The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-24
REPUBLICANS
ARE COY
NO ONE SEEMS ANXIOUS TO REPRE-
SENT NEW SIXTH CONGRESS
sIONAL DISTRICT
SENATOR BUcKMAN IN LEAD
Politicians Say Hc IS Only Available
Man Who Stands Chance of
Winning in First
Fight
SENATOR BUcKMAN IN LEAD
DEMOCRATS AT WAITING GAME
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
LITTLE FALLS, MINI, Feb. 23-rhe
new Sixth congressional district seems
destined to become one of the most in
teresting and closely contested political
battle grounds in the state The election
OF the first member of congress from the
new district will go a long way toward
settling the permanent political complex
Ion OF the territory which includes the
geographical heart Of the state If the
Democrats can center upon a candidate
who may be able to reconcile the con-
tending factions, the district which. de-
spite the effores of the gerrymandering
committee of the session of 1901, is by no
means safely Republican, they can elect
thelr man and take first mortgage on
possession of the district Tor many a
long day
On the other hand, if the Republicans
can land their man they will be able to
perfect an organization of tie district
now anything but a unit in political inter
est, which will be extremely difficult to
overcome at the succeeding election-a
presidential campaign. The situation is
complicated and presents a large element
Of uncertainty which will only be set
at rest when the Democrats get together.
as they seem in a fair way now to do
The Democrats have so far played a.
waiting hand in the game, which is
young, but which at the same time is
rapidly taking definite form. They have
several good candidates and one of whom
would be able to put up a rafting fight
with unlfcation of the contending inter
ests which have through their domestic
strife, landed the district in the Repub-
lcan columns. The Republicans who
have been thrown together by the reap
PorIonment nave been by no means free
h. il
representing local interest, but skiIlfuI
manipulation is rapidly producing a, mar
mony on the surface, at least So far as
perfectlng preliminary organization is
concerned partisan konors are even.
Eleven of the thirteen counties were
taken from the old Sixth district. one.
Douglas, was cut out of Eddy's old
stamping ground, the Seventh; and Meek
er county was one of Joel Heatwole's
treasure boxes of organized strength.
or course, both Douglas and Meeker
are republican countless but the big ma
Jor1tles landed by Edy and Heatwole- re-
specuvely may be cut down considerabsv
through the fact that neither has MANY
interests in common with the rest Of the
district.
Neither side can afford to waste mucn
time preparatory to preliminary organi-
zation on account of the interests tnat
must be harmonized. The Democrats
nave waited to see who has the first can
on the Republican nomination, and any
doubts along that line are being cleared
UP with a speed that indicates the Re-
publicans are getting their Feet under
them for big fight, and have selected
their hardest fighter, Senator -. 3. BI1ck-
man, to make the organization sprint.
Until the Republican nomination was
practically settled the Democrats did not
care to test the comparative vote getting
strength of their fine collection of avail
able timber. 1t is now generally con-
ceded throughout the district by leaders
of the Republican party and plainly ev-
dent to the Democrats that BucKman IS
the man, and now the Democrats are
ready to settle down to the work of Sc
lection from their fine array of available
timber. Geographical considerations. and
particularly the desire to hold intact the
Democratic strength Of Stearns county.
will undoubtedly play an important part
in the selection of the Democra tic candi-
date and will probably result in the nom
ination of Judge Theodore Bruner. or st.
Cloud. Judge Bruner is, however, not The
only Stearns county man warmly ad,-o-
Gated by Democrats over The dist let.
Senator Valentine Batz, of Hollingeo-d.