The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-03
SHARP CONTEST IN PROSPECT FOR
THE TOGA OF SENA-
TOR DAVIS
LAY COMBINE AGAINST NELSON
FRIENDS OF ALEXANDRIA MAN
ARE FEARFUL LEST HE
BE "JOBBEDv
HIS FRIENDS ARE ALL ALERT
They VIII Insist That He Be Re-
elected Before the Vacancy
Caused by Death Is
Filled.

Seemingly. at least, the speakership
fight is out of the way as far as the
incoming legislature is concerned.
That Michael J. Bowling, of Renville,
had the call, is admitted by everyone,
except Albert Berg. Berg and his
friends claim to be able to overthrow
the crystallization of sentiment which fol-
lowed the caucus of the Fourth district
legislators Saturday, but whether they
will be able to break up the strength of
the Renville man is doubtful.
1t is early for a speakership battle to
be settled the reason probably is that
the members want to be clear for the
senatorial fight.
The Second, Third and Sixth districts
will caucus in this city Tuesday; the
Seventh district will caucus at Moorhead
Wednesday.
The First and Fourth districts have al
ready declared for Dowling; the Third
is his own. The Second is unpledged;
the Fifth is said to present solid front
for Bowling, as far as the Republican
members are concerned and the Demo-
Gratis do not count for much in q Repub-
hcan caucus; the Sixth was for a Sixth
district man, but Laybourn laid down his
arms after the Fourth district went for
Bowling. If the Fourth had divided, or
even if it had stood for Berg, the Dl1-
luth man felt that he had a chance. But
so strong was the feeling against Berg,
whose speculative residence divided be
tween the Fourth and Seventh districts,
was almost a matter of conjecture, that
DoWling got it, and there was nothing
left for the others then, practically, save
their own bailwicks-even if they could
carry them solidly.
So there seems little doubt that DoWl-
ing has the speakership
AS TO SENATORIAL FIGHT.
AS it stands, 1t is claimed by the
friends of Bowling that the speakeg ship
fight has been free from tanglement with
the sena torial combat They say that he
has not committed himself, or his vote as
a member, to any of the candidates.
They point out that his services in ma
tional politics as secretary of a leading
Republican organization, and his per-
sonal acquaintance and popularity with
the old members of the house gave him
the speakership without any necessity
for offensive or defensive alliances.
s, One thing seems to be certain, and
that is that Senator Nelson had no. rea-
son to suspect Bowling of disIoya!ty.
Whether he could have said the same for
Berg, authorities do not agree. It is
sufficient for Laybourn to say that If
the speakerShip and senatorial battles
AAS@NN NONAN
Laybourn with certain interests at Du-
luth, the personal heads of which have
been political enemies of Nelson since
the old battle with Kindred, would have
been sufficient to suggest caution to the
wary AleXandrian.
But, with the speakership out cf the
way-if it is out of the way-the field IS
clear for the members of both houses
to do their own figuring on senatorial
chances.
Taking the personal element into con-
sideration only, there is a field of over
a dozen candidates.
But this field is, politically, circum-
scr1bed by some other boundaries.
Except during the term of w. D.
Washburn, when St. Paul and
Minneapolis each had a SENATOR the out
side counties have had senator from
time immemorial Now, out of SO Repub-
ican votes in the house, and Al in the
senate, the outside counties have Is and
81 respectively.
CAN THEY HOLD NELSON?
If the rural forces stand unbroken. they
can absolutely compel Nelson's re-elec-
ton, because they have not only ma
Jorlty Of the Republican caucus, but a
majority of the legislature as whole.
Minneapolis wants the senatorship for
various reasons. Since the defeat of
Washburn it has always wanted it, but
the commanding eminence of Davis in
the senate made any solidifying of the
opposing forces difficult. Now that
Senator Davis is gone the MinneapoH-
tans feel that their time has come.
Furthermore the census shows them to
be considerably larger than Ramsey in
population, and if either of the two
cities is to be given the place they in
sist it shall be Minneapolis, especially
in view of the fact that Minneapolis,
lately a prodigal, from the Republican
standpoint, has come back to the pa
rental hearth, while Ramsey this time
strayed from the fold, and let four Dem
ocratic legislators break through the
lines, not to mention giving Gov Lind
and various county officials good major
tiles.
Ramsey's claims to the senatrship are
earnest, but they are given little weight
by Minneapolis, and unless the matter
reaches point where it is possible
for st. Paul to combine with the outside
counties to give both senatorships to
rural men, rather than have Minneapo-
lis get Davis successor, st. PauFs sue
cess is dubious
In the first place, the local timber is
scant.
Only three local candidates have been
given serious consideration. Senator
hiram Il. stevens. experienced IN the
state senate, an able lawyer, and a
faithful Republican as well as a personal
friend of the late senator, has been
suggested, but he is not moneyed man
in the general acceptance of the term,
and Minneapolis has such candidates
- Moses E. Clapp has been mentioned,
and his name has found favor, but un-
less his friends came to the rescue how
he could land the plum would be a mys-
terry.
w. B. Dean, of Nicols & Dean a
prominent and wealthy jobber, has also
been mentioned but he has not been ac-
tive in politics, and his election over
leaders of the party would be consid-
cred an outrage by the leaders at least
Ed G. Rogers has been spoken of, but
his congressional candidacy aroused such
fierce opposition in certain quarters that
1t looks as though he was being pushed
forward as a skirmisher to draw the
fire. while some one else fixed up the po-
ntical fences for another canpaign-pos-
sibly Dar Reese, who wants to succeed
Congressman Stevens and who sees in
Rogers serious competitor.
w. r. Merriam has been talked of,
but is not not, as yet at least, an avowed
candidate.
MILL CITY HAS MANY.
Minneapolis has a number eff senator
ial candidates. Foremost, perhaps.