The representative., 1898-11-09
LIND IS
THE VICTOR
His Triumph at the Polls
Was a Personal
One.
Fusion Party and Its Prin=
ciples Not Recog=
nized.

sionists have elected John Lind governor,
the old North Star state has not done at
all poorly by the Republican party this
year. Although the returns upon all off,
ces outside Of those Of governor and con-
gressmen are very meager those received
indicate that the Republican ticket below
the governor poled a plurality fully suff1-
cient to elect all its candidates. In addi-
ton to this it now seems probable that
Messrs. Lovely, Lewis and Brown, the Re-
publican candidates for the supreme bench,
have all been elected although the returns
are too magar to guarantee that this is So
The returns received show that the Repub-
ncans are leading in the race, with Lovely
first, Brown next and Lewis last while the
Democrats are evenly divided between
Mitchell and Canty, with Buck very poor
last. In case one Of the fusion judges
should be reelected it would be impossible
to say which of the three would be success
full.
The Tribune conceded the election of Lind
early yesterday morning, and at that time
placed the plurality he would receive at be-
tween 5000 and 1000 Later that estimate
was raised to 11,000, and the more complete
returns seem to show the accuracy of the
later estimate.
Conceding that political post mortems are
usually not very interesting, it is neverthe-
less sometimes profitable to discuss the
causes of defeat So far as the defeat OF
Mr.. EuStiS is concerned there are any num-
ber of causes which might have been strong
enough to have accomplished il had the sit
uation been close one to commence with.
1t is probably true that had the election
been held within 30 days of the convention
which nominated Mr.. Eustis he would nave
been victorious by an unusually large piu-
rality. But time gave his enemies the op-
portunity to work their vengeance, and
they did their work thoroughly. Gov.
Clough the chief Of these said vest terday to
The Tribune that he was of the happiest
men in the state of Minnesota, and merely
because he had succeeded in "downing'' Mr.
Eustis He said he had sent telegram
to john Lind extending congratulations, and
closing with There is still a God in heav-
en- This is related merely to show the state
Of the governors mind. 1t is now recognized
that he has been working steadily against
Mr.. Eustis since the day of the latter's
nomination, but that he kept the matter
pretty quiet until about a week ago, when
lie came out openly and defiantly. To> his
influence, to great extent may be traced
the loss of the Gold Democratic vote as
we'll as Of certain others
General apathy among the Republicans in
Southern Minnesota. and heavy fallne off
in heavy Republican districts, is an ther
cause which may be mentioned. Rep ate ily
The Tribune called attention to the fact
that this was to be dreaded more than any-
thing else. This paper also warned the
party earnestly that the election Of John
Lind was a possibility. and ca led w on the n
to respond and make their influence felt
at the polls. Further than this, The Trib-
une called attention to someth ng which h IS
since been thoroughly demonstrated, the
q Of ha CT
arising by reason Of the fact that in many
counties strongly Republican the fusion lists
had not even named candidates for county
and local offices.
To these two strong and leading causes
may be added many others of nearly as
great Importance. Mr.. E..stis was nomi-
mated against the wish of the active and
hustling political workers The men who
nominated him have since done very little
toward electing him. This was left to pe9-
pie who were opposed to him in the con-
vention, to a great extent. and especially
in Hennepin county, and although they have
done their best. it would be d rash man
who would deny that they could have done
better had their hearts been wholly in their
work. With them they were fighting for
the party when they came to the support of
Mr. Eustis, and that support had in it little
Of the personal character which overcomes
all obstacles. Then. there was the great
detection Of the Swedish vote. TIL s ne
one thing most to be deplored, and if it
should continue. there is no counting the
ultimate cost cf the movement, or pr phesy-
ing it's ultimate end. The issue of nation
ality is dangerous one, and to John Lind.
more than to any other individual, may be
credited the beginning Of the present
trouble. Beyond this there were her
causes, among which might be mentioned
the feeling among the farmers of the state
and especially in the north half that the
grain inspection department Of the state
was not constituted in fashion to do them
Justice How deeply this cut, is shown in
Renville county, where, as Chairman Dowl-
Ing says it was the cause OF the great fall
ing off in the vote given Eust.s as comparei
with others on the ticket Renville county
practically gave Lind 900 plurality. At the
same time it gave Heatwole Republican
for congress, 1000 plurality and every Re-
publican on the county and Legislative tick
was elected.
To all these may be added the fact that
the committee was composed almost entire
ly of men unfamiliar with the situation and
with the needs Of the work, and that It was
compelled to do It's iabOrs with not more
than half the amount of money usually eX-
pended upon similar occasions, and there
you have a combination of circumstances
that seem to indicate that Eustis must have
been a very strong candidate not to have
been defeated by a much larger vote.
But it is fair to cali attention to the.
fact that there is little of partisan victory
in the triumph Of John Lind. The fight
made by the fusion committee was entirely
personal and directed against Mr.. Eustis
particularly. It was a contest between Lind
and Eustis, and this is evidenced by the
fact that not another grain Of comfort is
to be found by the opposition In any quar-
ter Of the state. 1t was even expected that
they might gain two congressman in north
ern Minnesota but the latest returns show
that both Eddy and Morris are reelected.
creased plurality, although for the first
time in his experience he was compelled to