down to the time he be-
came governor of the state in January,
1857.
Gov. MeGill entered upon his duties
as chief executive of the state at pc
cuiarly unfortunate period. He was at
once surrounded by host of office
seekers, who. on their failure to secure
the positions they coveted. at once be-
came violent opponents Of the governor.
Every act of the governor was mlScOn-
Strued, and when the exciting ante-cOn-
VentiOn campaign began early i'll the
winter Of 1899. the pipes had all been
laid to encompass his defeat in the con-
vention. No amount of money was too
great TO secure delegations instructed
AMI pledged against Gov. McGill, and
be went down TO defeat, as he so we'll
put it, "bOGdled out of the nomination. u
His record as governor was clean, and
was heartily Endorsed by the convention
that nominated his opponent, Gov. Mer-
Ram. He was pre-eminentIg business
governor. He was always to be found
III his Office at the capitol. except when
urgent business called him out of the
city, and he never performed piece of
business for the state without giving it
the saline careful attention that he would
to his own private business. lie was
accessible TO every citizen, and his Of
fee hours were those of the man Of bust
ness. Every man was sure of receiving
kind and respectful hearing at the
hands of Gov. McGill.
His appointments were good, and, al
Or two bad ones made by his predecoS-
ser, there was never any objection
made to him on that score. Whenever
there was an Office to be filed he made
careful examination of the characters
and qualifications Of the different can
didateS before making an appointment
Indeed, so great was his personal p0pu-
larty among the people that in 1888.
without money, he came very near car
rying off the nomination after contest
perhaps the most virulent in the history
of the state. The leading Republican
organ Of the state aSsailed him as il
never aSsaiIed q candidate of the Oppo-
Sition, and he was then so strong at the
meeting of the delegates to the state
convention that secret ballot was or
dered, so that the instructed delegates
could disobey their instructions with
out being detected. These tactics won
but they may not be SO powerful this
year.
Personally Ex-Gov. Mct}ill is one Of
the most pleasant gentlemen in tbs
srate. He is an entertaining CONVEX
sati0nalist, possessing mind well stOre(
with information on so many topics
that one never tires OF his conversation
He is a kind-hcarted, genial sort of ;
man, who makes frlcndS wherever M
goes, and if he were nominated fO
governor Of Minnesota this year by th'
Republican state convention. he would
surprise some Of his maligners by tht
way in which he would run.
"
Police Court offenders.
Peter Murphy, hotel runner, wht
has a facultyof getting into trouble anC
getting out, was arraigHed in police
court yesterday morning for abusing ;
stranger named Samuel Hunt. Murphy
demanded Jury trial, which wa,
granted. and the case set for May 20.
ROberG Flaek and Jerry Ring bad ;
fist fgb6 near the corner Of jackson