St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-07
THE BATTLE OPENS.
Leading Candidates for the
Speakership of the House
Appear.
Greer, Turrell and Lee All
Confident, but Furnish
No Figures.
Indications That the "Father
of the House" Will Be
Dumped Again.
A Fine Point Settled by the
North Dakota Colony
Recently.

IHe contest Tor tne SpeaKerSnip Vi lhe
lower house of the legislature at the
coming session warmed up yesterday,
the three leading Republicans candi-
dates for the honor making their APP
pearance in the city. As usual all are
confident, but none are making any
claims that can be reduced to figures.
On the surface all is harmonious, but
a very slight scratch diScloSes great
deal of feeling that is sure to be famed
into activity In the next three weeks.
Aside from these candidates, MessrS.
Greer, Lee and Turrell, the members in
the city were few in number ana pretty
evenly divided between the parties.
There were more old members on mana
than new ones, by the way.
The contest is peculiar one and
seems likely to leave a great deal OF
bad feeling behind unless things take a
change. Hon. .. B. Turrell. of Red
wood, the father of the house." has
served in many legislatures with rare
ability. and comes to the Capital City
this year with the feeling that the party
really owes him a little consideration.
He is making no claims beyond the fact
that he expects the solid support OF the
Second congressional district. Sharp
and shrewd as Mr.. Turrell is in bust
ne SIS. he is inclined to be very gullelesS
in politics. He has had considerable
experience in the Second district, and
has every time been "let down" by the
Republican politicians there in the
most approved and inglorious man
Der. Twice in six years he has
gone into Republican, congress
sional conventions with pledges from
twice as many men as voted
for him. The Second district with its
heavy Republican majority is aud has
been the
Worst BOssed Dis .rict
in the state, which accounts for the man
her in which the claims or the Redwood
statesman have been treated IN the past.
A nod from the bosses has been all
sufficient in many counties of the dis
trict, and there are indications that the
same condition of things still prevails
and that when Mr.. Turrell comes TO
figure up his men he will lack tour and
probably six of having the solid Second
district.
II did not want the nOmi-
nation for the house this year, !"
said Mr.. Turrell yesterday, but
the convention nominated me and IN
sisted that | accept, which finally dld
because all the other parties had COM
bined against us. L was elected, and
the district was saved to the Republic
ans. / would like to be speaker, but L
do not want to promise the same posi-
ton to ten or twelve men to get il. l
have no claims to make beyond the fact
that believe the Second district will
give me good support. 1t is too early
to tell anything about it yet. because
there are so many new members, and
they are, rightly enough, heSltatlng
about committing themselves. In some
respects the situation resembles
the contest in the legislature
of 1885 when John l.. Gibbs and Judge
Cornish were the candidates. LII that
fight Hennepin county held the balance
of power and went to Gibbs. electing
him. 1t seems to me that these two
cities hold the balance of power in the
present contest"
AS usual, there are men working
against Mr.. TurrelI right in his own
section while pretending to be for him.
They know what the machine desires
and are for it.
Turrell rs Too Easy.
The leaders know that MI Turrell
will pocket his defeat as ne always has
and go back INTO the harness and help
to pull the old party wagon out OF the
mire. If the Redwood statesman were
not so eaSy-going and would demand
a fair show his election would be almost
certain, because all who know him adj
mire him. but it is sort of liking and
admiration which brings no votes.
There will be lots of members who will
be sorry to see the grand old man OF
the house" defeated, but who will not
suffer their sorrow to interfere with
their votes.
Hon. William E. Lee, the candidate
vino has the support of the powers that
claim to be in complete control OF the
Republican members of the house and
senate, did not reach the city until last
evening, but when he reached the Mer-
chants hotel he found G. A. Sever
ance, the law partner of Senator Davis,
waiting for him. The presence OF the
other candidates prevented any lengthy
conference. Mr. Lee looks as happy as
though he had just won another great
patent suit, and declared that he had
no doubt at all in regard to his election.
Il have just told Greer" he said,
"that | will airport him for chaplain.
Do you not think he will make good
one?"
.'How many votes do you CLAMP" was
asked Mr. Lee.
Il am not ready to make any claim of
that kind" replied the Todd county
member, "but | will have enough to
win with"
Next on the list of the candidates in
the city yesterday is Hon. Alien j.
Greer, of Wabasha, who is by no means
third on the list as far as strength is
concerned. Mr.. Greer, like Mr.. Turrell.
is making a fight somewhat under dis
advantages. lie will have
The Solid support
of the First District and will get good
slice of the Third beyond a doubt. In
the breakup, that is sure to come in
Hennepin he will also gain votes. Mr..
IurrelPs fear that HenneDiu'S twelve
will be solid for one man is groundless
for the simple reason that the three
or four men who are aiming
to control the delegation in
order to secure good committee appoint
ments Will find that their colleagues
Will object to being led by the nose Tor
their benefit.
OF course the number of candidates
for the various positions within the gift
of the house is legion, and contains
representatives from all sections Of the
state. There are eX-memDerS ready to
do anything. from guarding the doors
to cleaning the spittoonS, and the num-
Der of ministers ready TO pray at s.
per prayer is large and constantly
growing. The disposition Of these
offices will depend in great
measure upon the speakership contest,
as we'll as locality. he Sixth district.
if it furnishes the speaker. will not be
called upon 10 contribute much more to
the states service at the coming session.
In this event. T. A. Johnson, of ST..
Paul, tile bright and capable political
editor of the Dispatch. will be the win
npr, beyond doubt, while bob"
Deakin will
Get Ills Old Place,
and eX-Representative B. N. Low. of
Murray county, will be made sergeant
alarms. In case Hon. Allen j. Greer
wins, Ar. Johnson Will have strong
orponeut i'll ). a. Phillips. of Dulutnt
Tie success OF Nr. Turrell would no.
change the situation much unless it re
tirnt Mr. r n,y AZ hioh would ha a io-S