The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-01-31

ernor Of the state through the will of
the sovereignty of this common
wealth would discourage one less
courageous than Mr.. Clough and
cause him to get out from under the
wrath to come before lit shall spend
its force, as it is sure to do, in his
complete political humiliation.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press, in re-
Mr.. Clough now so widespread
as to be noticeable in every
quarter of the state, is led to errone-
OuSly declare that the animus of it all
is on account of Senator Washburn's
defeat, and that the friends of the eX-
Senator are after sweet revenge for
the Honorable David's pernicious &C
tivity in helping to boost Gov. Nelson
into the United States senate. While
it is undeniably true that many of
Senator Washburn's friends are active
in the preliminary skirmish against
the further advancement or retention
in office of Governor ClOugh, it is
equally true that some of Senator Mel
sons warmest supporters and most de-
voted admirers are lending the move
ment valuable and active assistance
1t is not a Washburn movement by
any means. 1t far outreaches Mr..
Washburn'S scope of political infiu-
ence, and the fact that he was defeat
ed for reelection to the United States
senate and that Mr. Nelson succeeded
to his seat cuts no figure whatever
with the masses in this case.
1t is apparent that Mr.. Clough and
the machine which he runs is obnoX-
iOus to the people. The voters have
evidently become tired Of voting the
the same old thing over and oyer
again, and being dictated to repeat
edly by the same mouthpiece with only
change of trumpet. AS the Pioneer
says, Clough has made fair governor.
But there are hundreds of other men
in the state, better qualified and more
deserving, who have the confidence
of their neighbors that are willing to
make little personal sacrifice for
public good, and through whose adj
ministration the voice of the people
would stand much better show of be-
ing needed.
The Pioneer after summing up some
features of the governors administra
tion to prove it's case, concludes that
'by all the rules of party custom,
Gov. Clough is entitled to a second
term" In the first place Gov. Clough
was never calculated to fill ''a first
term" and not having been elected
to that position by suffrage Of the
people, he will lack no endorsement
if he is not taken up and regularly in
stalled as governor. Our metro
politan contemporary will remember
back only few years when one An
drew r. McGill served this state one
term as governor and was mercilessly
turned down without the slightest
reason, save only and except to make
room for one William Ransom Mer-
riam. Clearly Governor McGill Shy
all the usual rules Of the party GUS
tom" was entitled to a second term,
but we don't now remember that
there was any contrition of heart ex-
pressed at the time nor since by Gov.
Clough or the Pioneer Press over Mr..
McGills shameful treatment. And
Mr.. McGill served one term at the
will and by the demand Of the Repub-
lican party and people Of the state,
which much cannot be said of our
genial political friend David M
ClOugh.
There is every reason to believe at
this time that the opposition to the
denomination of Gov. ClOugh is in
surmountable, and by the employment
of all the skillful twists known to the
political combine behind him, it is
doubtful if he can rally to point any
where approaching nomination.