The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-03
Crist Of the
Political Mill

The third term for Van SAINT move
ment has reached proportions that
defy denial, if for no other reason than
the ostrich-like tactics pursued by the
gentlemen intrusted with the arduous
task of creating a tidal wave of public
opinion calculated to keep Van SAINT in
the governors office and, and, incl
dentally, save their own jobs.
q x
The whole effort Of the Van SAINT
strikers, all Of whom discovered to
date are directly interested, is to damn
the candidacy of Dunn by faint praise
and embarrass the Princeton man with
multiplicity Of candidates. Strange
as it may appear to the uninitiated,
Robert Jamison, private secretary and
serviceable man generally, is not COM
mander-in-c chief of the third-term
forces. It's barely possible that JAM
ison does not wish to assume the re-
sponsibilities of leadership. Without
them it were easier to duck in case Of
disastrous storm.
George Matehan, surveyor general of
logs; James Martin, member of the
board of control, advertised as out of
politics; S. Johnson, of the public ex-
aminers office; S. Fullerton, of the
game and fish commission; G.. c..
Whitney late state expert printer, and
Alvah Eastman. of st. Cloud, are gen.
eralissimo and first lieutenants. 9th
er lesser lights enjoying the fruits of
patronage or within the fold of the
new state central committee also run
with the leaders.
q q
1t is perfectly natural and entirely
commendable upon the part of these
gentlemen to play third-term game
for Van SAINT. Some of them will suf-
fer from cold feet and be compelled to
go right home if the genial captain is
not nominated and elected third
time. Mr.. Matchan has a good thing.
which he secured after messy affair
and the temporary holding up of his
commission by the senate. Johnson,
he of the public examiners office, can
see stormy weather ahead Of him and
only little way ahead, when Van
SAINT joins the ranks of the men who
have held office. Also the people of
the state generally will not rise up as
a man and demand that the valuable
services of Mr.. Johnson be retained.
q q
Fullerton escaped a legislative inves-
tigating committee that did not in
vestigate and is under a cloud that
would burst quickly with the passing
of Van SAINT, who was forced to retain
Fullerton as a measure of self justifi-
cation. Mr.. Whitney quit the printing
commission and denies that he is field
emmissary for the third-term forces.
But Mr.. Whitney continues to live in
st. Paul. He can be induced to talk
politics when approached by the right
parties and occasionally there is a
man entirely unconyinced that Capt.
Whitney is out of politics.
| q q
Martin, as a member of the board
of control, is, of course, out of politics
admits 1t himself. But even such an
admission does not prevent his fore
gathering with the other generals in
places not generally frequented by
politicians and exchanging mysterious
whispers over perfectly harmless
lunches Or dinners. Eastman is Mar
|, tins friend, likewise Van SAINTS friend.
He would not like to see Martin fall
by the wayside before completing q
second term on the board of control
Il q
The tactics of these political Napo-
Icons might be effective if more than
the head were covered. A lot of peo-
pie to express it in the argot of the
time are next" Dunn is the one man
really feared. Dunn checked up by
an indiscriminate struggle for place
Go1I - ~
llthird-termers think they can show the
party how unfortunate it is for the
party to be in such a plight and NOM
mate "the old man" with whoop as
a compromise candidate.
q q
They want candidates. The more
the merrier. One of them became a
bit timorous about the prominence
given Frank Eddy. An older head
| quoted his fears, saying: That's all
right. Boom Eddy; boom him hard
He is impossible and he cuts into
Bob" Matchan approaches Hennepin
county Republican wheel horses with
| requests to "get on and frame it up for
the old man, because if he is not
brought out strong there is going to
be nasty fight and a lot of bad blood
between other candidates"
q q
Whitney would like to see his old
friend Dunn nominated-but he fears
Bob" will not be here next year. He
has heard that Dunn is going out te
the Pacific coast to engage in COM
| mercial pursuits with Dave Clough
It's too bad. Dunn would make a
good governor and it's shame to lose
him that way. Eastman is great
friend of Dunn, but he fears it might
be dangerous to nominate him for
governor The party cannot afford tc
take any chances next year. Too much
at stake. Got to have a state ticket
leader who will not impair the presi-
dents chances in Minnesota. They all
want Dunn-but.