The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-04

Lawrence H. Johnson, the Hennepin
county candidate for speaker, has lost
his own delegation. Nine of the fifteen
Republican members of the Fifth dis
trict delegation last night formally in
dorsed the candidacy of DR.. L. w. Bab-
cock, of Wadena.
The promised action of the majority
of the Hennepin delegation formally
admitting the futility of the attempt
to elect Hennepin county man speak
er of the house came last night at a
general caucus of members -elect held
at the Merchants. Over thirty mem
bers were present representing all of
the nine congressional districts.
Four members of the Hennepin dele
cation, George Armstrong, L. G. Ste
Venson, H. E. Fryberger and w. I. No
Ian were original Babcock men. Fri
day night, after the abrogation of the
unit rule by the Hennepin delegation,
p {. Deming, George r. Smith, w. w.
BardWel, A. L. HelliWell and Manley
l.. Fosseen secured releases from their
pledges to Johnson and agreed at a
meeting at the Merchants to indorse
Babcock. Last night they made their
action formal and accompanied it with
signed statement setting forth their
reasons for deserting the Hennepin
man.
Support Was Reluctant.
In their statement they say that they
reluctantly consented in the first place
TO support q Hennepin county man on
the strength of promises of support
from the country which has not de-
VelOped and that after an investigation
covering seven weeks, they are salts
ned no Hennepln man can be elected
ana that they are equally satisfied in
the opinion that DR.. Babcock can be
elected.
The general meeting at the Mer-
chants is considered by the Rabcock
men as definitely settling the speaker
snip contest in favor Of their candi-
date. a poll of the meeting showed
they claim, 81 votes positively for Bah
cock, more than the So necessary to
nominate and in addition thereto II
votes considered doubtful, but of which
the Babcock men express entire conf
dence IN their ability to secure at least
half. This gives Babcoclx 68 votes, as
against SO for Johnson.
Consider Fight Over
Outside observers who have watched
the contest closely through seven
weeks last night stated that they con-
Sldered the fight over and Babcock's
nomination on the first ballot insured.
The action of the Hennepin delegation
was considered as clinching the nomi-
nation, in that it gave Babcock a clean
majority which could net be overcome
before the caucus.
The action of the majority of the
Hennepin delegation was a severe blow
to the Johnson men. At first they
We're inclined to insist that the reports
were incorrect as neither Represen-
tative Bardwell or Helliwell was pres
ent at the meeting. P. c. Deming and
George r. Smith Vouched for the valid
ity of the proxies of the missing men
and signed their names to the formal
statement given to the press. Later
the Johnson men admitting the loss
of the nine votes from Hennepin
claimed that the fight was only delayed
thereby. They insist that they still
have forty-eight votes and concede
Babcock only fOrty-two, leaving four
teen in the doubtful column from which
they will land the necessary five to
nominate Johnson.
Pledged to Governor.
In view of the position openly taken
by the governor Friday the action of
the members elect was a complete sur
prise to the Johnson men and the ad-
m1nlStratiOn forces, which were kent
busy all night. The legislators who
pledged themselves unequivocaIly to
Babcock, however, insist that there is
nothing in Babcock's candidacy inim-
ical to the policies of the governor and
adopted resolutions pledging them
selves to support legislation advocated
by Van SAINT.
H E. Fryberger, of Minneapolis, pre-
sided at the general meeting, and J.
R. Morley, of Owatonna, acted as sec
retary. After the meeting Mr.. Fryber-
ger was authorized to give out the
following statement:
RESOLUTIONS were unanimously
adopted pledging unanimous and hear
ty support of each and every one of
DR.. BabcockS supporters to Gov. Van
SAINT and his administration and fur
ther pledging their support to legisla-
ton advocated by Gov. Van SAINT: and
expressing the fullest confidence in the
governor and his administration"
Immediately after the general meet
Ing statement Of the position of the
five recruits from the Hennepin dele
cation was prepared by Messrs. Dem
ing and Smith and submitted for ap-
proval. The signatures of Bardwell
and HelliWell were affixed by Deming
and Smith by virtue of the proxies
which they claimed.
Hennepin Mems Statement.
"The Hennepin county delegation
was originally almost unanimous in
the opinion that the state would NOT
permit both presiding officers of the
legislature to come from the same city,
And 1T was only when they were as
sured of certain support from the coun-
try that most of its members reluctant
Iy consented to support a Hennepin
county man for the speakership. The
expected support did not develop to
the extent promised, and we believe
that at this time, even if it were posi-
bIe for our county to secure the speak
erShip, 1t coulG only be accomplished at
the sacrifice Of its reputation for fair
ness, reputation worth much in Sc
curing the support for necessary legis-
latiOn, and at the further expense of
important matters of more real value
to it than the honor Of having the ore
siding officer of the house.
1--WE are satisfied from the informa-
ton which we have obtained after an
investigation covering seven weeks
that DR.. Babcock's candidacy is not
1nimical, as has been charged, to the
best interests Of the people nor against
the administration.
AS for ourselves, we are in full SYM
pathy and accord with the principles
and measures advocated by Gov. Van
Sant, and we pledge ourselves to SUP
port them"
(Signed) P. c. Demiug, George F..
Smith, w. w. Rardwell. A. L. Heliwen,
Manley L. Fosseen.
Vouch for Proxies.
Some of the Johnson men were in
clined to dispute the authenticity of
the pr3xies. Mr.. Deming said: .
I'VE hold the proxies of Messrs
Bardwell and Helliwell and they are
bound absolutely by cur action. which