The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-04
CAPT. VAN SAINT AS A DeDGER.


It is an impossibility for the man who
takes an active part in public affairs to
please everyone. Some of his public acts
are certain to displease a few persons;
but if his acts are dictated by fairness
and honest intention even those who diff
fer from his opinions will give him credit
for worthy motives. But it is essential
that the man who is called upon to fill a
Iatiye or judicial, should act firmly and
in a manly, straightforward way upon all
matters which are presented to him for
his official approval or disapproval He
may not evade action where it is clearly
his duty to deal with a question The
public has no respect for the dodger, but
will even prefer the man who flies in the
face Of its opinion rather than the man
who sf1irks his duty.
And herein lies the weakness Of Capt
S. R. Van SAINT, the Republican candi-
didate for governor, with the people. He
is not man who stands up to the tasks
SET UGIOrS HILL he SlIu6T djI6InpIS TO
serve two masters or he hats between
two opinions. Whatever may be the con-
trolling influence, it is certain that Capt
Van SAINT has on many important occa-
sions made an inglorious retreat rather
than place himself on record.
Take, for instance, his action on the
Boer war. If he had declared that he
was friend Of the Beers he would have
pleased many people, no doubt; and If he
had professed friendlness for the British
he would have pleased some others and
have been in accord with his p0itieal
party. But, at the critical moment when
few straightforward, manly words from
the captain were due, his actual position
on the Boer war question was somewhere
In the wiIds of Wisconsin. He lodged
the question.
Those who know Capt. Van SAINT best
were not surprised at his inglorious re-
treat or his silence on the vital question
of the hour.
AS on the Boer question, SO it has been
on many vital matters which came before
the state legislature when Capt. Van
SAINT was a member. During the session
of 1893, when the so-called anti-black-
listing bill, II. F. &c, came UP for final
passage, Capt. Van SAINT rolled silently
and swiftly into one of the ante-rooms
or some ether commodious recess and
lodged the vote. For some unknown
reason he dared not vote for this meas
ure, so important to labor, and he was
afraid to vote against it,
Capt Van SAINT acted in the same way
over another bill of great Importance to
labor, and one of the most meritorious
measures that was ever presented to
legislative body. This was Senate Fla
No. 266, a. bill requiring street railway
companies to vestibuie their cars for the
protection of the motor men or drivers
from the inclemency of the weather
It seems incredible that any man, unless
he happened to be heavy stockholder
or an official of street railway COM
pany. would hesitate for moment to
vote for such just and humane meas
ure. Why, even Tom Lowry, street rail-
way magnate though he Is would vote
for such bill and be glad to do so.
But Capt. Van SAINT lodged He skipped
sayly out of sight when the roll was
called on the final passage of the bill
He dared not vote for 1t and was afraid
n vote ooa=ucY II
There were many other bills which
came before the Legislature of 1885, ana
for which there would seem no valid rea-
son why an upright man might not vote,
and it is conceivable that a perfectly
honest man might conscisntiously have
voted against them. But Capt Van SAINT
lodged. and among the bills on which he
lodged the vote were the following:
H.. F. 9s-A bill for the protection Of
employees.
a. r s24-A bill &c prohibit pawne,rek-
ers from charging mere thar 10 per cent