The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-15
GAVE THEN A SCARE
REPUBLICAN WHEELHORSEs ARE
ALARMED ABOUT MERRIAM,s
SUDDEN ADVENT HERE
MERCHANTS IS A BEEHIVE


teIry Where the WeII-Fed Lead
ers Have Chosen to Establish
Their Headquarters-Minn
HeeIers Were Disappointed.
''The Assyrian came dowr like a wolf
on the fold" so a poet has written at
least. but even If his muse told the truth.
she would still fall short of describing
the way in which the vultures OF Min
nesota politics swooped down on the
Merchants hotel yesterday, when they
read in the G 0 b about the errand of
Census Superintendent Merriam in behalf
of Robert G. Evans gubernatorial boom.
or course. they were not all vultures.
Some Of the birds Of passage were merely
the crows. whose caW-caW-caW is much
more of nuisance than the small pick
ings they get from the crib of politics.
but horde of Republican politicians, and
a host Of other Republicans who have
thought that they were. or who now
think that they are. politicians. surround
ed Col. Aims time-honored political
shelter like hawks around flock Of
young chickens.
Wow! but there was a wild packing of
grips in various parts Of the state when
it became noised about that Merriam was
here. He left Washington Friday night
as noiselessly as dime novel detective
and dropped In on the enemy like the
rear admiral, all by surprise.
Those who could get a train took
it. and those who were TOO far away,
touched the wire. Both were anxious.
Senator Nelson's advent was almost as
much Of an event, apparently, as that of
his lieutenant from Washington. How
| they did flock in to see Knutel William
Henry, he ran for governor last time,
| you know, came over early and ate up
| two hours Of the afternoon, by Knute's
| consent probably, but at the cost Of much
| discontinue to the waiting throngs of
| hungry and bowling politicians. Then,
| too, some color sergeant, or halfback, or
| possibly it will turn out, a drawback on
| Knute's political team. spread it abroad
| In Minneapolis that the senator would
| be at the Nicollet there in the evening
Well, you could have just about taken
poll Of the Republican ward heelers in
| the lobby Of that historic old rendezvous.
| But. Knute, didn't come Too bad, tool
! The poor fellows looked so hungry, like.
Congressman Tawney, McCleary and
! Stevens were among those who conferred
with the seator during the day, but little
! is known of their gains, except it has
been stated that he believes that strong
| committee is one Of the most important
matters that should be well looked after
! in the coming struggle.
Clapp, Nelson and Bede will be the
winning triumvirate when convention
time for the Republicans comes around,
if the prediction of August J. Anderson,
of Taylor's Falls, accurately portends the
shape Of future political events. Mr.
! Anderson gave it as his belief to a
o b e man that Nelson would be in
vincible in the legislature, and CIapp and
| Bede the popular choice of the Repub-
| leans Of the Sixth district for governor
and congressman, respectively. Mime
| apolis does not seem to have much luck
with her candidates." said the Chisago
| county statesman, when questioned as
! to the candidacy of Robert G.. Evans,
land the party will not, 1 believe, take
any risks this year. 1t is very early to
| say very much about politics yet Clapp
| seems to be more talked of in my county
than any Of the other candidates men
| toned, and I believe that Bede will cas-
| lily secure the nomination for congress.
! Clapp is unquestionably very strong in
! our county, and Bede will get the solid
support Of the delegation. I have travel
ed over several other counties, and 1
think he will win out"
zee
That August. who wrote the Anderson
| bill, you remember, talks about Clapp
and Nelson in the same breath may be a
| shrewd move to distract the public atten-
| ton from the sympathy between Nelson
! and Evans, but whether that be so or
not, 1t is not to be gainsaid that Mr..
Anderson Is one of an important element
| in the Republican party, which, however
! friendly to Nelson it may be, does not
! incline very kindly to the proposition
to reward the Mill City for its cutting
| Of William Henry last time and David
Marston Clough two years before by
giving it another nominee It is time.
say these, that the outside counties
were getting something out Of it, and let
Minneapolis take care Of her politics in
her own .cutthroat way until such time
as she chooses to 'be good" and ''play
| fair"
Judge Collins managed to get away
| from his labors on the supreme bench
| long enough to touch elbows with the
| politicians who were in town. Loren w
! like Van SAINT and the rest, does not feel
kindly toward the administration inter-
| ference, and would like to see Mr. Nc
| I<inley keep his hands off. Still it Is re-
ported that some of the candidates con-
cede that William had g. marvellous in
| duence in puling through the heavily
| handicapped Clough three years ago.
| which is not to be despised, and may be
| considered as something to warrant gen
| erous considerations of Mr.. McKinley's
| preferences, If he has any, in this case.
| This, however, is a beautiful sentiment
| which Is almost too poetic for practical
| Endorsement in the dog-eat-dog school
which now has the high hand in the Re-
publican office-seekfng contingent.
eae
Sam Langum was on the ground early
| Sam wanted to see how this Evans
and anti-Van SAINT position taken by Mel
son, presumably with the favor of high
! er powers, would affect his own candi-
dacy for secretary of state. Talk of Lo-
men for secretary, too was heard in the
corridors. He has been secretary of state
with the office through many changes Of
incumbent figure heads.
Van SAINTS friends were in the fray
| thick and fast. They say he has the
First and Second districts solid, and
they are claiming part of the Third.
| Just a little Heatwole talk was heard
| last night and it is said that Joel would
forego further congressional honors If
| he could get an easy and graceful ten
John Lind now holds. Joel, however,
did not announce himself as candidate.
The Minneapolis Journal asserts that
'Mr. Merriam's declaration in regard to
the reelection of Senator Nelson Is not
significant, for the simple reason that
there is no opposition to the senator.