The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-28
HE is FOR DAVIS.
Senator Peterson, of GoOdhue County,
Gives Vent to His Political Views

The Minneapolis Evening Tribune
has interviewed Senator J. w. Peter
son, of Goodhue county, and that
rural statesman unbosoms himself as
follows on Minnesota politics:
I'm my opinion. from all l can see
now, G. K. Davis stands as good a
chance to go back to the senate as any
other man. and perhaps little bet
ter. Personally am for Davis; Twas
instructed at the convention that
nominated me for the state senate to
vote for Davis, and | see no reason
now why | should not do so.
THE country people it is true are
not so strong in their support Of Da-
Wis as they were four years ago. The
country papers seemed to be all for Da-
Wis and his election was a foregone
conclusion, but its different now. He
is still strong, no doubt, but he has
disappointed not few
Davis allowed Washburn to get
away with him in the appointment
line when there was any difference,
and Davis lost some votes and some
influence by this. But on the whole
l think he has done well for a new
member. 1t takes man some time to
get to the front and even with G. K.
Davis ability, it is not to be expected
that he would make much of a REGARD
the first year or two.
Il don't think Sabin will be in this
trip. No doubt he has many friends,
but even in Saltwater Senator Sabin
is not the big gun he was few years
ago.
"Will the divorce and his reported
second marriage hurt him?"
Yes, suppose it will some. But it
will get him some votes, too. No
doubt Mr.. Sabin has been unfortu-
nate: if the facts were all known he
would be praised rather than blamed
for his course in this CASE
''Will Merriam be a candidate?"
Yes: L suppose that is fOregone
conclusion. Mr.. Merriam is wealthy
and an election to the United States
senate would fill his cup of political
ambition about full. [ don't know
how well he stands. He may be a very
strong rival of Davis"
What do you think of the combin-
alton of Merriam for senator and
knute Nelson for governors"
Il think if Knute Nelson was elect
ed governor he would make a pretty
strong man for the senate himself.
But l think Knute Nelson's strength
is on the wane. He may be strong
among the NOrwegians, but among
the Swedes-my people, don't think
he has the following he once had.
Nelson hurt himself seriously in the
last campaign by making speeches for
Merriam and writing letters to prom
inent Norwegians asking them to sup
port Merriam. Nelson also hurt his
record on the tariff question by his
conduct of late years. and on the
whole / fear he is not so strong as
some of us might wish him to be-
What effect will good crops have
upon the Alliance movement"
swell, think that will kill it if
anything. The average Alliance man
was one of those neyer-do-well farm
ers. He didn't take care of his ma
chinery. His barns and places were
not well kept up. He was behind with
his bills and he wanted the govern
ment to come along and do something
he didn't care much what. to help
him out.
''ThiS is what the Alliance party
was made up from in our section. I
guess it was pretty much the same all
over the state.
What they will amount to I don't
think anybody can tell. I guess the
excitement will blow over soon. and
then there will be achance for new
set of demagogues to work themselves
to the 'front.'"
Whom will the Republicans nomi-
nate for governor"
II don't think that is settled yet.
l don't believe anybody is very promi-
nently mentioned yet. At any rate
there is nothing very sure. l have
heard John Lind spoken of. He was
the only Republican congressman that
stood the gale of 1890, and he would
make strong man, but l don't sup
pose he would want to be governor.
He would rather stay in Washington.
"We farmers don't talk much poll
tics now. We are harvesting crops
and tending to our business, but when
the ball opens in 1872, | guess we'll be
in it, and the Republican party will
be on top as of DID,"