The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-03-31
4 FEW CON | NTS
In Regard to the MankatO Con-
ference. ..s. e2..

ference. :as. & I ,5ss
It would occupy the y hsole Of pa
per twice as large as the ADVANCE to
reprint all that has been aid in the
various papers in the state condem-
ing the conference and itSattempt to
dictate to the people, through those
that had charge Of the a6hir.
The Second district mesting Of re-
publicans at Mankato thit week was
a hot one, and one of the leading
spirits of the gathering WA James III.
Baker, the alliance demo -pop-gold
standard orator of Blue Harth coun-
/ ty. No wonder Van Santara uneasy
about the result of theNmeeting.--
Magnolia Advance.
The birth of reform gssmovement
at Mankato Tuesday, With prospec.
tive Postmaster Hays fdr midwife,
prospective Postmaster Hunt for wet
nurse, and demagogue jim Baker for
the sponsor, is an event tdexcite the
derision and disgust of every repub-
lican who knows a litt1aSbit about
Second district politics.. r Redwood
Gazette.
Chairman Funk showedThimself to
be the czariest kind of c1er in favor
of the Mankato ring hesdM by L. P.
Hunt; the country members we're
given to understand that they had no
rights in the Convention that they
were simply invited to Mankato to
patropize the Saulpaughh hhotel.-5t.
James Gazette.
It is at present diticulttO estimate
the effect of the conferenosupon Van
SAINTS candidacy or uponshthe party
within the district, but do not be-
|ieve that it has changed my senti-
ment as to Van SAINT, whileit has Ger.
tainly not promoted harmony among
the republicans. One result will
probably be that no such conferences
will he called in other distficts, and
another result that should accrue is
that hereafter no political conven-
tions should he held exceptthey are
duly called by proper authority and
are composed by duly accredited del
egates who may represent something
and somebody.-Marsha]l News Mes:
senger.
The Mankato conferences turned
out to be just what experienced poll
ticians agreed in advance that it
would be-a great blundef Intend
ed as a setback to the Van SAINT
wave, it proved to be just the cou-
trary, for the reason that ithas dem
onstrated that Van SAINT hasa large
and able following in the Second dis
trict. Had Blue Earth county been
restricted to reasonable number of
votes in comparison with sthe other
counties represented, the iis no
doubt that the conference would have
been adjourned sine die without TAX
ing any action whatever. Even with
a fair chairman this would have been
the result. The Van Sant men and
the men who have no especial objec-
ton to his candidacy were in the ma
jority so far as numbers were con-
cerned, and they were by far the
ablest and cleanest men in the crowd.
They had the audience with them,
too.
The ridiculous ruling of the chair,
after Secretary Hays had stated that
he had consulted three of the leading
republicans in each county in calling
the conference, to the effect that Mr..
Hays could not name those persons
because the matter was a private one,
disgusted everybody who favored
fair, open-handed work, and con-
vinced that the statement was untrue.
Furthermore, it came with an exceed:
ing ill-grace from men who had pro-
fessenly entered upon the work of
smashing the machine.
Senator Miller, of Luvern e, showed
good judgment in keeping away from
the conference. His presence was
very much desired by the originators
of the scheme. They seemed to want
somebody there to give it respecta-
bility and standing.
The feeling against Congressman
McC]eary, growing out OF his selec-
ton of Hunt for postmaster, is deep
seated and widespread. and it is a
pity, too, for McCleary is the only
Minnesota member of the honse who
has a national reputation. Men
whose republicanism almost antedate
McC Cleary's birth do not hesitate to
say the congressman deliberately de-
ceived them in this matter. Post