The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-09
MINNESOTA POLITICS
CIVIL WAR

MINNESOTA POLITICS
CIVIL WAR The war in the repub-
lican ranks is over, as
' is OVER. far as the governor
ship is concerned.
There will henceforth be no show of opposi-
tion to the denomination of Governor Van
SAINT The long campaign of bushwhacking
came to an inglorious end yesterday when
the state committee by a unanimous vote
called the state convention to meet on July
1, the date requested by the governor The
motion was made by Tams Bixby, who had
spent the previous two days talking late
convention, and there was not word of
protest. .-..... --.a .,. @....-
= Bixby is too good politician not to know
when a fight is over. The strength displayed
by the governor in the ranks of the commit
tee surprised him, but it also convinced him
of the futilty of an anti-Van SAINT cam
paign. After the meeting he said: --.
Governor Van SAINT will be renominated
without opposition. I never intended to be-
come candidate, and will not be one. If
any one had come out as a candidate, Van
SAINT would have been beaten for the nomina-
ton, but was satisfied that it would make
no difference if we held the convention off
until September; no one would have come
out. This probably settles the thing, and
unless the unexpected happens, Van SAINT
will be nominated" b. se H. ..-,...- e. = 81.
: The tone of this is Enthusiastically one of
disappointing Bixby refused all along to
take an open stand against Van SAINT, though
all his work was in that direction. He came
out from Washington fully persuaded that
the time was ripe and 1.-THE opposition only
needed a leaderSto dispose Of Van SAINT. In
deed, he is said to have expected to be that
leader himself He had not been long in
Minnesota before he discovered that senti-
mept had changed. Men on whom he had
depended were declared supporters of Van
SAINT. Other statesmen with aspirations in
the direction Of the governors chair had
already felt the public pulse, and declared
themselves for Van SAINT. The late conven-
ton scheme was the only salvation for
July convention gave him show to drum
up4a formidable opposition. On this PROPOSE
ton he made the fight, with strong hopes
of carrying the committee with him. He, and
his ieutenants put in a busy morning yes
terday with the arrivals, but found they were
talking to deaf ears AS one of, the st. Paul
men put it: You can't get anything out of
them; they are all clams.''
BY noon it was evident to the opposition
that they had no show, and they sounded
the retreat. They adopted July as a
Compromise date. This was the date chosen
by Governor Van SAINT days before, though
earlier in the spring his friends had talked
of June IL. Therefore the compromise suited
the administration forces first rate. 1t was
the sort of compromise ]. F. Jacobson used
to make on the floor of the house. It went
through with rush, and SO did the rest Of
the business. 1t was all over in an hour.
So was the fight against Van SAINTS renom-,
nation. ....... IT,. ...... . s..
NELSON WILL The selection Of sena-
r.. -.:-gs tor Nelson as tenn
OPEN CAMPAIGN. porary chairman of
the convention is good
politics. 1t is an innovation in this state
for that position Both are time honored
far in advance, and also a new thing to Sc
lect a member of the delegation in congress
for that position oBth are time honored
precedents in other states, however, and have
their advantages. The early selection gives
the chairman time to prepare an opening
address which will formally open the cam
paign, and no one could better sound the
keynote on national issues than Senator Mel
son. Unless the session holds into July, and
he is detained aat Washington by the rush of
legislation, Senator Nelson will deliver a
memorable speech in St. Paul on July l.,
to a great republican gathering.
significant thing in this connection is
the telegram sent to Governor Van SAINT yes
terday by Senator Nelson. He repudiated
the story that he was in favor Of late
convention, and declared emphatically for an
early date. Further, he repeated once more
his statement that he was for Van SAINTS
denomination, placing himself squarely in
opposition to the views of his former private
secretary and political lieutenant. 1t is safe
to say that state issues will not suffer in
the senator's hands when he makes his ad-
dress.
ROOSEVELT. AND The key note" will
doubtless be opposition
VAN SAINT. to trusts and unlawful
isfe. fsss51sgssgaI combinations Of capt.
tai. In this the policy of Governor Van SAINT
dovetails nicely into that of President Roose-
welt. In fact, the president is only following
the governor s. lead in ordering a suit insti
tuted against the Northern Securities merger.
His action against the beef trusts is in per-
feet harmony with the other. Senator Nelson
is a good friend and stanch supporter of the
president, and is. generally deemed to be his
political manager in Minnesota. Hence he
can well speak for Roosevelt and Van SAINT.
There is good ground for believing that the
movement organized against Governor Van
SAINT was part and parcel of the anti Roose-
welt propaganda, which has already begun
its work in "a quiet way. Had this element
succeeded in turning Van SAINT down in Min
nesota, it would have teen black eye for:
Roosevelt, and two years hence this same
element would have been in charge Of the
anti-Roosevelt forces here This may yet
occur, .but from present indications sentiment
in favor of the president is so strong In Min
nesota that work against him would be only
labor lost. ALI
AS The jour- a stated yesterday, the
opposition to Van SAINT and his convention
date was easily traced to Great Northern in
fuence That same influence. through Its
head has declared for Roosevelt's political
extinction. The connection is obvious.
4 p. j. schwarg of Dodge Center was chosen
member OF the committee. to I'LL the vacancy