The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-22
THE HOUR FOR HARMONY.

The Republican party of Minnesota
is confronted with condition that has
not hitherto existed in Minnesota sirce
~'before the war" That condition is
the occupancy of the gubernatorial
chair by a Demo-Populist executive
clearly elected through split in the
Republican ranks, and holding his Of
fee through the sufferance of a large
number of the sovereign voters of this
state who have no sympathy with his
public utterances on national questions,
and who have nothing in common with
his political opinions.
1t will add little or nothing to future
success to unnecessarily draw upon
words to explain past differences and
attendant defeat which overlook the par
ty last year. The party is now about to
enter upon another campaign. Six
months hence, or little more, and we
shall see two political forces drawn up
in line with theirl eaders named to do
battle for political success. Which
shall win is not difficult to pre-.
dict if no mistakes be made.
With a united and harmonious party
the Republicans can easily succeed. The
duty of the hour, therefore. is harmony,
with large n"
The OPPOSITION is united upon the head
of it's ticket. John Lind will be renomi-
mated by reclamation by the allied
forces, and he will thus be able to enter
the campaign without the usual after
convention so1e spots to heal. To de-
feat him the Republicans must be
equally united, and the opportunity for
a complete unifcation of the party in
the nomination OF it's standard-bearer
is, it seems to US, most propitious.
Judge Collins has made known that he
will not enter the contest. Robert G.
EvaLs has persistently refused to be
drawn into active participation for the
nomination. Both of these gentlemen
are loyal Republicans, with political
friends as loyal to party interests and
party success as they are enthusiastic
for everything Republican.
1t is a conceded fact that Capt. Van
SAINT is the favorite of large prepon-
derance of the Republican voters of the
state, as we'll as good majority of the
working Republicans upon whom the
burden Of hard work usually falls That
he will make an invincible candidate
his friends firmly believe, and that he
is closer to what many are pleased to
call the common people" there is no
question of doubt. His past course has
richly earned for the Captain the I'M
divided support of the Republicans of
Minnesota. No man, whether of high
or low degree, could be more loyal to
his party than he, and certainly no Re
publican whose name has been or could
be mentioned for the nomination for
governor has worked harder for the sue
cess of the ticket in the last three or
four campaigns than has Captain Van
SAINT. An old soldier of magnetic per-
.sonality; citizen with an unblemished
character; business man of wide ex-
perience and successful results; a legis-
lator with an enviable reputation; a
man of excellent judgment and wide
acquaintance; and man whose integ-
rity and honesty of purpose commend
him to the good people of all parties,
combine to make Mr.. Van SAINT can.
didate around whom the Republicans
of this state can rally as one man, with
the confidence that unanimous nomi-
nation will redeem the state from
Demo-Populism and reinstate Republi-
can rule in every department.
The time has now arrived for the Re-
publicans to ''get together" and stop
this .'favorite candidate" hobby. The
Free Press has been close and impair
tial observer of the trend of public SEN
timent for the next Republican stand
ard bearer. and it is prepared to say
openly and without hesitation that that
sentiment has unquestionably crystal
zed around Capt. Van SAINT so thor
oughly and Enthusiastically as to leave no
further doubt as to the duty of Repub-
licans if they want to win out next
year. Not in twenty years has there
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