The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-12
EPISTLES TO ST. PAUL.

The announcement that Thomas Lowry
is having luxurious trolley car built the
best that ever. which Is to be given It's
hrst airing with President Mckinley and
his party as the invited guests, suggests
that as matter of courtesy to the pres
ldent, Mr.. Lowry will take every possible
precautlon against accidents on the trip
Not that the good people of Minneapolis
are hkeiy to try to ditch the Spanish war
president in Minnehaha creek, or any
thing violent like that, but let the minor
details be carefully guarded Trolley cars
are so uncertain sometimes. about the
current and the lighting circuits and
such, and Mr.. Lowry will perhaps remem-
Der that Mr.. Mckinley spent about half
an hour of very anxious minutes in Min
neapolis one night, In total darkness. Or
dinarily, perhaps, Mr.. Mckinley, having
clear conscience. like all politicians is
not afraid to be alone in the dark, but
In this case the circumstances were Pc
culiar 1t was on the third day of the
convention of 1892, at which Harrison was
nominated, or more strictly, 1T was the
midnight which closed this third day.
There were approximately 10000 people
in the big exposition hall, in spite of the
lateness of the hour, for it was the night
of the first vote which was considered
test of strength between the forces Of
Blaine and Harrison. The problem was
whether or not a contesting delegation
from Alabama should be admitted. Ohio
had just voted and Matt s. Quay was
standing in front of the Pennsylvania
delegation. ready to cast the vote of that
state, when all the lights were extin-
guished. Impatient newspaper men, in
terrupted in their work of turning out
copy near the stage, began to strike
matches in the nope of continuing by the
quickly fading rays. Don't strike any
matches, came shout from the packed
galleries, where some one. realizing the
f1imsy Undertook construction of the
hall, was fearful of the results.
The word was enough and for
tWenty-SiX minutes the crowd sat there.
Mr. Mckinley was in a cold sweat. Not
only was the element of panic to be con-
s1dered, but he had a more active per-
Sonal interest. He remembered another
Republican national convention, down at
Cincinnati, where the lights had gone out
with Blaine apparently in the lead, and
the next morning when the convention
resumed its session a combination had
been made which kept the "plumed
knight" out Of the presidency he was
nearer to then than ever afterward. AS
chairman of the convention, considering
the part Ohio had played in that other
fight, this later casualty might put Mr..
| Mckinley in peculiar light If 1t could
be shown that the accident was due to
any fault on the part Of the arrange
ments J. Sloat Fassett, of New York,
who had been the temporary chairman,
wanted the convention to adjourn until
morning this time but the question Of
how the crowd was going to get out of
the hall was a serious one, and it was
! finally decided to stick it out and wait
for the lights to be turned on again.
| But perhaps Mr.. Mckinley would pre-
fer to have the, lights remain lighted
while he visits Minneapolis this time. It's
so much more easy, like.
! A cadaverous-looking insurance solicitor
appeared in probate court yesterday and
eluded the Vigilance of Clerk OF Probate
| Sundberg enough tosgain admission to the
private office where Judge Eazille was
| busily at work on some papers. The in
| truder commenced to state his case to
the. court and was just beginning to
warm UP to his subject when Judge Ba-
lille cut him short by remardng:
my good man, am already insured
for $21 900 and L can't afford to take out
another cent
| Good heavens observed an attorney
who was. waiting for an audience. ''do
you carry that much? What Is it? Fra
| ternal insurance."
mo; it's the old lynn policy" replied
| the court, smiling,
{ til lfrHf