St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-19
p.F. LYoNs, Local Forecast Official.
NELSON AND M,

When WILLIAM r. MERRIAM ran for
the governOrShip two years ago he was
bitterly opposed at the polls by many of
his W party. His ability was criti-
cised; the sincerity of his Republican,
ism was questioned; he was called a
tool of corporations and an ally of
selfish plutocrats. The farmers refused
to support him, and although he was
elected by a plurality of a couple of
thousand. his total vote fell fifteen
times that number below the combined
vote of his competitors.
The GLOBE cannot see how any man
who refused to vote for Mr.. MERRIAM
for any of these reasons can vote for
ikNUTE NELSON without stultifying
himself. MIR. MERRIAM is an ADLER man
than KNUTE NELSON. lie has had the
ability TO amass 4 large fortune by his
attention TO business. This is more
than Mr.. NELSON has done. He is a
better speaker than KNUTE NELSON.
When the latter was nominated for gov
ernor at the Peoples church the other
day, he read his speech of acceptance,
which he had prepared in advance. As
things had developed some of it was
applicable and some OF it sadly out Of
place. That made no difference to him,
however. He read prosily Oh to the.
end. MIR. MERRIAM would never have
made such an exhibition of himself.
Mr.. NELSON is no more III sympathy
with the agricultural class than MI.
MERRIAM. 1t is true that he OWLS a
farm, but so does our present governor.
In fact, Mr.. MERRIAM owns several
farms, and il he wants several more he
can buy them for cash. MI. MERRIAM
is not more closely identified with cor
porations than KNUTE NELSON. He is
the president of a national bank, but a
national bauk is the least oppressive OF
the dominant monOpolies. Aside from
this, Mr.. MERRIAM is wealthy enough
to act against the interests OF his bank
IL ne should feel it his duty. Mr.. Mel
son is an employe of a railroad, which
he dare not oppose. The GLOBE does
not mean to attack his honesty. But he
is a poor man, and has his own future
and the future Of those dependent on
him to consider. He can not afford to
incur the displeasure of the rich men
who pay him a salary.
The GLOBE has always doubted
whether Mr.. MERRIAM believed in the
virtue OF prOtectionism. He is too we'll
educated, too logical, too experienced in
affairs to be deceived by the fallacies
advanced to support the doctrine. He
is too genial, TOO high-spirited. too pa
triotic to feel much interest in the force
bill and the efforts which President
HARRISON has been making to infiame
anew the emberS of sectional strife.
But he has never openly denounced
these cardinal principles of Republican,
ism as has KNUTE NELSON. More than
this, he has never eaten his own words
in order to square himself with the
bosses of his party.
The GLOBE fails to see how Mr.. MEL
son has any elements of strength to
commend him to popular support above
those which Mi. MERRIAM possesses.
And yet there is one exception. Mr..
MERRIAM is an American. Mr.. NELSON
Is a Scandinavian. But the GLOBE dis
misses this thought without comment.
1t refuses to admit that any citizen who
enjoys the right of suffrage will let
this consideration influence his course
in the pending campaign. Shame on
him if he does.