St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-05

LOREN WARREN COLLINS.

Northern Minnesota has from time to
time during the past half dozen years
given unmistakable signs of political
unrest and dissatisfaction. The fact
that this section has always been
strongly Republican has, of course,
been used by the politicians of that
uarty as an argument in favor of more
recognition of the Fifth district at the
nominating conventions of the party.
The defeat of Charles A. Gilman in the
Minneapolis convention of 1856 angered
the voters of 1.-THE bloody Fifth" and
Gov. McGill's plurality was about 1900,
instead of Blaine's magnificent 4l.O0O.
Ames gained in all parts of the state in
that campaign. but, OF the DIS
tricts outside the Twin Cities, the
Fifth. by long odds, rolled up
the most emphatic protest against the
head of the Republican ticket. The
study of the election returns of the Fifth
district for governor in 1856 has UNI
doubtedly brought the party leaders to
vivid realization of the size and i'm
portance of Minnesota lying north and
northwest of st. Paul and Minneapolis.
While the party leaders will never
consent under any circumstances to the
nomination of either Charley Gilman
or Knute Nelson, they are quite ready
to listen to suggestions from the Filth
district, and. indeed. in some ways,
would prefer the nomination OF Fifth
district man at the coming state conven
ton. So far the only candidate from
that section favorably mentioned is
Judge l.. w. Collins. one OF the asSo-
ciatc Justices of the supreme court, who
it is altogether likely will, if the move
ment for his nomination becomes at all
general, positively decline to allow his
name to be considered for the place.
However, there's no disputing the fact
that Judge Collins has at the present
date a genuine gnbernatorial boom,
which, with little encouragement,
would make him his party's candidate
for governor this fall.
Loren Warren Collins was born in
Lowell, Mass, in 1898, and is, conse-
quently about tfty-two years of age.
In 1854 his parents moved to the then
territory of Minnesota, settling in Hen
nepin county. Minneapolis at that
time had but few log huts, and did
not look especially attractive to the
elder Collins. The present judge early
inclined toward the law, and after
spending several years in the study of
the law with the firm of Smith &
Crosby, at Hastings, he commenced the
active practice of the profession at st.
Cloud in 1886. In 1862 he enlisted in
the Seventh Minnesota, and served the
full three years with honor, coming out
of the service first lieutenant and
brevet captain. Shortly after he set
tied at St. Cloud Judge Collins was
elected prosecuting attorney of Stearns
county, which position he held for
eight years, notwi thstanding the fact
that Stearns was then, as now, over
whelmingly Democratic, while the
Judge was an ardent Republican.
But Judge Collins state reputation
was not made as prosecuting attorney
of an interior county, though it is one
of the largest and best in the state. but
as member of the lower houS' of the
legislature at the sessions of 1881 and
1883. He would have been elected a
member of the house of 1856, ali W ,uld
undoubtedly have been chosen its
speaker had he not accepted tie APP
pointmenl to the bench of the Sew nth
judicial district, made vacant by the
death of Judge McKelvey. This posi-
ton he held from April II, 1888, until
Nov. IL, 1887, when Gov. McGill APP
pointed him to the vacancy on the
bench of the supreme court created
by the death of Judge John
M. Berry. A year later Judge Collins
was elected for full term of six years,
over four of which remain 1nserved at
the present time. When engaged in
the active practice of his profession,
Judge Collins was considered very able
in jury cases, and had very large law
practice.
Judge Collins is a practical, everyday
sort of man, easily approached, and as
whole-souled and accommodating as
man can be. His many phenomenal po-
litical races can only be understood
after seeing and becoming acquainted
with him. He is man who grows in
the estimation of the people constantly,
and his popularity is limited only by his
inability to meet and become acquainted
with everybody. He has filled many
public positions, and has always
filled them we'll. AS lawmaker
of the state he won praises on all sides.
Later as district judge he assembled
higher in the scale of public favor. As
one of the justices of the states highest
court he is regarded as the man stand
ing nearest the pulse of the people.
Abstract rules and technicalities
are generally not supposed to have
the Weight Will UlNn ludI Iuey
have with some judges. This be-
people of the state, explains Judge Col
Inns great run in the fall of 1888, when
he came in far ahead of the average
of the state ticket
In person Judge Collins is short,
rather chubby, with iron-gray nous
tache and hair. His fine face beams
with good humor, and neither dyspep-
STA. that enemy of judges, or the in
tricacies of the law have been able to
spoil his equable temperament. While
it is altogether unlikely that Judge Col
lius will consent 10 surrender his pres
ent position on the bench of the states
highest court for the uncertainties of
active politics, there is no doubt that he
would make a splendid run for gov
arnOr If nominated nv his Marty