St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-04
SMOKED OUT.

The Minneapolis papers have at last
smoked Gov. Nelson out, and he avoWS
himself to be in sfact what the GLOBE
for months said he was-a candidate
for the seuatorship. This candidacy is
no of recent origin. 1t originated in
somewhat famous banquet given in
Minneapolis in January, 1890, after the
elections of that year made it plain as
the nose on mans face that, unless the
Scandinavian revolt were crushed, the
sttte was lost to the Republicans. 1t
was there decided. whether with or
without Mr.. Nelson's cognizanee we do
not know. that he was the only man
vino could bring back the deserters, and
that he must be brought out Of the vol
uutary retirement he went into after his
famous speech and vote on the Mills
bill, and be the next candidate for gOv-
ernoc.
The plan then went farther, and in
cluded the defeat of Davis by Nelson.
making Clough governor and leaving
the field open for union of the country,
led by Nelson, with st. Paul, and the
election of ex-GoY Merriam to the
senate. That failed Of fruition, owing
to causes not necessary to the narrative
to state; but the scheme was only de-
ferred two years, and Is now in process
of incubation, the first step Of which ap-
pears in the announced candidacy of
Gov. Nelson Clough is to be governor,
rendering the fee-fat surveyorships Sc
cure and the lumber and mill interests
with friend at court, and the union
will be made to replace Davis with
Merriam when the formers term ex-
pires.
When Mr.. C0mstock announced him.
self as candidate it was accepted by
all who we're cognizant Of the old
scheme as being merely a cover for
Nelson, and that at the proper time
C0mstoek would retire and Nelson ap-
pear. We have it On excellent authority
that this was mistake as far as Mir.
Comstock is concerned, and that he was
and is candidate in good faith, declar
ing himself such after consultation
with Gov. Nelson, and the assurance OF
the latter that he would give him his
personal support and all that he could
command. If our information is correct
it leaves MI Comstock in q very dis
agreeable situation, and it certainly
does not reflect any credit on the gov
ernor except that credit that attaches to
him who plays politics as a game in
which the motto of love and war applies.
We have been Of the opinion that Mr..
Washburn would be reelected If no
stronger competitor appeared than those
who had entered the field up to this
time. We have been also Of the opin-
ion that he would be defeated if Gov.
Nelson entered the race. What with
what may be called his natural strength.
numbering some fOrtY-seVen votes of
men who would be pleased to see Min
nesota send the first Scandinavian to
the United States senate, Gov. Nelson
has at his disposal a large number of
lucrative appointments, created mainly
for trading purposes, which he can use.
Then he can insist that he saved the
Republican party by his candidacy in
'92. and by his recreancy to his con-
victionS expressed IN 1889. Had he re-
manned true to them, Minnesota would
have swung out of the Republican col
umn in go.
But it does not follow at all that he
will be elected. The treatment of Com.
stock is certain to react, and cost him
more votes than were taken from Wash
burn by the Comstock diversion. Then
there is an unusually large number of
members who think that senatorship
is an honor worth paying literally for.
and they are here after as ample a CON-
pensation for their votes as they can
command. The man with barrel has
an excellent field for his investments
now. Should such one enter the
field, it matters little where he come
from, there would be such f1ocking to
his standards of the hungry and impe-
cunous that his election would be as
Sured.