The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-27
NO CANDIDATES IN MIND
II. w. BELL EXPLAINS HIS COMMIT
TEES POSITION
Has No Candidate for Any Office
Wants the Democratic Party to
Make the SeIectiOns-Free and
Fair Primaries to Be HeId-De-
mics They Are FavOring Erwin.

MES They Are FavOring Erwin.
The Democratic city committee, of
which Richard w. Bell is chairman,
has no candidate for mayor.
1t has no candidate for any Office.
Such was Mr.. Bells declaration last
night.
What action Mr.. Bells committee
proposes to take during the approach
Ing municipal campaign, what it's at
tltude Will be, when it will call a con-
Vention, and whether it has any can
dldate in mind, are questions that a re-
porter for The G l o put to Mr.. Bell
last evening. For it is generally con-
ceded that the action of this committee
will cut some figure on the political
chess board.
Mr.. Bell, when seen at the headquar-
tors of the committee in the Germania
Life building last night, talked freely
| and systematically
The Democratic city committee"
said Mr.. Bell, has no candidate for
any office. We want the Democratic
party to select the candidates. We have
| none. We propose to have primaries
held in accordance with the law. Due
notices will be given and posted. The
entire Democratic party will be given
an opportunity to go to these primaries
and voice their sentiments in selecting
the delegates who will attend the con-
| VentiOn. Those delegates will name the
| candidates for the offices. That is all.
| The committee as such, has, as I have
| already said, no candidate for any
| office"
when will you call the convention,
Mr.. BeIl?"
cat the usual time" was the reply,
sometime during the first week or ten
days in April. 1t will not be called
with reference to the date of the Re
publican convention
but it is reported that your commit
| tee, Mr.. Bell, intends to put forward
| w. w. Erwin, for mayor. Is that
500"
ut is not So" was Mr.. Bells en-
| phatic rejOinder. There is no truth
whatever in that rumor. [ repeat that
our committee is not indorsing Mr.. En-
win or any other man for mayor. Mind,
| we do not say that Mr.. Erwin is not
| candidate for mayor The fact is, sew
| eral delegations Of Democrats, repre-
senting probably all the wards in the
| city, have called on US at various times
and urged us to indorse Mr.. Erwin, but
we have declined to indOrse any man
| for mayor"
"All I can say concerning this mat
ter of the mayoraIty," added Mr.. Bell,
| sis this, the committee hopes to see
an able man nominated for mayor Of
! st. Paula man who will represent the
| interest Of the taxpayers of the city
of st. Paul, a man who will exert his
best efforts to restore this city to the
enviable position it held ten years ago,
| a man who will inspire and deserve
the confidence of the people"
Asked whether the committee had
concluded to adopt any plan Of action
regarding ward candidates for the
common council, Mr.. Bell replied:
mo States have been made out for
the various wards. Delegates rep
resentirg all the wards have suggested
to the committee the names of eligible
candidates for ward representatives in
the common council and have been de-
sirous to secure the committees in
doTsement of various candidates, but
the committee has invariably informed
each delegation that it must decline to
indOrse any candidate. The people OF
the ward are the ones best qualified to
select their representatives in the coun-
Gil"
Mr.. Bell said that the committee wei
coined any and all suggestions as to
the time and place of holding the con
vention and the number of delegates 10
be sent.
THE committee" continued Mr.. Bell,
is ready and willing to meet all Demo-