The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-08
MINNESOTA POLITICS

The prevailing theory in political cir
cles is that Joel Heatwole intends to be
a. candidate for governor. Despite his
denials, it is believed that the Mortified
editor plans to enter the ring at the criti-
cal moment, and that he is the real candi-
lican party Of the state.
He will not be an active candidate this
year, and possibly not until the last min
ute, but will play the game from behind
the scenes just as long as he can. The
clouds Of mystery which surround his
movements will not clear till it is time for
the last move. Mystery is the Heatwole
method, and it is the safe method to pur-
sue in the present case, for publicity
would ruin his plans.
Tho there are a good many doubling
Thomases, proof is abundant that Dunn
and Heatwole have fallen out. Dunn is
seeking alliance with the administration
forces, and already has the avowed sup
port of a good many Van SAINT men. He
has made up his mind that Heatwole shall
not succeed If Dunn cannot get the nom
ination, he will hand it over to Van SAINT
The former auditor has given this out
openly and his ultimatum has sent a chill
thru the ranks of the machine crowd.
They would prefer Dunn to Van SAINT, in
flnitely, and they by no means want Dunn
to withdraw. If Heatwole became an
active candidate, it would start some
thing. Either the Van SAINT men would
get behind Dunn, or Dunn would with
draw in favor of Van SAINT. So the policy
of the machine is to play a waiting game,
and split the state into multitude Of fac
lions with "favor1te sons It was the
machine that started the talk of McCleary
for governor, and when the congressman
put his foot on that proposition, the ma
chine workers started a boom for Ed Wea-
yer Of Mankato, hoping to get him in the
field as a second district candidate. Ma
chine papers are starting talk for Ray
Jones as a candidate for governor, be-
cause Hennepin county must be cut off
| from the Van SAINT list The Heatwo,e
men are saying nice things about Frank
Eddy, and also talking Mike Bowling for
governor as diversion They have per
sistently mentioned Speaker Babcock as
| in he might cut off some of Dunn's strong
est counties from his following. The ma
chine papers have also tried to start a
! boom for Mayor Hugo Of Duluth, who is
| in Dunn's own district.
| The purpose is plain. It Is to split the
I field UP among favorite sons so as to fur
nish good ground for an all around trade
With half dozen candidates, Heatwole
could come in at the last minute, mar
I shaling the third district and possibly
ltrade his way to a nomination. In the
i present state Of public sentiment he could
mot stand the gan Two months as an ac-
| tive candidate. The manipulators are
doing an enormous amount Of work in {
quiet way, and they are especially active
with plausible stories about combinations
i and treacheries, which make friends sus.
picious Of each other.
The railroad commission rsi1ip may fur
i nish as hot a fight as the first place on
i the ticket. 1t seems evident that Judge
Mills and Colonel Miller will be candidates
i for denomination, and that they will be
backed by the same elements Of the party
as are being collected under the Heat.
wole banner. The interests which are
4 behind this machine movement would
rather have the two railroad commission
ers than the governor, and IL the game
should be played as they wish It, even the
j governor would be traded off for the com
missioners, provided Van SAINT was mo-
in the field.
The preliminary moves in this grea