The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-17

paraded were allowed to grow, and thu
municipal conditions of st. Paul were in
condition where reform was impera-
tive. Mr.. Barton urged familiarity on the
part Of all Democrats with the issues
Reviewing the Kiefer administration, Mr.
Barton said 1t had been initiated by the
row over the appointment of the assessor.
1t was, he contended, family quarrel
between Republican officeholders, where
individual advantage was esteemed far
above the interests of the people. Mayor
kiefers policy in the appointment of
members of the board of public works
was similar instance of the mayors
disregard for the public and his, anxiety
TO take care of his personal friends. For
putting In an hour or two each day these
men were receiving $500 per year, and
giving nothing in return to the taxpay-
erS who supported them. The conditions
existing in the health and police depart
ments were not unlike the first mention
ed. The depiorable condition existing was
not due to the fact that there was not
competent men in the police department,
but due to Mayor Kiefer's disregard for
public welfare in promoting or trying to
promote, his own ends
j. B. Covington brought greetings from
the Fourth ward organization, and ven
tured hope that the Fourth ward could
duplicate the majority given r. j. O'Con-
nor on the whole ticket this year.
F. L.. McGhee held the rapt attention
of his auditors for nearly half an hour
He referred to the investigation being
conducted by the grand jury which
would be resumed next Monday. For the
first time to his knowledge the city's
chief executive. had been called before
that body. Mr.. McGhee stated that he
was told by Deacon" w L. Wilson that
the mayor had endeavored to defend the
system of wholesale licensing of the So
cial evil before the grand jury. He could
not see how any fair-nlinded man could
conceive of well-governed city not only
countenancing the presence of the Iicen-
tious, but giving absolute protection to
1884 of them He paid his respects to De-
tective Christensen also. He believed
that change in administration was the
only thing that would remedy the evils.
F. A. Pike made a ten-minute speech,
urging the Democrats to unite and nom
mate worthy men.
The executive committee of the Demo,
cratic city and county organization de-
clined to accept the resignation OF it's
chairman, Humphrey, Barton, last night.
The committee could not see the neces-
sity of Mr. Barton resigning, even though
he had declared himself a candidate for
mayor, and so they laid the resignation
on the table
When the committee met last night
Chairman Barton said that consenting to
| the urgent appeals of a number of his
friends for him to enter the race for the
mayoralty nomination he had decided to
resign his position as chairman of the
organization He told Of the work that
had been done In building 1t up and said
that he hoped to see it Endorsed at tho
coming convention. Whether that was
done or not the organization would
prove itself power in the interest of the
Democratic party in st. Paul. During
the time that he was considering the
question Of whether or not he would
make the race for the candidacy, II
had come to him that some people were
of the opinion that he should resign. He
had not used the organization to further
his own candidacy. 1t was against the
bylaws of the organization to take any
part in shaping the party's ticket. But
to prevent any criticism from any source
he had thought 1t best to resign and
consequently submitted his resignation,
The committee was of one accord on the
question of it's acceptance and unanl-
mously voted to lay the resignation on
the table. The feeling was that during
the weeks to come before the convention
the organization will be called upon
to do it's hardest work and to change
it's head at this time would, without help
| ing Mr.. Barton's candidacy or IN the
slightest way affecting that OF any other
Democrat, be unwise. The committee
| transacted some routine business before
/ adiournipr H..