The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-03
MR.. MICHAEL,s OPPONENTS.

MIR. MICHAEL'S OPPONENTS.
For some years the Democracy of this
| city was split into opposing fragments.
With the result of the last city conven-
ton accepted by the mass of Democrats
the breach in the party ranks was healed.
The party. entered the last city and
! county campaigns as a unit; and in each
contest won a substantial victory
The G b e did it's full share toward
producing this result; but Democrats IN
dividually and collectively showed beyond
| all possibility of misunderstanding that
they would not submit to further displays
Of factionism on the part of their lead
ers
The party is today, so far as relates
to the rank and file, completely unified.
There are few men now prominent
| in the party councils who, in the judg-
ment of the G o b e, are acting so as 20
revive the factional spirit of the
past. Some Of these men are in office;
others want to get into Office. They are
taking grave responsibility in the line
| of conduct which they pursue
What are the reasons advanced why
James c. Michael should not receive the
unanimous vote of his party associates
| In the council for city attorney? There
| are personal reasons, referred to general
ly as controlling certain Democratic
members of the council in their unwill-
irgness to vote for Mr. Michael With
| these the public has nothing to do, and
i for them cares nothing. None Of them
| the position which these gentlemen as
sumo.
The only. public reason which the
| G. 20 b e has heard why Mr.. Michael
should not receive the three additional
| Democratic votes needed for his election
has been stated in thess columns by
Aid Hunt Mr.. Hunts complaint
is In substance that one or more Demo-
Gratis are exercising more influence in the
| party than they ought to be permitted
| to exercise. These gentlemen, if there
are more than one of them, favor Mr..
Michaers election. Therefore, Mr..
Michael should not be elected, and Mr..
Hunt will not vote for him. But Mr..
| Hunt will vote for any other good Demo-
attorneys any of whom would be accept
able to him.
Aid Hunt is a man of intelligence. We
| have endeavored to state his position cor
rectly without going into personalities.
We ought perhaps to add that Aid. Hunt
| revives a stale ante-election cry, on
which the Republican machine has been
appealing against his party for six years
| past and over. Assuming that the man
or men who are so obnoxious to Aid.
Hunt do favor Mr.. MichaeTs election,
| does that circumstance Of itself justify
Mr.. Hunt in the position he takes, or
justify any one of the three Democrats
who withhold their votes in the course
they are pursuing?
The answer to this question need hard
ly be stated. But before stating that
answer something ought to be said con-
corning Mr. Michael. The worst enemies
of his party or his candidacy will not
deny that he. is a lawyer of the first
rank; that he is especially qualified for
the position; that, he has shown at inter
walls in the past ten or twelve years his
intimate knowledge of municipal law;
that he Is gentleman in the highest
and broadcast sense in which that term
| is used; that he is an ardent, devoted
and self-sacrifcing Democrat, or that
he has rendered invaluable service to his
party during his long residence in this
city.
The G1ob e states point blank
that there Is no man whose
name mas been mentioned in
connection with the office who has
anything like the same claim upon the
favor of his party associates that Mr..
Michael enjoys. While they are worthy
men, and while there are equally worthy
men among the Democrats of st. Paul
whose names might be mentioned in con-
nection with the office, it is quite as well
to understand that the present trouble
has arisen mostly through the unwilling
ness of individuals who think there may
be show for them. to accept the plain
will Of the Democracy Of st. Paul in
favor of Mr. Michaers election.
The Gil o b e believes that there is no
party reason. and no public or private
reason why Mr. Michael should not be
chosen city attorney. Those that have
been stated are puerile; and they will
not be found adequate with any Demo
cratic constituency in this city when
the final responsibility comes to be as
sumed for the division now existing. The
) men that are quitting Them forward