The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23
THESE ALSO sIzzLE.

Slate making of all sizes and shanas
seems to be the order of the dav in
Hennepin county politics. This can
uuthfuily be said of both parties, but
particularly Of the Republican party,
which seems to have no end to the num-
Der Of candidates for every office in
sight. The new primary law, which will
regulate the choice of candidates bv
popular vote, is likely to be the means of
teaching the bosses a good and wen
merited lesson. Clubs may be organ
1zed as they are being, in the interest Of
certain candidates, but it is safe to saw
that the men who seek the Office will
not all succeed because they want to,
This is the unpleasant feature of the
new law which is worrying the BOSSES
and there is considerable talk in back
rooms of the wisdom of testing It's con-
sututionality. AS it applies only to
Hennepin county, the dictators think it
might be declared void on the grounds
of special legislation. The taxpayers,
who furnish the powder for the hunters
after offices, hope in case the law is
tested that its constitutionality will be
upheld
Several days ago the C o e directed
the attention of its readers to combina-
tons which were being made to defeat
Loren Fletcher for congress. Since then
a few of those who are in the deal took
particular pains to deny any such at
tempt on their part, but just the same
they are fishing around for some man
cfr ie
no denying the fact that a few Republi-
cans are jealous of Your Uncle Loren,
and in their desperation to place him
high and dry, like the logs in the St.
Croix, have given out a "feeler" in the
shape of naming ex-Congressman J. B.
Gillian as Fletcher's most probable sue
cessor. Away back in the sos Fletcher
had congressional aspirations. That
was the time when the old Fourth
congressional district comprised Ramsey,
Isanti, Chisago. Washington and Henne-
pin counties. The convention was held
in st, Paul, and the Ramsey delegation,
fearing that Fletcher would succeed,
laid their plans to defeat him, and they
did They won over one Barker, OF
Isanti, who went to the convention
of a susceptible makeup, voted for Gill
fllan at the critical moment Had Bar
ker voted as he was instructed, Fletcher
would have won out. The Ramsey
delegation, knowing Fletcher's strength,
selected GiIfillan, and he was nominated
and elected. He served one term, when
he was laid away. AS q politician he
was failure. Col. NJ. w. Glenn, who
has participated in more political seances
in Hennepin county than any other man,
used to say of Gilfillan that he was so
cold he could, even in midsummer, shed
icicles over his grandmother's grave. Now
he is being groomed for congress by. a
few Republicans who think Fletcher has
had enough congressional honors. He
will undoubtedly share the same fate
that Nelson Williams shared when he
wanted to be postmaster. Tom Sherlin
is being urged to take the field against
Fletcher, and for a time he thought well
of the idea, but yesterdays developments
indicate change of front on his part.
A personal friend of Mr. Sherlin said
yesterday that the latter had some idea
of making the run against Fletcher, but
after looking over the field concluded
he would support him. This undoubted-
ly would indicate that Fletcher is going
to have a denomination without much
opposition Sherlin is a very popular
man, has lots of good common sense
and would make an ideal congressman.
His withdrawal at this early date in
Fletcher's favor indicates nothing less
than the latter's denomination. How
the opposition will take this is difficult
to say just now, but it is safe to pre-
dict that they will continue their little
war on Uncle" Loren.
1t is whispered in the inner circles OF
good government that the Citizens
league is determined to put up candi-
date of their own for mayor next time
From time to time they have taken quite
an interest in the local affairs, but when
it came to untying their purse strings
they were always slow to act. 1t is said
now, On the best of authority, that they
will go in next time to win. That means
that those fellows with an abundance of
the current coin of the realm will
loosen up a little and see what a few
silver dollars judiciously invested will
bring. Some of them have already de-
clared in favor of z. J. Phelps, chairman
of the board of trade There are others
Who think Mr.. Phelps too liberal for the
place, and their choice is D. NJ Chute
Mr.. Chute is man Of large ideas of his
own Importance, and would, if nominated,
be the easiest man in the city 10 de-
feat. He is not popular by any means,
and therefore, could not expect to be
elected. On the other hand, Mr.. Phelps
is very progressive, OF strong convictions,
and would make a formidable candidate.
Il is, however, well known that he has
no political aspirations; that his ambi-
ton is to build up the board of trade to
a degree of power and influence never at
tanned before. 1t is difficult to see at
this time how he could be induced to
enter politics with so many more impor-
tant matters to be attended to.
Notwithstanding the fact that Comp
trCIler Joshua Rogers sent a communica-
ton to the city council a short time ago
warning the heads Of departments