The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-29
MERGER ISSUE
N. D. Republicans Not Alarmed BY
It-Johnson's Candidacy. .

are we'll satisfied with the political OUT
look. II voters In the western part Of the
state slump little on the question of re-
submission, the leaders believe the defec
tion will be counterbalanced by the gain
for the ticket in 2the Red River valley,
where many former populists, who voted
with the democratic party two and four
years ago. will vote the republican ticket
| as rebuke to the democrats for putting
resubmission in the platform.
On the merger matter, the republicans
look for the increase in valuation Of rail-
roads by the state board Of equalization
to offset much Of the feeling. 1t Is re-
ported that the democrats will make
| their principal fight on the merger issue,
putting little stress on the matter Of re-
submission except among the German ele-
ment. Too much discussion Of resubmis-
sion will not be of advantage to the demo-
Gratis. for the reason that the voters will
learn that the democratic resubmission
plank will be of no effect in bringing the
matter of prohibition before the people.
Legislative conventions will settle this
matter, and 1t Is likely that rigid instruc-
submission will be passed in all the pro-
hibition legislative districts.
1t Is admitted that a shrewd campaigner
for the democrats could make a rattling
campaign on the merger question, but, as
a prominent republican said few days
ago. If the republicans make a mistake,
the democrats may be relied upon to make
a little bigger one. .'
From a personal standpoint, Joe Cronan
will probably be the most effective cam
paigner on the democratic ticket He Is
good handshaker, affable,t popular and
magnetic. His campaign, however, will
have to be made directly with the voters
and not from the platform. The same is
true of most Of the democratic candidates.
T1,a-n &C. xryh@ 1N,xI1
make a good platform campaign, among
them John D. Benton of Fargo, Tracy
Bangs Of Grand Forks, and others, but
they are too busy with personal business
to take much part in the campaign. Then,
too, there Is a republican national admin
istration in power, and the likelihood Of
another to follow 1t, and there Is nothing
in the line of national recognition for the
democrats to look forward to.
Congressman Johnson's candidacy for
the senate does not appear to have struck
much fire with republican leaders. Shrewd
politicians do not see where he stands any
chance of election, and they believe his
candidacy is rather the result of q desire
to complicate matters than Of belief that
has some old scores that he would like to
pay off, and it may be that he can do this
| as a candidate for the senate.
The next senatorial election will be a
pretty fight. With Little rounding up the
slope and assured of support In the i'm
river valley, and Johnson cutting into the
Red river valley votes, Senator Hans
brough will have need Of shrewd manage
ment and untiring work:
! Burleigh county offers a peculiar politi-
cal complication to the situation, in the
nomination of two republicans by the in
! dependent democratic party. L. D. Nc
Gahan, one Of the nominees, is the editor
of the paper started by former Mayor Pat
| terson, whose wife Is the postmaster at
Bismarck. McGahan' held a position In
| the state senate two years ago as re-
| turn for the good work done in defeating
| Creel for the senate in Ramsey county and
! aiding in the election of the republican
legislative ticket. His paper is fighting
the regular republican ticket in Burleigh
county. although flying the republican
state ticket. The other nominee, Bo-
strum, has always worked with the repub-
! licans and held positions from the organ
! ization he is now lined up against. Both
/ men are uninsructed so far as the sena-
| toral election Is concerned, although 1t Is
understood they would vote for Hans
brough if elected, and against Little, tc
| whom the republican nominees, E. 8. AL
len and Joseph Hare, are favorable. The
nomination of McGahan seems to wider
! the political breach between Patterson
and Allen, who were once political associ-
| ates.
The improved financial condition will
probably lead the next legislature to make
a liberal appropriation for the states dis
play at the st. Louis exposition. Score
tary Reeve of the committee on Legislation
and Superintendent Taylor Of the agricul.
tural department have been making q
| swing about the state, addressing mass
meetings and recounting the benefits tt
accrue to North Dakota from a liberia
appropriation and a complete exhibit O.
the states products. Mass meetings were
held at Fargo, Grand Forks and Bis
marck and Mr.. Reeve reports satisfaction
| at the apparent interest.