The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-22
Terrible Fear of the Present Republicans Real
lied When the Democrats Decided Which
Candidate Should Be Chosen.
All of the Leading Republicans in the State Par
ticipated in the Contest Which Ended the
Window Dynasty and Sing.
BY III. p. HALL.

In the late senatorial caucus, among
the Republicans, one of the horror of
horrors which was held up was the pos
sibility of the Democrats naming the SEN
ator. Not Democrat, but choosing which
Republican should have the prize. AS
there are 140 Republicans in the legtsla-
ture to AZ Democrats this peril was more
fancied than real, but the conscience
makes towards of us all. Perhaps 1t
was because the leaders questioned the
loyalty of their following that they used
this whip to keep them dashed into line
THE CONTEST OF 1888
In the history of the state there has
never been but one instance where such
a result was possible, and then the cir
cumstances were altogether different.
Mark H., Dunnell, of Owatonna, had
been the Republican member of congress
for several terms, and Senator Windom's
home was at Winona In DunnelPs dis
trict. AS is frequently the case VIM
dom regency had grown up under Sena-
tor WINDOWS tutelage just as Ramsey
regency had been built up in this sec
ton of the state, and the two regencies
combined ostracised every one in the
party who did not bow to their will. 1t
was against the Ramsey regency that
Donnelly revolted, but he was crushed
under the merciless political juggernaut
and driven from public life. 1t is a long
lane that had no turning, and Ramsey's
turn came when he was defeated in 1875
by the revolt of the young Republicans,
under the leadership Of Gov. Davis.
The Windom regency, deprived of the
strength they had heretofore had by the
passing of Ramsey, grew jealous of Dun
nell He was becoming altogether too
popular and formidable, and there were
givings out that. he would contest with
Window the senatorial seat in 1888, so
the word was passed to crush Dunnen
at all hazards. And this was done. In
1882 the Window machine rallied and de-
feated Dunnell for a denomination to
congress, selecting Milo White, of Chat
field and electing him. AS the sequel
proved they sowed the whirlwind and
reaped a fatal crop of wind collie.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The legislature, as usual, was Repub-
licans. standing ITO Republicans to Sc
Democrats Mr. Dunnell had not been
idle however, and those who had any
political sagacity realized that if the ris-
ing generation of the party was ever
| to make its mark in public life the Win
dom regency must be relegated to
oblivion and buried in a common grave
with the decaying remains of the Ram
sey regency.
w men the Legislature met .tne Sfed'
| question was how many would go into
the Window caucus. That overshadowed
| everything and the caucus was postpon-
ed until the day for voting in the open
| legislature was near at hand. Dunnel
| took the field as candidate and every
nerve was strained to keep Republicans
from going into the caucus.
The Window caucus was called fo1
| the evening of Jan. II and 20 senators
and 80 Republicans, a total of 50 respond
ed. There were thus 81 absentees, but
| of those absentees three were known to
| be Window men sure, so that there We're
really So votes accounted for in the Win
| dom ranks. The next morning the Pion-
| eer Press made the following reseate
| tabular statement, putting it in bold face
| type, probably as a guarantee of good
faith and to make it more binding. 1t
looked better in black and was typical
| of the black art which the Window