The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-31

thy is In command, when at least One-half
OF the voters refuse to take any interest
in the campaign, and many in every voting
precinct stay away from the polls entirely.
Experience has taught politicians that
democrats are more persistent voters than
republicans, and usually turn out to vote
in any weather or any year. Consequent
ly, in a republican state, elections are
closer in an off year than when a presi-
Dental election causes interest in the
campaign.
Add to this the fact that in the past six
years great many republicans have
formed the habit of occasionally "scratch
ing" the head of the ticket, and it is easy
to see why democrats have high hopes of
electing a governor, and republicans are
little nervous over Governor Van SAINTS
prospects of reelection.
All admit that he will fall behind the
rest of the state ticket, which will go
through by from 10000 to $4,000 plurality.
Under the circumstances, 1t is nothing to
the governors discredit if he does run be-
hind. He is bearing the brunt of the
whole fight. Attacks are all leveled at
him, and the minor candidates the
democratic ticket are hardly heard Of.
Everything Is done for Rosing. The DEM
ocrats nominated Mr.. Rosing, and pinned
their faith to him, because they hoped
that he could hold the large Swed-
ish republican vote which for six
years went for John Lind. He will get
some of that vote, without question.
Governor Van SAINT is also the scapegoat
for all republican soreheads. Men disap-
pointed in seeking Office for themselves or
their friends will take it out on Van SAINT.
Hardest of all, the influence of the only
railroads that ever take a hand in politics
Is against Van SAINT. The democratic
campaign has been conducted on a grand
ND tIo s,Sy, oE
literally provided. Influential men have
been secured in every county to give their
whole time to booming Rosing.
Republicans know they have been in
fight, and they are not claiming the earth
for Van SAINT. They honestly believe that
he will be elected by safe margin, and
are anxious to get even money bets on
Van SAINT, but CAN find no Rosing money
in sight at those figures. The Rosing
men want odds.
Jamison Claims $4,000.
Robert Jamison, chairman of the repub-
lican state central committee, predicts
$4,000 plurality for Van SAINT He said
to h J urnal:
'"The governors plurality will be 25, 900.
l base my estimate on reports received
from every county in the state, and my
figures are conservative. My opinion. is
that they are low, but it is better not to
be too confident The closest figuring
will give him not less than $4,000"
Judge Jamison justified his claim by
districts, going over the ground and show
ing what the committee expects each dis
trict to do. He does not concede a dis
trict in the state to Rosing, but calls the
third even. He gives Van SAINT the first
by $500, the second by $500, the fourth
by 1900, the fifth by 1000, the sixth by
1000, the seventh by 1000, the eighth by
$500, and the ninth by 1000. These are
his inside figures in every case, the most
that he will concede to the opposition.
Buck Claims Six Districts.
H. L. Buck, chairman of the democratic
state committee, claims Rosing's election
by 25,000 He declined yesterday to make
an estimate by districts. He counts
largely on the sixth and eighth districts,
however, and claims for Rosing the third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth dis
tricts, conceding to Van SAINT only the
first, second and seventh. Just for fun
Judge Buck and Chairman Day Of the
press committee, were induced to show
what they expected to do by districts.
and when itemized in this way their
claims only footed up 5000 for Rosing.
They insisted, however, that these figures
were too low in, nearly, every case; and
that they could easily figure out the $4,000.
Depends on Size of the Vote.
The great uncertainty of an off year. is
in the size Of the vote. In this state $780,
900 votes can be counted on in a presi-
Dental year, but there is no telling what
per cent will turn out next Tuesday. Es
Inmates run from 70 to 80 per cent Dem
ocrats hope it will not exceed three
fourth Of the normal vote, while repub-
licans hope for at least so per cent.
Reports from all over. the state lead
me to believe that not over IS per cent of
a full vote will be polled. Based on these
that can cut into Governor Van SAINTS
strength, believe he will be elected by
II, 900 plurality. If the vote is less than
so per cent, the result may be closer, but
1t is more likely to go the other way.
With full vote the governor would go
in by 10000 plurality.
This estimate will be generally found
fault with. 1t IS not a large margin, and
a claim no larger than that by the gov
errors committee would be taken as
confession of defeat. The committee is
positive that it is not half large enough.
Internationally the governor has had the
best of the argument, and the moral vic
tory is with him. He may run closer to
the rest Of the ticket than have figured,
but the outlook, as it appears, now, does
not Justify me in placing the estimate
above 1900.
Meighen Strength ProElematical.
The old-time populist vote is an un-
certain quantity. The peoples party has
a state ticket supported by many former
fusionists, and state committee that is
making every effort to rally the scattered
battalions and preserve the party as
power in state politics. This election will
tell the tale. The populists will either be
merged into the old parties by their failure
to get votes for L. J. Meighen,s or they
will rise once more as balance of power
to be dreaded by both republicans and
democrats. There, is no doubt that
Meighen, will draw many votes that in
times past have been cast for Lind. Popu-
lists were led to regard John Lind as one
of themselves, and with the exception
of a handful of midroaders, lent them
selves to the fusion movement. The rise
Of the gold democracy In. the, east made
them suspicious, and there was a national
movement for Independent action last
winter, which spread to Minnesota. Notice
was served on the democrats long before
the state convention, that even If John
Lind was the candidate, the populists
would put up a state, ticket of their own
The nomination Of Rosing settled it, for
sROsing had been a straight democrat and
a recognized enemy Of fusion. No at
tempt was made to indorse him in the
populist convention, which nominated
Thomas J. Meighen, fusion nominee for
lieutenant governor in 1900. Mr.. Meighen
populist counties, endeavoring to hold
them III line. but the democrats have done
their best to discredit him and swallow
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