St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-29
A BLUFF CALLED.
Unfortunate Predicament in
Which Kiefer Has Placed
Himself.
The Globe Proposes to Call
the Bluff He Thought
Was Safe,
And Show to the Public What
Manner Of Man This
Really Is.
A Republican Scheme to
Trade Off Kiefer ct al. for
the Council.
A Flour City Ward Politician
Now Hustling for the
Committee.
Political Items Gathered From
All Quarters Of the Bat
tlefield.

1t is matter of regret that the time
has arrived, in the city campaign, when
personalities can no longer be avoided
or dispensed with. Heretofore the effort
has been sincere to limit the civic war
to simple canvass of the respective
abilities of the candidates for mayor of
st. Paul, and leave to the discriminating
voter to decide for himself which is best
fitted to discharge the important and
onerous duties of that office. Personal
tiles in politics are always regrettable,
and can only be justified when-as is
the case at present-they are forced
into a campaign by barefaced threat,
thinly disguised as bluff. A. r. Kie-
fer, the Republican candidate for mayor,
has made the bluff, and the GLOBE pro.
poses to call it. A. r. Kiefer has raised
the issue, and the GLOBE is ready to
join it.
In the party organ of Mr.. Kiefer-the
Pioneer Press-there appeared on Sun
day morning a calm and evidently we'll
dgested denunciation of Mr.. Kiefer's
candidacy, on the ground that he was
disqualified, by dishonesty and other
wise: and entirely unfit to occupy the
responsible position of mayor of
st. Paul. No charges were. pre-
ferred against him. He was as
sailed with want of directness
which seemed inexplicable, con-
sidering the gravity Of the denuncia-
tion, until the appearance of yester-
days paper made clear the entire plot
and plan. 1t was then made apparent
that the roundabout assault was made
for the simple purpose of allowing
Kiefer to formulate bluff at his own
organ, which that organ never intended
to call. Kiefer issued what his
organ terms "a challenge" and at
once the organ shifts about and
declares that it never made any
charges, but merely opened its ponder
Gus ears to charges made by others.
The plot was shallow one. 1t was
made apparent at glance that the
bluff was directed merely at the Pio-
neer Press, with the distinct under
standing that the Pioneer Press would
never call it. and then blatantly
declare, at the end, that Kie-
fer was "vindicated." Kiefer proposed
to select from list of thirty-two gentle
men a committee of three to hear and
pass upon all charges preferred against
him. II the committee convicted him,
he was to withdraw.
But it chances that the bluff Kiefer
made at the Pioneer Press has much
wider scope, and includes far more
than the party of the second part IN
the little scheme. 1t was shrewd
move, but a most unfortunate one for
Kiefer. 1t beats down the former wall
about the campaign and admits person
alities for which Kiefer is alone re-
sponsible. He has dared the world to
produce proof of the charges against
him. He has issued general chal-
lenge, which the GLOBE accepts, in be-
half of the good government, the safety
and the reputation of st. Paul.
1t is a matter of regret, as
already stated, that Mr.. Kiefer should
nave forced this issue; out, having 0one
so, he must assume the responsibility
and accept the consequences. He is not
a fit man to be intrusted with the execu-
tive control of the city, and the GLOBE
will prove it. Long before his nomina-
tion by the Republican convention vari-
Gus damaging rumOrs were afloat in
every quarter of the city. Where there
is so much smoke, the fire is near
at hand, and the GLOBE undertakes to
locate that fire and give it free play.
The proofs will not be submitted to
committee of Mr.. Kiefer's choosing, but
will be publicly laid before the voters
of st. Paul, and their verdict will be
rendered ON the 9th day of May.