The Saint Paul globe., 1902-12-03
CONFERS WITH HIS
FRIENDS AND WON'T TALK
Speakership Fight Is No Nearer Finish
by Reason of the Chieftain's Return
Expected Manifesto Is Not Yet Is
sued-Babcock Men Say They Are
Satisfied.

This was all that Gov. Van SAINT had
to say about the speakerShip contest
yesterday afternoon just after he had
reached his office at the capitol. Gov.
Van SAINT reached st. Paul yesterday
morning, but went at once to his apart
ments at the Aberdeen. Here he was
closeted with Judge Jamison for over
an hour and had the Johnson side Of
the speakership fight explained to him
by his political advisor. August T.
Koerner, of Litchfeld, former state
treasurer, assisted Judge Jamison in
the explanation.
James A. Martin, recently appointed
on the state board of control, did not
take part in the conference. This was
probably due to the desire on the part
of Mr. Martin to keep the board to
which he was but lately appointed out
of politics. In fact, Mr.. Martin was so
anxious to have it known that he was
not taking any part in the conference
that he kept the telephone at the board
of control rooms busy all the morning
calling up different persons, and after
a short conversation with each, wound
up by saying: Il am at the board OF
| control rooms
Babcock Has an Audience.
DR.. Babcock, who had been charged
by the Johnson managers with being
anti administration, had a short con-
ference with the governor, but neither
the Wadena man nor Gov. Van SAINT
would talk about the interview.
The speakership contest is still un-
decided, at least so far as a statement
from Gov. Van SAINT would affect 1t.
The governor arrived home yesterday
morning from Chicago and to the dis
| comfiture of the Johnson forces issued
no statement that was "agin" Babcock
for the position.
At the Johnson headquarters In the
Windsor Messrs. Matchan and Girling
paced the floor all the morning and
each visitor was eagerly questioned as
to whether the governor had affixed
his signature to the document which
had been prepared by Judge Jamison.
At the Babcock headquarters at the
Merchants there was also some concern
exhibited as to whether the governor
had returned and as to the issuing Of
a statement regarding the speaker
| ship.
At 10 o'clock DR.. Babcock started for
the capitol and a few minutes later
walked into the office of the chief eX-
ecutive of the state.
They Hid the Governor.
as Gov Van SAINT in?" was the ques-
| ton put by the Wadena man to EXecu-
tive Clerk Moos.
'1 don't think he is in the city, at
least we have not seen him today"
| was the reply.
Messenger Beasley was handed a
card bearing the inscription 'fDr. L. w.
| Babcock, Candidate for Speaker" and
tn
was handed the bit of pasteboard.
1.-THE governor has not been here
this morning and neither has Judge
| Jamison," was the statement made by
| the messenger.
Dr. Babcock loitered about the capt.
| tol for a few minutes and to a friend
said: '1 came to see the governor in
order to set him right on some things
concerning which he has been misin-
formed and simply desire to present
my side of the case to him."
AS the governor had not put in an
appearance at 10:30 o'clock DR.. Bah
| cock, having received private tip that
| his excellency might be at the Aber-
| deen left for that hostelry.
1t was nearly $50 o'clock when Gov.
Van SAINT reached his office at the capt..
| tol The executive chambers were for
| the moment deserted when the govern
| or arrived except for trio Of news
paper reporters.
Still Shakes Hands.
The governor in his usual perfume
| tory manner shook hands with the re-
| porters and was congratulated on his
excellent appearance and return to the
| trials Of state government. He an
nounced in answer to questions that he
had no statement to make at present
| as to the speakership contest and had
not even seen Twin City paper dur
| ing his vacation.
That the governor is rapidly becom-
| ing diplomat in all that the word
| implies was shown by little incident
| which occurred just after he reached
| the capitol.
Judge Jamison was not in the execu-
tive chamber when Gov. Van SAINT ar
rived although the governor and his
| private secretary had been hobnob-
bing for the best part Of the morning at
the Aberdeen. While speaking to the
newspaper men Judge Jamtson entered
the room. With an apology to the re-
porters Gov. Van SAINT walked hur-
riedly toward Judge Jamison and ex-
tending his hand, said:
'How do you do, Janison, you are
looking finely"
His private secretary looked confus-
ed for moment but recovering him
self gave the outstretched hand Of the
| governor shake and replied, You are
| looking well yourself governor"
| Becomes Diplomat.
A few minutes later the governor
again worked the diplomatic wire. One
| of the newspaper men inquiringly ask
| ed: "You saw DR.. Babcock this morn
| ing, did you not, governor?
II haven't said that I did," was the
reply of the governor, as he glanced
| at the newspaper reporter and smiled.
There was a deal of surprise and
| comment indulged by the Johnson
| known that Gov. Van SAINT had not is
speakership contest
| Public Examiner Johnson was of the
| opinion that the governor should have
| at once signed and made public the
| statement which had been prepared for
| him, declaring for the Minneapolis
man for speaker. Tom Girling and
| George L. Matchan, who are in charge
Of the Johnson headquarters, after
| learning that no statement would be
| issued before today, expressed the opin-
| ion that this showed the governor
| wanted to first familiariZe himself with
| the facts in the matter and that he
| was doing just what any sensible man
| should do under the circumstances.
Both Sides Pleased.
| The Babcock men professed to be
| equally pleased to hear that the gov
erner had issued no statement In his
| letter to Johnson dated Nov 25, DR..
Babcock declining to join in the call
| ing of a caucus, said: 1--WE further