St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-27
THE HOTEL SKiRMISHER.

THE HOTEL SKiRMISHER.
Gen. James H. Baker returned yes
terday from a business trip to Chicago.
The train he travelled on lost almost
four hours time in the first sixty miles
after leaving Chicago. 1T was the
worst snow storm they have had down
there for many years." said the gem
eral, and one of the most severe L
ever saw" Asked to speak of the out
come of the senatorial fight. Gen. Ba-
ker had but little to say. y was a
Washburn man, like all the people
down in Blue Earth county. Yet
Nelson is strong man, and his cleo
ton will entirely satisfy the Scandi-
navians."
At the Merchants the Skirmisher fell
in with c. F. Merry. of Dickinson. n.
D. Mr.. Merry is one of the old origi-
nal pioneers of the North state. al
though he if still a young man. He
got his initial taste of politics as the
right-hand man of Charley Kindred in
the famous political battle that first
conferred distinction and victory on
Knute Nelson. Merry afterwards
went into business. and incidentally
member of the first territorial legis-
lature, and was later on made chair
man of the constitutional convention.
He has been insurance commissioner of
the state. and has held other public
offices of trust.
The career of this gentleman is one
of the marvels of Western life. He
came TO the West practically without
cent. He had, however, a fair edu-
cation and plenty of grit and ability.
The Nelson Kindred fight gave young
Merry a chance TO show what stuff he
was made of. He took to politics as
naturally as a disappointed politician
! takes to vituperation: and yet he could
attend strictly to business at the same
time-a rare combination of qualities.
Today he is not only in demand as a
campaign speaker and political man
ager. but is also at the head of the
North American Live Stock Invest
ment company, with headquarters at
Dickinson, and quite wealthy. They
have -, 900 head of cattle on the ranges.
I'm a recent trip through the cattle
country" said Mr.. Merry. Il did not
see one dead critter among our own
herds or in the herds of other owners.
This has been the best winter for the
owners of large punches of cattle that
we have ever had, because losses of
stock have been unknown
Hon. Dan Shell, speaking of the pub
lished interview with Senator Wash
burn, said yesterday: Il was defeated
for speaker, but no one heard of me
doing the baby act. Senator Wash
burn speaks unjustly when he talks
of the shameless use of money and
state patronage. Regarding the as
sertion that 1 voted for Nelson to Sc
cure the reappointment of Insurance
Commissioner Smith, it is a pure fab
riCation. There was no promise of
reappOintment made by Gov. ClOugh
or any one else; and no effort by the
Nelson faction to drive me TO vote for
their man would have been successful.
Until l cast my vote for Nelson his
friends did not know | was going to
vote that way. Reports from my con-
stituents make me feel perfectly conf
dent that they will indorse my course
in this contest
Representative S. T Littleton. of
Dodge, heard Mr.. Shells comment, and
spoke briefly and pointedly in the same
strain. Senator Washburn must be
very ignorant or very innocent" said
Littleton. 1t seems to me that, liz
view of the occurrences of six years
ago, accusations of corrupt action on
the part of his successful opponents
comes with very bad grace from Mr..
Washburn.
Jim Corbett and the leading members
of his company have engaged rooms
at the Ryan. The champion boxer is
expected today
During the early stages of the sena-
toriaI fight mention was made Of a
conference of Minnesota politicians in
a Chicago hotel. The Skirmisher was
yesterday given what purports TO be
the true story of that conference. by
one who knows the men participating.
1T was. said he, more of a business
than a political conference. Sabin
was the only Minnesota politician pres
ent, and the real meeting was held at
a prominent bank in Chicago. Most
active of the participants was ShreWd
and nasterful politician from North
Dakota. Sabin brought reports of the
outlook and assured the others that
Washburn was beaten. This opinion
conceded with that of the Dakota man;
and the result was the formation of
pool that sent $4,000 to 81. PAU 10 be
bet against Washburn's chances, by
the Dakotan. The money was not to
be bet on Nelson or any other man.
but staked on the proposition that
Washburn could not win. But a
small portion of the amount could be
placed, for the reason that the men
who would ordinarily plunge, and give
odds. on the man in possession OF the
seat saw the steady drift toward the
strong combination behind the gov
ernor and would not risk their coin
on a sentimental bluff"