The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-28

dispatches to this paper for the past two
months. there have been various at
tempts on the part of members in both
houses of the national congress to pass
a measure providing for the election OF
The committee before which bills CT this
kind have been pending have reported
favorably, and unless some unexpected
opposition arises, they are likely to pass
either one or both houses within the next
few months. There will be opposition to
them. without doubt, but this opposition
will come from men who have plenty Of
money to further their political ambitions
and, therefore, are not anxious to permit
mere brilliant men than they, with less
money, to become members of the senate
in their places. Opposition of this kind
will always be Forthcoming, and until
the United States congress provides
legislation to prevent the purchase OF
legislatures by millionaires, the scandals
which have made this congress notorious
will continue.
The Clark case In the United States
senate, while 1t has not been in any de-
gree worse than others which have not
been investigated. has convinced the peo-
pie that it IS not safe for legislatures to
choose senators, for the reason that
wholesale bribery can be carried on to
the detriment of the people of the sew
eral states and the United States at
large. The Clark case, having been aired
very thoroughly in the senate committee
on privileges and elections, will, without
doubt, stir up men in both houses of con-
gress who desire honest elections. AS be-
fore stated bills without number are
pending for this purpose, and one or two
have been reported favorably, and if
they pass both houses of congress and
are sent to the president, the present chief
executive will not be impolitic enough to
veto them, and therefore a law of this
kind may be put upon the statute books
within the next few months.
|. Outside indications do not point to any
legislation of great Importance by which
lobbyists can make any great amount OF
money. 1t is a fact, however, that a
larger lobby is now maintained In this
capital than has ever before been
known. The greater part of this paid
element Of the so-called third house Is
paid by foreigners who desire to prevent
the enactment of legislation which VIII
not be beneficial to their interests. This
foreign lobby is also maintained here in
order to prevent, or at least to modify
legislation which may be enacted for the
government Of the new possessions ae-
quired by this government, Us the re-
suit of the war with Spain. There
are domestic measures without number
looked after by the so-called members OF
the third house." but they are not be-
ing so we'll paid as has been the case in
former sessions The lobby, however, as
before stated, Is a big one and anticipates
that something will develop within the
next few weeks which will give them an
opportunity to earn the big fees Tor
which they are looking.
80
The vice presidential aspirations OF
Joel P. Heatwole representative from the
Third Minnesota district, are no longer
regarded as a huge joke. The mere fact
that Mr.. Heatwole gained such victory
over William r. Merriam, director OF the
United States census, regarding the print
ing measure which was up a few days
ago, forces the Western people to recog>
nize the fact that If a candidate for the
vice presidency is to come from that
section Mr.. Heatwole might be more &C
ceptable to the people of the country
than any other man yet mentioned west
of the Mississippi. The contest Waged
in the lower house of congress against
Gov. Merriam, the present director OF the
census, who desired the printing of his
bureau matter outside the government
hos ryaiO HaatW0I9 q
standing, not only among printers II,
every section of the Union, but has made
# possible for him to become one of the
strongest vote getters of the country, due
to the fact that the workingmen. pushed
on by the printers, will advocate his can
didacv before the Lext national Repub1-
can convention.
Heatwole is a modest man. His Diog-
raphy in the Congressional Directory
occupies less than four lines. This is the
smallest sketch Of life, to date. of any
representative in the United States con-
gress. Representative Eddy is also mod
est. the history of his life being corr
tanned in four lines and a half.
This is what Mr.. Heatwole has writ
ten for the Congressional Directory:
"Joel P. Heatwole, Republican, OF
Northfield, was born In Indiana Aug. z,
1856; is a printer; was elected to the
fifty-fourth and ffty-fifth congresses, and
reelected to the fffty-sixth congress, re-
ceiving 1921 votes. to 1888 for c. G.
Kinds, Democrat, and LAG for ]. r.
Lowe, Populist."
This sketch can at least be commended
for its brevity.
The latest information from the Bryan
people is TO the effect that his favorlte
for the vice presidential nominee on the
Democratic ticket this year Is oliver h.
P, Belmont of New York. There Is lit
tie definite information, however, at
hard whether Bryan, while being en-
tertained in New York by Belmont, as
sured that gentleman that he would be
eIad to have him associated with him on
the national ticket for 1900 John R. Nc
Mclean and his friends in this city have
not given up the idea that the proprietor
of the Cincinnati Enquirer is yet In the
race The prospects now seem to Tore
shadow the selection of Belmont ror
Bryan's running mate, with the pare
possibility that Mclean may go to- the
convention with enough strength to de-
feat the New York man. something
more positive regarding Bryans lnten-
lions and the sentiment existing through
ont the country regarding Bryan's as
sociate on the ticket this year Will prob
ably be known when the national Demo-
cratic committee meets in this city to
select the time and place for the next
rational Democratic convention. ana In
the meantime the friends Of Belmont are
enthusiastic and John r. Mclean ana
his followers are using every posSlpie
endeavor to secure the honor OF Decom-
ing Bryan's helpmate on the national
ticket this year.
The advocates of the pure food bill
will have their annual convention In
Washington, March Z. 1t is the purpose
of the advocates of the pure food meas
ures, just now pending in congress. TO
endeavor to get some kind of legislation
through before the first session OF the
Eyftv-sixth congress takes recess next