St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-14
POPULARITY AND POLITICS.

In the interest of truth and veracity it
must be admitted that the recent session
of the executive committee of the Re-
publican league created no undue furore
In Minneapolis Republican circles.
There was no brass band and drum
major out to meet the committeeman as
they Heated into the city. They were
not feted. Men did not stand agape on
the streets at sight of them and say as
they passed by, "ThoSe are the men who
Will reyolutloniZe political methods in
minnesota, and who will save the state
from the disloyal hosts of Democracy
and the bold buccaneers of the Farmers
Alliance" Very few of the local Lieu
tenants" and field marshals' even
called at the Union League to grasp the
hands of these political Fabians and
ask them of the battle. Those
t mat did call did so as a mere matter of
form. Loren Fletcher, of course, went
around there to square himself for
some of his published utterances, and to
declare, as do all men who have said
more than looks we'll in print, that the
reporter lied. And the executive COM
mlttee-what did it do? 1t appointed
committee on organization and COM
mlttee on literature and the press"
Wnel ulle state convention or the Re
publican leagne met in Minneapolis last
winter there was more enthusiasm than
even William Henry Eustis could
fathom. There were loud speeches,
forld predictions of success, much hand
shaking and general 1--WE are
the people" declaration. Then the
enthusiasm vanished. That conven-
ton and the succeeding events
remind one of the commotlon
caused by dropping bowlder into a
placid pool. There is splash, intense
agitation for few moments, then the
circles widen. A little time and all is
quiet as before. The return of this eX-
ecutlVe committee to the city where the
big convention was held accentuates
this resemblance. There was no en-
thusiasm, not the least bit. On the
contrary, there was much muttering
and murmuring of significance. Par
Tor politicians" "self-appointed lead
ers." aggregation of inflated brain
pans," were some of the expressions APP
piled to the leaders of this league move
ment. A large number of the hardest
working Republicans in Minneapolis re-
gard the leaders of the league as SOL
dlers would lot Of boys building snow
forts.
John Goodnow president of the
league. has not escaped criticism and
censure. John isn't accused of having
"swelled head, )" exactly; he is charged
with being just a little too fresh. 1t is
an open secret that plenty of the local
Republicans lay the overwhelming de-
feat of the Republican party in Mime
apolis and Hennepin county last fall at
the door of John GOOdnOW primarily,
1t is thought by these critics that Johns
fffafac L.
for the places which they held. Be that
as it may. it is doubtful if the Repub-
licans could have won last fall had the
seven sageS been the campaign direct
ors and angels the executors of their
orders. However. John has created no
little animosity among the solid men Of
his own party by his prominence
during and since election. He has,
1t is assumed, taken too much
upon himself and ridden his
own horse too hard. This feeling, how
ever, doesn't go beyond politics. Good
now is a good fellow, plain, unassUm-
on earth. But he is injuring himself
with his own party by useless activity.
1t may be said that another reason for
GoodnOw's growing unpopuIarity with
some of the best men in his own party
is his continued championship of the
cause of Tim Byrnes. r. G. Evans
comes i'll for some displeasure here, too.
Tim Byrnes has travelled all over the
United States on his famous smile, and
has had his name printed in the papers
scores of times. For all that he doesn't
stand very high with his own party in
Minneapolis for various we'll known rea-
sons. The men who so constantly push,
him forward will suffer by it.