The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-08-19
A FROST.
Depressing Effect OF Yesterdays
Convention.
Democrats of the Second Congress
siOnaI District are in q Bad
Way.

way.
Yesterdays Democratic congress
sional convention was probably the
weakest gathering which the part y
has held in the district for many
years, and presented a sad contrast
with the gathering that renominated
Congressman McCleary. Only por-
tion of the counties were represented,
and the number Of delegates from
outside of Blue Earth county was very
small. Those who were present were
at sea in regard to candidates, and
the office went begging all the after
noon until happy thought on the
part Of Editor Green, of New Ulm,
while the last ballot was in progress,
led him to suggest the name OF Mr..
Hammond. The word was then
passed around to vote for Hammond,
and it was arranged afterwards that
if he declines the nomination the con-
gressional committee will ill the va
cancy. The effect of such proceed
ing was very dampening on the ardor
of the faithful who were present, and
it was not expected that they could
show any enthusiasm, and they did
not. The convention was like put
ting up at auction something that
nobody wanted. 1t was only the de.
termination of a few leaders that pre-
vented the delegates from stampeding
for home after Judge Severance de-
clined.
1t is not considered probable that
Mr.. Hammond will accept the nomi-
nation, as it is understood that he de-
sires to take the nomination for dis
trict Judge and make the race against
Lorin Cray. II he accepts yesterdays
nomination, there will be no one to
run against Mr.. Cray, so that what
ever Mr.. Hammond does it will leave
the party in bad shape. Those who
know hiL best, however, say that he
will decline the congressional nomi-
uation. In this event, the commit
tee will probably consult the Populists
in filling the vacancy. The fact that
nobody wants the nomination is the
best proof that Mr.. McCleary's politi-
cal opponents concede the utter i'm
possibility of his defeat.
1t is now admitted that the conven-
tion made great mistake in making
opposition to the territorial growth
of the country the sole platform of
the party in the district. This plat
form will tend to drive away from the
party hundreds of progressive and
patriotic young men, who believe as
Attorney q. N. Andrews, Of Wells,
does, that the country's moral duty as
well as commercial interests demand
that it shall not cast away what the
hand of Providence and the guns of
Dewey and Sampson have given US.
When Grover Cleveland ordered the
stars and stripes hauled down in
Hawaii it disguised hundreds of
thousands of Democrats, who
expressed their disapproval of such
course by helping to elect Mckinley
and an administration which would
raise the flag again. When the Demo-
cratic party in the Second congress
sional district takes the backward
stand that it did yesterday, it does a
most unpopular thing. as expressions
of leading Democrats today prove.
Mr.. Andrews struck the key note in
his brilliant speech, and if the party
could have induced him to have &C.
cepted the nomination he would have
polled 5000 more votes than any can.
didate it will name.
Two prominent candidates for
sheriff met near the postoffice yester-
day morning and engaged in heated
discussion on the manner in which
each other was conducting his can
vass. The lie was passed, and threats
vi dIICSU A1A0AS PSoSS1SAS
counsels will probably be followed.
This is the first unpleasant feature
that has developed in a campaign that
has otherwise been harmonious and
good natured, .although exceedingly
lively.
w. A. Funk has been named by
Chairman Steel as member of the
executive committee of the Republi.
can state central committee. The
appointment was unsolicited by Mr..
Funk or his friends, and on that &C.
count the honor is all the more ap-
preciated.
VIM. L. Rapley, town clerk of James
town for many years, and a life long
Democrat, has left that party and
Joined the Republican party He was
in the city today and made his an
nouncement. He cannot go the flu
sion with the Populists.
John o. Parry returned Saturday