The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-07-14
CAPT. VAN SAINT AGAIN.

| i ne announced cdnuludCy OF CapG.
| Van SAINT for the nomination of gov
ernor by the Republicans next year
will be no surprise to the voters gen.
orally of Minnesota. Twice before
has he made the same mistake OF get
ting into the race long months before
there seemed to be any necessity for
it, thereby precipitating needlesSly
long campaign, with results which
have hitherto proved disastrous to his
own laudable ambition.
The Winona Republican, in launch
ing the candidacy of Its honored
towpsman in these hot summer days,
and twelve months in advance of the
time wnen the party representatives
will be called to face the problem of
selecting from it's army of competent
and deserving servants one who shall
lead the party to victory in the next
campaign, defends its premature ex,
plosion OF political preference, by say
ing that ''prematurity need no longer
be considered as an obstacle in the
way of considering Capt. Van SAINT as
candidate for the nomination for
governor at the next state cOaveu
tlop;" and substantiates its denoue-
ment by the further statement that it
has the ''exprl 81 personal authority
of Capt. Van Sart for saying that he
is in the field once more, aud in all
the earnestness and sincerity beftting
the occa on"
No one will question tile right OF
the Captain to get into The gam = as
early as he pleasss, although there is
ference OF opinion az To the good
policy OF being groomed 80 Tong ia i'd
vance of the final c0ntes. 4 contest
for the Office is not only premsturely
launched, but it likewise leaves the
Capt. exposed in an open felo TO the
stragetic movements OF the opposition
/ whose guns Will be continually leVeIed
atthe plethoric form OF the Winona
statesman, as sort of practice target,
until the final charge for s victorious
rally. The position, therefore, that
Mr.. Van SAINT will occupy from this
time out will. it 3ems to Us, be clearly
TO the advantage Of the "Other fel
lows" rather than to himself. La
other words, it would seem that the
Captain has unwittingly advanced en-
tirely too far beyond the picket line
to be within safe retreat Of hisreserve
forces when the time for the real en-.
gagement shall come. La this deduc-
tion, however, we may be mistaken.
If experience teaches anything, Mr..
Van SAINT should certainly have learn
ed ere this how to conduct political
lttle along lines leading to success.
That he is a splendid gentleman, no
ole will dispute. That he would
make good executive everyone fully
believes. That he would, if nom
mated, make winning campaign, is
the honest conviction OF his friends
These facts, among others that might
be mentioned, are clements OF
strength to his candidacy, and will
serve him well with thepeople. And
here is point that the FREE PRESS
may be pardoned for calling MIR. Van
S lnt's attention to. Il the last CAM
paign, and the fact is an open cret,
his candidacy WIS largely urged upon
the party by professional politicians.
Those who had run the machine for
an indefuite period in the twin cities,
and in various local centers through
out the state, were almost to a man
demanding his nomination. The mass
of the vo, eIS were out Of sym
patty, for the time at lessi, With the
policy Of gulpiDg down with seeming
relish the desert placed before them
by these self.constituted party leaders
and whilom party dictators, and this
fact was forcibly manifest in the re-
suit of the convention of 9S. This
fatal mistake should LOT be repeated.
Next year, no less than last, the COM
mon people are going to dictate the
convention nominees. They found it
not difficult task last year, and while
their candidate was most beautifully
! whipped at the polls the fault did not