The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-24
MINNESOTA POLITICS

WHAT BECOMES 1t is no secret tnat re-
. r.s -' - IationS are strained
OF THE OIL? between Cover n o r
Van SAINT and Fred c.
Schiffman, the holder OF the most lucrative
position within the governors gift: Some
stories have leaked out, however, which
throw some light on the disagreement The
governor got more blame for the Schiffman
appointment than for all the rest put to-
gether. Many of the party leaders disap-
proved Of it, and it Is probably true that at
the present time one disapproves of the
appointment more than the governor him
SELF : = -.-> ..r "-r: '.--.s.
He made 1t because there seemed to him
nothing else to do. The Warner-Schiffman-
Reese element of the party had backed him
for years. and worked hard for his election.
They had a claim on him which he felt
bound to pay. They asked that Eli Warner
be appointed oil inspector. The governor did
not see his way clear to name Warner, and
as the next best thing gave the. place to
Shiffman. The latter took the appointment
with a bad grace, and there was trouble from
the start.
The patronage of this office has always
been supposed to belong to the governor. In
appointing Schiffman, the governor did not
exact any such Understandings and Schihman
began making appointments on his own &C
count. Letters had been pouring in on the
governor for months, asking for the ap-
pontInent of various men to be deputies.
Some candidates had Endorsements SO strong
that their appointment was assured, when
Schiffman stepped in and appointed rival
without consulting the governor. The roar
that resulted was tremendous, and it was all
directed at Governor Van SAINT, some intiuen-
tial men becoming his declared enemies be-
cause he had turned them down.
When called to account for 1t, Schifman
indicated his surprise at the idea that he
had to consult with the governor about ap-
pointments After that he made; show OF
submitting to his superior in such cases, but
did not. hesitate to go ahead on his own hook
where he had any personal interest in the
matter.
Later the governor took his well-known
stand against railway consolidation, and Of
tended all the political traditions of the st.
Paul gang Thereafter they were counted
his enemies. They did what they could to
defeat him for nomination, and they will do
nothing to contribute to mis- election.
This brings up another source OF conten-
tion which has been kept very quiet. In
times past the oil inspector was one Of the
mainstays of the campaign fund. At least
half his lucrative income went to pay ex-
penses of the state organization. When MI.
Schiff1nan was appointed it was supposed
that an unusually large share would be
turned over to the state committee, as he
publicly declared that he didn't need the
money
1t appears, though, that he has looked on
the income of the Office in the same light as
me patronage. It's all his, or somebody's.
Only on one occasion has the state commit
tee had contribution from the latest Office
holder in the state, and that went accord
ing to stipulation to a protege and associate
of this same oil inspector. who began knock
Ing the administration as soon as the state
committee stopped paying him salary
This little in,broglio has been kept very
quiet by all parties Immediately concerned,
but the interesting details have been leaking
out, and are now common gossip. 1t is fur
Their said that the Schiffman-Warner element
realize that they have missed the band
wagon this time, and will make no effort to
get back on They will take back seat in
the coming state campaign and new blood
will be infused into the state committee from
Ramsey county.
HENSEP1N TO The republicans Of
Hennepin county, when
VOTE they meet in conven-
tion at the fourth ward
AS A UNIT w;gwam on June "a,
one month from to-
day, will do the following things:
Instruct the liz delegates to the state con-
yention to vote for s.. R. Van SAINT for gov
ernor and Ray w. Jones for lieutenant gov
ernor.
Adopt resolutions indorsing the administra
ton OF the governor.
Delegate the selection of the 11S delegates
to either the chairman or to a committee.
The convention may also instruct the, coun-
ty delegation to vote as a unit on all ques-
tons, Including the roll call for nominations
This policy is strongly urged by some of the
leading man OF the county. 1t is held that
only in this way can Hennepin's influence be
really felt ingstate politics. Two years ago
the divided delegation was laughing stock.
By welding the delegation as a united force
Kennepin can command, the respect of the
state This can lie done by adoption Of the
unit rule, the whole vote of the delegation
being cast according to the vote of the ma
sjority There will doubtless be opposition to
this proposition, and it will furnish an inter-
.est.ng incident of the county convention. The
rest OF the 'scrapping. will be over the man
ner of selecting delegates. The friends Of
Ray w Jones want the makeup of the dele
cation largely left to him, regardless of what
lis wanted by candidates for state auditor. The
partizans Of jacobson. Iyerson and Halden
will all want to insure good vote for their
respective candidates,
Mr. Jones is committed to the policy of in,
STRUGGLING for Van SAINT There was opposition
to this course some time ago, ans there are
still runaors of disagreement. but 1t is bound
to 60 through The governors friends are
strong enough to force through an indorse-
mept, and II they were not the wishes Of the