The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-07-12
LOST A LEADER.
Death of p. B. Winston as Serious Blow
70 Minnesota Democracy.

Minneapolis Journal:
The death of P. B. Winston came at
a point of his career which seemed to
promise great things politically. Dur
ing the greater portion of his life in
this city, and that means during prac-
tically all his mature years, Mr.. Wins
ton was recognized as factor in state
and local politics. In recent years he
was counted as a leader, having been
twice nominated by the Democratic
party for the mayoralty and once
elected. For many years he was
member of the Democratic state CEN
raj committee and for long time
was its treasurer. Among the Demo
Gratis of the state he stood very high
indeed, and his PASSING must be con-
sidered much in the light of calam
ity to the Democracy of the state.
. His friends in this city had long been
counting upon him as the candidate
who could defeat Loren Fletcher for
congressional honors, but he persist
emily refrained from permitting the
use of his name, though repeatedly
urged to take the nomination. Bust
ness cares and interests occupied his
attention so fully that he felt it would
be unjust to himself and his family to
sacrifice his financial prospect for the
possible demand of the political field.
To his friends early in the last cam
paign he stated that he would not be
candidate for any position until his
business affairs were in first class
shape, and he gave to the newspapers
early in the year statement to that
effect. Accompanying this informa-
tion he vouchsafed the further inform
alton. not for publication, that as soon
as he could see his way clear he would
consider political career seriously.
Later he told certain friends that he
would be an aspirant for the Demo-
cratic congressional nomination the
coming year. and it was generally I'M
derstood that such was his intention.
But the party leaders were also seri
ously considering Mr.. Winston in the
light of an available state leader. An
attempt was made to pave the way for
his nomination for governor, both
Chairman Rosing and John Lind be-
ing credited with large share in the
desire to bring about such an event.
1t is, therefore. possible that had he
lived the Democracy of the state would
have known a new leader in the COM
ing campaign.
To Chairman Rosing is credited the
authorship of the plan to make Mr..
Winston the party nominee for COVER
nor, and gossip also credits the chair
man with the further intention of fix
ing slate which would include John
Lind as the local candidate for con-
gress and Thomas CAVITY as the candi
date for judge of the district court.
Well-informed Democrats assert that
they have the best of reasons for be-
lieving that John Lind does not desire
another nomination for governor and
they were quite ready to believe the
report naming Winston as Lind sue
cessor, although it is a well-known
fact that the two men were opposite in
nature, characteristics and beliefs.
Mr.. Lind was not loved by Mr.. Wins
ton and to this fact is attributed Mr..
Winston's retirement from the treas
urership of the Democratic state COM
mittee at the beginning of the last
campaign.
That Mr.. Winston was very much
hurt by the failure of the committee
to give him his old place is well known
here in Minneapolis, and it is doubtless
true that he attributed his failure to
John Lind. During the last cam
paign, as a consequence. Mr.. Winston
was quite inactive, and his contribu-
ton to the funds amounted to only
$40, sum Insignificant by comparison
with amounts which he had been &C
customed to contribute. At the last,
however. it is believed that he became
more friendly toward the governor in
his relations with Chairman Rosing.
The passing of Organism marks new
chapter in the history of the party
which would not only have tended to
reconcile warning factions, but would
have served to place Mr.. Winston
more fully before the public as poll
tical leader, for his heart was never
very seriously engaged in the contests
for silver coinage at 16 to 1, and he
was pronounced adherent of Presi-
dent McKinley's policy in relation to
the conduct of the Spanish war. He
was one of the few Democrats who al
ways affirmed that it would be foolish
for this country to listen to the de-
mands of the anti-imperialists and de-
clare that the United States must al
ways retain the possessions resulting
from the war with Spain.
Ed. Brett has purchased Thomas