St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-31
BLOCKED BY GREER.
A Caucus Call That Was
Pulled Back in Short
Order.
Hennepin's "Big Twelve" Had
Things Nicely Fixed in
Advance.
The WabaSha Man Explains
His Refusal to Go Into
Caucus.
'Tis Minneapolis Against the
State--A Day OF Practical
Politics.

The Republican portion of the Hen
nepin delegation is just as strong nu-
merically as it was yesterday morning,
but it is not half as large i'll its own es-
timation.
And the reasons for this remarkable
slump in the quotation of "Hennepin's
solid twelve" form piece of political
history as entertaining and amusing as
ever was given the people of this state.
Early yesterday morning the Republic
an members from old Hennepin arrived
in ST. Paul. headed by Hon. J. Il. Wy
man and Hon. George III. Fletcher.
Now, Messrs. Wyman and Fletcher and
their ten colleagues are very nice gem
tlemen, but the first two soon demon
strated anew that they have great deal
to learn, politically speaking, at least.
And they lost 10 time, by the way,
in putting themselves in the way of
gaining this needed instruction.
They looked at calendar and salts
fed themselves that Friday, next to the
last day of the week, had arrived. No
caucus of the Republican representa-
tiyes had been called, although the lower
house must needs meet for organization
next Tuesday. This state of affairs
called for action, and Mr.. Wyman soon
sailed forth with the following docu
ment:
1.-THE Republican members of the house of
representatives are requested to meet at the
capitol, Monday, Jan. =. 1892, ut O'Clock p.
M for the purpose of nominating officers OF
the house."
Signed by Three.
The names of Candidates Lee. Turrell
and BoggS were soon attached to the
call, and then Mr.. Wyman presented it
to the fourth candidate, Hon. Allen j.
Greer, expecting that he would also
sign it.
But Mr.. Greer positively declined to
sign. and told the Hennepin memb Ell
his reason for refusing to do so. The
source from which il came was against
il, declared the Wabasha member, and
besides, it was premature and unusual
proceeding. The statement of Mr..
Greer's reasons for this refusal will be
found at length below and will be con-
sidered as pretty substantial by all ex-
cept the members of Hennepin's "solid
twelve"
Ibis action of Mr.. Greer created a
panic in the ranks OF Lee, and caused
Messrs. Turrell and Boggs to waste no
time in Withdrawing their names. with
the result that there is now no call for
Republican caucus in existence.
This turn of affairs brings out great
deal of interesting history, and places
the fight for speaker on different plane
from what had been expected. 1t is now
a square issue between Hennepin
county ard the state at large. Shall the
strong Republican contingent from
Minneapolis dictate the organization,
rule all the committees and control all
legislation? The friends of Mr.. Greer,
as well as those of Mr.. Turrell, say no,
and there is no lack of evidence to
prove that they mean wha: they say.
The Hennepin delegation, the Repub-
lican members OF it, made this issue,
absurd position. IL has all along been
apparent that the ''solid twelve" from
Hennepin were afflicted with what is
vulgarly called the "big-head." From
time 70 time they have met in the Mill
City to discuss the situation and decide
what they would demand from the man
they would make speaker. 1t was later
announced that the delegation would
vote as unit for Mr.. Lee, and then the
delegation began to communicate with
members in various parts of the state.
Letters were written to the effect that
Hennepin would have twelve members
i'll the Republican caucus who would
Vote as a Unit,
and that the man who received these
twelve votes would be elected speaker.
Attention was invited TO the great
strength of HenDepin and the sugges-
tion made that the members would do
well to cooperate with her in the organ
izatlon, as the support of the ''solid
twelve" would insure control of all the
minor offices.
These letters were sent to trusted
few whose support would be needed to
make up the thirty-six votes necessary
to nominate In the Republican caucus.
Was it any wonder under the circum-
stances that Mr.. Greer declined TO 90
into the caucus called by the Hennepin
twelve?
The following from the Minn eapolis
Journal of last evening shows exactly
where the HeDnepin delegation stands:
j. F. Wy man, E. F. Comslock and S. B.
Howard, of the Hennepiu delegation. spent
q couple OF hours i'll the lobby of the Mer-
chants this morning Il am over on flying
trip aud will 90 back to Minneapolis about
noon," said Mr.. Wyman. Speaking of the
delegation he said: Some time ago we made
up our minds as to what we would do. and
there has been no change. We know exactly
where we stand. what we want and VIII at we
think We will get.
y Know what They VIII Get
They know what they want, where
they stand and what they will get, says
Mr.. Wyman. OF course they do. and
some other people seem to be pretty
nearly as well posted.
The Journal summarizes the situation
of the Hennepn men as follows:
1t is suggested that which Hennepin county
has decided by majority vote to support
Lee, there may be a few members who are
protesting against the unit rule and do not
want to recognize II, even in the face of
majority vote i'll It's favor. These members
will probably be brought into line by Monday
night, and in the meantime their attitude.
whether real or pretended, may serve the
useful purpose of throwing dust into the
eyes of the other candidates for speaker and
overcoming a prejudice that might possibly
exist if it were generally understood that
Hennepin bad bound herself in advance to
any particular candidate.
Several of these peculiar letters in
viting the corporation" of outside
members signed by one member of the
Hennepin delegation ''for the dele
CATION" were in the Merchants lobby
yesterday afternoon and did more than
anything else to fan into existence a
feeling of antipathy toward the MiDne-
apois men. Such an open and bare
faced attempt to dictate to legislative
body was unheard of in the history of
the state, declared Southern Mime
sofa member. The farmer members
from all sections OF the state were per-
haps the most excited and disgusted peo-
pie and threats were freely made
that the Hennepin big twelve" would
learn that the members from other