The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-21
SET THEM ILL GUESSING
WITHDRAWAL OF ROBERT A
SMITH SURPRISED THE ST.
PAUL DEMOCRATS
DISCONNECTED REPUBLICANS
Field May Remain rs at Present,
With Stone, Wagner and
Parker as Dark
Horses.

The announcement made in the G O b e
of yesterday of the retirement of Rob-
ert A. Smith from the mayoralty race
caused a sensation in local political CIR
cles. 1t left the Republicans, as well
as the Democrats, wondering where they
were at.
so far as the Democrats We're con-
cerned 1t was seen that the contests at
the primaries Friday night would be
along different lines from all the pre-
liminary plans. The candidates who
/ had been willing to allow Postmaster
Smiths friends to make an aggressive
! contest in each precinct suddenly found
themselves confronted with the necess :ty
| OF additional efforts on their part. The
| field Is again an open one, with a scram-
BILE for three of the wards that Smith
would have carried.
| AS soon as the news of Mr.. Smith s
withdrawal became generally known
there was much speculation as to wheth-
Ter other candidates than those now in
/ the field might not come to the front
1t was said that Dr. Stone J. ]. Parker
and Sheriff Wagner might be regards
as dark horses. Others thought that
| some man like c. Milton Griggs would
come to the front in the event of a con-
vention that did not show a majority
| for one of the three men. The general
! opinion, however, was that the choice of
the convention would come from the
three gentlemen now in the race
AS for the Republicans the feeling be-
came general that if Mayor Kiefer had
any doubt as to the advisability of his
running Independent in the event of the
nomination of Schiffmann, that doubt
! was removed with the withdrawal Of
| Smith. Mayor Kiefer saw how the fear
of having McCardy run Independent put
a quietus on the talk of turning the
| comptroller down, so it was reported he
will not only try it but go the length.
BARTON'S FRIENDS SANGUINE.
| Mr.. Humphrey Barton said:
MY friends tell me that the withdraw
al of Mr.. Smith has greatly benefited me
and they are very jub.lant over the sit
| uation this evening. They manifest to
! me belief that my nomination is as
sured, and l have no reason to dispu or
| dlsbelleve these statements, and have eV-
| cry reason to believe them. l will have
strong following in every ward in the
| city. My friends in all sections of the
| city are doing active and earnest work
| in my behalf, which 1 certainly appre-
| ciate very much.
THE city and county organization is
| perfect and all members are taking an
active and earnest interest in the ap-
| preaching primaries and convention and
! they are all anxious and urgent that the
organization be ratified and made the le-
| gal committee for the spring campaign,
| and l have no doubt that will be the re-
! suit. The ratification of the committee
will, L believe, be the most impor: ant
work of the convention. 1t would cure
working, earnest body of men, reaching
into every precinct of the city, the mem
| bers of which will have for their com
mon object the improvement and success
| of the party.
"A general meeting of all the members
! of the organization will be held tonor-
row "wednesday evening at Assembly
| hall. l regard the meeting as a most i'm
portant one, and hope that every one
connected with the organization Will
| make it point 10 be present.
JUDGE WILLIS CHANCES.
Former Judge John w. Willis, who IS
one of the leading candidates for the
mayoralty nomination, said he was great
| ly surprised at the withdrawal of Mr.
Smith from the race.
Il felt, and do feel,' said NJ. Willis,
| very friendly TO all of the gentlemen
who are and have bsen mentioned as can
didates for the Democratic nomination
for mayor. As to just how the withdraw
al of Mr. Smith will affect my chances
for the nomination l could not say ]
shall be a candidate before the conven-
ton, and my friends say that stand a
good chance to be Endorsed and secure the
| nomination"
Further than this Mr. Willis did not
care to express any opinion.
DR. WHITCCAIB'S FIGHT.
DR.. E. Fl. Whitcomb, who has been hus
| Ting for the Democratic nomination for
mayor ever since the campaign opened
and who is regarded by many as a strona
! candidate, was disinclined TO discuss the
withdrawal of r. A. Smith or its results
upon the chances of himself or the othe:
candidates. He declared however thai
he had been in the race from the start
| and would remain until the finish, admit
ting, with smile, that If he did not
consider his chances Of being chosen
| the Democratic standard bearer excel
lent, he would not so concisely state hi.
position. DR.. Whitcomb says he has ev.
cry assurance that he will have some 81
the delegates from every ward in the city
ana some wards he thinks, will vote sol
idly for him.
THE withdrawal OF Mr.. Smith make;
one less contestant said Dr. Whitcomb
| and, of course, enhances the chance OF
some Of the rest Of US in that his sup.
| port must go, either entirely or split m
TO one or more other candidates. 1 hcpc
TO get my share of this support. I have
heard IF a .7arl I,