The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-06
North Dakota Politicians Were Lay
ing Wires to Get Into
His Shoes.
4 Delegation Came to St. Paul to
Get Alex McKenzie's
Advice.
Then Telegram Came and Their
l Work All Went for
Naught.

Senatorial insurance Is one Of the new
side degrees of North Dakota politics.
With the development Of this department
Senator Fl. c. Hansbrough Of the Flicker
tail state has experienced the sensation
of seeing plans for succession to his SEN
atorial sit discussed on the theory that
he was soon to quit this mundane sphere.
Incidentally there are a few aspirants for
the office Of United States senator In
North Dakota who wonder why they
did it. -.. .
There Is no part Of the political pond
where the Industrious politicians want to
make so much distance In one jump as
in North Dakota. A man may be no
higher in the service than high private,
but If he has lived in the state ten years
and pulled few political wires without
burning his hands, he is ready to make
a try for the United States senator at any
time there Is an opening.
With all of these ambitions, Alexander
Mckenzie, republican national commit
teeman for North Dakota, and the man
who dispenses Great Northern and North
ern Pacific passes to the politicians in
that state, has a deal. Since Alexander,
who Is called by his henchmen in North
Dakota, 1.-The Big Hearted Scot took
up his residence at his hotel in st. Paul
a few weeks ago, he has been called on
all having ideas as how the machine
should be run and what ought to be DONE
Alexander has listened and told the WIS.,
itors, with a. slap on the back, that he
would think about 1t. At times he has
conceded to the anxious that 1.-THE thing
might be worser."
But according to a story which Is be-
ing told on the inside, and which bears
every stamp Of reliability. the Matt
TzIx~ -o4,,. nt,I
startled by proposition made him a
few days ago by several candidates for
United States senator. or rather men
who would be candidates II there were a
chance. Seated on the throne, which in
this instance happens to be cane-bot-
tommed chair, near a small stand in a
third-fioor room Of his hotel, Mckenzie
was playing solitaire and revolving the
North Dakota situation In his mind, when
the cards of several gentlemen were
handed him. On being admitted to the
throne room they told story straight
to the point. Boiled down 1t was that
Senator H. G. Hansbrough was reported
to be very i'll, and they wanted McKen-
xie to make sure that Governor White
would not so manipulate things as to
have himself appointed. senator In case
the senator's death should give him the
opportunity.
to go to the United States senate was a
dead open and Shut as they say In
North Dakota. Eevery one knew that
he was dark horse at the last session
Of the legislature when Hansbroughs
fortunes were in the balance. They also
believed that Lieutenant Governor Dave
Bartlett was so anxious to be governor
that he would willingly name White In
order to succeed to the executive chair.
Alex was the only one who could pre-
vent such q calamity and leave the SEN
ator1a1 contest to the men who were
properly entitled to enter.
= The fact that Hansbrough was so Ill
was new to Mckenzie, and he thought
he was in pretty close touch with the
senator. He told the anxious visitors
to call in the afternoon and in the mean
time he would think the thing over. But
before the hour arrived one Of the party
received a telegram which read some
thing like this: ..-
Report Of Hansbrough's illness exag-
gerated. He Is exasperatingly healthy.
The story was too good to keep. II
leaked out somewhere and was told con-
fidently to a few more. 1.-THE Big
Hearted Scot is playing solitaire, think.
ing, figuring and waiting for the nex
delegation.