The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-06-07
FIGHT OF TOWN SITES
SECRETARY OF STATE
BERG
HIS SALARY NOT STOPPED
But There Are Troubles at War.
road That Are Causing Him
Some Hardship and
Anxiety.

Judging from reports from the shores
of Warroad, the political situation is not
| as rosy for Secretary Of State Berg as
| might have been expected for an official
situated as he is-that Is, able to draw
state salary, while carrying on extensive
| town-site and other operations in far
distant part of the state. Fact is, SO the
| reports go, that our Republican secretary
| Of state has something like g. fire in the
rear 1t is said that friends who hitherto
encouraged his activity in Roseau county
have come to the conclusion that all Mr..
Berg is after is to be elected to the state
legislature from the district In which he
mas taken up residence They say that
| the large gentleman really expected to
be nominated for congress in Eddy's
! place, in the early days of the Eddy OPP
! position, but that the legislature is now
quite big enough for him, and they think
that this place is all that Secretary Berg
! is now after.
Then there is said to be continued fric-
ton in the townsite operations, where,
| instead of one good promising town,
three are now struggling to get them
selves an existence One feature con-
| uSClOQ WICn IIl1S mas TO 90 WIN senator
knute Nelson, who is said to be severely
criticised for the special legislation of
congress connected with the crossing of
Rainy river by the expected Canadian
railroad. This secured the privilege of
! the bridge, but, a fact not generally
known, the act provided for giving
tract of land along with the franchise
| right. There is feeling against this
bonus, and some connect Secretary Berg
with the same. Not only this, but the
secretary is said to be held responsible
for broken promises as to the railroad
itself, which no one as yet has heard
putting and wheeling hither and yon,
along the muddy shores of Warroad and
the Lake of the Woods
And SO, altogether, reports are not the
most encouraging as to Secretary Bergs
political affairs in the North
Lieut.. Gov. L. A. Smith will not be a
party to any trade that will put him out
of the fight for denomination on the Re
publican ticket The lieutenant governor
spent several hours in Minneapolis yes
terday afternoon.
II am In this for denomination for
lieutenant governor and nothing else"
said he. 81 will not be a party TO any
scheme that will put me out of the race
and if L am dropped and receive the NOM
ination for railroad commissioner | will
receive that nomination without having
moved a finger to secure it. The story
that already I am preparing to satisfy
myself with the railroad commission
nomination is false. 1 want the re-
nomination for lieutenant governor sim
ply as Endorsement and nothing else, and
l believe l am entitled to it. l do not
believe in this talk that the proposed
switch is a scheme to get rid of Staples.
With the state convention only few
weeks away, the Republicans are uncer-
tain about their nominee. Van SAINT has
never loosened his grip and has the whip
hand. He has been a candidate two
years and the county Republican press
is strong for him. The politicians of the
Twin Cities see a cloud on the horizon
in John Lind, and there is a fight ahead
for the machine which is beyond question
favorable to the Winona man. If the
ranks of the machine withstand the as
saults of the Twin City element that
wants Clapp or some other available ag-
gressive candidate, Van SAINT will get the
nomination, and if defeated the Twin
City element will be comforted by saying,
Il told you So
Chas. A Towne, Populist nominee for
y1ce-president, was at the statehouse yes
terday. Mr.. Towne will remain in the
city today to have a part in the recep-
ton to the Boer ENJOYS.