The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-20
FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITOL
WASHINGTON, 81, '96.


The announcement of Mr.. Somer-
ville's candidacy for the seat now held
by Mr.. McCleary, was received here
with considerable surprise. L have
taken some trouble to ascertain the
feeling here among Minnesotaians
and others and the universal senti-
ment is that not only the Second dis
trict, but the state of Minnesota and
the Republican party of the nation
would suffer a distinct loss should
they be respectively deprived OF his
services. l noticed the very kind re-
marks of the FREE PRESS relative to
his (Somerville's) candidacy, and was
somewhat struck with the peculiar
statement that the issue between two
such good men was simply one OF
personal preference. That is a mis-
leading statement, the peculiar force
of which may, perhaps, be more fully
appreciated by those who are Suf1i-
GENTLY familiar with congressional life
to know what the qualifications for
usefulness are. The question of chang
ing congressman is one fraught with
great Importance and when district
is so fortunate as to secure a represent
alive of McClearys standing and in
fiuence, not only on the floor of the
House, but among the departments,
the proposition to change him for a
green and untried quantity, is equiva-
lent to a proposition TO paralyze the
public interests and sup nj the ma
chinery Of an established SIS en-, for
the sake of personal am3ibio /. The
fallacy of frequently changing GA
gresSmen has been So ably ana S
clearly exposed by the FREE PRESS.
that it seems Superflu0uS to add any
thing on this subject. No one under
stands this fact more clearly than
Mr.. Lind does, and it is the assOcia-
Somerville's candidacy that creates
surprise and awakeLS some suspicion
here 1t is perfectly well known that
Mr.. McCleary did not become can
didate at all until after Mr.. Lind had
unqualtiedly refused to run again,
and if it is true that he is the promOt-
er of Mr.. Somerville's candidacy, as
reported, he is certainly therein eX-
hibiting lack of appreciation Of the
courtesy with which he was himself
treated. This is not like Mr.. Lind
He is not ungrateful nor unmindful of
the ethics of true courtesy, and hence
it is hard to believe that he is the
political sponsor of Mr.. Somerville.
There is not a scintella of a reason
why the Republicans of the Second
district should change Mr.. McCleary
for Mr.. Somerville. The former stands
in the forefront in the party as repre-
Sented in congress. No man in Min
nesota since the lamented Window
has enjoyed so high and influential
a position with regard to the national
financial policy, as Mr.. McCleaIy.
the financial question is regarded as
the strongest that has been made on
the floor through all the silver debate,
and thousands upon thousands of
printed copies are being ordered by
the representatives and senators from
every state in the Union, for diStri-
button in their respective districts.
Do the Republicans of the Second
District wish to trade off this distinc-
tion and set aside known and grow
ing statesman, who has attracted the
attention and commands the respect
of the national party, for any other
good fellow who happens to want the
place?
l have an idea that the Second dis
trict, the banner Republican district
of the state, will hang on to a good
thing when it has it. xxx