The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-20
CHANGE THEIR tune
Washington Minnesotans Have
Heard From Home.
VAN SAINT VICTORY INEVITABLE

Even James j. Hill Is Said to Have
~ Decided to Muzzlc the
Dogs of War.
From, Tho Journa. Bureau. Room IS, Post
Washington, May 20-Republican senti-
ment in Washington as to the situation in
Minnesota, has undergone a complete
change during the past few weeks. The
conviction has finally taken root here that
Governor Van SAINT will surely be re-
elected, no matter who runs against him,
and that John Lind, realizing that fact,
has definitely determined to keep out OF
the way. 1t is said further that the
James j.. Hill forces are realizing that
their fight against Van SAINT IS uphill ana
without promise, and that they have
greatly modified their original plans.
These plans first called for the defeat OF
Van SAINT for denomination. Failure at
that point is now conceded. Ihey pro-
vided, in case of Van SAINTS renomina-
ton, for an earnest campaign against him
at the polls, the state to be organized by
counties for that purpose. This part OF
the program, it Is said, has also been
abandoned. 1t is said with some SHOW or
authority that it is not now the purpose
of Mr. Hill to make any open light against
Van SAINT. On the contrary, realizing that
a fight will probably increase the Van
SAINT vote, and thus emphasize the stand Of
the state against the merger, he will
quietly strive to conciliate the state ad-
minstration, and ultimately will offer to
contribute to the campaign funds OF both
state committees, according to his usual
policy. He is DESTROYS of keeping the
NJ he on RI
an extent as possible. 4.
obviously, he cannot be entirely sue
Gessful in this, but he does hope, by with
drawing his open opposition to Van SAINT.
to force the campaign into the usual party
channels and in proportion as he will
be able to do that he will hold the Van
SAINT pluralties down to normal figures.
Hills Reluctant Conclusion.
1tmay be said that Mr.. Hill has adopted
this new policy unwillingly. When he
returned from IT, last, couple of weeks
ago, he was stin I'll Of his schemes for
Van SAINTS detea IN the convention, or
at the polls, and was ready to take up
the active work OF organization to that
end. Before he had been in st. Paul two
days, however, he had conferred with
enough of his lieutenants to know that
that would not win. There had been a
radical change in sentiment during his
absence, and the Minnesota to which he
returned was a Minnesota strongly COM
mitted to Van SAINT and determined to
see him through his second campaign.
Mr.. Hill looked over the ground care
fully before making up his mind. consult
ing with his principal advisers In the rail-
way world as we'll as in politics. Every
one was of the same opinion. The renomi-
nation Of Van SAINT was assured, and any
attempt on Mr.. Hills part to prevent his
reelection would simply emphasize the
merger as a campaign issue and pile UP
the Van SAINT majority. So, the Hill forces
reluctantly concluded to make the best OF
bad bargain.
It is an open secret here that it was
the Hill influence that was most strongly
urging on the candidacy OF Mr.. Lind. Lind
himself was not a party to it, and per-
haps did not know Of the prominence OF
the nnergerites in his behalf However
he concluded not to butt in and his
Judgment is now, being strongly indorsed
by the Minnesota colony in Washington.
Mistake of Bixby and Heatwole.
1t is pointed out here that if Tams
Bixby could have been as long sighted az
John Lind, it would have been a gooc
thing for Bxby. AS it was, Bixby len
himself to the scheme of the anti-Var
SAINT crowd, went home to help organic
the campaign in their behalf, and before
he knew what was the matter, went vi
against stoue wall. 1HlS last per1Or
nance. it Is believed here, will do Mr.
Bixby more damage as a politician tina
he ever will be able to repair.
Representative Heatwoie's position will
probabl not be. affected by his figh
against Van SAINT. 1t was an open fight
originating long before the merger cam
to the surface, and conducted along indie
pendent lines. It was carried on. whert
everybody could see it, and Mr.. Heatwole
while making nothing out of it, is not be
NeYed to have lost anything.
Dunn in 1904.
It is now thought here that Bob Dunn
is to be the candidate Of the republican
for governor in 1904 and that he will carr
the party back to the old time republca
majorities and pluralities. Dunn was IN
der strong pressure to get into the figh
this year, but was too level-headed. H
will leave the auditors office with a goo
record, and will be in line in two years
not only because Of that record, but be
cause he comes from northern Minnesota
The northern part Of the state hasn't ha
agovernor since Nelson. Clough was fro1
Minneapolis, and Van SAINT is from tn
hrst district. I'VE
The foregoing view of the state situa
zion may be of some interest at home
shows that there has been a radics
change OF front here with regard to Va
SAINT. In the winter and spring score
OF prominent public men were here, re
publicans, and not one of them talked er
couraging1y about the oncoming stat
campaign. Every one said the race fc
governor would be uncomfortably clos
and nine out of ten said that Van Sar
would be defeated. These opinions, cry.
sall1zed sentiment in the Minnesota CO
ony, and practically every member
the colony made up his mind that Va
SAINT was a dead one" Later visitor
from the state, and letters which hay
come to hand indicate that Van SAINT
standing at home has not been correct
measured here. There is now no talk
his defeat, but only of the probable size
his vote, many inclining to the opinic
that he will set a record both as
popular vote and majority. =.
: Fletcher Ofends the Senator's
Representative Fletcher, of Minneapt
lis, made tactical mistake last wee
when in a-sreech~ At one Of the Mimi
apolis republican clubs he said that
was strongly in favor of Hennepin cou1
Sy's having a member of the United Stat,
senate, giving as a reason that he Is
been compelled for years in advancf.
Hennepin legislation to do the work n
81