St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-20


fact, for ex-Congressman James B.
Wakefield, of Blue Earth City. has been
for more than thirty years one OF the
leading Republican politicians of the
state; indeed, some of his warm adj
mirers in the Second district are accus-
toned to claim that Mr.. Wakefield was
the ablest man Southern Minnesota
ever sent to the national house of rep
resentatives.
Gov. Wakefield is a man of positive
convictions, and no amount of pressure
from his party could induce
him to fall in line with
the high tariffites when the
celebrated Morrison bill was under dis
cussion in the house. He held that the
interests of his constituents demanded
a lower rate of tariff duties, and he did
not hesitate to ally himself with the
Democrats in favor of that measure.
From a political point of view this indie
pendence was fatal to Mr.. Wakefield,
and he was succeeded in the next house
by the present Second district congress
man, John Lind, protectionist of pro-
tectionists. But ''all things come to
him who waits" and to-day Gov. Wake
field has the satisfaction of feeling that
his action at that time is now Endorsed
by at least nine-tenths of the producers
of the state. This remarkable change
in feeling throughout the state on this
great issue has had the effect OF bring
ing the Blue Earth City statesman again
to the front as a congressional POSSIBLE
ity in the Second district Of Minnesota.
He may not be able to win the Republic
can nomination, in view of the fact that
Congressman Lind has Well-drilled
army of federal officials who will be on
hand when needed for work, but it is
altogether likely that he will receive
the Farmers Alliance nomination with
out an effort.
Here is what leading Southern Min
nesota farmer and former Republican
politician said on the matter yesterday:
1.-The farmers of the Second district
are heartily and earnestly i'll favor OF
great reduction in the tariff, and they
are determined to have their votes
count for a man of that kind in the COM
ing campaign. Gov. Wakefield has long
been pronounced tariff reformer, as
we'll as an anti-monopolist. and the
more our farmers study his record at
Washington the more they are con-
WINGED that he was their friend and adj
vocate every time. Were he to accept
the Alliance nomination l am
quite sure he would be elected,
as protection for projections sake is
becoming a trif1e nauSeating to the vOt-
ers of Southwestern Minnesota. DO
you think he will accept the farmers
Nomination. / certainly think SO, and
| might express myself a good deal
more strongly, but l shall not do SO
just now"
This movement in favor of Mr.. Wake
field is very likely to cause great deal
of uneasiness in Republican circles, and
will be a rude awakening tor Hon. John
Lind, who has come to regard himself
as the absolute dictator of the Second
district. Gov. Wakefield looks stronger
than he has for some years. and ii he
enters the field there will be fun ahead
for the voters of Southwestern
Minnesota. EX-CongreSsman James
B. Wakefield, of Blue Earth
City, was speaker of the lower
| house of the Minnesota legislature
| during the session of 1866, was after
wards senator from the same district,
| and was lieutenant governor OF Mime
sofa from 1876 to 1881. In the fall of
| 1882 ne was elected member of con-
Il
| reelected in 1884.
! Hon. Peter Nelson, of Red Wing, who
| for the past four years has helped to
represent GOodhue county in the state
senate, spent yesterday in st. Paul, be-
| ing domiciled at the Merchants. Sena-
tor Nelson was one of the hardest work.
ing and most faithful members of that
body, and was deServedly popular.
! What he has seen of the workings of the
| Farmers alliance in years past has not
| impressed him faYorably. with their
| present action, and he doesn't hesitate
to express the opinion that the conven-
| ton called by the farmers may be
thrown for Gov Merriam instead of an
| independent candidate.
A slight difference in political opin-
ions is no bar to friendship. This state
ment is most striklngly eXemplified in
the cases of three members of the last
! state senate-SenatOr Wood, of Fari-
bault; Senator Child, of Glencoe, and
Senator Nelson, of Red Wing. DR..
| Messrs. Nelson and Child are Demo-
| Gratis. The three were, however, almost
inseparable during the times they spent
| attending the sessions of the senate, and
three warmer friends would be hard to
| find in the state. DR.. Wood spent yes
terday in st. Paul taking in the sessions
of the State Medical society. dining at
! the Merchants with Senator Nelson.
Capt. A. Fl. Reed, of Glencoe, was
registered at the Merchants yesterday,
looking as cheerful and happy as
though he had won the fight for Col.
Canaday's place as sergeant-at-arms of
the United States senate, in place of eX-
Congressman Valentine. Capt. Reed
still entertains the idea that he has had
the earnest and hearty support of the
Minnesota delegation in congress in his
several campaigns at Washington dur
ing the past year. This may be true,
but warm friend of the captains in
sists that this support was given only
because his cause was known to be
hopeless from the start.