St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-20
JOHN LlND'5 WORK.
The Second District Members
Career in Washington.
Special to the Globe.

Career in Washington.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Congressman
John Lind, of the Second district, Will
complete a period Of six years IN the
lower house on the day that the Democ-
racy again comes into power, and he
does not hesitate to say that he retires
to private life with great deal of pleas
ure. He will resume the practice of
law at New Ulm and keep out OF poll
1ies-se he says Before entering the
race for congress MIR. Lind was known
in nearly all the counties Of Southwest
ern Minnesota as young and able at
torney, and when the fight for the he
publican nomination to succeed the
venerable Gov. Wakefield came up, in
the summer of 1886, Mr.. Lind surprised
the oldest and best politicians in the
state.
Among the candidates before the con-
vention, which was held at Mankato i'll
August, were the late Hon. M. ID. l..
Collester and Hon. E. P. Freeman, of
Mankato; Hon. o. B. Turrell, of Red
wood Falls; Hon. G.. II. Smith, Of
Worthington, and Hon. John Lind. of
New Ulm. This was formidable
array for a novice in politics TO face.
Brown county WaSsthen Democratic, as
it is now, and with two exceptions, Slb-
ley and LIE Suenr, all the others were
strongly Republican. ColleSter, hand
some. eloquent and popular man, had
formerly resided in Waseca. which
county he had represented in the legis-
lature of 1885. related to the influential
Senator W. q. Ward, now deceased, but
at that time a power in Republican
councils.
Ex-senator Freeman. of Blue Earth.
had represented his county in both
branches of the legislature, was fast
friend of Senator Davis, whom he sup
ported in the state senate in the bolt
that resulted in the retirement of Sena-
tor Ramsey away back i'll 1915. A resi-
dence of quarter of a century in the
district had given Mr.. Freeman an eX-
tensive acquaintance, and he was gener-
all regarded as the leading candidate.
Six years ago last summer the amlable
and clever statesman from Redwood
county, Hon. o. B. Turrell, claimed that
his nomination was assured. There
were other candidates, but Collester,
Freeman and Turrel were the leading
opponents of Mr.. Lind. Not one of the
lot and few of the veteran politicians
would have conceded the probability of
Mr.. Lind'S nomination. so that the sur
prise of all may be imagined when the
Mankato convention nominated the
New Ulm attorney Oh the first ballot,
he having more votes than all the others
put together.
While his opponents were fighting
each other, John Lind had gathered i'll
the delegates. 1t was great stroke for
him, but he followed it by bolder one.
His predecessor, Gov. Wakefield, had
acted with the Democrats in congress
on the tariff question. Lind saw the
drift of the Republican party in the ma
ton, and, in the platform adopted at the
Mankato convention. which he himself
prepared, was inserted ringing decla-
ration for protection.
This was new departure in that dis
trict, and many of the Republican lead
ers freely said SO. But Lind was elected
by the customary malority-ab0ut 10000
and the Work of placing the Republic
can party of Minnesota OH the same
ground as the party East occupied had
been commenced. 1t was work that
had TO be done, and John Lind was the
first to see it.
Since then he has been twice re-
elected, and will retire voluntarily on
the 4th of March. While he claims that
this is to be a long, il not permanent
retirement, there are indications that
he will be pushed by the friends of Sen
ator WaShburn for governor year
later, and if he is, Gov. Knute Nelson
will have his hands very full.