The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-03-06
MINNESOTA AT ST. LOUIS

There is more or less idle talk re-
garding the state delegation to St.
Louis as to whether it will stand by
Senator Davis or Major Mckinley.
There is no longer any question as to
the delegation from Minnesota being
solidly for Senator Davis. He is in
the field for the nomination and not
for favorite son play, and his chances
for nomination are far better than
those of any man who does, or even
has played the favorite son racket.
The average favorite son seldom
measures up in those qualities which
are so much needed by the occupant
of the white house, and which are
possessed by the great leaders who
aspire for the position. But Mr..
Davis possesses every quality desired
in such a position, and stands an
equal of any of the great leaders who
have been prominently before the
country for years, and aspire to that
high position. That Major Mckinley
is at this time far in the lead of any
one of the others aspirants for the Re-
publican nomination in the country
at large, is beyond all question, but
that does not insure his nomination,
as his most sanguine friends do not
claim that he will be nominated be-
fore the third or fourth ballot. The
other candidates are going to make
strong showing, and the indications
are now that they will control con-
siderably more than majority of the
delegates, and as the nomination is
regarded equivalent to an election,
the fight for it will naturally be a
strong one.
But at this distance from the con-
vention it is hard to say just what
kind of face the situation will put
on when June 10th next arrives. At
that time Major McKinley's nominal
tion may be fOregOne conclusion, or
the outcome may be as mucn of a
! problem as it is now. But there is
much nonsense inthe talk that is being
INDUCED by those who are pleased to
oppose the candidacy of Senator Davis
about first, last and all-the-time
delegation for him. The fact of the
matter is Senator Davis has not asked
for such delegation. All that he de-
sires is reasonable support from a
delegation perfectly loyal to him so
long as there is any reasonable hope
| for his success, and there would be a
very reasonable hope of success should
Major Mckinley and Speaker Reed Sc
cure following which would prevent
either from carrying off the prize.
The FREE PRESS is inclined to the
opinion that after Senator Davis,
Major Mckinley is the leading ia
vorite of Minnesota Republicans,
though it is inclined to doubt that
any man aside from Senator Davis
will get the solid vote Of the delega-
tion. Yet should the vote of Mime
sofa be sufficient to nominate Mr.. Nc
Kinley at any time, the demand of
the situation would doubtless create
sufficient enthusiasm to turn it to him,
and we believe no man would more
heartily approve such action than
Senator Davis.
The duty of the hour then is to Sc
lect delegation for Mr.. Davis, that
will prove influential in his behalf at
St. Louis, and so possessed of power
to land the nomination for him ii pos
sible, and such delegation will be
perfectly free go to Major Mckinley
or any other man the Republicans of
the state may desire, should the
chances for Mr.. Davis disappear.
What is most wanted is the selec
tion of a set of men as delegates from
this state, who will possess the
thorough confidence of the party, who
will act at st. Louis as the eXigencies
of the case way require and the neces-
stiles of the situation put forth. The
FREE PRESS does not believe that any
instructions should be given for any
candidate, but that set of ringing
resolutions should be adopted setting
forth the candidacy and quail tications
of Senator Davis, and the delegation
left free to act as 10 their best judy
ment Will be to the best interests and
wishes of the party of the state, and
IN the hands of such a delegation the
interests of S, ndtor Davis will be per-
IecGly safe.
NnsnArV ANNOIJNcGn