The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-25
In the Throes Of the Biennial City
Election.
VOTE ON MAYOR WILL BE CLOSE
A Polite Use of Patronage Has Made
Smith Strong Cam
didnte.

& St. Paul is all torn up over; the biennial
city election, which WITH occur May 6. AS
the contest draws to CLOSE both sides
claim the victory.
Indications point to close vote and a
mixed result Democrats confidently pre-
dict the reelection Of Mayor Robert A.
Smith and OF City Treasurer Bremen,
They also expect to get a mojority OF the
city council, the lower branch Of the
publicans seem to have the
best Of it on the assem- bl,ywhich con-
sists of nine members elected at large.
The primary law brought out an unusually
fine field of candidates, and the. republican
ticket is strong one The democratic
nine are good average, but the democ-
racy will suffer from the bad record Of the
outgoing assembly and council, and the
better element of democrats will scratch
this portion Of their ticket numerically
Candid democrats concede the selection
Of ]. J.. McCardy as city controller over
Louis Betz.
On the face of things, Mayor Smith looks
like a winner. He has turned the police
and fire departments into political ma
chimes, which are powerful engines to get
votes. Personally, he Is popular. and has
always been a good vote getter. The
brewery and saloon interests are fighttng
under the democratic banner He also has
the support Of nearly all the Wholesale
houses and railroad interests of the city.
This, his opponents charge, is due to the
fact that assessments in the wholesale
districts have been kept down by Asses
sor Connolly, Smith appointee.
Frank B. Doran has the hearty support
of the republican machine, which is put
ting up an energetic fight against these
odds. Doran's supporters say that Smith
had the best of 1t two weeks ago, but ever
since the tide has been turning in their
favor. On primary election day the dem
ccrats registered 1O,400 and the republic
cans $500. The second registration day
exceeded expectations, aiding over 4,500 to
| the list, and tomorrow, the last day, Is
expected to bring 1000 or 5000 more
names on the poll books. The republicans
contend that the bitter democratic fight
got out the full strength on the first day
and that later registration is steadily In
favor OF the republicans. They also count
on getting some democratic votes from
the disaffected antimachtne element John
Wagner, the defeated candidate for
mayor, says he is supporting Smith, but
many OF his followers are said to be work
ing quietly but industriously for Doran
The republicans count on 1880 democratic
votes from this source, while they figure
| that Doran will lose very few republicans
who voted at the primary.
The republicans are on the offensive
and are making their campaign on the is.
sue of municipal extravaganza, charging
the democratic council with reckless ex-
penditure OF public money. They are also
condemning Mayor Smith for making the
police and fire departments partizan ma.
chimes.
The principal republican ammunition
however, Is the democratic repeating
Warrants have already been issued fol
seven men whose names appear on th.
poll books III diferent precincts ana from
different localities ThIs. say the republi
can committee, is only beginning, ant
when the work of checking up has beer
finished they will have q list of severa
hundred repeaters. They have a. deubl,
motive in following this fraud. First
there is its moral effect on the Campaign
but another object is to erase these fraud
ulent registrations from the poll books
and prevent the votes from being cast a,
the election. The republican manager.
promise to make this issue smoke from
now till May 81
Judge 2. A. Jaggard yesterday granted
the mandamus requested by the prohibi
t1onists, and their ticket will 70 on tn,
ballot. This is regarded as democratic
victory, as Fitz will draw more from
Doran than from Smith, and his petitio,
was largely signed by democrats.