The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-31
MINNESOTA ENTITLED TO BUT NINE
VOTES IN THE FARMERS Ma
TIONAL CONGRESS-.
GOV. CLOUGH NAMED 1000.
SECRETARY STAHI. SUGGESTS THE
THOUSAND HOLD A CAUCUS
TODAY
Some One Blunders In the Matter of
the Representation of This
State.
Some one has blundered.

Some one has Numbered.
From St Vincent to La Crescent and
| from. LuVerne to Grand Marais, in
| 1000 homes, paterfamilias has been
! proudly showing to his family the
| handsome, gold embroidered parch-
ment, signed by Gov. Clough, which,
apparently, entities papa to seat in
the National Farmers congress at st.
Paul this week. OF course, in some
| of these homes, that of William Hen
| ry EuStiS, for instance, there was no
family to show it to, but the certifi-
cate was treasured just the same. 1t
turns out now, however, that these GER
! titicates are mostly what the Slangy
habitue of the curb would denominate
Jolly
Under the system of organization Of
| the congress each state is entitled to
the same number of representatives
that it has in the governmental con-
gress in Washington, which in Mime
sofas case is nine. Consequently, in
] 1891 of these homes a false impression
| has been created. Officers of the con-
! greSS who have arrived here have sug-
gested that the 1000 get together and
| decide which nine of them shall sit
in the congress and vote, while the
other 991 may sit there but cannot
vote.
1t places Gov. Clough somewhat at
a disadvantage, too, just as he thought
| he had things nicely fixed up.
Here's a snap thought the gov
ernor, when he first heard of the con-
gress. 1T will give me a chance to
show lot of the boys in all the odd
corners of the state that 1 remember
them-and the best part of it is that
it don't cost me anything"
So the list was made out 1t con-
| tanned the thousand-full count-of
names, but it would require a micro
scope of ninety diameters to pick out
the farmers. There are undertakes
and bakers, shoemakers and sailors,
grocers and butchers, furniture deal
ers and politicians, druggists and doc
tors, boiler inspectors and BARRIERS,
carpenters and day laborers, loggers
and lawyers, brewers and blacksmiths
but the farmer is conspicuous by his
! absence
However, they are nearly all good
| Republicans, so the glory of the state
is preserved. 1t helped to pay some
political debts, too. There is John G.
Nelson, who didn't get the Office of
surveyor general, but he can now at
! tend the Farmers congressman pay
his own expenses. Then the political
| differences between John Zelch and
John Sutton can be satisfactorily adj
justed by them while they sit side by
| side listening to an address on sugar
/ beet culture. This monster convention
should bring about a lot of harmony.
Unfortunately, however, as hereto
fore stated, there was one thing that
! the governor overlooked. Minnesota is
only entitled to nine delegates in the
congress, and he has appointed thou
sand. He could have sent as many
associates as he pleased, but only nine
can vote and have voice in the bust
ness proceedings. This is remember
ing the boys" with a vengeance The
only solution of the difficulty, as sug-
! gested by Secretary Stahl, is that the
thousand hold caucus to decide what
nine Of them shall be entitled to vote.
There is another feature about this
which awakened caustic criticism
among the delegate from other states
who arrived yesterday; in every other
| state the appointments were of men
who had achieved a national, or at
least a state reputation in agricul-
| tural matters men who had been rec
commended by the heads of the agri-
cultural institutions of the various
| states, and their political affiliations
| were not taken into consideration
! Republican governors appointed Dem
| ocrats, Populists and Prohibitionists.
as we'll as Republicans; the idea was
to secure only the best men to repre-
| sent the agricultural interests Of the
state
| Wherefore, in view of this, it looks
as though, in Minnesota, some one has
| blundered
The attention of Gov. Clough was
| called to the matter by reporter for
| the q o e last night. His excellency
| expressed surprise that any mistake
had been made, and said that it was
the first that he had heard that there
was limit of representatives allowed
Minnesota
why, supposed that the association
would want to see all of the Minnesota
| farmers we could get together, and I
sent out all of the invitations I deemed
| necessary"
When asked by what authority he
| made the appointments, he replied that
he had had no authority, but had mere
| ly taken it upon himself to call to-
gether all of the representatives of the
oSi l1uie vi al eielueHl tndI ne cOulQ get.
| He said further that he did not know
how the delegates from other states
| were appointed, and that that did not
affect his purpose in inviting so many
| to be present.
"Was it suggested to you to appoint
| SO many?" was asked.
Eyes. I have forgotten who suggest
ed it, but they told me to invite a large
| number, and l supposed the more the
merrier and appointed 1000'
There is no hat like good hat. The
| Gordon.