The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31
THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.

THD REE'UBIIICAN I1CAET.
The ticket nominated by the Republican
city convention has many elements of
political strength; 1t has many more ele-
ments OF political weakness. 1t Is
ticket which can and will be beaten, II
Democratic disloyalty does not prevent.
1t represents the choice Of the holier-
than-thou element OF Republicanism,
which In the actual administration of
official affairs. where 1t has had play in
this city at all times during the past four
years has shown itself to be in the high
est degree selfish and unprincipled.
The friends of Mayor Kiefer must have
little wish to recall the proceedings OF
the convention which nominated that
ticket. Aside wholly from the defeat
which 1t inflicted on them. it's treatment
of a city executive representing the
party affiliations of It's members was such
as to disgust even the bltterest partisan
who has left any sense whatever Of what
is due to the decencies of individual life.
The old underlying bitterness toward the
citizen, which has always distinguished
the class of political society which this
ticket represents, found In that conven-
ton forms of expression which at times
touched the depths of blackguardism.
The Globe has felt itself called on
from time to time to criticise Mayor
III,
cisms, 1t must be honestly said. pertain
ed almost invariably to some legacy or
other of evil which had been bequeathed
to him by his predecessor. He failed to
root up those evils as he ought to have
done. and they have helped to destroy
him. But, whatever criticism or con-
demnation of our city executive this
paper INDUCED In, 1t always freely gave
expression to It's conviction of his I'M
tainted personal and official honesty.
It may lessen somewhat the bitterness
with which the action of the convention
is to be regarded by Mayor Kiefer and
his friends, when they reflect that he has
but shared the fate Of his Republican
predecessors. Wright and Doran They,
too. were thrown out OF Office by their
own party, and the confession freely
made that, even from the Republican
public confidence. In the case of Mayor
Kiefer local Republicanism has bestowed
on him and his administration at once
contempt and defeat, Notwithstanding
that throughout his administration he
bore the full weight of the sins of his
party and of his official predecessor. The
one act which he d., and for which the
G b e has thanked him-the removal
OF that notorious incompetent, Goss-will
now be undone, in all probability, and
We will once more have that remarkable
character at the head of our police affairs
should Chester r. Smith be elected mayor.
The Sixth ward was the prime agent
through which Mayor Kiefer's defeat was
accomplished in the convention it's full
reward has yet to come.
So devoted a Republican partisan as
Mayor Kiefer will no doubt reconcile him
self to the deliberate reputation Of him
and his administration which the party
platform shows by the reflection that,
while there IS not a word Of approval
to be wasted on him or his administration
in that document, 1t IS resonant with dec
larations Of admiration and approval Of
Mckinley and his administration. The
role Of mutual destruction so successfully
played between his followers and those of
Mr.. Schiffmann VIII no doubt be pc
culiarly satisfying to the successful can
didate for the mayoralty nomination.
since he and his followers have clearly
made known the poor estimation in which
they hold both the one and the other.
A blue law administration is in sight,
unless the body of the voters of st. Paul
prevent the infection. If 1t should come
upon US. 1t certainly will be in strict &C
cord with the professions of those who
succeeded in forcing Mr.. Smiths nomIna-
ton on that convention.