The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-18
A Question That Is Puzzing Those Who Are
Interested in the Outcome of the Caucus
Scheduled for This Evening.
OPEN OR SECRET BALLOT DEPENDS ON IT
Candidates All sanguine Of Success, as Is to Be
Expected Crowds Around the Head
quarters-A Beautiful Frost
BY II. p. HALL.

An air Of suppressed quiet pervaded
the headquarters of all the senatorial
candidates at the Windsor last night
sort Of lull before the storm. which
is to break at the caucus tonight If
any one knows any more about the sit
uation today than he did yesterday he
is carefully guarding his secret OF
course, there is the usual crowd stand
in around in the hotel corridors with a
cloud of cigar smoke encircling their
heads and filling their lungs to an ex-
tent which requires occasional visits 10
the bar to clear the throat, if not the
brain. But the heavy standing around
fellows don't count much for the real
meat of the contest.
AT the Tawney headquarters a super
abundance of confidence was not OBJ
servahle, though his supporters said they
hoped for favorable result tonight.
AT the Evans headquarters they were
very hrash in their claims. They had
just held a caucus of their followers
which, they claimed, was well attended,
and said to me there will be a nomina-
ton tomorrow (Friday) night and it will
be Bob Evans
AT Clapp's headquarters the confidence
expressed was serene. They did not
say there would be a nomination to-
night but that there would he one ulti-
mately, and when it was made Moses
would emerge from the bullrushes a VIC
tor.
At Lowry's. headquarters the word was
that everything was progressing salts
factory and they had no fears of the re-
suit. They gave no information as to
where Mr.. Lowry's strength was COM
Ing from. but claimed that they had it
on tap to produce when the time came.
This, of course, is just as 1t should be
in political fight. / could have writ
ten up their claims just as well without
calling, for I knew in advance what
they would be, but called as matter
of form, because 1 knew they would be
glad to see me, and I could say that l
had been there. "Claim everything is
the true game in politics., and then
when it don't come out that way accuse
those who do not come to the front
of being untrue to their pledges, in order
to let themselves down easy. No one
could afford to admit any weakness at
this stage of the game (unless it might
be Talns Bixby). candidate might as
well withdraw at once as not to claim
that, If he is not already, he soon VIII
be the whole thing.
The business men of Minneapolis had
another dress parade at the Windsor yes
terday afternoon in favor of Tom Lowry.
This makes the Evans men sore, and 1t
is pleasure to record that bitter feel
ing is growing up rapidly between the
1T1eHuS OF AOWTy ana E1VdnS. Inc Evans
men say Lowry had no right to come
into the race after Evans had coopered
the majority of the delegation, and the
Lowry men say Evans had no right to
cooper the votes while Lowry was in
the East before he had an opportunity
to come out in the open. AS the contest
continues this feeling is likely to grow
more and more bitter until the shibboleth
will soon be, if 1t is not already, of both
H.
apolis candidate.
Ex-Mayor Eustis has for several days
been fitting between the Evans and
Lowry headquarters, perhaps as white
winged dove of peace. When asked him
who he was supporting, he said he. was
for a Hennepin county man. Perhaps he
thinks there are others" besides those
already in the field. Per contra Mayor
Ames was a welcome visitor at the
Lowry headquarters last night, and was
promptly admitted to the holy of holes
where the real Lowry campaign is being
conducted with a correspondence bureau
and telephone attachments.
The Minneapolis business men are man
ifesting an interest in the matter which
ought to stir up the business men of ST.
Paul. They (the St. Paul men) do not
seem to be aware that a senatorial con-
test is raging, but later on may find 1t
out. If they ever should I will be pleased
to record it just to have it in the files of
the G o b as a matter of history and
a guarantee of good faith.
AN OPEN SECRET.
The chief topic of conversation yester-
day and last night was not the strength
of the respective candidates but wheth-
er the ballot tonight in the caucus should
be an open or secret one. The Clapp
and Evans men were outspoken for an
open ballot. The Lowry men assumed
a don't-care attitude to the pubic, but
there are very decided surface indications
that they are in favor of a secret bal
lot No one seems to know just where
Lowry's strength is coming from. Per-
haps, he don't. 1t is apparently to his
interest not to have too. many go on rec
ord publicly before next Tuesday. After
a man has declared himself in the open
it is harder to change him, as he needs
to have some plausible excuse for
changing his vote, but If no one but
himself knows how he has voted he can
change and possibly make a flying leap
to the winner. Then when he wants
an Office he can claim that he was one
of the original Jacobs with his name
blown in the bottle. Too many GOULD
not do this successfully, for there might
be more claimants. than the original
vote of the winner, but men must take
some chances in politics, and if they vote
IN the open tney lose the chdHce. AS
I said yesterday, the question OF wheth-
er there will be a secret or open ball5t
depends upon how many members of the
legislature are playing fast and loose, !
promising to more than one candi-
date, but IL not actually that, wanting
a loophole to change after they see how
the cat is going to jump. Every one
knows that they must all show their
hands next Tuesday, but it is a good
while between Friday night and Tuesday.
and lots of things may happen during
that interim especially as the Sabbath
Ia. day for meditatioIl-intervenes
shall not be surprised to see tonight that
out of 14O men. or so many OF them ~