The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-30
NEXT CONGRESSIONAL Eight IN
NORTH DAKOTA WILL AT
FEET SENAT0RSHIP
FIGHT FOR HANsBRoUGH's JOB
Increase of Membership in Legisla-
ture Makes Struggle Doubtful
Several Candidates Be-
ing Groomed.
Special to The Globe.

LOT CONGRESSIONAL mountainous III Tile
state, little has been said UP to the
present time as to the status of a more
interesting struggle to take place at the
| opening of the next session of the legis-
1ature for the succession to Senator
Hansbrough's seat in the United States
senate. Hansbrough's term expires in
1S03 and his successor will be elected by
one of the largest legislative bodies in
| any Of the smaller. states, there being
| total membership Of 139 in the legislature
to be elected in Inc ensuing fall.
This increase from the present member
ship of SO in the legislature is provided
for in the reapportionment bill passed
by the last session of the legislature.
The larger share of the increase in mem
bership goes to the central and western
part of the state, so that they will have
large influence in shaping the next
senatorial election, if the members stand
together. The growth in population ID
the state has been largely to the west
ward, and it will be interesting to note
| whether the star Of political empire will
take it's way westward in the next SEND.
torial contest.
1t is the present opinion of politicians
| through the state that the fight for
Hansbrough's seat in the senate will be
| between Senator Hansbrough, the pres
| ent incumbent, and c. B. Little, state
| senator from Burleigh county, and one
| Of the Republicans prominent in the
| counselS of the party in the state. Lit
| tie has been resident of the state for
nearly twenty years, and in the latter
| half of that period has been active in
| politics. He has been interested in bank
ing and various lines of business and has
| built up a strong friendship, both pei
| sonal and political. He has been one OF
! the leaders in the state senate for eleven
! years, having been in that office cons
| tinuously since statehood, being one OF
! the few members who have been retain
| ed during all the changes in polltlcS
| through the state. His experience In the
senate has given him opportunity to
! familiarize himself with the leaders
from all parts cf the state. and this ac-
| auaintance has been valuable to him in
| many ways. He was candidate for the
seat of Senator Roach at the session OF
| the legislature last winter.
AT that time he had the friendship and
support of Alexander Mckenzie, and was
generally looked upon as the man whom
Mckenzie most desired to have the place
Thomas F. Marshall of Cakes, the pres
ent congressman, was another prominent
candidate fer the senate, Little ana Mar
shall conducting a mutually 1rleholV
campaign, but being of the field candi-
oates as against NJ n. Johnson, then
lust retired from congress and earnestly
desiring vindication at the hands OF the
legislature by an election to the senatS.
The field proved too strong for Johnson
and he was eliminated as possible sue
| cess early in the fight by the union OF
the field votes against him.
BUT the defeat of Johnson did not SET
| lie the election, for then came the more
difficult question of deciding among the
field candidates. Little and Marshall had
the bulk of the anti-Johnson strength,
and a proposition was maze thae laie
votes of one should go to the one VINO
sbo,,ld show the most individual
strength Marshall did not agree to tins
method of settlement, and it was salo
OF the time that he sent word to Little 8
managers that he could not i've IN the
state with his constituents if he should
throw his votes to Little.
For q dav or two before the final eau
Gus the selection of a candidate OF the
field caucus was prevented by the lack
OF two or three votes to constitute
majority Of the anti-Johnson strength:
At length Mckenzie saw that 1t Weuia
be impossible to obtain majority vote
for Little and that, in the event OF
deadlock. there was danger of losing the
integrity of the anti-Johnson forces.
Titles strength was thrown to T. j.
McCumber. who was looked upon from
tho first as the candidate with the small
est Individual following. The votes that
Mc1rumber could add to Titles gave him
o majority of the field caucus, ana ne
was elected. ~,
The battle ended with perhaps as little
soreness as ever follows political pat
tie of the kind. Little was disappointed.
rat11rally and Marshall felt the loss OF
bic success keenly. But in the time that
hos nassed the balances have been even
cd IN Marshall is now serving in con-
Dress and Little, who is young man,
feels no doubt that there is still ample
onnortunity in the field of politics in the
state
HansIsrOugh on His Record.
Iittles candidacy for the senate does
MOI mean that there is any other than
friendly contest between nm ana
Hansbrough Senator Hansbrough, nat
11rally. feels entitled to reelection
His friends point to the fact that he mas
proven a consistent and valuable worker
for the state in the upper house OF con-
sress He has been honoreG with POSI-
lions on important committees, and ms
experience in the senate makes him bet
ter able to work for the interests Of the
state than a new man might.
Naturally, there is always opposition
to any public officer in his own party,
and there is opposition to Hansbrough in
his own party How serious it is remains
to be developed when the senatorial
fight opens Littles friends feel, no
doubt. that i'll the event of that oppesi-
ton proving too strong for Hansbrough
to overcome, he has an excellent chance
in the field Hansbrough will, no doubt,
have a strong following, and will not fail
II ar,fra 1cfh ha rs a
size of the next legislature and the loca-
ton of many of the new members is an
element of uncertainty in the battle that
has to be taken into consideration by the
political calculators.
The contest is not likely to be confin-
ed to these two men alone. Judge Cowan,
of Devils Lake, has been mentioned ten
tatiyely and as he is from Senator Hans
broughs own county. the rumors of his
candidacy have more than passing in
terest 1t Is also stated that if Spald-
ing. of Cass county, fails to obtain one
of the congressional nominations, he may
be groomed for the senatorial race. La
Moure. who was a candidate last winter
for the senate, Is generally conceded to
be out of it. because of his congressional
candidacy. Stranger things have hap
pened than that NJ. n. johnson should
again come forth as a candidate, but the
johnson clement of the party in the state
seems to be at present in eclipse.
The next Republican state convention
battle viii doubtless be fought out with
a view to the succeeding senatorial bat
tie. The candidates for the senate will
be active no doubt, in endeavoring SO to
distribute the places that there shall be
reciprocal favors when the sena terial
battle comes on.
MINING IN THE HILLS.