St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-12

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
The Republican dog would pass in gruff
good nature the closed door of the Demo-
cratic meat shop, but soon as it appeared
that the door might be opened next May, the
repressed canine propensities were revealed
as hideous as ever, and the Republican city
convention at Market hall yesterday, re-
sembled in it's happiest stages, the debates
of a pack of coyotes over a dead horse.
There was this difference. The wolves
fight over the reality; the Republicans over
a mere shadow. Perhaps the meat shop door
will be opened as before-by a Democratic
key
At 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the Re-
publican dog could almost taste his fresh
leg of mutton. At 5 he was not sure but that
he had dropped the thing in the stream.
There was a cloud on the horizon then.
After love feast, in which Doran, McCardy
and the rest had gone through with little
friction, and united party seemed marching
to victory, the irrepressble question of mu-
nicipal morals came up. The Republican
party is in favor of the strictest municipal
probity-in the abstract. 1t does not always
believe however, with the heroine in Sow
ing the Wind,' in calling things by their
true names. When the resolutions were
adopted yesterday, or, to speak strictly, about
half hour thereafter, it was discovered
that the highly moral element had concealed
therein a very positive anti-saloon plank.
The ''practicaP' pushers, astute at least in
their own estimation, in this possible
loss Of the saloon vote. They wanted it
fixed. They moved that the resolutions be
reconsdered but gave no reasons. None
were necessary. The better element knew
the opposition had tumbled. They had good
cards, and they called.
On a show down the others won, after
,long struggle, and the resolutions were re-
considered. When they were adopted first
they pledged the party to the faithful and
impartial enforcement of the laws regulat-
ing the liquor traffic. When they were finally
adopted they did not mention the liquor traf-
fic. 1t was a small change for so long
fight, but it seemed to satisfy the ''antis."
The loaves and fishes, however, were the
chief cause of contention. The mayoralty fight
was good starter, and put every ward, every
locality every delegate in properly grasping
spirit.
Doran and Castle both came into the con-
vention confident of success, while Warren
was serene in the consciousness that he and
way, unless unexpected strength developed on
one side the other.
The first test was on the election of a tenn
porary chairman. c. B. Lewis nominated
Aid. Markham, and it was apparent that he
was the Doran choice. The thing was all
over in minute, and Mr.. Markham was on
the platform awaiting his new honor when
Gen. Flower. Capt. Castles manager rose in
a dazed sort Of way in the midst of the St.
Anthony hill delegation and INQUIRED how II
all happened He suggested with some spirit
as he awoke to a realization of all that had
happened, that the thing had been "railroaded''
through. Mr. Markham pricked up his ears
at the word railroading, and, stepping to the
footlights, gave a good imitation of Caesar
thrusting away the crown when he knew 1t
wouldn't quite fit any one else. Besides. thew
were whispering that Markham was a possible
dark horse in a deadlock, and he did not
want to antagonize either side
Hller Horton, who was sitting beside Cen
Flower, pacifled him, and no further objection
was made. 1t was no disadvantage to the Cas-
tie forces, either, for Mr.. Markham was on his
mettle, and he presided over the convention
in all the struggles of the day with stolidity
that had all of Tom Reeds effectiveness with
out its arbitrary obnoxiousness
There was little fight, preliminary set-to
in the parlance Of the ring, over the selection
of secretary. George Woolsey, of the First
ward, and Horace Bigelow, of the Fifth. were
named. The Second ward voted for Woolsey.
and without its vote ne would not have been
named. 1t was a minor matter, but Horace's
Fifth ward took some satisfaction later in the
day in knitting B. F. Knauft, the Second
wards candidate for city treasurer.
There was a spirit of war in the air, and it
was with difficulty that the delegates could re-
strain themselves while the inevitable SPELL
binding occurred. In fact, the spel-binding
was depressed somewhat by the consciousness
that this impatience existed and there was
some reluctance in opening the oratogical ex-