The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-27
IT'S UP TO- The ,DR.
Johnson Again Submits His Propo-
sition for an Immediate Cau-
Gus on Speaker. 49,
DR.. Babcock HES Him to Duluth to
Repair His Damaged Fences
There.

Z thanksgiving was an Off day IN the
contest for" the Minnesota speakership.
which has been waged with such zeal for.
the past ten days Both sides still claim
victory, but DR.. Babcock has quit count
Ing his votes, and no longer claims eighty.
The Johnson claim Of sixty three is be-
lieved to be conservative, and a show
down would undoubtedly add to his
strength all who are against Babcock.
1t is once more up to the doctor to
agree to a caucus and settle the contest
without further delay and expense.
Mr.. iJohnson.s second letter to Dr. Bah
cock, sent last evening, charges the doctor
with evading the ISSUE and reiterates his
request for an early caucus. The letter
reads as follows:
Your letter Of yesterday, in reply to
mine of the 23d. was received by me at
IL o'clock noon to-day. i My letter was an
unconditional request that you join me
In calling caucus Of the members of the
house of representatives for the purpose
of securing, If possible, an immediate set
Element of the speakership contest.
1T seems to me that after all that has
happened the attitude of the administra-
ton toward our respective candidates. can
scarcely be misunderstood.
The opposition to- your candidacy by
the administration is your misfortune, for
which am not Responsible Myself and
supporters are known friends of the ad-
rninistration, and the policies for which it
stands. -'
ITO say the least you evade the issue,
ana Whatever reasons may have 1nt1u
enced your reply In the form It Is made, L
am still OF the opinion expressed In my
former letter, and respectfully reiterate
my request, that you Immediately join
me in calling caucus for an early date"
Further tenporizinE on DR.. Behcocl's
part VIII be taken to mean that he fears
to sulnb1t his claims now, and hopes to
gain by delay. -
The doctor went up to Duluth last night
to patch up his fences there. which are
In very bad repair. He left his st. Paul
headquarters in charge of W. r. Verify,
who held forth to-day at the Merchants.
Lawrence H. Johnson spent the morning
in st. Paul and his Headquarters were
kept open all day at both hotels.
VIII He Consult Van SAINT?
DR.. Babcock has. discovered the where
abouts of Governor-Van SAINT, and says
he will find out whether the governor per
sonally is opposed to him for speaker
Friends of the governor intimate that he
Will not be great ly pleased with what he
finds: - -. fT,;.- 3,f. =. ....;....>.......
. The governor is resting at Battle: Creek,
Mich. and Is expected to return to st.
Paul next week to begin preparing his
message. to the legislature.
This information was furnished Dr.
Babcock yesterday upon his request by
Judge Jamison. - -.
Nolan Lines Up for Johnson.
Hennepin has twelve votes solid for
Johnson w. N. Nolan dropped into John
SON headquarters last evening on his re-
turn from South Dakota, and said that
he had never any intention Of breaking
away from the unit rule. He had been
favorably disposed to Babcock on account
of friendship for w! E.. Verify, but he
would not do anything to hold out against
the delega tion y! q This adds another vote
to the Johnson column, for Yesterdays
count included only Those that he was
sure of 800 ''f 10 = - -: 49,
The important thing now IS considered
to be an early caucus or definite show
down Of strength to determine the con-
test and ayoit1" long drawn out battle,
with its attendant feeling and possibly
scandals. The fact that the Great North
ern influence wants Babcock would lead
to suspicion that, undue influence was be-
ing used on members to desert the ad-
ministration column.
Members Of the state administration
have practically closed the fight, now that
they are satisfied of Babcock's defeat
They were not making any attempt to or
ganfze the house or elect any particular
man, butthey admit that Johnson is yin =
questionably the winner. He is satisfac-
tory In every way to the progressive ele-
ment In the party.