St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-09
POLICIES OR OFFICES.

National Committeeman RICHARD
SON, of Iowa, and several prominent
Democratic politicians of that state,
were in the city of New York recently
on their way to Washington. Gentle
men eminent in anything are always
found by-or find-the reporter, and this
Iowa party we're no exception. Com
mitteeman RICHARDSON was going over
to Washington to have plain talk with
the president. He was going TO tell
that gentleman that Iowa has not been
asked up to what the paragraphers
.facetiously call the pie counter as
numerously as her needs require. Great
possibilities were endangered by this
omission. An election is to be had this
fall at which d governor aud several
other officers will be chosen, and
legislature elected which holds sena-
tors fate in its hands.
I'VE believe we can elect him Gov.
BoIEs). provided we receive any en-
couragement from the administration.
We are hopeful that Mr.. CLEVELAND
will see the Importance of doing some
thing for the Iowa Democracy before
long. The plain truth is we will have
great difficulty in electing Gov. BoIEs
unless our state is recognized by the
national administration" And the
several eminent gentlemen who constr
tuted the body guard Of the distin-
guished committeeman echoed the senti-
ments of their chief, and were unan-
imous in saying that "unless Mr.. CLEVE
LAND changes his attitude we will be
licked out of our boots"
If National Committeeman RICHARD
SON really believes what he is quoted as
saying, he diseredits his Intelligence.
In the light of the campaigns Of the past
few years in his state, his apprehensions
are shown to be baseeSs. 1t is more
probable that Mr.. RICHARDSON does
not really believe that the result this
fall in his state will depend on Mr..
CLEvELAND's asking few of the
thousands of Iowa Democrats up to the
pie counter. but that he is only trying to
scarecrow the president. As showing
how utterly useless the possessions of
the. offices are as force in carrying
elections, Mr.. RICHARDSON'S own state
is a good illustration, though not at all
an exceptional one. Let us examine the
facts.
In 1887 the popular Democratic can
didate for governor was clicked
out of his BOOTS" the Republic
can candidate having plurality of
16, 100. At that time most of the federal
Offices of the state were in the posses
sion of Democrats. In the follow
ing year, with more offices held by
Democrats. Mr.. HARRISON had plu-
ralty of 31,721 over Mr.. CLEVELAND,
and the next year began the rapid re-
moval of the Democratic incumbentS.
That fall, 1889, Mr.. Roles was the Dem
ocratic candidate for governor, and was
opposed by a man who was supposed
to carry the old soldier vote in his vest
pocket. The total vote cast was $780,
613 and Mr.. BOIEs had plurality Of
6,523 receiving 1894 per cent of the
vote to 4S.O1 for his opponent. Two
years later, by which time the offices
were all RepubiicaniZed, Mr.. BOIES was
again the candidate of his officeless
party, and, out Of total vote of 400, 152,
he had a plurality of 8,216, getting 1910
per cent of the vote to 47.71 for his OPP
ponent. In 1889 only Mr.. Bo1Es
was elected; in 1891 all on his ticket
were elected. In view of these facts
does not Mr.. RICHARDSON belittle the
cause his party represents in saying
that that cause now depends for success
on its getting few federal offices in his
state? Some day the hard truth may
dawn on his mind, as it has become
clear to others, that the possession of the
offices under the present method of get
ting them is a positive weakness to the
party having them, and that the party
that relies on them and not on the right
fulness of its cause is certain of the de-
feat it deserves.