St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-14
EARLY IN THE FIELD
Three Republicans Who De-
sire to Be Nominated for
Governor.
JOHN l. GIBBS SAYS YES
To the Direct Question as to
His Candidacy in
1895.
SPEAKER VAN SAINT WAITING
Gov. Clough and Lieut.. Gov.
Day Going After What
They Want.
SPEAKER VAN SAINT WAITING

their wires, pldn a campaign anu
canvass for support. This is more
particularly true of gubernatorial
candidates. In the Winona Herald
of Tuesday appeared the following
concerning two of the possible can
didates:
Speaker Van SAINT is an open and
avowed candidate for the Republican
nomination for governor in 1896. He
| has been approached by several par
ties who are also candidates for that
position and asked to allow the use of
his name for the second place On the
ticket, but has declined to entertain
the proposition.
John L. Gibbs is also a candidate
and will contest with Mr.. Van SAINT for
the support Of Southern Minnesota. In
the event that Congressman Tawney
is not a candidate for denomination,
which is not likely to be the case, how
ever, Mr. Gibbs may withdraw as a can
didate for governor and go in for seat
in the national house to succeed Mr..
Tawney.
In becoming candidate for govern
or Mr.. Van SAINT is following in the
footsteps of eX-Gov. Merriam, whose
advent into political life was made as
speaker.
Of course Mr. Clough will GER
tainly be candidate before the con-
vention-and he confidently expects
to be nominated Of the governors
position there is no doubt. The am
billions of John L. Gibbs are not SO
well defined in the public mind.
Yesterday a GLOBE reporter inter
viewed both gentlemen on this ques-
ton, and asked them point blank if
they propose to be candidates.
GIBBS SAYS YES"
Mr.. Gibbs stated bluntly that he
would be a candidate, and expects
to secure the nomination. The eX-
speaker goes after anything he wants
just as he would go at a field he de-
sired to pillow. To the reporters ques-
lions he answered that he had al
! ready received pledges of support
| from influential men in various ports
of the state; also that he expects the
progress of events to strengthen his
chances and work to his success.
Mr. Gibbs is banking on the First
district delegation. His hopes in
| that direction may be we'll founded,
! for during a visit to Winona last
/ week the writer was given the Opin-
ion of a prominent gentleman of
that city in about these words:
THE conventions to nominate del
egates to the state and congressional
| conventions will be held on the same
| day The congressional delegates
will be instructed for James A. Taw-
ney for congress, in spite of the pref
udice against third terms. This in
| dorSement of one WinOna man will
initiate against the chances of Van
SAINT to secure the delegates to the
state convention. Gibbs has, prob
| ably, the better right to claim the
delegations from the other counties
| in the First district, and there is
little doubt that he will work every
| possible point to secure them. This
will give him a strong nucleus to
build on, and he is reckoning on the
| fact that he was a pronounced Mel
son man to give him at least an
equal amount of prestige with Gov.
Clough in the counties that remain
| neutral until the convention meets"
VAN SAINT IS WAITING.
To the same questions asked Mr..
Gibbs Speaker Van SAINT replied in
| this way: "I have had my attention
called to the fact that several pa
pers in the First district are sug-
costing my name for the governor
ship. To all who have approached
me on the matter-and it was only
| today that a senator from a distant
| county assured me of the support OF
his people, have said that two
years is a long time; a great many
things may happen in the mean
time I am not a candidate in the
sense that 1 am going to lay my plans
| and work to secure the nomination.
But a nomination to the guberna-
torial office is something that no
man would decline. l think it best
to await the progress of events,
and when the time comes, if I con-
clude to be a candidate, the people
will know it,
Asked as to the report that he had
been approached to take the second
place on the ticket, the speaker said:
THAT is true. 1 have been sounded
on that proposition; but L could not
agree to it." I cannot state who
made the proposal, because I might
1oo Ia
by authority of the gentleman who
was mentioned for first place"
Capt. Van SAINTS friends, and the
section of the Republican party that
wants to see him Nominated, are re-
lying on the fact that he is new
man in state politics to carry him
to success. They argue that he is
free of entanglements and is subject
to none of the bitter opposition that
will develop against -Clough, and
possibly against Gibbs, in the next
convention. The further fact that
he is strong and popular man with
the old soldiers is regarded as good
card in his favor, and with a good
deal of reason.
So there you are. Gov. Clough has
possession; and with two years ahead
of him in which to make a record
and arrange combinations Mr. Gibbs
is probably the strongest man in
the house on the Republican side,
and is working carefully but stead
lily with the one object of strength
ening himself with the men who
manage county conventions as well
as with the farmers. Speaker Van
SAINT, from the very beginning Of the
session, has been endeavoring to
make the best possible record for
himself and for his party. These
three men will be the candidates
for governor before the next Re
publican convention. 1t is not be-
lieved that ex-Mayor Eustis will
stand any show except to get second