The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-11-28
SIX FOR JOHNSON
Gets Major Share OF Second
District Votes.
Both Johnson and Babc0ck Men Claim
Majority in the House--Babcock
Is Sore.

conference dld not auJOurn uAoii oAOoA
six o'cock Tuesday. Bsbcock ana
his friends were before the committee
for a long time, and johnson
friends took up good part OF the re-
mainder of the time. Babcock was re-
ouired to answer number OF ques-
tions as to his loyalty to Van SAINT s
administration. He claimed that he
had always been loyal and was will
ing to go on record to that effect. He
also denied reports that he had voted
against measures favored by Gov. Van
SAINT, and pointed to the recoras to
prove his statement
Mr.. Johnson friends were ques-
toned closely as to Babcock's record
in the legislature and his vote on GER
tain measures. Public Examiner
johnson made certain statements that
led to a good deal of discussion.
Members of the legislature present
said that they were not opposed to
Babcock personally, and that they
would vote for him in case it could be
shown that he was not opposed to Van
SAINTS policy. They we're not con-
WINGED of this, however, largely on
account of the men that he has been
closely identified with.
The members of the legislature held
an executive session for an hour, and
talked the matter over. A PROPOSE
ton for the delegation to vote as
unit was not agreed to by the Babcock
men. 1t was also proposed that a
written statement be prepared, to be
signed, but this was also opposed.
Finally a ballot was taken, and
five voted for johnson, one for Bah
cock, and two were noncommittal
After the meeting had adjourned
one of the noncommittal members de-
clared himself for johnson, and the
six signed a telegram to johnson,
pledging him their support. These six
were Representatives Nyquist, Wilder,
Norman, jacobson, Peterson and
Schroeder. The Babcock man is Rep,
resentative Hinton of Truman, and
the n onoommittal member is Wilson.
The latlter said that he would vote
for johnson in case it could be proved
| to his satisfaction that Babcock wal
opposed to the policies of the Var
SAINT administration. He did not thinl
that this had been conclusively shown
at this meeting.
The two Republican members WIZ
were not present at the conference
were Mork of Brush Creek and Paine
of Ceylon.
The johnson men claim one Of thes
to be committed to their candidat
and say that it is not known hoy
the other man will vote.
Public Examiner Johnson last nigh
, estimated that L. 81. johnson ha
, sixty votes sure for speaker, and tina
seventy five members are anti-Bat
cock. It requires fifty three votes t
elect. Mr.. johnson was feeling muc
3 elated over the result of the confer
! ence, as we'll as over the result in tn
? ninth district, which went eight fc
Q Johnson to five for Babcock, accordin
to telegram which he received earl
9 in the evening.
: Mr.. Babcock was not pleased wit
the result of the second district Col
. ference. He declared that "dirt
9 work. had been done against hi
J and felt sore over the presence of ii
L public examiner and member of Il
state central committee, saying tn
they ought not to have cut in on Il
speakership contest He denied .repor
,r that he had promised some of &
" chairmanships of committees, and G
l. pecially that he had promised 6
y craftsmanship of the judiciary col
T. mittee to Representative Stevenson
ID Minneapolis. who was present duri
al the day getting in few knocks
&c Johnson.
e. Mr.. Babcok said that after the wo
ar done against him at this meeting
would decline to enter caucus.
,k did not feel discouraged at the seco
be and ninth districts, and still claim
o. that his election is assured. He clai
ed sixteen votes in the first distri
one in the second, eight in the THU
gu nine in the fourth, eleven in
y sixth, FIVE in the seventh, eleven
~ the eighth and FIVE in the ninth. T
eu focus up to sixty-six. He also expe
'n' a few in the fifth. The sixth has
d. yet caucused, and leaving it out,
"a. "a still had enough to be elected. he So
- DR.. Babcock last night offered 10
800 that he will be elected speaker
When shown the charge made
The Minneapolis Journal that ne !
dealing out, Great Northern transI
ON tation, he laughed and said that st
me has been circulated for over a W
,;. and he was surprised that The j
70 nal had just got next TO the rumor
nx- DIR. Babcock made the staten
urn that he would not now go into a {
{ to Gus of the entire membership of
Legislature, even if he was Civ,