The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-05
YESTERDAYS CONVENTION.

The most singular spectacle. ever
seen in the political history Of Mime
sofa could have been observed yester-
day in the convention hall at Mime
apolis. Representatives Of the Demo-
cratic party whose earnestness was
manifest throughout had taken the
trouble to hold primaries, call county
conventions and send many hundred
delegates up to the Mill City on one
of the hottest days of the year, to
take care Of the party's interests in
the state campaign. They met, they
'deliberated, they named a staunch Re-
publican as their candidate for gov
ernor, they filled just two minor DO
sitions on the state ticket with Demo-
cratic candidates, they chose four pres
idential electors out Of the nine to
which the state is entitled, and then
they adjourned.
One other thing they did, however,
which was neither wise nor creditable.
They refused hearing to certain dele
gates from Ramsey county who are
known to have repudiated the Chicago
platform, and declared forfeited their
seats in the convention. The Democ-
racy of these men has stood the test
of years and service. They are earnest
and faithful workers. They have
borne high honors and carried them
worthily. They are today Democrats
ito the very center of their being; but
they do not agree with the majority
of the Chicago convention or the ma
i5ority of the Minneapolis convention
on the silver question. These men bolt
ed Bryan's nomination because he
himself declared that he is not a DEM
ocrat. They will not vote for Pop
ulist. For this they were ostracized by
Democratic convention, in the inter
est of regularity. Yet that same con-
Vention, so tenacious of its dignity.
chose Republican as its leader and
divided the state ticket with the Pom
ulists. 1t shouted down a Democrat
Hwho has been loyal to the parry all his
years, while it listened with pleased
approval to a Populist speaker who
has been everything by turns and
nothing either long or sincerely.
Finally, one of the men who was de-
elared unworthy to sit in the state
convention at the beginning of August
is the same man who not only SAT
In the convention of the same party
held in June, but prepared the plat
form which was there adopted as Min
nesota's declaration of PRINCIPLES
Again mere statement of the facts
seems to us more forcible than any
comment upon them.
We believe John Lind. the nominee
Tor governor, to be a personally hon
orable and able man. But he is lust
as thoroughly Republican as is
David M. Clough. Between two Re-
publicans, one of them the nominee of
the Merriam machine, and the other
of the Washburn-Populist machine
the voters of the state must make
their choice The nominee for secre-
tary of state is loyal Democrat. for
whom the vote of every good citizen
should be cast as against Mr.. Berg.
of whom the less said the better. An
other straightforward Democrat was
named for state treasurer. But the
important offices Of lieutenant COVER
nor and attorney general were left va
cant, with the full understanding that
the state committee should place or
the ticket the names presented by the
Populist convention. By the same ar
rangenent one presidential elector is
q boiling free silver Republican, and
the others are to be equally divided
between the Democrats and the Pop
ulists.
The clio b G has no hesitation il
saying that it believes that the future
os Minnesota would be brighter under