St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-21

many of the members not in the list of
Washburn's personal friends, but those
who have supported him to carry out
pledges, would 90 to Nelson rather than
to Comstock. The figures upon which
the Washburn men base their hope of
Nelson's defeat by this means are as
follows: They will give Comstock the
50 votes which Washburn had on the
last ballot in the caucus. the ii votes
which he had for himself, ? from Me-
Cleary's column, the one cast by Sena-
tor Hodge for Pilisbnry, 10 votes from
PopuliSts and Democrats and to be
taken from those who voted for Nelson;
total, S. This would elect Comstock.
That is the easy way the Washburn
men have of figuring it out, and it is
probably the same system of quick cal
cuation upon which they based the
claims that Washburn would be nomi-
mated in the caucus.
1t is not part of the proposed plan
that any announcement shall be made
of the proposed change of tactics, and
if the deal is accomplished it is the III.
tention, at this time at least to have
Washburn's name presented and make
tho break to Comstock before the result
of the ballot is announced. and with an
appearance of spontaneity.
Some OF the Washburn men were op-
posed to the plan at the very outset, and
it will require a severe application of
the whip to force them in. If the deal
is accomplished at all there is every
reason to believe that it will be business
rather than political considerations
which will enter into it most promI-
nently.
The Nelson men are not ignorant of
the proposed union of forces, and ex-
press themselves as perfectly prepared
meet the issue. They do not concede
that they will lose single one of the
sixty Republican vote 5 which were for
Nelson, and give it out cold that they
can muster dozen more. They dare
the Washburn caucus committee to call
another caucus, and smile incredulously
at the claim advanced by the Washburn
managers that they have made gains
since the caucus. They have all along
placed Washburn's total strength from
all possible sources at sixty-two, and
since the caucus they do not concede
even this many.
The Washburn organs have made an
official announcement to the effect that
Representative EllingsOn, Of Hennepin
county, will be
In Line for Washburn
next Tuesday and stay with the man of
ice from that time on. Mr.. EIlinyson
himself has probably not been con-
suited in the matter, as he laughed
when shown the statement yesterday,
and expressed some surprise that the
Minneapolis papers had taken the llb-
erty of disposing of his vote without
consulting him. In the course Of COM
versation he several times referred to
the Washburn men as they" and at no
time indicated that he regarded himself
as one of them. 1t is also known that
there are at least three other members
of the Hennepn delegation upon whom
the Washburn yoke rests so lightly that
it is liable to be thrown off at any mo-
ment. Two of those who voted for Nc
Cleary. and two who voted for ComStock
on the last ballot, have already re-
canted, and the first-named two are for
Nelson. One of these is Holman, of
the Second district, who isa pronounced
Nelson man, in spite OF all that may be
said.
Beyond the discussion of the proposed
break of the Washburn forces to Com
stock. there was very little going on
yesterday. Nearly all the members
went home Saturday. and the hotels
were practically deserted. All the
headquarters were open, but except
few of the leaders they were untenant-
ed. Prof. McCleary did not GO home to
spend Sunday at Mankato. 1t was lone
some enough where he was. Mr.. Com
stock was engaged the greater part of
the day in the consideration of the prop
osition submitted by the Washburn
people. and spent long tine with
couple of gentlemen representing the
Great Northern road. Gov. Nelson was
at his headquarters for short time in
the afternoon, but returned to the Mer-
chants after short conference with
Shadow Bixby.
Merely q Bluff.
There was meeting of several Re-
publican and Democratic friends of
Senator W aShburn at the latter's heads
quarters yesterday, at which gland
bluff was made to collar the Ramsey
county delegation. The threat was eX
plicitly made that unless the Ramsey
county delegation came in out of the
wet the Hennepin delegation would join
certain country aud Populist members
in an attempt to repeal the capitol bill
which was passed two years ago. The
wind is i'll large measure taken out
of the sails of this bluff by the fact that,
even if the HennepiD delegation did at
tempt such a course. it could not sum-
mon more than one-fourth of the legis-
lature to its aid. The site is already
purchased. the people are willing that
the capitol should be built, and they
will not allow the malice of the Henne-
pin delegation to cut any figure.
Every time there is joint session of
the house and senate there is an unan-
swerabIe argument for the new capitol,
and there are members of the present
legislature who voted against the bill
two years ago, but who would vigOr-
ously contest repeal measure at this
time. The bluff of the Washburn men
does not 20 at this or any other time.