The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-04-24
"WEAvER FOR CONGRESS-"

Under the above caption the Lake
Crystal Union this week comes out IN
an editorial and strongly insists that
there is universal clamor for Edgar
Weaver, mayor of the city of Mankato,
for congress from this district" The
FREE PRESS is not in position to
know where this so-called universal
clamor" comes from, nor how wide
spread it may be. 1t is, however,
willing to concede the possession of
that knowledge to its free silver con-
temporary, the Union, albeit 1T dis
tinctly disbelieves that Mr.. Weaver
or any other Blue Earth county man
can be nominated for congress unless
it be j. It. McCleary.
Not many weeks ago, Mr.. Weaver
was quoted in a MankatO paper as not
being a candidate for any office.
Several of his friends here who had
been anxious to do something for him
gave up the question of his candidacy,
and thus the matter has rested until
the resurrection OF the subject by the
Union AS to whether Mr.. Weaver
has given consent to enter the field or
not we have no knowledge other than
that which may be drawn from our
neighbor But it is clearly incon-
Sistent with political events to believe
that he can succeed in his ambitions
at this time, if it be true that he has
the ambition accredited to him, and
for the very good reason that with two
candidates from the same county the
chances are greatly in favor of an out
slider walking off with the persimmons.
Ii it shall prove true that Mr..
Weaver is a candidate honestly and
exclusively for himself, this paper
will treat such candidacy respectfully,
but the Republicans of the district
will demand some very good reason
why Congressman McCleary should be
laid aside for Mr.. Weaver or any other
man at this time. The voters know
Mr.. McCleary to be thoroughly &C
ceptable representative. His course
in congress has been clean, able and
every way commendable. He has
nationalized himself on the greatest
question before the Countrywide sta
billty of sound currency. He is &C
knowledged by men Of all parties as
one of the ablest champions in con-
gress of this great national question,
and some better reason than has yet
been advanced must be given to lead
the Republicans of the Second district
to forsake his standard.
As a speaker in political cam
paign it is probable that Mr.. McCleary
has not his equal in the district, if in
deed he has in the state, on those ques-
tions of the day which will forge to
the front in the coming contest. He
is plain spoken, conscientious man
and convincing speaker. He does not
deal in theories, neither does he
pander to prejudice. He belongs to
that more modern school of public
men who discuss live questions for the
information and enlightment of the
public, relying upon the intelligence
of his auditors to form their own con-
illusions after they shall have been
put in possession of facts He is not
q Scheming politician nor political
8chemer. AS an endorsement for his
congressional course Mr.. McCleary
can well trust his case to the honest,
fair-minded Republicans of the Second
district, and it is not believed that
any combination for his overthrow
can be successfully manipulated. If
there is any universal demand"
among the voters of the district for
one man more than another for con-
gross it is for McCleary. And he has
the very fattering advantage in the
approaching contest Of being opposed
by every free silver paper in the dis
brict. What stronger endorsement
does man need among the Republi-
cans of this corner of the state?