St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-18
POLITICAL GOSSIP.
f. Ii. DOran's Friends Are Not Losing
Sleep.

'Hit a Democratic head whenever
you see it," seems to be the motto of
the Republican politicians and office
holders at the present time. Ordinarily
they would assume a virtue If they
had none, just before a campaign, but
they are becoming so saturated with
the idea that they have a cinch, that
already the whole matter has assumed
the form of a bowling mob scrambling
for place. Frank Robert must be turned
out of the position of clerk of the pro-
bate court, and now comes the news
that Frank Moosbrugger's place as as
sistant county auditor has been made
vacant for the purpose of giving an
opportunity to some Republican. Mr..
MooSbrugger was in the office of the
county auditor so long that his serv-
ices were indispensable when the pres
ent auditor took control. For this rea-
son he was retained there in spite of
the pressure that was brought to bear
by the bosses to get him out. Any one
familiar with the office of the auditor
knows that Mr.. Moosbrugger's services
have saved to Mr.. Sullivan the differ
ence between the salary of one man
and that of two men. No one knows
better than Mr.. Sullivan that Mr.. Moos-
brugger is worth more than three men
who might be named in connection
with his office, and Sullivan is not a
man willing to pay out two dollars
for a service for which one is ample
compensation, but he simply could not
help himself. He had to comply with
the orders of the gangs or face a pack
OF bowling wolves, and as he is not
much of a wolf fighter, he simply capit-
ulated. Mr.. Moosbrugger has secured
work in the office of the assessor for
the present, so he will not have TO Eunt
for job at private employment imme-
diately.
''The Republicans don't seem to have
much love for the French" remarked
Frenchman yesterday. when Rog-
ers went in as clerk of the court he
let out Frank Olivier the first thing,
and one Of the first men Henry Weber
let out of the office of register of deeds
was Octave Savard. Now Judge Will
rich, who ran for judge Of the probate
court on sort Of independent plat
form of his OWn-a combination Of Pop
ulism and Republicanism, that made
1t necessary for him to keep in the
middle of the road and make num-
Der OF campaign speeches without say
ing anything-now he yields to that
rampant combination Of Self-seekers,
the Lincoln club, and orders Frank
Robert to vacate the position of clerk
OF the probate court, position he has
held for over twenty years without re-
gard to changes in judgeships, and to
finish the job Auditor Sullivan chops
off Mossbrugger's head. Well, it just
means that there will be 1000 solid
French votes for the Democratic party
at the next election
In response to an inquiry by G l b
reporter yesterday as to whether he
had anything to say with reference to
the fight that is being made on him by
Clerk Robert and the French for let
ting Robert out, Judge Willrich said he
did not care to say much about the
matter When Mr. Robert was ap-
pointed to the position under him,it was
for full term. Influence was brought
to bear by the Republicans to have
Robert ousted, and the latter told the
judge he would resign to relieve him
from embarrassment 81 told him."
says Judge Willrich, ''that he did not
need to resign unless he desired to do
SO, and he replied that he would like
to remain until spring, and then he
would go into business for himself.
Now it appears his plans have failed
and he feels that I am doing him an
injustice" Judge Willrich scoffed the
idea that he had secured from Robert
written pledge that the latter would
not run against him for judge of pro-
bate if retained in the place. He also
said that when the report of what had
done at the French meeting the night
before was made public in yesterdays
G o b G, Mr. Robert offered to resign
at once if he desired it, but he told him
he might continue until the 1st of April.
On the other hand, Mr.. Robert says
he never went to Judge Willrich for
the position. Willrich came to him and
rendered it to him, because he needed
his services. Willrich was coming into
the place green, and knew that by rea-
son of Roberts long experience he was
valuable man. He kept him Volun-
tarily, appointing him for the full term,
but desired to get rid Of him now to
satisfy the Lincoln club. He had never
expressed a desire to get out until COM
PEELED to do so.
but the statement that he made you
sign a pledge not to run against him
for judge cannot be true, can it?" que
ried the reporter.
Eyes, sir, it is positively true" re-
piled Robert firmly. 81 went in there
before him this morning with one Of
the other reporters and requested him
to fish up the papers, but he wouldn't
do it, 1 then asked him if he would
deny that 1 signed such paper, and
he replied that he would not. All
ask in this matter is that the truth
shall be known. am out to fight 1t
out now, and shall stay with it to the
end"
The friends of T. B. Doran are not
worrying over the fact that G. w.
Warren is securing a few precinct in
dorsements. They claim that If Mr.
Doran does not go into the convention
with sufficient number of delegates to
nominate him on the first ballot, that
he will get there anyway. Even with
out a vote from the First ward he will
have all he needs. "They cannot get
that nomination away from him." said
one of his friends yesterday, and II
he gets the nomination the rest will
come easy this spring.
AS published in the Globe yester-
day, there will be but one Democratic
convention this spring, and that the
one to be held at Market hail. Tues
day, April 7. The city committee, of
which P. D. Scannell is the head, will
have smooth sailing so far as it's own
party is concerned. A number of the
members of the committee had an in
formal meeting last night, and talked
over the situation. Another meeting
of the committee will be held in a few
days.
The Lincoln club has indorsed W. R.
Merriam for district delegate, and
George Thompson for gate-at-large
to st. Louis. This amounts to some
thing, as the Lincoln club has an ac-
tive membership of nearly q dozen
voters.
Assemblyman Parker has fully made
up his mind that he will not allow his
name to lead a city ticket this spring.
Certain business reasons led him to
lyo 1ic OF 1it1o c