The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-09

"I have read very carefully the op1n-
ion of Mr.. Townley relative to the legal
standing of the city Democracy" said
a gentleman yesterday, who Is interest
ed in the success of the party at the
coming election, and while there can
be no question of Mr. Townley's desire
TO tender such advice as will operate in
the best interests of the Democratic
party. vet l am satisfied that he is in
error when he states that the Demo
cratic citizens is the only Democratic
party here that will have legal stand
ing this spring.
That name was adopted two years
ago only as an eXigency, which does
not exist at the present time. The
Democratic party of this city cannot be
consigned to legal oblivion because or
an irregularity in calling a convention
There is there must be, nucleus TO
the party-some power to call the
party together into a convention. The
only question is-where does that power
rest?
1T must reside in one of the follow
ing places: In the committee repre-
scented by Mr.. R. w. Bell; in the city
committee, which assumed to call the
convention of two years ago over which
Mr.. Scanneu presided, or in the county
committee, of which Mr.. Townley Is
the chairman.
In order to have the matter definitely
settled, my suggestion to the party
workers is this: Let the old city COM
mittee meet and issue call for a con-
Vention. Let the county committee IS
sue a call for convention to take place
at the same time and place: if either
of these committees is the legal one
the convention will thus be legal, and
a petition of 500 or more voters, origi-
mated by this convention, will insure
the placing Of the candidates names
on the official ballot.
IF this is not done, but instead
Citizens convention called,
Mr. Bells committee will hold an os-
tensibly Democratic convention, and
secure the requisite petition for Its
candidates, using the word Democrat
as the party appellation, which title
not being disputed by any other body
of voters formed into a convention
must stand, whether the Bell COM
mittee be legal or not.
THUS there will be at least two
tickets in the field, one using the term
Democrat and the other. Democrat
Citizens'-if the programme proposed
by Mr.. TOwnley should go through,
which would mean inevitable disaster
and defeat for the Democratic party.
THE Democratic voters must choose
for themselves which course they will
pursue, anu lIley iHuSI pear III IllHu
that Messrs Bell and Scannell are no
fools, and will not neglect to avail them
selves of any advantage secured
through mistakes committed by those
to whom they are opposed
They have already shown that
they possess unlimited nerve, and can
be relied upon to maintain the same
kind of nerve to the end
Assemblylnan w. R. johnson who, II
Col. Kiefer is nominated for mayor as
'opes" of being placed on the same tick
ct for city treasurer, had this to say
about the Republican muddle yester-
day:
1T looks brighter for Col. Kiefer each
day. The friends of Feldhauser are
working away In several Of the wards,
but his main strength will be in the
ninth.
"Donahower is making a good fight
and his strength will surprise even his
friends, but the under current, my boy,
is for Kiefer. In every ward and pre-
cinct In which have been the mention
Of Kiefer's name creates the widest
enthusiasm, and there is no doubt but
that he is the strongest candidate to-
day
Yes, I notice that Mayor Doran has
declared himself as a candidate for re-
nomination. I guess there was never
much doubt In the minds Of the public
as to his desires in that connection You
notice that there is deal Of talk among
the Democrats about the party being 30
split up that yellow dog on the Re-
publican ticket could be elected
Don't fool yourself on this talk. You
let yellow dog get the nomination on
the Republican ticket and see how
quick the Democrats will settle all diff
ferences and with long strong pull
and pull altogether elect their man.
i hope the Republicans will see the
point and endeavor to get In line for
the strongest man and that man is Col.
Kiefer."
Chairman R. w. Bell, of the Demo-
cratic city committee" In an interview
last evening, said:
'I do not care to discuss the letter
written by Mr.. Townley. There appears
to be misunderstanding as to the ac-
ton Of the Democratic committee after
the primaries and convention have been
called and held. 1t is not the intention
TO rely solely on the convention at
which candidates will be nominated.
bat the action Of the convention will
he backed up by having it's nominees
Placed on the official ticket by petition.
The meeting of the committee to ar
range for the primaries and convention
will be held next Monday evening"
The Democrat-Citizens city COMMITTEES
will hold a meeting this evening a,
Eighth and Wabasha streets to discuss
the matter of calling primaries and a
city convention. The following are the
members of the committee:
J. c. Michael. chairman.
At Large-Dr. E. ]. Buckley, Otto W.
Rohland, Patrick McHugh, H. A. Laughlin.
Edward ]. Darragh. Frank Robert Jr John
J. Dwyer, Theodore Lorden, NJ. J. Donnelly.
THOMAS Herney and Coleman Flaherty
First ward, Michael Mullane; Second
ward, j.. F. Franzen; Third ward, E. j.
Schurmeier; Fourth ward, John E. Hearn.
Fifth ward, Charles Mcdonald; Sixth ward
M. Moriarity; Seventh ward. William G.