The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-25
POLITICS IN PERIODS.
A Turnover in Minnesota Political
y ST Ideals and Policies Every
fourteen Years.
The Example Of President Roosevelt
q Credited With Influencing the
st SIS --latest Departure. 4

~ Since the election Nov the remark
has frequently. been made that a new era
had begun ing Minnesota politics., The
complete triumph of a candidate and an
crgan1zat ton free from railroad influence
meant a changed public sentiment The
idea was put in a new way yesterday by
a. veteran politician, who, byssreason Of
his activity in the game does not care to
have his name mentioned He said in a.
conversation with a.. Journal man.: -
{ There Is nothing superstitious about
me, .butqI have been led to remark a. Curl
GUS fact in the political history. of our
state.ssH naturally divides into fourteen
year periods. Each Of these periods has
It's distinctive men and policies. The first
began in 1850. when Al exander Ramsey
was elected governor, and thee civil war
era came in. It was an easy-going age,
when the politicians were good fellows"
and the state was practically run by the
federal office holders, John L. Merriam,
A. H. Wilder and their associates.
"More prominent before the people were
men like Wilkinson, Aldrich and Window.
."Cushman K. Davis led the revolt
against this regime and ended 1t in 1874,
when he was elected governor. Governor
Ramsey was defeated for reelection to
the senate by S. J. r. Mcmillan. They
lifted state politics 10, a higher plane than
it had seen under the rule OF war con-
tractors and Indian agents, following the
civil war, and the, people were strongly
with them. The state was overwhelming
ly republican, and there was little or no
party organization, John S. Pillsbury was
one OF the strong men of that time, and ne
saved the states credit by compelling the
refunding of the railroad bonds.
"That era ended in 1888, when Governor
McGill was beaten for e-election by VIII
liam r. Merriam, in a campaign said to
have cost him $4,000. Very little money
had been, spent in politics prior to that.
but it now became the regular thing. The
machine came into being, headed by Mer-
Ram. Money was necessary for the cam
paigns, and to get it the machine had to
call upon powerful interests. The Great
Northern took an interest in politics and
acquired enormous influence. There was
a sort of half combine with the Doran
element of democracy, and they often had
an understanding, as they did In 1894
Governor Van SAINT was elected the
first time by this machine, but he broke
with it and with the interests it repre-
sents when he declared against the rail-
road merger. The old regime ended with
his splendid victory this fall, which start
ed a new era. Senator Nelson was near
tily with him in this fight. Both he and
the governor have seen new light, and
have broken away from old traditions and
methods. The reult Of the election shows
how the people indorse such course. Inc
change means cleaner politics, for the
eyes OF the people have been opened and
they will not stand for the old methods
any longer.
, IT attribute much of the revolution to
the example of President Roosevelt He
has given the American people an ideal
in politics and has showed that 1t Is pos
sible to be straightforward and honest
with the public and still succeed. The
people admire him, and men who stand
for the same things and the same meth
DDS are sure of popular favor.
+ Il would not guarantee that this state
Of things would continue for, fourteen
years, but I see no reason why 1t should
not. Results show that this sort of poll
tics pays" -: 49, a::., '~.-