The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-17

A SENATORIAL CONVENTION.
E. Ma.tson Explains How the Conven-
ton Was Carried for HOgObOOm.
To the Editor:
/ am frequently asked to explain the
work of the Republican senatorial conven-
ton at Moorhead on the Hth, and how
II. S. Hogoboom came to be nominated.
have felt that perhaps I owed a duty in
the shape of a public explanation to my
many friends in Wlkin county, and would
therefore request you to publish the fol-
lowing:
Those who read the report of said con-
vention in the papers have, no doubt, OBJ
served that Mr. H. in his speech of accept
ance, quotes from st. Paul. That I am al
most persuaded etc. At the convention
in Breckenridge to elect delegates to the
legislative and congressional, and name a
county ticket, it was we'll understood by
a large majority Of all the delegates pres
ent were favorable to my candidacy and
nomination for the legislature. In fact,
the only opposition developed at all came
from dark-horse candidates, who knowing
the people were for me, had not the manly
courage to come out openly. From per-
sonal interviews l found a majority of the
delegates from every commissioners dis
trict were friendly to me, and 1 asked every
delegate before he elected to the Moor
head convention if they would stand as my
friend for the nomination. and one and all
said they would if the convention elected
them. So 1 naturally felt, amongst gentle
men and honorable men, this was enough
without further instructions. However,
soon after the convention we began to hear
talk of divided delegation. and certain
friends of w. d. Washburn commenced
their underhanded methods Of securing
nominee from this county friendly to his
reelection to the United States senate.
Now, if Mr.. Hogoboom, who is quite apt
al quoting Scripture. had, in his speech at
Moorhead told the Biblical story of Esau
and Jacob, our people could draw their
comparison and have a very good explana-
ton of how Mr.. H. happened to get the
nomination; Jacob representing a United
States senator, through his agent, the ma
tional bank examiner, Brush. Came to
our friend Esau, of Campbell, and said,
We must down Mattson, for he will not
support for reelection to the United
States senate. The people of this dis
trct are against me. They are opposed to
paying freight my watered railroad
stock and are in favor of strict railroad
regulation by the state in the interest of
the producers and employes-and they ia
supporting Mr.. Cleveland's financial policy
and this man Mattson is with them, and
always has been and is against me. We
must down him, we did six years ago.
And Esau, of Campbell, says: Il am almost
persuaded" Notwithstanding our commits
sioner's distrct-elected w. w. Tagart
delegate to Moorhead and friend of Matt
sons. So they Immediately went out to
interview delegates. Esau found Mr.. Tag
CART could not be seduced nor persuaded;
he needed none of Jacobs pottage. for he
is an honorable friend and gentleman.
They found, however, Wells, Sweetman,
and Jevrud to be proper Esaus, and just
waiting to be persuaded by Jacob and his
agents. You see. just three had to be
persuaded, otherwise we could have nom1-
mated Mr.. Douglass for senator and
secured the nomination for the house
at any time. But, Notwithstanding
this traachery, they found l had
enough friends in Clay and Becker, namely
IA, to nominate me anyway, without count
ing two from Wilkin. So the president OF
the Detroit National Bank, Mr.. E. e.
Holmes, came to the rescue and Wnen the
ballot was taken, stood in front of the
Becker county delegates and with printed
Hogoboom ballots in one hand and, meta
phorically speaking, a National Bank club
in the other. voted every delegate of the
10 but one who was behind him. The chair
man of the convention In spite of the fact
I had seven of these delegates pledged to
my support, they dare not vote against
Mr.. Holmes wishes. Mr. Holmes said
himself, in the presence OF Hon. Ihos.
Turtz myself and three others, just after
the convention adjourned-in the lobby of
the Grand Pacific Hotel-it was all he could
do to keep seven of the Becker county
delegation from supporting me- so you
will now understand that Esau owes the
honor of his nomination to the persuasion
of Jacob and his agents, the National
Bank Examiner Brush and f.. G. Holmes,
the president of the National Bank OF De
troit. He is their selected representative
and if elected will no doubt honorably serve
them. Now, how do the Republicans and
people of our county and district like such
political methods and politics. But this is
only one instance of many thousand hap
penning every time United States senators
are to be elected. 1t demonstrates that
it's high time we change the constitution
and elect by direct vote of the people.
There are many evils in a political sense
that ought to be reformed and l had hoped,
and still hope, these reforms can be
brought about through our Republican par
ty, but judging from the nome outlook 1t
is rather discouraging. The whole coun-
try, from Maine to Louisiana, is looking to
the Republican party to come into power
and to redeem our beloved country and
people for financial and business depression
TO our old time united prosperity. The re-
turns from every election in every state
our great party will have as grave re-
sponsibility and as great an opportunity
resting on it's hands to serve the people
as at any time during the war To serve
the people Now, as l have never parti-
cipated in a political convention so far,
without accepting and supporting the re-
suit and feeling in a certain sense, bound,
especially as regards Clay and Becker
county candidates to do so now, Hogoboom
and all, l would like Mr.. H., however. to
define himself the railroad question.
Formerly he used to argue that railroad
corporation should not be interfered with
by state regulation but be allowed to run
their business in accordance with their own
sweet will just as a private individual.
1 used to think perhaps our friend might
have been unduly persuaded to this view
on account of that black muley bull Jim
Hill gave him. AS l understand he has
some time ago disposed of that piece Of
persuasion. He may now have changed
his mind on the railroad question to the
peoples side, and whether if elected to the
legislature he will support only some gen.
tleman who is in accord with his professed
free silver views. If so, then we propose
to take our dish of crow, however unpalat-
able. Respectfully,
F. MATTSON.
Breckenridge MINI.