The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-08

Several days ago President Jansen,
OF the Fifth Ward Democratic associ-
alton, wrote to It. d. O'Brien, l.. A.
Rosing and John L. Townley, chairman
Oh the national, state and county Dem
ocratic committees respectively, rela-
tive to the legal status of the party
In st. Paul in the coming city cam
paign.
Yesterday John L. Townley, as chair
man OF the county committee, for
Warded to the president of the Fifth
"aru association the following letter:
st. Paul. March T. 1885,
President Fifth Ward Democratic AS
ISOLATION,
My Dear Sir:
l am In receipt Of your communication of
the LIST inst, asking my views and advice as
10 the proper course to be pursued in the
coming municipal campaign by the Fifth
Ward Democratic association and others,
who need and wish for better city govern
ment.
AS chairman of the Democratic county
committee, have no right to direct or ad-
wise you further, perhaps, than to say that
the Democratic party of the county is in
no manner hampered, mixed up or abridged
IN It's legal status; 1t held distinct sep
arate convention. presented It's ticket and
made its campaign on national. state and
county issues and principles-it did this in
harmony with other parties
The last city election primaries, held by
the Democratic party. and the convention
following and consequent thereon, have
been declared fraudulent and Illegal by our
81 sppss Was tsfs t tRat ade eeIs9R { En- n al
ane rs bpsssas Il Fh IL asiYiS
Paul, who believed that they had been de-
frauded by the then so-called committee, by
due lawful proceeding placed before the
people Of this city ticket named and known
as the Citizens Democratic Ticket" and
city committee by that title was duly
named and acted throughout its campaign.
Mr.: o. O.. Cullen and others were its
candidates. and the entire legality Of that
ticket and of the Citizens Democratic
ticket and party is not doubted
The persistent manner of that body, which
was crushed by the decision of the court,
In claiming to represent the Democrats Of
the city, and to control It's voters, and to
guide and direct them in the affairs of it's
policies, seems to please the Republicans
very much.
Your committee is quite right in stating
that 95 per cent of the Democrats now look
with favor on the Cullen movement
My advice is to have Mr. ]. C. Michael,
chairman Of the Democratic Citizens COM
mittee, call the primaries and convention,
and let them be held under the name of the
Democratic Citizens committee.
Let the Republican adjunct of 1885, now
Calling 1LS6ll the lily Democracy pursue
its own course.
What you most need is better city gov
eminent, and to that end you should strive.
My advice is to heed call for primaries
or city convention. except the one soon to
be issued by Mr.. ]. c. Michael the only
legal chairman, to call the city Democrats
together for city election. Mr.. Michael in
forms me that at the proper time. he will
call the convention. Yours respectfully,
John L. Townley, Chairman.
loft ~
be read with interest by number of
voters outside the membership of the
Fifth ward association, and as a re-
suit Of the statements made, T. R.
Kane announced last evening that the
committee appointed by the Democrat
ic-Citizens' convention two years ago
would hold a meeting Wednesday even
ing to arrange for the calling of prim-
aries and a convention.
This decision was reached at a meet
ing of the Democratic association held
Saturday evening, and the details will
be arranged at the meeting Wednes-
day evening.
A prominent Democrat who objected
to having his name mentioned, in
speaking of the letter of Chairman
Townley last evening, said:
81 fail to see how the Democratic
voters Of st. Paul can do otherwise
than follow the advice given by Mr.
TCwnley. Suppose compromise
should be made with the so-called
Democratic city committee and after
primaries had been held and a conven-
ton had named a ticket, the question
of the legality of the call made by
Chairman Bell and the subsequent ac-
ton under it should be taken into the
courts?
What would the courts hold? Why
the same thing as Judge Kelly did two
years ago, that the convention of
which P. D. Scannell was chairman
had no legal standing.
You don't suppose the Republicans
would overlook point like that If