New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-05-27

term, which he although il the strulgs
/ gle the party almost went II twain. Mer
lriam next showed his hand in the Davil
senatorial election Of 1898, but at ths
last moment his nerve failed him and b
lpulled of his forces. Davis was returned
Iby maj ority Of one vote. Last year hs
assisted in the defeat Of Senator Wash
burn, and yet his satellites all over TIN
state are today trying to make 9 poin'
in favor Of Olough because Senator
Washburn and Hennepin county remem
Der the fight
This year Merriam is playing directly
for the highest stake which this state hal
to offer, a seat in the senate,cf the Unit
ed States for himself The stake being
large one, the plans to secure it have
been laid on correspo bonding large scale
There is nothing small about Merriam
and his methods. He easily adapts him
self to political conditions, and in his
own superb way is a diplomat Of the
Machiavellian pattern. I give him full
credit for the admirable personal traits
which make him such a delightful COM
panion; for the splendid power OF mind
and tireless energy which have made HIM
a figure Of magnificent strength in the
business world; for the thorough knowl-
edge of men, which has stood him in
such good stead in politics, and contrib
| uted in part to his wonderful success as
a public man-but while doing this, !
express the deliberate opinion that he is
| the most dangerous man who ever crossed
the path of the republican party in this
state, and that the party will never be in
position again to command the support
and esteem of intelligent and law-loving
men until Merriam and Merriamism are
of the past and forgotten.
Merriam has made himself man of
consequence in Ohio, and with Mckinley
as president will have much to say in the
dispensing Of federal patronage in Min
nesota; he wants Tams Blxby, who stands
closer to him than any man in Minneso-
ia, to succeed R. G.. Evans as the Mime
sofa member cf the republican national
committee; to these sources Of power
and authority he wants to add the con-
troll of the state machinery, through the
governor-all to the end that his path
to the senate in two years may be smooth
and strewn with flowers.
TO bring this about no stone is being
left unturned. It has been common talk
over the state for months that federal
patronage Was being promised right and
left in return for help for Clough-pa-
tronage which Merriam does not yet con-
troll; state appointments and favors
through the governors Office are under
stood to he on the market in the same
way; employees in the different depart
ments under the governor are at work
over the state for Clough, with a zeal
worthy better cause, and the chairman
of the state central committee, who is in
the pay of the state, is devoting all of
his time to Mr.. Clough's candidacy, and
giving that candidacy the exclusive ben
eft of information which it has taken
the republican party as whole many
years and much money to collect.
1t is not difficult to understand why
Merriam wants to name the next COVER
nor of the state. and why failure here
will weaken him in possibly q vital
point. Thousands Of Minnesota people
know how largely the employees of the
various state departments contributed to
the results in the Davis and Nelson sena-
torial campaigns; know how strong a
pull these men have upon the legislature
and how persistently they haunt the lob
bies whenever measures are pending in
which they are told to interest Them
selves. No lobby in the state SO effect
lively influences legislation as the lobby
made up of men whose names are on the
pay rolls of the state in various subordi-
nate capacities. Their ability along this
line explains why they are in office.
Every man of them is an expert politi-
clan and knows his business thoroughly.
Indifferent services would many times be
accepted by the state if by this plan the
machine might the better avail itself Of
concurrent political skill
When Merriam became governor he
filled these positions, whose number is
almost legion, with men after his own
heart; I need not say that the admin
stration which followed Merriam inaugu-
rated no change in this respect. The