The Irish standard., 1898-11-19
WHY JOHN LIND WAS ELECTED.
The Republican press and the mol

WHY JOHN LIND WAS ELECTED.
The Republican press and the politi-
clans have reasons as plenty as black
| berries" to account for the election of
John Lind as governor of Minnesota, and
| the inglorous defeat of his opponent,
| William Eustis. the first Republican NOM
nee for governor who failed to get elect
ed in this state since it's admission to
the union. Some say it is entirely due
to Mr.. Lind's personal popularity; others
! that the Swedish-American vote is re-
sponsible for it. while many are of the
opinion that the apathy on the part of
native Americans of Anglo-SaXon stock
was prime factor in the annihilation of
the Republican candidate.
Swedish-American writes to one of
the daily papers protesting against the
charge that the countrymen of Mr.. Lind
voted for him soldly, while they failed
to vote for other candidates on the state
ticket. such as judges of the supreme
court, members of congress and cand-
dates for the legislature. He reminds the
editor that two years ago the Scandi-
navians did not elect MIR. Lind, and that
this year Fillmore and Goodhue counties,
where Scandinavians predominant, went
nearly sOlidly for Eustis. He further
says that they elected an American for
congress in preference to Ringdahl and
defeated two candidates for the state
senate, Theden and Peterson, who ran
in strong Scandinavian wards of the
city. "rhe fact is," he says, "the Irish
and German vote of the state was in
strumental in electing Lind, and voters
Of these nationalitics have reason to feel
proud Of it."
We are inclined to think that there is
considerable force in the explanation of
the Scandinavian correspondent. 1t is
certain that the voters designated as
Irish and German" supported Lind en-
Enthusiastically.
The Republican nominee was over-con-
tident and thought that nomination
was equivalent to an election as in
former years. He under-cstimated the
strength of his opponent and did not
have the 'sinews of war necessary to
wage a victorious compaign. There was
some opposition against him in his own
party and he was placed on the defensive
during the entire contest. Had IGustis
never been mayor of Minneapolis he
Rightfnlly or wrongfully he was sup
posed to he the candidate of the corpora
tions. AT the Foraker meeting in this
city he WIS accompanied to the platform
way company. in whose interest he Veto
ed the transfer ordinance unanimously
passed by the city council. The parade
held on the evening of the aforesaid
meeting. in which business men carry
ing dinner pals participated. alienated
the working men whose votes were
necessary to elect him. Another factor
that contributed largely to his defeat was
his sophomore style of oratory. which.
though pleasing to the ears. brought no
conviction to the minds of intelligent
men. He scrupulously evadcd state is
sues and dwelt too much ON foreign wars
and conquest, which properly belonged
to congress and not to the governor of a
state The Washington Post attributes
Mr.. I.ind's election to his popularity and
the support he received from the Sean
dinavian voters. In the course of a lead
! ing editorial 1t says:
"'rhc reason why Mr.. Lind received so
phenomenal Il vote two years ago and is
elected this year is that. besides being
extremely popular with the masses gem
orally. he is a prime favoritc with the
Scandinavians. who constitute large
factor in the politics of Minnesota. Mr..
Lind was horn in Sweden in 1854 and be-
came a resident of Minnesota when II
years of age. That he has grown up with
the country is fact we'll attested by
the election returns in his campaign this
year. Lind showed his sagacity by mini
MIXING the silver ISSUE That issue, he
said. had been settled in 1896 and he pro.
posed to give the gold standard a chance.
He very pertinently submitted that
national issues had nothing to do with