The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-30
THE COUNTY TICKET.

THE COUNTY TICKET.
Those who have observed the fusion
principle in practical operation in the
past are seldom sanguine or enthusi-
astic when a repetition is proposed
The o says frankly that, as far
as the work of yesterdays conventions
! is concerned, it would probably have
been better done all around if each of
the parties participating had acted
wholly for itself, without an attempted
division of the Offices Arrangements
like that usually bring self-interest
to the front, and seldom make the
service of the people the first consid
Grafton.
Notwithstanding this, however, the
ticket put in nomination yesterday is
one that will, in nearly every respect.
more than bear comparison with that
nominated by the Republicans For
several of the positions on the county
ticket the Democratic nominees are
| not only far superior to their Republi
can opponents, but they are men of
nigh character and standing in the
community AS between the two tick
cts, taken as whole, it is unquestion-
able that the interest of the people
will be served best by the election of
the candidates of the Democratic con-
vention. This is a place to put away
from us all this free silver and BRYAN
talk, which is simply idiotic when the
question is who shall administer the
affairs of Ramsey county, and get to-
gether as Democrats for the selection
and election of the best candidates
whom the party has to furnish.
In one particular, we are bound to
say, the convention not only made an
egregious blunder, but refused to con-
suit the best interests Of either the
people or the party. We refer to the
Judicial candidates. The Republicans
set the bad example by their char
acterlstic piece Of halfway morality,
to which they had to be neryed by the
constant administering of moral slim
| ulants. They got as far as the indorse
ment of two Of the sitting judges. Then
they broke loose and made a straight
party nomination for the third. The
offensiveness of this lies in the break.
ing of old and the creation of new
precedent; by which it Is insisted that
these judgeships shall hereafter be
| fought for on party lines like other
offices. 1t was a mistake of no small
proportions for the Democrats to fol-
low the evil policy initiated by Re-
publicans and to carry it further in
the wrong direction. They should
have Endorsed the judges without dis
tinctfon of party; and even from the
strictest partisan standpoint there ia
no excuse for their refusal to recognize
the worth and services OF SO staunch
a Democrat as Judge Otis, whom even
MS political enemies would not refuse
to place on their ticket. This agree
ment by both sides to destroy the sys-
tenn of bipartisan judiciary In our
district court is. we believe, a serious
and inexcusable bIunder. and the be-
ginning of future misfortune.
One could wish that the legislative
ticket of each party contained men of
more experience in legislative work:
who would know just how to look after
the interests Of a great city, and to
secure such laws as we need to COM
plete our excellent beginning of munic-
1pal retrenchment Here, however. as
in the case of the county ticket the
comparison is favorable to the De-
mocracy. All of the candidates named
are reputable men, and among them
are several whose services the civ
will be exceptionally fortunate If it can
secure in this capacity Regarding
only the public value of the men
which must come to be the test for
county as for municipal office, we find
the ticket, as to county and legislative
places, one which Democrats of all
shades of opinion may support cor
daily. with the certainty that these
men. if elected, will be faithful. honest
and competent in the discharge of
their duties.