The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-09
WHO WILL BE RDspONsIaIE,


This evening the Democratic members
of the common council are expected to
agree upon corporation attorney to
succeed Mr.. James E. Markham Mr..
Markham is naturally anxious to succeed
himself. He can only do so by the aid
OF one or more Democratic votes, He
has been a capable and conscientious
official and would be reelected without
opposition were the majority of the coun-
Gil composed of Republicans.
The principal Democratic candidate is
James c, Michael. The Globe, speak
ing, so far as it may, for the mass Of
Democratic voters of st. Paul, is firmly
convinced that Mr.. Michael should be
and viii be elected. He is as able law
yer and as we'll versed in municipal law
as either Mr.. Markham or any gentle
man who has been. named by individual
Democratic members of the council, or
as any member of his profession in this
city without regard to politics. He will
make an admirable corporation attorney;
and his selection will go far toward
maintaining the public faith in the will
ingnesa and ability of Democrats to
secure for the people an honest, efficient
end economical city government
Mr.. Michael is the caucus nominee for
the office Any member of the council
elected by Democratic votes who does not
consider him as entitled to his support
has to state his reasons, and more con-
vincing reasons than have yet been
stated, why he refuses to support him;
or else submit to the imputation of be-
Ing disloyal to his party and take the
consequences, whatever they may prove
to be-
There is question under the city char
Ser whether or not Mr. Markham retains
BIS position until his successor shall have
qualified. That question may be left to
the lawyers. Mr.. Markham will go out
Of Office at once and his Democratic sue.
cessor will qualify, if the Democrats of
the council do their duty. If the one or
two Democrats who have shown an un-
willingness to be bound by the rule of
the majority in party affairs still re-
fuse, Mr. Markham will remain in the
Office Tt does not matter whether the
charter designed that he shall vacate his
Office on the second Thursday of March
or not. He will still act as the city's
legal adviser under claim that the char
ter sustains him. We believe he will
have a perfect right to do so, since there
is substantial ground for difference Of
opinion as to the meaning and intent of
the charter in that respect.
It will not matter whether Mr.. Mark
ham holds rightly or wrongly until his
successor has qualified The Democrats
il the council who hold out against the
caucus nominee of the party for that
odice VIII be just as responsible, each
and every of them, for Mr. Markham's
continuing to hold Office as if they or
any of them voted for him. We do not
believe that any Of the disagreeing DEM
ocratic members of the council would
care to vote directly for Mr. Markham
They would naturally prefer that the
same end might be reached without the
radical necessity of voting against their
party
Every day that Mr. Markham remains
III Office after the second Tuesday of
March he will owe to those Democratic
members of the council who occupy the
the present unreasonable and untenable
position of anybody to beat Michael"