The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-22


The Sixth congressional district of Min
nesota, in combination, has recently, that
is in recent years, assumed an Importance
in matters of state, and Of politics, which
can only terminate by the largely greater
interests of the whole state calling a
halt on the Republican politicians of that
district They have generally been unan-
imous and audacious. If any one Of
them mounts the elephant in advance of
his neighbor. he can depend on unanim-
ity, and in the prosecution of his candi-
dacy, from governor down to a committee
clerk or doorkeeper. Audacity has seldom
lost the day, but they are competent to
toss for choice or retire weakling, when
necessary to land the perquisite.
They date back into the past and their
calendar is spotted with the possibilities
of the future. Some have been losers,
and their names are enshrined as might
have BEEN" but no sooner does one of
their number meet an untimely political
end than a dozen stalwart sons of the
Opportunities are welcomed as possibili-
ties. thence to probabilities, and the as
surance of a united Sixth wins the day.
The rest of the state pays the bill.
No more striking illustration can be
named than the unity with which the
Sixth district delegation in the recent
session of the legislature carried back
home with them, notwithstanding Jacob
son, the Duluth normal, the Ahoka asy-
lum, and the St Cloud appropriations
Those came by unity. Their stake was
set on that farthest shore, and no pad
dler overlook them through the whitecaps
of the legislative yacht race. The land
ms was easy. What they have and their
further proposals would astound the ma
tives of less ambitious districts, but in
the Sixth they begin to feel their oats
and have become frisky. 1t would be
impossible to accurately enumerate all
they have had, and years in advance is
listed much that is intended, and more
that is wanted. Just across the
line, in the Seventh, and he is stalwart
member of the family, is an ex-governor
and United States senator; then come
two judges of the supreme court, one at
st. Cloud and one at Duluth the state
auditor from Princeton, the speaker of
the house from Elk River, eight district
judges, a representative in congress and
no less than fifty-eight other state, dis
trict and federal officials and long list
of normal, reformatory judicial and Of
fetal attaches, which, if printed, would
fill a column, now soon to be
perceptbly increased at the new
state institutions for the fight.
Ing Sixth. Renewed ambitions and
markings on the Sixth district slate have
distinctly become the political weather
map, which shows which way the wind
blows, up the river, and no less than the
reelection of Knute Nelson for senator.
and the nomination Of Judge Collins, of
st. Cloud, for governor, will satisfy the
dullest thought and lessened appetite of
the most obscure Sixth districtite. Their
candidates have the sinews of war. For
thirty years these two officials have timed
their ever recurring pay rolls until. com
bined, they have sapped the treasures of
100000 in salaries and perquisites. They
want more, and the Sixth district is In
line. for the horde of small fry for the
lesser places is legion, depending upon
the success of their leaders that the
Sixth shall prevail. And they know how
to prevail.
Only one of the number ever went down
to ignominious defeat from an outsider.
and when he appointed himself on the
Eustis committee 1t did not lessen the
shadow as intended.
Beat one of them fairly and he does
not quit He shifts. If he can't be gov
ernor, he is judge, and if he can't be
secretary of the senate, he gets some
thing better. = Lawyers, doctors, mer-