The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-26
Hennepin's speakership Candidate
Has More Than the Requisite
Number of Votes.
Babcock Hasn't Formally With
drawn But Is Clearly Out Of
e., = the Running. 4

SlXty-three votes are said to be pledged
to Lawrence II. Johnson for speaker OF the
sary to carry the republican caucus. More
than sixty-three have declared against
Babcock, and as fast/as heard from they
are going on record for Johnson. 49, = .
Babcock's failure to carry the SECOND
and ninth district caucuses yesterday Is
| considered to put him out Of the running
although he still claims that he will win
! No caucus may be held before the first
| of the year. AS soon as definite written
pledges OF support are received from the
johnson, men, that will settle the fight On
such showing the opposition will-have
| to quit. ~. ~ t-''
The Johnson votes by districts are
counted as follows: ~ -
First. 8; second, Z; third 4; fourth, 4;
fifth. IL, sixth, 6; seventh, II; eighth, 5;
ninth, 7.
thlng johnson expects to get, but what is
absolutely assured Within few days
ne is expected to have additional
strength in every district ., f..
The Babcock men were not in evidence
to-day In st. Paul. There were few to be
found and they were very quiet. The
| insurgents from Hennepin did not put in
an appearance. II
The Johnson forces returned this morn
ing from Mankato and Crookston, jubilant
over the result Of the district caucuses
Dispatches from Crookston had said that
ene vote OF to did not indicate the real
sentiment of the delegation. C. N
.Haugen of Otter Tail, who came down to
81 Paul, said that as a matter of fact,
Johnson,s strength was greater than the
vote indica ted. - :
Every one of those seven votes were
Johnson Votes,' he said, land one of the
f1ve who voted for Babcock will be in line
| for John son. .-
Inc second district shouters say that
only one vote for Babcock is sure, and
ne only claims three out of the ten Nils
Nyqu1st of Blue Earth county was at the
Johnson headquarters this morning and
SAID the six pledges, made yesterday all
meant it. -.
There was a report last night that the
! third district would caucus, but A. j.
Rockne of Goodhue sad to-day that none
had been called
There is talk of a second caucus OF first
district members, to turn down the action
! OF the steering committee. A majority of
the. district IS against Babcock
DIR. Babcock's letter to Johnson was re =
ceived by that gentleman after II O'Clock
to-day. 1t was given to the morning pa
| Ders In ST. Paul last night when DR. Bab-
cock was in Crookston. but it was not sent
to its destination until to-day noonr Mr..
Johnson said that he would in due time
give out a reply, but DR.. Babcock had TAX
| Ell two days to reply, and there was evil
! IDENTITY no hurry. The attempts to pull
Governor Van SAINT in and make him call
| the caucus Is laughed at. AS to DR.. Bah
COCKS attitude toward the governor there
is plenty of evidence. The governor is on
vacation and if he were here would
probably not come out himself and :oSl
pose Babcock. The governors friends can
| do things in protection of his interests
| inc o1f ,of 10
! DR.. Babcock's attitude toward the gross
earnings bill, which was an administration
measure. is a matter Of history. One in
stance is enough to show his attitude
: toward the governor and his administra :
| tion Before the county conventions last
spring when the railroad interests were
opposing Governor Van SAINTS renomina
t1on the governors friends insisted on
delegates to the state convention being
bound by instructions to prevent any fine
work. DR.. Babcock and his friends In
Wadena county opposed instructions and
said they did not want to go for Van SAINT
until they knew he could be nominated
The question was fought over at the
primaries. The Van SAINT people won and
DR.. Babcock did not get a seat in the
county convention. The convention i'll
I structed for Van SAINT.
! At the second district caucus yesterda,
1t was asked whether Johnson had pledged
any appointments. Assurance was giver
/ for him that no pledge had been given, ant
the Johnson men were told that if the.
could find single Endorsement given, the,
could withdraw their Endorsement. Mr.
/ Johnson said to-day: -
| II made the same statement at Crook
ston, and told them that everys,distric
would get Its fair share of the committees
assignments. If I am elected speaker.
! will go into the office without: a pledge O
any kind. and prepared to do justice t.
every one.
! There. is no longer talk of third man
| zJohnson's showing of positive strength in
dictates that he is the man who can bea
lsBabcock. AS fast as they can be heart
from the anti-Babcock men are declarip,
for johnson.
| 49,