The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-27
LET THE CONVENTION DECLARE.

For the nonce, GERRY j." in the
Minneapolis Journal, has dropped the
commonplace chatter anent state
politics and entered the higher
sphere of discussing questions
affecting national affairs. That is,
that part of national affairs
in which Minnesota has for
some time past taken foremost posi-
tion, and in which she will continue
If the people, and not the self-ag-
grandizing politicians, are permitted
to act their part. The particular sub
ject that Jerry j." discusses, is the
desirability Of continuing such states
men as Senator 9. X. Davis in the
United States senate. He rightly and
correctly says that sit is high time
that the West was learning lesson
from the East as to the length of
service of members Of both houses Of
congress. A Thomas B. Reed, Will
liam B. Allison, a John Sherman, can't
be grown in two, three or four terms.
Had those men, and score Of others
who, with them, have'made the legis-
lative history of the nation since the
war, come up IN the average western
state, of which in this connection,
Minnesota is a fair sample, they would
have left no impress of their genius
upon the country, and their reputa-
tions would have been the regulations
of hundreds of western representa-
tiyes and senators who are now for
gotten. They would have served in
one branch or the other for time
and then been side-tracked to make
way for ambitious rivals. The western
states, as class, have permitted the
politicians to stand in the way of
their exerting proper influence in
Washington, and it is time for a
change of policy"
Following this up" Jerry j." speaks
of the unprecented circumstances sur
rounding the selection Of Senator
Davis in the last congress as chair
man of the Foreign Relations COM
mittee vice Senator Sherman, re-
signed from the senate to accept the
portfolio of Secretary of State in Presi-
dent McKinIey's cabinet, when Sena-
tor Fry, of Maine, was the ranking
member of the committee, and by
courtesy and the rules Of the senate,
entitled to the vacant place. He
then goes on to show Davis peculiar
fitness for the important chairman
ship, and admits what all our people
know full we'll, that his splendid at
tainments and studious habits, COUP
led with his experience, make him a
valuable public servant, and one who
has brought great credit upon his
state.
But the real gist of "Jerry's" article
lies in his matured conviction that
the time has arrived and the occasion
is opporLune for the next state con-
vention to declare it's choice for sena-
tor to succeed Davis. "Such thing"
says GERRY" "if ever brought about.
and-nobody can honestly question
the desirability of such change-it
will be after agitation in the public
press and the consequent creation of
a strong public sentiment. The rank
and file of the party are already in
favor of it;all they want is encourage
ment and direction. l can name a
dozen newspapers and newspaper men
that could bring this thing about Of
themselves, if they so desired. Take
the St. Cloud Journal Press, Alvah
Eastman; the Rock County Herald,
Bert Miller; the Fergus Falls Journal.
Elmer Adams;the Sank Center Herald,
G. F. Hendrix; the Duluth tNeaoS-
Tribune, the Princeton Union, Bob
Dunn; the Red Wing Republican, Tams
Bixby; the Winona Republican, the
Mankato FREE PRESS, l.. P. Hunt;the
Alexandria Post Ne,us, Charlie Mitch
ell; the Elk River STAR eacs, A. N.
Dare; the Little Falls Transcript, w.
M. Fuller, and they could have this
reformation for the asking. The
question is, do these gentlemen and
many others of the editorial profess
sion who might be named, and who
rank with the above named twelve,
care enough about purity in politics
and the reputation Of the Republican
party in this state to make the issue?"
There is no question, as "Jerry"
says, but that the rank and file of the
Republican party are already in favor
of such action by the next state con-
yention, and unless we very much
mistake the temperament of the
aforesaid frank and ile," they pro-
pose to have good deal to say about
how and by whom the next nominat-
ing convention shall be run.
We now desire to draw Jerry J. IS"
optics to an article that appeared in
the DAILY FREE PRESS of date of May
10Th last, under the caption of "Let