The Irish standard., 1898-12-10
CAMPAIGN RETROSPECT.
National Chairman Jones on the RE.
form Press.

OC. faul, winch Ol0 SuCn valuable WOrk
during the last campaign. George S.
Garfield will continue to be in charge,
and already he has entered upon his du-
ties with the same vim and courage dis
played by him in the struggle which end
ed with the election OF Hon. John Lind
as governor.
II have made vigorous effort to have
work such as you have been doing with
your press bureau done in other sections
of the country, since wrote you, calling
attention to the Importance of the week.
ly press to our movement" says Hon.
James K. Jones, chairman of the ma
tional Democratic COMMITTEE, in a let
ter to, Mr.. Garfield. "The daily press, as
a rule, is held by the capitalists, repre-
senting large amounts Of money, and is
unfriendly to our cause; the weekly
press, on the contrary, is strongly in
sympathy with us. The daily press,
generally, represents nobody's opinion,
but the editors are compelled to write
what the business Office dictates to be
written, and as rule the man in charge
of the business Office knows nothing
whatever of the principles involved in
the political contest. The weekly pa
pers, however, represent the facts, and
the feelings and convictions of the edi-
tors of the papers. 1t is of incalculable
Importance to us that our weekly press
shall be impressed with it's own i'm
portance; at the same time. that the
people shall understand it, and give 1t
the support it deserves.
II for one do not believe that the
power of this press is appreciated by
one man in hundred in this country.
and do not believe these newspapers
themselves understand their power and
influence. l believe, with you, that it
is great medium through which we are
to reach the public. And further be-
lieve that the time in which to make this
fight is the year 1899, when there is no
political excitement of any kind, and
when we can appeal to the calm, sober
judgment of the people,"
The position in which we are placed
by defeating our judges is this: Our
campaign was made largely on the fact
that the Republican party in convention
defeated those who had been foremost
in some reforms. There was Merrill,
who was author and fnsher OF the
Anderson tax law for equalizing the bur-
dens of taxation by requiring railroad
taxation. But especially fragrant was
the slaughter of Attorney-General Childs
as candidate for supreme judge, as his
reward for the fight he made against the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
consolidation, and other like service dur
ing his administration. Such inconsist
ency was our principal ammunition.
Now we defeat our candidates for judges,
whose labors for the people in their de-
cisions, all parties concede, have adj
vanced Minnesota many years, and the
benefits of which, if not lost by the I'M
fortunate oversight, not 10 say folly, are
beyond present estimate
And they are in danger of being lost,
and Immediately, is one of the things for
consideration. The people have elected
a strictly partisan court. Why? 1t will
| we'll pay the people to consider that in
quiry we'll. Is it that superior ability or
greater friendliness toward the people is
expected or is it in order to overturn
the decisions of Justice CAVITY, Mitchell
and Buck? How great hand was taken
in the election by the corporate interests
affected, may we'll be inquired into in
each locality. Perhaps the people will
make discoveries by investigation, which
will open their eyes.
While the healing salves are doing
their perfect work for defeated candi-
dates, especially in the Twin Cities, the
coming administration of Gov. Lind is
uppermost in the political mind. Nat
urally, there is a great press for posi-
lions, and yet it is the testimony of old
time Democrats who have been, 10, these
40 years waiting for the coming that
| the pressure is not so great as might lie
expected. Gradually the mist of such
scramble is clearing, and out of it some
practical lines or principles are discern
ible. The first of these relating to the
patronage, is believed to be very close
to the Jacksonian doctrine that Ito the
victors belong the spoils." There are
within the control of Gov. Lind's admin
istration, in the near future at least, ap-
proximately 1000 offices. 1t is believed
that when the proper time comes round
the Republicans remaining will be as
| scarce as the traditional "hens' teeth"
The principle of it is that there is abund-
ant material in the ranks of the friends
of the administration. OF course fitness
is in all cases the prerequisite, but If the
Republican office-holders think that fit
ness is lacking in the reform ranks, and
| are banking ON that, they will be greatly
| mistaken.
A sign of the Democratic simplicity Of
;x,rl Il ;,+ l.,