St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-13
Will the Ramsey Democracy
Profit by the Experience
CT the Spring?
Tf al Result Was a Democratic
Revolution, Not a Re pub
lican Victory.
The Demand of the Hour Is
a Reformation of the En-
tire System.
There Must Be Not Even the
Suspicion Of a Ring in
the Party.

Though the national and state cam
palgns are practically under way, the
respective lines of battle having been
laid and the several leaders designated,
the purely local hustings are as yet al
most wholly undisturbed. 1t is nearly
two months until election. and within
that period must the candidates be
named and the issues joined upon
which the Ramsey county Democracy
will march to victory or defeat. 1t is
in the early part of this period-this
critical period that the foundations
must be laid for the substantial victory
that the Democracy expects to reap in
the fall. Just at this time, before can
didacies and campaign plans are crystal
liZed and before the creative process be-
gins,it is eminently proper. if not abSo-
luutely necessary, that the Democracy of
the county be brought squarely face to
face with the situation. This must he
done before there is a committee meet
ing, primary election or candidacy
announcement. This understanding
must be had at the very beginning OF
the campaign, and it must be explicit
and satisfactory if the Democracy would
avoid repetition of the hurricane
which overlook it in the spring.
The party is at this time in the posi-
ton of minority party in the county.
The city is practically the county. and
the city is in the hands of the Republic
ans, as the result of the May elections.
But the fact must be borne in
mind that with the full party
vote the city and county are
safely Democratic. The city did not go
Republican in the spring; it went anti
Democratic. The nearly 1000 majority
given Mayor Wright was a partial ex-
preston of the independent Democratic
dissatisfaction with the existing con-
dition of affairs within the party lines.
The Democratic defeat was not a Re-
publican victory: it was simply Dem
oeratic revolution. And tbs taeseauses
of that revolution that the party of
Ramsey county must fully and squarely
face, study and remove if it would re-
store confidence. elect the county ticket,
and give to Cleveland and Lawler the
majorities they deserve and have right
to expect.
Bravely and honestly regarded. there
is no room for minclng matters in the
consideration of this important ques-
ton. What defeated the city ticket?
1t was the widespread and general be-
lief in the existence of party ring that
controlled and manipulated affairs to
an extent that left absolutely nothing
In the way of choice or sentiment of the
people generally. Party leaders, party
orators and party papers were unable
to convince the independent and think
ing masses that such ring did not ex-
ist. The conviction became absolute
ly overwhelming that thorough whip
ping all along the lin, was necessary
to party salvation. and it was given
with will. The intention was not de-
clared from the housetops, for the resolu-
ton was quietly taken. but the medi-
cine was effectively administered, and
without the slightest effort at sugar
coating. The Democratic city ticket
was defeated by Democratic votes, and
that, too. by the votes, not of party
traitors, but of men with the best inter
ests of the party steadtastly in view.
1t is not even necessary to 90 into the
question whether the belief in ring
was we'll founded. 1t is sufficien: that
there was such belief. and it is now
imperative that even the merest sus-
picion of ring be openly, thoroughly
and finally eradicated. Confidence
must be restored. and the people given
the assurance by deeds, not promises
alone, that the choice of candidates and
conduct of campaigns will rest where
such properly be!ong-in the hands of
the people. Unless such assurance is
given, and public confidence restored,
the coming campaign will be but rep
etition of the disasters of the spring.
What must be the first step? Un-
QueStionably reformation in the con-
duct of the primary elections. The
system that has obtained in the past has
made the people heartsick. and has re-
suited in leaving the primaries, for the
most part, in the hands of lot of IRE
sponsible ward heelers as the only ones
who will turn out to witness the carry
ing out of the farceS. The assurance has
been lacking that the vote of every
Democrat. no matter what his views or
whom his choice, may be freely cast and
fairly counted. and the inevitable re-
suit followed. The alleged sense of
great party has been expressed at the
primary elections by the merest
handful of voters. Fifteen votes. for
illustration, carry a primary election
in the Seventh ward! Two or three
men in each ward, usually with the
ward committeeman for leader, select
the delegations to the city and county
conventions, and the masses of the
party must ratify this choice, or, as is
generally the case, stay at home and
lose all interest. Year in and year out,
the same old faces are seen at the con-
ventions. unless, indeed. one or more of
the delegates has rebelled against the
domination, and been turned down for
INSTRUMENTATION. This system of prima-
ries must end now aud forever. The
entire Democratic party and every man
in it, if he desires it, must be heard in
the selection of the county ticket. Away
with every suspicion of packed caucuses
and packed conventions. The voice of the
entire party makes no mistake in the
calling of candidates. No candidate for
any Office must be permitted to say that