The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-08
CITY DENIS HOPEFUL
Think They Can Elect a Mayor
Next Time.
TALKING OF ]. GRAY ALREADY
cans Scrap Over Ames, the
Democrats VIII Win.

For the first time since the landslide of
| last November, the local democracy is be-
ginning to take notice." There is al
ready considerable curbstone discussion
of prospects and candidates, especially for
| mayor. Democrats feel that the Ames ad
ministration is going to produce such
revulsion that, no matter whom the re-
publicans nominate, good man on the
democratic ticket will stand an excellent
chance of being elected. Where there is
! such bright prospect, candidates are al
ways to be found to avail themselves of it,
| and the democracy is in no fear of
dearth Of material for the mayoralty
nomination.
There is quite a general feeling that
James Gray will be a candidate for an
| other term, and make his third campaign
for the office. He made phenomenal run
in 1898, and last year showed up re-
markably we'll for a presidential year.
Considering the two-fold character of the
opposition, he ran better than any other
democrat on the ticket. All he would
need in order to put up a good campaign
talk, would be to compare his administra-
| tion with the current one. The democracy
can hardly afford to put up "wide-open"
candidate, and never was known to turn
to the other extreme. Gray is an ex
! ponent of the middle course" in mu
nicipal policy, and is still regarded by the
majority as the strongest and most
available man in the party, in spite Of the
| opposition of the Quist- -Rinehart faction.
The newspaper eX-mayor is not saying
a word, but it is the consensus of opinion
that If he goes after the nomination
again he will be a hard man to stop.
! There is some sentiment, however, in
favor of running Gray for congress. The
party has had hard luck in recent years
with its congressional candidates. The
men who landed the nomination each time
were men who could not commend the
confidence of business interests, which
went solid for Fletcher. Gray would
make a lively campaign, and at the same
time would get considerable support from
| the business element.
J. G. Haynes Is reported as having a
| touch of the mayoralty bee. Though last
year a candidate for the judgeship
Haynes first broke into politics as alder
man from the second ward and in 1892
as the democratic candidate for mayor,
gave Eustis a hard run. Ever since that
time he has had leaning toward the city
hall, and it is said would like to celebrate
the tenth anniversary of that campaign
by trying again. Some of his friends,
however, are advising him to try again
for the district bench, for which he is we'll
fitted. Haynes would have been the nom
inee last fall but for J. w. Arctander, who
was named because it was thought he
would run like wild fire. When the votes
were counted, 1t appeared that he had run
hard. but in the wrong direction.
They" are also talking Alonzo Phillips
for mayor. 1t is just possible that the
perennial candidate for sheriff may be
switched off next year to try his vote
getting abilities against Ames, or the re-
publican who achieves the distinction of
laying out" the doctor at the primaries.
F. G. HOlbrook is always a possibility
as mayoralty candidate. F. G. Mcmillan
will hardly be tempted into the field again,
especially in the event of Haynes can
didacy, as both live in the second ward
This unusual interest in the mayoralty
question among democrats is partly due
to the feeling that Ames will be a candi-
date again. They think the talk about
his congressional ambition is all wind
His appointees on the police force know
that their continuance in office depends
| on Ames alone, and they will see to it
! that when the time comes, the doctor is
again candidate. He is really quite
pliable instrument in the hands of his
advisers, and as they are holding jobs on
the police force, there is not much question
as to how they will advise him when the
proper time comes. He could do them no
good at Washington. Ames was never
known to succeed himself. and should he
get the nomination would be an ''easy
mark for strong democratic candidate.
Ames defeated for the nomination would
be thorn in the flesh of the sue
cessful republican candidate, and from
this factional feeling the democracy hope
to snatch victory next year.