The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-05-23
MINNESOTA POLITICS.
View of State Matters as They Look
at the National Capital.

View of State Matters as lhey LOOK
! at the National Capital.
The following is view OF Mime
sofa politics as sized up by the Mime
apolis Journal Washington correspon-
dent, being the view taken by the
Minnesota calling there:
Republican sentiment in Washing
ton as to the situation in Minnesota
has undergone complete cnange DUR
ing the past few weeks. Inc con-
viction has finally taken root mere
that Governor Van SAINT VIII surely
be reelected, no matter VINO runs
against him, and that John Limo,
realizing that fact, has definitely deter
mined to keen out of the way. It is
said further that the James j. Hill
forces are realizing that their fight
against Van SAINT is uphill and with
|, out promise, and that they have
greatly modified their original plans.
These plans first called for the defeat
of Van SAINT for denomination. Fail
ure at that point is now conceded.
| They provided, in case OF Van SAINT
/ denomination, for an earnest cam
paign against him at the polls, the
state to be organized by counties fol
9 that purpose This part OF the pro-
, gram, it is said, has also been .aban'
. doned. 1t is said with some show Of
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 thu
emphasize the stand of the STATE
) against the merger, he will quietl.
strive to conciliate the state admins
: tration, and ultimately will offer t.
contribute to the campaign funds o
. both state committees, according t.
his usual policy. He is DESTROYS o
keeping the merger out of the cam
J. paign to as great an extent as pos
sible. ... ual-aa..a
n Obviously, he cannot be entirel..
successful in this, but he does hope
by withdrawing his open opposition {
s Van SAINT, to force the campaign ont
, the usual party channels, and in pro
lportion as he will be able to do tina
!, he will hold the Van SAINT pluralitle
. down to normal figures.
1t may be said that Mr.. Hill ha
g adopted this new policy unwillingly
/
v couple of weeks ago, he was full 9
his schemes for Van SAINTS defeat i
the convention, or at the polls, an
of organization to that end. Befor
- Ihe had been in st. Paul two days
however, he had conferred wit
Ienough of his lieutenants to know ths
that would not win. There had bee
= a radical change in sentiment durin
his absence, and the Minnesota
which he returned was Minnesot
strongly committed to Van SAINT an
determined to see him through b!
6 second campaign.
M Hill looked over the groun
carefully before making up his MIND
consulting with his principal advise!
in the railway world as we'll as
m politics. Every one was of the SAN
- opinion. The denomination OF Va
SAINT was assured, and any atteml
on Mr. Hills part to prevent his r
election would simply emphasize I'll
merger as a campaign issue and pi
up the Van SAINT majority. So, IL
- Hill forces reluctantly concluded
W make the best of bad bargain.
It is an open secret here that it W;
~ the Hill influence that was mo
rs strongly urging on the candidacy
N Mr.. Lind. Lind himself was not
:, party to it, and perhaps did not kno
AZ of the prominence of the mergerites
or his behalf However, he conclude
Id not to "butt in, "and his judgment
n now being strongly Endorsed by Il
Minnesota colony in Washington.
- It is pointed out here that if Tan
x Bixby could have been as long-sightt
t, as John Lind, it would have been
i'd good thing for Bixby. As it wa
h. Bixby lent himself to the scheme
:. the anti-Va SAINT crowd, went hon
as to help organize the campaign
ts their behalf, and before he kne
as what was the matter, went up again
stone wall This last performanc
it is believed here, will do Mr.. Bixt
u more damage as q politician than
be will ever be able to repair.
in Representative Heatwole's positit
in will probably not be affected by b
ba fight against Van SAINT. It was 8
!. open fight, originating long before Il
~ merger came to the surface, and CO.
IT. Quoted along independent lines.
We was carried on where everybody cou
70 see it, and Mr.. Heatwole, while ma
- ing nothing out of it, is not believe
es to have lost anything.
It is now thought here that b
's- Dunn is to be the candidate of Il
n Republicans for governor in 1904. al
"a. that he will carry the party back
:. the old-time Republican majoriti
IN and pluralities. Dunn was una
n strong pressure to get into the fig
n this year, but was too level-heade
r. He will leave the auditors off
with good record, and will be
US line in two years, not only because
at that record, but because he com
no from northern Minnesota The mort
III ern part of the state hasn't had go
ernor since Nelson. Clough W
ne from Minneapolis and VanSant is fro
We the first district
ill
TELEGRAPHIC BREVITlES.