The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-07-27
..MR WASHBURN'S CHANCES. .

| "MR. WASHBURN'S CHANCES.
Under the above caption the Mime
apolis Tribune of Monday con tains
brief editorial review of the situation
in Minnesota on the senatorship, and
concludes, "if the Republicans have
majority on joint ballot in the legis-
lature-as they are morally certain to
have-he (Washburn) will be chosen
without any serious opposition"
The Tribune cannot certainly be as
guileleSS as it's editorial would lndl-
cate, or if it is, then previous senator
| ial contests have utterly failed to i'm
press themselves upon the writer OF
the article referred to. Go back, if
YOU please, to the time that Senator
| Window was defeated. No more pop
| ular candidate with the Republican
party of the state ever stood before
Minnesota legislature than was he,
and still he was turned down in the
| face of an almost universal demand
for his return to the Senate. Look
at the narrow escape experienced by
Senator Davis. The demand for his
reelection had been made in two
state conventions, in every congress
SiOnal convention, and by nearly
every county convention, and still
single vote more cast against him
would have RELOCATED him to private
life, detied the sentiments Of more
than ninety per cent. of the voters Of
his party and struck blow at Repub-
licanism that would have required
years to recover from in this state.
And still we are told by great
metropolitan paper that with a Re-
publican legislature Senator Wash
burn twill be chosen without any SER
ious opposition.
1t cannot be that the Tribune is as
confident of its position as it assumes
to be. THE FREE PRESS gives it more
credit for political sagacity, and a
fuller knowledge of being onto the
'ways that are dark and tricks that
are vain" of certain aspiring pOliti
clans whose greed for gold having been
gratitied are grooming their polit-
ical ambitions with vigor calculated
to bring forth great big ripe fruit. 1t
is better to open ones eyes to the real
situation and face conditions as they
exist.
If Senator Washburn's friends in
Minneapolis and elsewhere want that
worthy gentleman to succeed himself
it is necessary that they should put on
their heavy weight fighting garments
without further waste Of time and
face the music. Sitting within the
confines of an editorial sanctum and
indicting smooth reading and prettily
wOrded editorials of confidence will
not elect him-nOt while the ''Other
fellows" are out with their harvest
hands gathering in the sheaves. In
aiding Mr.. Washburn it is not necessary
to abuse anybody else. In fact it
would be better to drop all considera-
tionS of who are or who may be can
didateS, and confine the efforts for
| Senator Washburn's reelection to the
record he has made during his first
term. One of the most conspicuous
ly unjust and uncalled for political
acts ever perpetrated by the Republic
ans of Minnesota was the turning
down of Gov. McGill after single
term of one of the cleanest and most
praiSeworthy administrations ever
given the state, and the editor of this
paper is free to confess that for the
part he played in that campaign he is
heartily ashamed and only now awaits
the opportunity when he may be able
to atone for the wrong done clean,
conscientious and modest executive,
by giving whatever time and talent
he may possess to righting that wrong
and indicating Gov. McGill by plac-
ing him again in the executive chair
a position that he richly deserves and
vindication that every honest Re-
publican in the state owes to him.
Unless eternal vigilance" be the
watchword, Mr.. Washbnrn will have
opposition Of very serious kind,
and we shall again find the party
Inundated as in 1888 by the retire
ment of faithful public servant at
the behest of one who scruples not at
conscience or eXpedience to accom-
pliSh his selfish ends.
To be forewarned is to be fOrearmed.