St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-24
MINNESOTA AND M'KINLEY.

The action Of the Republican conVen-
tions in the several congressional dis
tricts to choose delegates to the ma
tional convention bears significance
that does not appear upon the surface.
There has been a bitter struggle be-
tween the Davis and the anti-Davis
factions for control. The latter took
shreWd advantage of the Mckinley SEN
timent. and have ridden upon it to
measure of success out of proportion
to their earlier expectations In reality
they care no more for Mckinley than
for Reed or Platt or Quay, for that
matter; but Mckinley is a powerful
word to conjure with in these days,
and they have used it 70 good effect
to deal blow at their opponents. They
have carried on the campaign skill
fully but secretly ever since it was
first announced that Senator Davis
would be a candidate for the nomina
tion, with the support of his own state
Yesterday the measure of their hostility
WAS taken.
OF the six districts In which conven-
tions have been held, four the Second,
Third, Fifth and Seventh. have in
structed their delegates to vote for
Mckinley The First will support Da-
Wis, and the Sixth has instructed for
Davis first and Mckinley second. 1t
was reserved for the Fourth district,
Including the city Of st. Paul, to make
the animus of the movement perfectly
plain by adopting a resolution which,
though ridiculous in it's terms, is a
deadlier attack upon the Davis move
nent than would have been an open
abandonment of his cause. By instruct
ing these delegates to support Sena-
tor Davis, provided that this action
does not interfere with the nomination
of Mr.. Mckinley, the local opponents of
the Minnesota candidate have thrust
in the knife so deep that it will be
long before the wound that they have
opened shall heal. 1t remains to be
seen what effect this will have upon
the state convention.
This outcome is but the perpetuation
OF feud of long standing between
rivals for party leadership in this
state. At the outset it was conceded
that the delegation would support Sem
ator Davis, as a deserved compliment;
being free to leave him at any time that
1t should appear that his nomination
was impossible. This is in harmony
with the policy pursued in Iowa and
other states desirous of welding a
large influence in the convention. The
campaign which was at once set on
foot against it was deXterously yelled
under a pretense of loyalty to the
cause of Senator Davis. But it was
energetic and unceasing. Every pos
Sble measure was taken to stimulate
the demand for another candidate; and
then came the Mckinley wave that
has been sweeping over the country.
Instantly the managers took their cue.
The cry was raised everywhere that no
action of Minnesota must be allowed
to interfere with the chances of the
Ohio man. The Mckinley feeling was
those who with a wink, spoke of the
desirability of honoring a favorite son.
The leading party organ, pretending to
support Davis, even ran ballot coupon
whose effect and whose purpose it is
generally believed was to give express
sion to the Mckinley sentiment. And
everything points to the success of
the general scheme, and the stamped
ing of the state convention TO McKin-
ley with a hurrah. What unbrotherly
feelings this has reused in the breasts
of Minnesota Republicans we need not
say. 1t is a Mckinley triumph, but it
will leav2 many old and long scores to
be settled within the party at a later
day. Neither in the choice of a can
didate nor in the methods by which
it was accomplished is there anything
in the action of the Minnesota Repub-
licans that a Democrat, having his
partys success in view, can look upon
with rnorat-