The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27
MINNESOTA POLITICS

1 &UsnNaNAssJOIA EOAtStSS
The populist plea for Independent action in
Minnesota has excellent backing in a law
passed by the republican legislature last win
l ter In making plans for the coming cam
paign, 1t will not do to overlook this statute, ]
/ which is chapter 312 of the laws of 1901. 1t
has double purpose. One is to give a quie-
tus to such parties as the social democrats,
which use old party names and bring confu-
sion to the voters. The other object is ever
/ lastingly to wipe out fusion. The law reads
| as follows:
A political party which has heretofore or
snali hereafter adopt q party name shall
for the designation of Its candidates on the
othclal ballot, and candidate nor party
81 formed shall Be- entitled to use
party designation any part of the name OF a
previously existing political party.
political party be entitled to be designated
upon the official ballot as the candidate Of
more tnan one political party, and shall be
accordance with the certificate of nominal
tlon nrst nled with the proper officers
I rms is apparently effective as bar against
fusion The only way the democrats and
popullsts could get to gether would be under
an entirely new name, such as fusion party
| II they attempted to use the name demo
cratic peoples they could be barred under
the law by straight democrats straight
populists "A candidate cannot even accept
two nominations and must go on the ticket
either as democrat or populist. The parties
can fuse after a fashion by leaving nomina-
Mons blank and voting for the candidate of
| the other party, but it Is hard matter to
deliver votes on election day in any such
style. ''s-s
! Some attorneys hold that the law will not
| stand, and that a man has right to accept
TWO nominations. Such a law holds good IN
| the state OF Washington, however, and it is
believed to be sound. 1t means straight demo-
cratic and popuist tickets, not only In the
state, but locally wherever the popuists re-
main alive. " .sn - --.ps
Dr. l.. W. Babcock of Wadena, member of
! the house from the fifty third district, writes
ASKING The j ourna to correct state
ment recently made in this column to the
effect that he and his colleague, ]. H. O'Nel
| voted against the gross earnings BILL He
| says in part: Tns-.... .-.- ..... as "'
II you will refer to the house journal Of the
1901 session, sixty first day, under the head
OF special order. you will find the record
earnings bill. You will find there recorded
my name as voting for that bill. At first
In, was ash IN fay favor of referring the matter with
al! other tax measures to the new tax
mission, but in Difference to the wishes Of
my N.Y. constituents and more mature considera
opinion OF some of the would-be bosses in the
shape Of country editors in this district, as
tneir whole stock in trade is falsehood and
cause they cannot sit in their sanctums and
dictate the whole policy of the republican
party. SO wish you would corerct your
comment that was to be buried because I
voted against the gross earnings bill I
think my record will justify me in asking
ms. as l have always thought your paper
sues before the people.
| Il h e o a | has no interest in anv
factional contest in Wadena county. except
newspaper curiosity. Technically, the doctor
Is correct. His vote is recorded "aye' on the
gross earnings bill
| The statement in this column was made
adVlsedly, however 1t is common to classify
as against the gross earnings bill those who
voted to refer it to the tax commission The
vote on that proposition WAS 81 to 50, and Dr.
Babcock voted with the Ga. 1t is generally
conceded that those who voted to refer were
opposed to the bill. Dr. Babcock may have
been an exception
Later Mr.. Jacobson moved to take his bill
from the table. where it lay. The vote on
that proposition was 81 to sc, and DR.. Bah
cock voted with the Sc against the motion.
/ 1t carried by a mere accident. Then was the
time for. him to come in line for the bill,
if he really favored it, and wanted his vote
to count When the bill finally passed there
was a rush for the band wagon, and the
vote was Is to IS. Dr.. Babcock voted for the
bill. He and 81 others changed from voting
| 10 reIeF the DILL 10 the TAX COMMISSION ana
voted for the bill. ~ .>-r
| G. D. Allen of Spring Valley, member
of the legislature and an anti-Van SAINT re
publican, has stirred up the ire Of the old
soldiers by the statement that the Grand
Army veterans are dissatisfied with the state
| administration. If Governor Van SAINT is
strong anywhere, it is with his old army
comrades, and one Of them took a little
pains yesterday to show how we'll they have
Jared at his hands, -
This is not complete list, but shows to
, an extent the way the governor has recog-
nized the veterans in his appointments:
Judge o. B.. Gould and s. w. Leavett. of
: the state board of control, w. w. P. McCon-
nell, state dairy and Sood commissioners; E.
D. Libbey adjutant general; G. ]. Strang Of
Alexandria, member Of the board OF grain
appeals; Colonel c. T. Trowbridge custodian
of the capitol; Gideon S. Ives Of the late
, tax commission; Captain Charles w. Fisher
and Charles j. Humascn employees in the ad-
jutant generals office; Walter B. Boyd
deputy game warden at st. Paul; Charles
Rouleau, an employee of the dairy and food
t department.; Lafayette Phillips, dep:uty boiler
inspector at st. Paul; Postmaster Davies, Of
the capitol; John Remick, Nick Flynn and
Owen, of the janitor force at the capitol.
Old soldiers are well represented at the
state capitol. Besides these appointees of the
governor there are Captain C. c. Whitney,
state printer; Captain Jewett of the state
auditors office; Charlie Rose of the secre-
tary of states office: General c.. c.. Andrews,
fire warden; Judge Collins Of the supreme
court; Judge Fish of the statute revision
commission, and probably others. There are
besides a good many in the employ of the
railroad and warehouse commission, at
t the governors personal request. If the OPP
g position to Van SAINT is depending on the
old soldiers, it is very badly misled They do
not take much stock in "Cep." Aliens critic
. ism, considering that the critic was born
about the time the war broke cut. r-
3 Thomas H. Shevlin, national committeeman,
returned yesterday from a prolonged stay In
the east. Mr. Shevlin says he has no desire
+ to run President Roosevelt's campaign IN
Minnesota, but believes that Senator Nelson
, is the right man for the place.
There is doubt in my MIND, - says Mr.
Shevlin, that Nelson will take charge, and
it would be impossible to secure the service
of more capable man than he or a harder
worker l think he ls the hardest working
man in Washington to-day, and, withal, one
| of the most modest"
The big men Of the country in finance and
commerce, continued Mr.. Shevln, are with
, Roosevelt. While he has made some enemies
by his attitude award the railroad merger
he has gained friends to more than compen-