The Saint Paul globe., 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 ty-Arise 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 legisla-
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 lashed into line.
THE CONTEST OF 1883.
In the history of the state there has
never been but one instance where such
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 Window 5
home was at Winona, in DunnelPs dis
trict. AS is frequently the case, Win
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
DonneIly revolted, but he was crushed
under the merciless political juggernaut
and driven from public life. 1t is 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 1883, 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 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 110 Republicans to IS
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.
When the legislature met the great
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. Dunnell
took the field as a candidate and every
nerve was strained to keep Republicans
from going into the caucus.
The Window caucus was called for
ha evening of .TanZ11 and 20 senators
and 80 Republicans, total of SO respond
cd There were thus 81 absentees, but
of those absentees three were known to
be Window men sure, so that there We're
really 62 votes accounted for in the Win
dom ranks. The next morning the Pion-
eer Fress made the following rcseate
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