The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-14
Crist Of the
Political Mill

Clapp is at home after an eight weeks
tour of the state. Senator Clapp saw
no end of men who are supposed to
hold the political destiny of their sew
eral bafliwicks safely up their several
sleeves and his countenance indicates
anything but political unrest. Sena-
tor Clapp is not talking politics. He
never has INDUCED in that fascinating
pastime to any alarming extent for
which his many friends give fervent
thanks. Just the same he is not a
little bit downcast and evidently be-
lieves he is to be reelected without
half a fight.
Senator Clapp may or may not be
over confident. He may be in a better
position to judge the complexion OF the
next legislature than any other man in
the state. At that there are few of the
big ones in the political game who will
concede him any such advantage and
nine men out of every ten believe that
he is to have a fight as brisk as the
one which he won two and half years
ago by virtue of the best management
ever given a Minnesota candidate for
any office.
q q
The "Big Four" managed Clapp's
campaign then and regardless of the
fact that the senator and the Ramsey
county political powers may since
have fallen out, the junior senator
would have been Robert G. Evans had
it not been for that same Big Four
Political differences are differences
soon healed so long as they are confid-
ed within party walls and there is no
positive proof that the Big Four will
not be for Clapp next year. If it is 1t
will not be necessary for him to de-
pend entirely upon his personal popu-
larity for a return. The Big Four was
never so strong as it has been since
it sank it's identity in the ranks Of the
party and next year the man who does
large portion Of the business with
the party may have to consult the Big
Four as religiously as he did when
Van SAINT was discovered and trotted
to victory after two dlscourag1ng
scores. 1t is possible that no one real
ICES this less than the members OF
that notable organization or rather
friendly combination. When they lost
out after electing both Clapp and Van
SAINT they tacitly resigned the party
bossism to another clique, but the at
titude of the country press and the
strong individuals in the game Of poll
ties indicate that the Big -Four may
again take as much room as it de-
SireS.
James A. Tawney yesterday gravely
assured the newspaper men who
focked about him at the Merchants
hotel that he knows nothing about the
politics of the hour. He is, according
to his own statement, trying to make
some money by the practice of law.
Mr.. Tawney may intend to practice
law. No newspaper man, all OF whom
by the way are Tawney's friends, Will
attempt to deny that Tawney might
practice law, but no newspaper man
believes that the same James A. TaW-
ney is overlooking a single move on
the political checkerboard. When Mr..
Tawney says he knows nothing about
current politics he is joking, and every
body recognizes the place to laugh. Mr..
Tawney is not only tending strictly to
the business of fence building in his
own CODSTGSSOIldl ulolI III OAS Az AAS~PS
aslant the eye calculated to make
friends in other political bailiwlcks.
Tawney may again be candidate Tor
the United States senate and no one
could blame him for trying it again.
q q
The Springfield, Mass, Union and
the Delano Eagle are at outs about the
merits of Citizen T. Lowry, announced
as a candidate for the United States
senate. The Union boosts the street
car magnate as follows:
Thomas Lowry, of Minneapolis,
millionaire railroad owner and man
ager, says All this talk about the
opposition of the wealthy people of the
country to President Roosevelt is rot.
The opposition of a few men in Wall
street will not prevent his carrying the
state, of New York, and | believe can
safely predict that he will carry New
York by 100000 majority over any can
didate the Democratic party can name
Mr. Lowry is keen observer of politi-
cal conditions, especially of the condi-
lions in the state of Minnesota, which
state he has aspirations to represent in
the senate, provided Senator Clapp can
be gotten out of the way
The Delano man declines to stand for
part of the boost and insists on jump
ing the Lowry fences. He says in re-
joinder:
MIR. Lowry is a successful railroad
manager and all that. He is also
millionaire, but he is not statesman,
neither is he a lawyer. He can't make
a speech and he is Intellectually below
par. Minnesota wants brainy men to
represent her in the United States sem
ate, and Tom Lowry, Notwithstanding
his achievements along commercial
lines, will never prove an acceptable
candidate"
George A. VanSmith.