The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-03
COL. KIEFER Is WILLING
THE COLONEL AGREES TO RUN FOR
MAYOR IF NOMINATED
ehHs Tive Him a TumuItuOus
welcome in Vega HaII-He De-
lines His Position Satisfactorily
mayor Doran's Followers
Great Disturbances

hhes His Position Satisfactorily
Mayor Doran's Followers
Great Il Disturbance.
vega hall. at 21S East Seventh street
was last night packed to its doors by
some 500 friends of Col. A. r. Kiefer
Every ward in the city was represent
en-, and, though the meeting was held
IN the Third, which is Col. Kiefer's
own ward, the representation from this
ward was smaller than any other.
Inc meeting was an invitation meet
ing directed by some half-dozen prom
lnent republicans of the city, Assem-
piynan William r. Johnson. from the
ElShth ward, appearing to be the lead
er About $50 postal cards were mail
ed to prominent Republicans through
OUT the city, inviting them to be pres
ent' and numerous other invitation
cards were personally distributed by
those interested in the meeting.
1t was just five minutes after 8
o'clock when Col. A. r. Kiefer. Senator
NICK Pottgieser and Assemblyman Will
nam X. johnson reached the hall and
found 1t packed. After some hard
work they found their way TO the
stage.
AS soon as Col. Kiefer's presence was
discovered the meeting gave way to
cheers and shouts, and cries of There's
the next mayor of st. Paul. followed
his appearance on the stage.
Assemblyman Johnson at once as
sumed charge and called the meeting
to order. AS soon as order was re-
stored. he delivered a speech. After
announcing the aim and object of the
meeting, he said There was one thing
the American people prided themselves
On, and that was their elections and
special interest, he said, was always
taken In the election of officers of mu-
inequalities, especially those Of the
larger kind, for the reason that the
election for officers of a municipal
government came nearer to the people
than any other election contest.
We are now" he said, ON the eve
of municipal election, and will be
called upon to elect not only a COM
mon council, but mayor and other
city officers. The chief executive officer
OF the city is the principal question
to consider. Several prominent Repub-
lican names have been mentioned for
the nomination of mayor, any one of
whom would serve the city with
honor But in looking over the list I
thought among those already mention
ed there was one whom l will name
without inviting any individual insinu-
ations, who has as many friends as
any citizen of st. Paul, and that man
Is the Hon. A. K. kiefer."
The mention of Col. Kiefer's name
was greeted with cheers by the meet
ing.
Continuing Mr.. Johnson said that
those who had desired Col. Kiefer's
nomination had been met with the
argument that he was not a candidate
and was looking for something else and
would not accept the nomination offer
ed unless it came on a silver platform.
I'VE, his friends said Mr.. Johnson,
believing that the time has come
when he should state his position pub
licly, called this meeting"
Turning to Col. Kiefer Mr.. Johnson
said: I'VE do not ask you to become
a candidate in sense of one who person.
! ally is seeking the office, but we do ask
you to state here in public whether, in
the event of your friends securing for
YOU the Republican nomination for
mayor, you will accept the same and
make the fight and make an effort to
carry the Republican standard to vic
tory?"
Col. A. R. Kiefer at once arose and
was introduced by Chairman Johnson,
though, he said the colonel needed no
Introduction.
Col. Kiefer said he was very much
pleased to see so large a gathering
present of the men of the city and
that he was thankful to them for such
a demonstration of friendship as they
had shown him.
at have lived" he said, Gin St. Paul
for forty years, and my accumulations
of those forty years are here in 81.
Paul The prosperity of the city Of
ST. Paul must, therefore, be my pros
perity, hence I am in the first place
very much in favor of an economic
government for our city; in the second
place. 1 believed in and am in favor of
liberal and common-sense admins
tration of the affairs of our city, an
ia
as ours"
Mr.. Keifer said he would, If nomi-
mated, accept the nomination for mayor
and if elected would try to conduct the
affairs of the city on such a liberal and
common sense basis that at the close ut
his term of office he would still retain
the love and respect of the citizens,
which he said he had every reason to
believe he had now.
Following Col. Keifer's speech, Chair
man johnson read two letters from
Col E. H. Milham and C. W. Horr,
both of whom pledged Col. Keifer
hearty support if nominated.
The chairman then read the following
resolutions, which were adopted:
Resolved, as the sense OF this meeting
and the friends here assembled. Ttat are
thoroughly satisfied with Col. A. r. Kief-
er's position, and hereby pledge ourselves
to work from now until after the Re
means, to secure the nomination OF Col.
A. R. Kiefer the Republican candi-
date for mayor.
The resolution was received with
cheers, and the only nays voted, Chair
man Johnson said last night. were from
some fifteen to twenty Doran support
ers brought into the meeting by Street
Commissioner Sandeen, of the First
and Second wards. and they made
every effort to disturb the meeting but
were unsuccessful.
Keifer clubs will be at once organized
in every ward of the city, said Mr.
johnson last night, movement being
at present on foot to organize a Keifer
club in the Sixth ward, which will
likely be the first organized.
After the adjournment Of the meeting
a large number of those present, among
whom were Senator Pottgieser, AS
semblyman Lersep, ex-Alderman Chas
Kartak, Syl GotZfan and Col. Reifer,
adjourned to the cafe of the California
Wine house, where a Jubilation or rati-
a. xxroC hn1d