The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-08
Nelson DID NOT FIGURE
TTON OF SENATORIAL APP
POINTHIENT
THOUGHT COLLINS GOOD MAN
And the Judge Accepted, but
Changed HIS Mind-Tovvne the
Only ether MAN Serious
" Considered.

So many reports have been circulated
aid even published, TO the effect that
Gov. Lind, In rendering the senatorship
made vacant by the death of Senator
Davis to Justice Loren w. Collins, that
it was inspired by a desire to break up
Senator Nelson's strength, or IN some
other way to disrupt the Republican
party, that Gov Lind yesterday made
eor,oal statement Of his position in the
matter.
a te. Judge Collins, who at first &C
,.ented changed his mind, Gov l-ihd
saws friends of Joseph A. Whelock ahc
of Tams Bixby urged their selection nut
they were not seriously considered. inc
governor says:
These are the facts: L had concluded
that if he would accept, it would be
good solution of the situation to appoint
Judge Collins. I felt that to offer the
appointment to a Democrat would be to
offer an empty honor, and hence DOUBT
ed whether any Democrat who had as
pirations for the future would be likely
to accept it. When l had concluded to
anpoint a Republican, precedent and
policy suggested the selection OF man
from the supreme bench. Governors have
very generally selected for such positions
men from the supreme court OF the state
thought over the several judges or
that court and concluded that Collins,
hv reason of his prediction for active
politics. wide acquaintances- and honof-
able service on the bench would be most
likely to desire it He is less d local rep
resentatiVe, perhaps, than any other man
in public life in the state. With TINS IN
NV mind l talked the matter over with
a friend of the Judge and authorized
him to confer with Collins. He did so,
and reported to me that the judge had
signified his desire to accept.
A meeting was arranged between the
Judge and myself on Saturday afternoon.
At the meeting the judge informed me
that his original statement that he would
accept was made without deltberation,
and that on fuller consideration, in view
of the fact that he had just been elected
to a six-year term and had his boys to
look after, he thought it prudent to think
il over more carefully and requested time
for final decision until Monday-so that
he might confer with St. Cloud friends.
This readily consented to. Sunday he
advised me that after such conference he
had concluded not to enter the fight.
l think that If he had accepted he
would have heen elected, and the state
would have had an active, efficient Ele1tl-
Der in the senate.
did not, of course. ignore considera-
tion of the fact that l would have had
the appointment of his successor to the
supreme court. / had in view for that
place jurist of standing and experience,
who would have been a credit to his posi-
ton and whose appointment would have
beer source of qualification to the
Democrats of the state.
NELSON'S WOES HIS OWN.
AS to the effect of Collins appoint,
ment on Nels 0n's CHARGES of reelection
it was a matter of Indifference TO me. l.
has been suggested that it might have
embarrassed Nelson. AS to this, I do
not know what the effect would nave
been, but, if such had beer the effect
should have had no compunctions of
conscience over it, in the least. 1 am in
no degree responsible for Nelson's ele-
walton to the senate, nor do l care 20
assume any responsibility for his reten-
ton there.
Hence, if any are disposed to ronstrue
any action taken by me as adverse to
Nelson's interests, they are welcome to
that Interpretation and no apologies will
be forthcoming from me.
Aside from the one name [ have given
YOU / have not seriously thought of the
appointment of any Republican. And [
have neither directly nor indirectly in
dicated to any one that l would consoles
the appointment of any ether Republican,
though I was urged by Republicans to
choose again from. their ranks after
Judge Collins changed his mind
In the meantime I learned that Mr.
ToNne would accept. He was the judge
of whether he wanted it or not and also
whether it was an honor worth his tax,
ing. / did not desire to and could not
then properly appoint any other Damo-
crat II / had known at the outset that
! Mr.. Towne really cared for the place
would not nave thought of the appoint
n.ent from the bench, nor have given
consideration to any other name than
Mr. Towne's. He was favored by a ma
iority of the Democrats who have ad,
| Vised me.