The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-05-11
MANKATO FREE PRESS
WHAT 1T SIGNIFIES.

been held in Mankato so we'll attended a
that which performed its work in this cit,
yesterday and rare indeed has the person
mel been more pronounced. Every voting
precinct in the county was represented
and nearly every one by full delegations
This is all the more significant from the
fact that this is season of the year when
the farmers are busy and their time on the
farm is needed. Being strictly an agri-
cultural county, it follows that our con
ventions are made up largely from the
ranks of the agricultural class, and some
thing of more than passing interest il
politics must come to their attention to in
duce them to lay aside farm work to at
tend primaries and conventions in busy
times like these.
There can be but one Interpretation
placed upon the unusual interest mani
tested in this convention, and that is that
the Republicans of Blue Earth county are
determined that the people of the Second
district shall not be misled as to whom
they will chose to represent them in con-
gress for the next two years. Ordinarily
the conventions for the selection of dele
gates to act for the county in selecting
delegates to the national convention have
been poorly attended, many times not
more than half the towns in the county
being represented. But this year a deep
interest is felt in the coming congressional
convention that is to nominate a congress-
man, and as Mr. McCleary is to have op-
position from his own county in the can
didacy of Mr.. Funk, his friends felt it i'm.
portant that the counties comprising the
district should be informed at the earliest
moment that Blue Earth will stand stead
lastly by its present member, and to EN-
phasize this they determined to send Mr..
McCleary at the head of the county dele
cation to the state convention.
1t is passing strange that man so we'll
informed on matters of politics as Mr..
Funk is credited with being, that he can
not see that his candidacy for congress is
received in his home county without any
encouragement and throughout the district
with a degree of GOODNESS bordering
on frigidity, The Free Press is
frank to say that it regards Mr..
Funk highly as a gentleman and
citizen. 1t recognizes his staunch Repub-
licanism and his loyalty to party tenets.
But whatever may be said of him person
ally, there is nothing in his candidacy for
congress that can possibly detract from
Congressman McCleary's great services to
the Republican party. and no good reason
can be advanced why he should succeed
at this time in his effort to supplant the
present member of congress. There can
be no question in the mind of any I'M
biased man of the popularity of Mr.. Nc
Cleary throughout his district Everyone
must admit that on the political platform
has few equals and no superiors
in presenting, in comprehensive and con-
vincing arguments, the great issues before
the American people marking the dividing
fine between the Republican and Demo-
Pop parties. The campaign to be fought
this year between the contending forces
will be waged with vigor and determine
ton that will require the putting forward
of our strongest men. The Second dis
trict is only small fraction of the whole,
but in Mr.. McCleary it has gained
prominence in national politics never
before enjoyed. and in him will the adj
ministration look for help in placing the
issues before the people in many of the
close states. He is recognized by the lead
ing Republicans of the nation as one of
tsstrongest and most convincing cam
speakers in the country, and il
be, as it is, proud distinction for
Earth county and the Second dis
make every honorable effort to re-
him as his own successor, by ac.
one word to the friends of
McCleary. The convention
ate his successor will be
ayof June. The coun
y ect delegates to that