The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-09
Crist Of the
Political Mill

The generally accepted view of the
Fifth district congressional situation,
while not strictly in line with the sit
uations in other districts, furnishes food
for theory which may result in a new
appreciation of the primary election
law-the law designed to take the nom
ination of public officials from the poll
ticians and place the duty or burden
where it properly belongs-with the
people.
1t is generally believed by politicians
that Eugene Hay and Loren Fletcher
will be opponents for the Republican
congressional nomination in the Fifth
district. Quite as generally, it is be-
lieved, that if he is backed by a good
campaign fund Hay will beat Fletcher
to it. The result will be the reelection
of Congressman Lind if he. decides to
run again, as very few pretend to be-
lieye that Fletcher will stand for the
election Of Hay. Fletcher's ability to
beat the nominee of his own party
pitted against even a much weaker
man than Lind is obviously apparent.
u Il
Fletcher has possession of the ma
chinery existing in Hennepin county
as the direct result of federal patron
age. incidentally, it is Fletcher and
not National Committeeman Shevlin or
some other local party power selected
to peddle governmental favor in Lind's
district. The reelection of Lind would
do Fletcher less injury than the cleo
ton of new Republican, who would
necessarily at once seek places for his
friends to the discontinue of Fletcher's
followers. All of which means that
Hay is up against a real game before
he starts. Regardless of the opinions
of many good political judges it does
not follow that Hay can beat Fletcher
for the nomination. 1t is easy enough
to believe that Hay is the more popu
lar man, but last year your Uncle
Loren for the first time showed a dis
position to separate himself from his
coin, and worse than that, he has the
machinery.
y X
Viewed in the same general light the
political observer gets new view of
the Second and Fourth district situa-
lions and indeed situations that may
arise in any Of the districts. Since the
primary law was put in effect it has
been generally accepted as truth that
the better known man would win under
it. In this same connection it has been
quite generally accepted as equally true
that in order to dislodge a strong man.
in office two campaigns would be nee
essary. The first campaign to be made
with the idea of getting the new candi-
date before the voters of the district.
Then. theoretically. he could follow up
his losing fight with second and win
ming campaign.
Theoretically this is sound enough,
but in view of known applied practical
politics of the Fifth district order, for
instance, it does not ring quite true. 1t
might work out all right If the second
| fight involved only the contestants of
the first scrimmage The Second district
i'unpleaSantnesS, for example, The op-
position to McCleary may unite on a
candidate. 1t is no exaggeration to
say there are mighty few men in the
Second district qualified to trim the
| little schooimaster in one campaign.
| The fight over and McCleary a winner
by no means proves that two years
later McCleary will be an enthusiastic
supporter of the candidate who makes
him trouble next year. McCleary may
be able to recognize an impending
downfall II he does see things that
way, what is to prevent him from get
| ting behind new candidate with his
splendid organization or following and
downing his original opponent in favor
of a man of his own choice? 1t is
easier than it appears and it puts a
| new complexion on the mysterious pri-
| mary election law.
q q
Representative s. A. Nelson, of
Lanesboro is in st. Paul. an active and
| interested delegate to the bankers con-
vention.
q Il
The election of Democrat to sue
coed Bert Oakley. late Republican
| county attorney Of Wright county. by
Republican board of county commits
sioners, only goes to prove that the
game of politics is mysterious. and
1 that deep are the wiles of the politi-