The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-09
VERY UNJUST.
Colonel Davidson's Campaign in
St. Paul.

St. Paul.
The St. Paul Dispatch of May 4th
said:
"Mr. Davidson accordingly accepted
the nomination of what was called the
labor convention. 1t was and is to-
day matter of public notoriety that
Col. Davidson was not supported in
that convention, or afterwards at the
polls, by the laboring population. He
was the choice of the socialists and
extremists, who cons tituted the fag-
end of the political organization of la
Dor. He chose a political fellowship
from which any other man, of half his
pretenSiOnS to reSpectability and pub
lie uprightnesS, would have shrunk.
Following up his questionable success
in securing the pledge of such ele-
ments of political society, he after
wards secured the endorsement of the
prohibitionists.
"But neither the prOhibitiOniStS nor
labor adherents Thought the candidacy
Of Col. Davidson worthy of their sup
port in the last event, and when the
polls were closed this friend of muni-
cipal purity, this champion of rigid
enforcement Of the laws, this friend
and protector of labor, was beheld in
she position of wretchedly defeated
candidate, the recipient of the votes
of those alone whose incapacity for re-
sponsibile political action renders them
in every community political out
caStS.'
Even the small qualification is de-
MED Col. Davidson of having wrought
injury to the prospects of the party
which he abandoned, if he did not be-
tray. In no sense factor in the re-
suit, he finds himself today a mere
Don QuiXote, whose adventures would
constitute prime theme for the pol
itical satiriSt."
This is very unjust and unkind. 1t
is true that Col. Davidson polled but
1864 votes against nearly 900 given us
two years ago, but it must be remem-
bered that the city of st. Paul was, in
the last campaign, the scene of fierce
religious battle, which swallowed up
everything else. The Irish and
Catholics we're driven to the support
of the democratic party, because they
thought their race and religion were
being unjustly assailed: while, on the
other hand. many Peoples Party men,
of A. P. A. proclivities, were forced
across the line to the help of the Re
publican-A. P. A. candidate. 1t is
greatly to Col. Davidson's credit that
out of this fire of religious bigotry he
was able to hold one-half the Populist
vote in line. He made gallant, able
consistent fight; and he is already be-
ing talked of as candidate, on an in
dependent non-partisan. free-silvel
ticket for Congress, in that district.
The Dispatch is lashing him to fright
en- him back into the republican ranks;
or to intimidate others from following
in his footsteps But it won't work.
Col. Davidson is an old soldier. He has
smelt gunpowder and heard the bull
lets whistle before now: and he is not
to be scared by paper pellets.
We should have rejOiced to have seen
Col. Davidson elected: but as that was
not possible we are glad that Robert
a. Smith won. He is good, true
man: and his triumph was a rebuke to
the introduction of religious fanati-
cism into party politics. The tidal
wave of A. P A-ism has reached it's
highest point; it will now subside: and
leave nothing behind it but mud and
debris. |. ID.