St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-18
is MERRIAM SCARE? ?
The Governor Goes a-Sound-
ing Public Senti-
ment, j
And Half Makes Up His Mind
Not to Seek Another
Term. |
The VIII Of c. D. Strong
Leaves His Estate to His
Family.
Streets, Boulevards and Con-
Quits Talked to No
End.

Has Gov. Merriam decided to be a
candidate for denomination next year?
1t seems that the governor had no
other idea until few weeks ago, and,
indeed, he may have no intention of
pulling out at the present time, but, be
this as it may, the governor has been do
ing considerable "feeling" around among
the politicians and prominent men
throughout the state during the past
two or three weeks just to see how he
stood. The result, tits said, has not
been fiattering, and the shrewd banker
has about decided to play the magnani-
nous, with the intention to reap his re-
ward later on.
An amusing feature Of this solicitude
on the governors part is the great anXi-
ETY. he manifeStS over the Scandinavian
voters of Minneapolis. Like many
other Republican leaders who are at
all aware of the effect the present Re-
publican administration is having on
the Scandinavians of the Mill city, Gov.
Merriam is really worried. and sees dis
aster ahead. not only for the local
ticket, but for the state tick
he a few davs ago that Rev. NJ. Falk
Giertsen. of Minneapolis, was called to
st. Paul for consultation with the gov
ernor. This consultation evidently
failed to satisfy the troubled official,
and Prof. Oftedahl was sent for. From
the fact that Rev. Gjertsen was shortly
afterWard again summoned to st Paul
and into the presence of the governor
"Strange to say" said the GLOBE
mans informant, 'neither Prof. Ofte-
dial nor Falk sGjertsen know that the
other had been to see the governor
Such consultations have been very
numerous of late and with politicians
from all parts of the state, showing that
his eXcellency is in what might be
termed state of unrest" at present.
He would undoubtedly be willing to
pay handsome sum for denomination
ard reelection, but the fear that a
possible defeat turks in an ambush
around either convention or election
causes the cold (politicaD chills to run
merry race up and down the governor
spinal column.
Gov. Merriam will not be candi-
date for the gubernatorial nomination
when the time for holding the next con-
vention comes 'round," said one of the
shrewdest politicians in Minnesota a
day or two ago. Merriam will have an
opportunity at that time to make him
self solid for Cush Davis seat in
the senate, and he won't be
it with both hands and his bank ac-
count. Why, if he should come before
that convention next summer, or previ-
ouSly announce that he wanted no re-
nomination, that he believed in the one
term principle, and was satisfied with
having done up Gov. McGiIl. the I'M
sophisticated granger would insist on
putting Merriam at the head of the party,
and the governor would be in much better
shape, having Withdrawn in this way,
for a senatorShip than he would have
been had he been renominated and
second time elected governor of the
state"
Isn't there a good deal of sound sense
and some prophecy in the views re-
produced above? And doesn't it begin
to look as though the governor were
thinking seriously of trying new tack?
There are many reasons why Gov.
Merriam is thinking seriously of return
ing to private life in January. 1891, and
not the least of these is the fact that
Gov. McGill, Loren Fletcher, Albert
Scheffer, Gen. j. Ill. Baker, Charley
Gilman. and host of others equally
as prominent are supposed to be in a
combination to down the present chief
executive III Tue convention, IL possible,
and if not there then at the polls. In
1888, if these worthy sachems could
have united, something might have been
done and different man would now be
governor. but each was Tor himself and
the common enemy knocked the per-
simmon. This state of affairs will not
exist at the next nominating conYen-
ton.
Another vigorous "persuader'' was
found in a brief scanning Ger of the
late election in Iowa. Gov. Merriam
knows the value of good, hard cash in
politics, but he also knows that an off
year is bad time for man to run for
governor of Minnesota with a dead
certainty that he's going to be cut by
$4,000 Or 10000 loyal Republicans star
ing him in the face.
Will the governor be candidate for
q denomination?