The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-01
GtJsf dtas Political Mil


legislature can afford to go into any
scheme of delay for the protection of
anyone. If proper consideration of the
Dill means political defeat for anyone,
then let him take it. The people have
right to the first protection, and 1 do
not believe in allowing party considera-
lions to bias us in our duty
In the Fifth congressional district the
republican nomination now looks easy
for Your Uncle Loren Fletcher. But
ne VIII nave to go against at least the
semIbanee Of fight. The sudden and
quite alarming illness of his honor,
Mayor Ames, and his equally sudden re-
covery, accompanied by the information
that he will not be a candidate for the
congressional nomination, relieved the
situation somewhat. And incidentally 8
generally supposed to have relieved
Your Uncle Loren of a substantial
portion of his campaign fund. Represent
ative James A. Peterson is not out Of
the field of eligible and ''willin " can
didates yet and his friends say he will
De able to put up rafting fight. Peter
son IS vehement orator, has the adj
vantage of nationality and since enter
ing politics has played consistently for
the favor CT the old soldier element and
It's friends At the last session Of the
legislature he played it, perhaps, too
strong, as he brought out the open and
energetic opposition of the ''old soldier"
members, and particularly Roberts and
Dobbin, of Hennepin, directly interested
in the welfare of the soldiers home.
The new Sixth district looks more than
safe for Buchanan. Jones' SearIes, Brewer
and Dare have successfully drawn out and
now Judge Collins friends state positive
IV that ha will OIL
name as a candidate for congress. The
country districts are beyond question for
Hickman, and Stearns county seems I'M
able to get an eligible into the race
There are thirteen counties in the dis
trict, and only Stearns has any of the
good things The other counties, all but
two Republican, feel that they have at
least right to choose the man to make
the first race. This disposition hangs a
heavy handicap on any Stearns county
man, with the possible exception of Judge
Collins. The outside counties appear to
be rapidly concentrating on Buchanan,
and, with the support of the former ten
tative candidates outside of Stearns, he
is comparatively sure to land the NOM
ination. Many of the prominent Republic
ans of the new district figure the race
for congressional honors as did Senator
j. ID. Jones' Of Todd county Mr. Jones
was urged to make the race for the nom
nation and personally and geographical
~ was strong candidate. He promptly
declined on the ground that the nominal
ton did not mean election In a district
that will develop one of the hardest
fights of the campaign, and another was
welcome to the honors if he could wrest
them from the Democrats.
Adjt. Gen. Libbey has promulgated an
order which, if it will not make him ex-
tremely popular in the country districts
stamps him as an official honestly en-
deavoring to fulfill his duty TO the state,
quality quite unusual among many Of
the members of Gov. Van SAINTS appoint
ed family. Gen. Libbey has fixed the
dates for the annual tour of encampment
for the several organizations of the ma
tional guard, and adhered to his orig
inaI purpose of ordering the annual in
spection in camp. This may result in
the disbanding of some of the infantry
companies, but it will save the states
money and cannot fail to elevate the
standard of efficiency in the states mil
itary organization. Under the provisions
Of the military code the inspections have
been held annually in the spring at the
several company stations. For each Of
hcer and man inspected the state pays
into the company funds ST. A company
presenting fewer than forty-six officers
and men at inspection is, under the law
mustered out. The result of this system
has been that company commanders have
regularly carried on their rolls lot of
dead timber. Men who are habitually
absent from instruction drill, and whose
sole military obligation to the state
seemed to consist of being present at in
spection for the purpose of swelling the
company fund. Companies that have
mustered from seventy to seventy-six Of
ficers and men at inspection go into
camp, the one place where they may re-
ceive practical military instruction, with
total strength Of from twenty to forty.
the latter an unusual number. Gen. Lib
beys order will have a three-fold ben
eficial effect. 1t will protect the state
against payment for dead timber 1t will
increase the efficiency Of the guard by
securing a wider dissemination of prac-
tical military knowledge through the in
creased attendance at camp. And it will
result in the muster out of companies
that are kept alive for show purposes
only.