The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-03
LEADERSHIP is UNCERTAIN.
Republican Gossips Are Busy With
Question of Organization.


The results of the Republican con-
vention are first a new leadership of
the party in Minnesota. The defeat
of Darius Reese for the nomination
for clerk of the supreme court is con-
sidered by prominent party men as
the breaking of the backbone of the
Big -Four and it's party domination.
Reese manfully accepted his defeat
and before the convention pledged
himself to unceasing effort in the in
terest of the party, but the big party
men say that hereafter he will work
in the ranks and not as a dominant
factor as one corner of the powerful
Big Four.
1t is the fate of political activity
and tremendous political power. No
set of young men have accomplished
so much in the Republican party or
Welded their power so long as Oar
Reese, Fred Schiffmann, Ell Warner
and Timothy Sheehan. The first fight
for ascendancy was uphill work, but
the first victory gained they did not
sleep on their oars and party domina-
ton was soon theirs.
The downfall Of the Big Four was
as rapid as its rise. Two years ago
it nominated and selected the candi-
date for governor, whom it had dis
covered and brought into party prom
inence. Then 1t entered Moses E.
Clapp in the race to succeed the late
United States Senator G. K Davis,
and won another notable victory.
The decline commenced within
twelfth month of denoument Tuesday,
The country, and, in fact, most of
the state outside of ST. Paul, became
Jealous Of the power welded by the
Big -Four. 1t became embroiled with
the governor which it created, and it's
senator slipped the least of guardian
ship as quick as he was elected The
next step was a crushing defeat in
the local campaign of the past spring,
accompanied by a heavy loss of pres
tige. Tuesday the final coup was
sprung.
There will always be a dominant
element in the party, and conven-
ton manipulation often decides it's
location. The Van SAINT wing of the
party is in the passing, II the govern
or is reelected, as the Republicans
believe he will be, at the end of two
years he will step out of the political
life of Minnesota and those most
closely identified with his administra-
ton will go with him. To that fact
Van SAINT owes in no small degree
the sudden cessation or hostilities
last spring. The Republicans have
had too many bitter experiences with
party disruption, and the councils of
thoSe VINO thought 1t cheap to wait
two years prevailed.
The question of party dominance is
the chief topic of political gossip and
will be until after the new committee
is made up by Chairman J. T. Wy
man and the candidates. The trend
of the speculation, rife in political
circles, is toward a belief that the
Sixth district politicians Will come
close to the throne. The Buchanan
Ferris people played prominent part
in checking the anti-Van SAINT senti-
ment early in the spring, and in the
convention demonstrated It's ability to
do big things at short notice. When
the storm was at its height Buchanan,
then in Washington, came out flat
rooted for Van SAINT and the combin-
alton manipulation of the convention
to encompass the defeat of jacobson
showed the hand of new power in
the field.
Ferris is a member of the present