The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-14
A Widespread Political Cabal Being
Organized Throughout the
State to Do Up Van.
Heatwole's Organization in the South
to Join With Great Northern
Men in the North.

Milwaukee influences. They find no fault
with the Van SAINT administration except
their personal grievances in the matter Ct
appointments.
Looks InOppOrtune.
It is matter of common wonder among
the wise men in politics that such dar-
ing plot should be formed at time when
Governor Van SAINT is engaged in a popu-
lar contest with the obnoxious merger.
To come out in the open against him is TO
make reasonable the charge of being
Great Northernized. From present indi
cations such handicap would be enough
to swamp the most popular man In the
state. The opposition is certainly play
ing desperate game, and realizes it.
Van SAINT must be beaten for the NOM
nation, If at all, for once nominated he
would sweep things at the polls.
The plotters count on the personal pop
ularity of Heatwole and Dunn, on the OPP
position to Van SAINT created by pat
| ronage, and above all, on the potent charm
of a Great Northern "bar'l," which as
campaign adjunct will be invaluable.
With it workers are to be hired and news
papers persuaded. They count. too, on
failure in the Northern Securities case,
and consequent drop in Van SAINTS pop
sonal popularity. They reckon that Van
SAINT will be blamed for failure, instead of
being praised for his firm stand.
Defeat for Douglas, Too.
| The program, if successful, will carry
| with it the defeat of Attorney General
| Douglas, who is particularly obnoxious to
the Great Northern. No candidate has
appeared yet for attorney general, but ons
| may be looked Cor in due time.
| Details are being gradually worked cut.
| They are hard 20 get at, as the men who
know most about the plot are very reti-
| cent. Its general scope is now mat
| ter of common knowledge among po1iti-
clans. Almost daily there are conferences
| at the Merchants. hotel in St. Paul, be-
| tween groups of the disaffected. The
key note of their talk is opposition to
| Wan SAINT. AS yet it does not go much
| farther, and in default of an opposition
candidate, their sole aim is to secure del
egations from their respective counties
hostile to the governor. Once in control
of the convention, the details will DO
easily arranged.
| Old ClOugh Men in 1t.
Among the leaders counted upon to OPP
pose Van SAINT are w. B.. Mitchell, of St.
Cloud, C. G. Mitchell. of Alexandria, E1
mer Adams, of Fergus Falls; the Will
cults faction of Duluth, and all the st.
Louis county delegation, Dan Gum, of
Lake, and, generally speaking, the old
! time leaders OF the ClOugh regime Wher-
| ever they are found.
The Situation In Hennepin.
The Heatwole movement has been
started in Minneapolis. well-known To-
! cal politician said this morning:
| Certain gentlemen prominent in the
republican party of Hennepin county have
| been in correspondence with Mr.. Heat
lswole. They are working up sentiment, and
| starting the Heatwole campaign here. I
am not at liberty to give their na~sa
| now, but they will come out. Senate.
Clapp is on ticklish ground in this district
attorneyship business. The deal now is to
reappoint M. D. Purdy for the full tern
!, and to make C. C. Haupt of Fergus Falls
first assistant, pooling the salaries. If
that goes through it will hurt Clapp in
Hennepin county. He is not any too
| strong now"
| The Heatwole movement in Hennepin Is
not part of the opposition to Van SAINT at
this time. There is opposition to Van
| SAINT in Hennepin, mostly arising from
| disputes over patronage. This opposition
! is looking to Dunn as candidate but Is
not yet connected with the Heatwole
movement. There will be an element
ready to support Heatwole for the senate
| as against Clapp, but he will find it hard
work to deliver them to the Van SAINT
opposition.