The Saint Paul globe., 1896-09-16
so THE DEMOCRATS MAY YET
NAME A CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATE.
STEVENS CONSIDERED WEAK.
FRIENDS OF JUDGE WILLIS THINK
HE COULD MAKE THE RACE
SUCCESSFULLY.
POLITICAL Cos
Democratic Congregational Conyen.
tiOn for the Fourth District
Called for Oct. IL.


Dissensons between Ramsey county
Democrats and Populists may lead to
an event that has heretofore been dis
counted by the Republicans. Friends
Of F. c. Stevens, Republican nominee
for congress from the Fourth district,
have been congratulating that gentle
man on the fact that he would have no
opposition worth considering. They do
not fear Clark, the Peoples party nomi-
nee, and 1t seemed impossible to per-
suade any Democrat to make the race
so long as there was any likelihood of
Clark being indorsed by the Demo-
Gratis. But now it is most unlikely
that the Democrats will indorse Clark
and there are several candidates for the
Democratic nomination for congress.
1t is argued by those candidates that
Stevens is a weak sister, that he will
not poll his full party vote, and that
Clark, too, is not popular with a large
number of Populists, who will vote for
any good man in preference to the
party nominee. Even should Clark get
the promise of support from the Dem
ocratic convention, it is claimed that
there are so many Democrats who
would not vote for a Populist that a
Democrat running independent or on
third party platform would poll more
votes than Clark
1t is such arguments that have
stirred the friends of Judge Willis to
active interest. Some weeks ago Judge
Willis could have had the support OF
the Democrats, If he would have ac-
cepted nomination from them. But
he heSitated, believing that defeat
would be the fate of the candidate who
did not receive the support of the Pop
ulist and Democratic vote combined
But there is a change in sentiment and
Judge Willis friends have about made
up their minds that he can be elected
by the votes of Democrats and Popu-
lists and Republicans, who will recog-
nize in him more fitting representa-
tive Of the district than either of the
gentlemen already nominated. He
therefore may be persuaded to enter
the race
There is also a large faction Of the
Democrats who believe that If a DEM
ocrat is to be nominated he should be
Of the sound money order and they
also are confident that such a Demo-
crat would receive more support from
diaffected Populists and Republicans
than free silver Democrat These
gentlemen are anxious Judge McCaf-
ferty should make the race and have
pledged him strong support If he will
become a candidate. But Judge Nc
Cafferty is not over anxious to enter
the congressional lists. He has been
mentioned in connection with the coun-
ty attorneys office, although he denies
that he is a candidate. AS matter Of
fact McCafferty was one of the first
n llxy'c -,
the county office AS for the nomina-
ton for congress McCafferty would
like the honor and If he thinks there is
a fighting chance he may consent to
the use of his name. The fact that the
congressional convention has been
called to meet two weeks after the
Democratic county convention may
simplify matters somewhat, and the
Democrats themselves may be willing
to support a sound money man for
congress for the sake Of defeating
Stevens. 1t is admitted that Clark
does not have the ghost Of a chance
without the support of the Democrats.
and the workers for this new deal are
not reckoning upon his strength at ALL
Chairman Rosing, of the Democratic
state central committee, and r. d. o.
Brien, will attend the Seventh district
Democratic congressional convention
which meets at Crookston tomorrow E.
F.. Lommen, the Populist candidate.
will be nominated, as there is no other
candidate, and the two parties have
agreed to fuse on the nomination.
Lommen is accused Of attempting to
secure the withdrawal Of Helberg. There
are $500 Prohibition votes in the dis
trict, and they are worth scheming for
If they can be secured without loss
from other sources.
Fred Pfaender, OF New Ulm, was in
the city yesterday and called at Demo-
cratic headquarters. He told Chairman n
Rcsing that there is no doubt of the
victory for free silver in the Second
district. The sound money movement,
he said, has diverted but few votes from
the free silver candidates. Lind above
all the candidates, will poll a tremen-
deus vote in that district. Mr. Pfaender
wanted more literature to scatter,
among the farmers.
The Democratic congressional conyen-
ton for the Fourth district, will be
held Oct. II at Mozart hail Delegates
will be selected at the county convention
which will be held at Market hall Sept.
29
The Ninth precinct Republican club
of the First ward will meet this evening
in the hall at Payne avenue and Rose
street. Good speakers will be in at
tendance.
Viewed by the Democrats the action
OF the Populists in refusing to further
consider fusion unless the Democratic
candidates are to the liking of the
Populfst leaders, is nothing more than
declaration that the Populists want
all the offices and that they have candi-
dates of their own for all the places
on the ticket. This is denied by the
PCpulist leaders, who insist their mo-
tlves are the purest and that they have
been obliged to take such action be-
cause of the shabby treatment accorded
them by the Democrats
The truth is there are too. many cam
dfdates who are willing to serve their
country. The Democrats have as MANY
names on their slate as the Populists
have on their list. The Democrats have
made uD a slate that includes the
names of SO few Populists. and those
fol such small offices, that the Popu-
list candidates are grumbling and re-
fusing to fuse. For instance. the Demo-
Gratis have made up their minds they
want all the judgeships. The Popu-
lists have two candidates and each has
been promised a nomination And SO
on through the long list of offices that
are to be filled this fall The prospect
for fusion is anything but bright
HERE's AN ODD ONE.