The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-28

Rev. Thomas Hambly, of Clinton
Avenue NJ. e. church, preluded his ser
mon last evening with the following
reference to the political situation in
st. Paul:
AS the voting time approaches election in
terests deepen. The large numbers OF men
TO be constantly found at the political
meetings being held throughout the city is
q splendid evidence Of the loyalty of the
voters of st. Paul TO all the vital concerns
OF the corporation.
Already the Sixth ward has been visited
by three candidates for the mayoralty. The
first meeting was he'd by the Doranites, in
the Liedertafel hall. A good crowd as
sembed TO hear the present incumbent state
his reasons for seeking continuance of
the confidence of the citizens. His plea is
largely on the ground of economy. That
is one very good reason. Mr.. Doran was
very unpretentious in his claims. He said
but little about law enforcement.
The second meeting was held at the same
place, a few evenings later by Mr.. kiefer,
who had followers enough to crowd the hall
remind that the city had been deplor
ably governed except when under Repub-
lican administration. and since the days
back in the '50s, when the Indians and
1rishmen held sway and shillalahs guarded
the doorway of every voting place. when
TO be a candidate on the Republican ticket
meant the imperiling of ones life, he had
been the great hope OF the party that he
represents. and in fact the only one who, in
times Of pressing emergency, led the host
on TO victory.
and dishonesty, of liberality and illiberal-
tty. He declared that he would see that
every man would do his duty, and If any
were found lacking in this respect he would
simply drop out. That is honest enough.
In the next breath he stated, and repeated
the statement time after time. that he
would adopt a just and a liberal policy.
Then. giving a quiet hint in some important
directions he said he would Dnt al
one TO poke his nose" into private bus
mess, which simply meant: Reformers, look
out.
Ii we have laws, an honest official will
enforce them. If they are bad the best way
to set rid OF them is by making the people
tired OF them by enforcement, but to say
they shall not be enforced IS to take the
authority OF legislation in ones own hand
and walk off with il like Samson with the
gates OF GAIA. His declaration in favor of
the Swiss referendum was purely demo-
cratic utterance. and met with the honest
approval of every Republican citizen. From
the remarks Of Mr.. Kiefer one would be led
TO believe that he would be capable of
rendering good government in every respect,
excepting on the question of licensed inst-
tutions.
The third meeting was in the interest of
w. ". Erwin, and was held in an empty
store building on South Wabasha street.
Why he took to an empty store is more
than some people can understand. He had
great crowd of honest admirers. His meet
ing was enthusiastic and representative of
the honest working vote, and one would say
peculiarly free from the ward heller or
office-seeksr. If Mr.. Erwin is ever success
full in being elected he will go into the civic
chair without the escort of rings combines,
wire pulers and off1ce1stiated politicians.
He declared that he wanted none but the
honest mans vote. He would not be elected
by any other. He said our city was and had
been run by combines. The government OF
1t was a combine, a board of public works,
hno, ri oIlH
board, all the appointees of the mayor, VINO
himself was the choice or tool of combines.
His was a terrible painting of the COM
plexion of a city, and an awful comment
on the citizen who allowed his conscience
to sleep contrary to the voice OF him
who gave it. 1t is evident that Mr. Erwin
is pushing a campaign Of education, and
the people of ST. Paul will be more enlight-
ened when he is through than they were
when he began.
One thing is very noticeable that eli
three of the candidates studiously avoided
any mention of the city's lawlessnsss, and
one limited an open policy. Surely the cc,n-
mandlng parties have han1sd out splendid
from Not a word do they say about I'M
worthy municipal judges and attorneys who
studiously avoid doing their duty and pros
titute their offices for the gain that party
affiliation brings.
Again l wish to say that no change can
be expected until the Christian man goes
about his political business as he does that
which gives him his bread and butter. At
present no party considers Christian senti-
ment, and in fact would rather place itself
on record as being independent of it.