The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-26
Grist Of the
Political Mill

\~N~s~~~S~~~-~~~S~~~~s
Although Congressman Tawney was
as usual model of discretion, his
visit to st. Paul this week renewed
the interest in the First district situa-
ton and the young man. who has rep
resented that bailiwick of solid Re-
publicanism in congress for ten years.
q -
TaWney never talks much for publ
cation. Bitter experience has taught
him it is good form to give out inter
views in typewriter and carefully ex-
amined manuscript, but he was unus-
TALLY reticent upon the occasion of his
last st. Paul visit. He expressed no
views on the postal scandal or the
probability of his becoming the chair
man Of the house postoffice committee.
q q
The gossip connecting Tawney's
name with the craftsmanship of the
postoffice committee is extremely graf
flying to his friends in more than one
particular. And, incidentally, the be-
lief that the Winona man may land in
that not altogether enviable chairman
ship is not at all unreasonable.
q q
TaWney has made himself felt in
congress. During the life of President
Mckinley, the Winona man was espe-
cially strong at the White house and
became a recognized administration
whip. While it is probably true that
he does not now occupy the same ex-
allied altitude at the executive man.
sion, he is far from an insignificant
quantity with the president and he is
undoubtedly very close to Joe Cannon,
who will rule the next house.
q q
Cannon Is quite as much the man
who docs things" as is the president.
His ideas Of governmental economy
are so strait-laced that he has again
and again been accused of niggardly
tendencies. It is considered an al
most foregone conclusion that Cannon
will want to head the postal commit
tee a man who is not alone strong but
who is a friend and confidant of the
speaker.
q q
The congressman who secures this
craftsmanship will have ample oppor-
tunfty to distinguish himself, even if
at the expense Of a selected scapegoat.
Tawney is considered justly enough as
not a bit averse to adding laurels to
manship Of the postoff1ce committee
| need not impair his chances on the
committee on ways and means.
q q
The committee on ways and means
is considered by many Of Tawney's
friends as the block from which the
Winona man will mount to the speak
er's gaVeL A spectacular success with
a postoffice investigation might do
quite as we'll or better. But if the Sc
lection materializes it will have an
other and quite as important value
for Tawney.
IF Cannon picks the Winona man to
head the postoffice committee the First
district congressional situation is sew
ed up indefinitely unless the commit
tee manages to fall down shamefully.
The prestige of such a choice would
efectually relieve Tawney of the oppo-
sition he encountered a year ago and
which is bound to come to a. Mime
sofa man reelected four times unless
something like Providence intervenes.
q q
The Republican majority is SO big
in the First district that it is difficult
to impress with any particular degree
of permanency the necessity of send
ing valuable men back to congress as
long as the valuable men will consent
to have their value enhanced by pro-
longed service. Tawney really is a
valuable man to his district, but a
spectacular chairnaa nship would go
much farther to impress that on his
constituency than the advancement of
one or two places on the ways and
means committee.
q q
District Attorney Folk, who prose-
cuted the st. Louis boodlers, was Of
fered a $4,000 residence as a gift of
appreciation by his friends and de-
cnned it, He is a good Democrat
and there are others. ALBERT Lea
Standard.
All Of which does not necessarily
mean that the Standard will urge the
necessity of nominating Mr. Folk for
president.
The Lake Crystal Union plays the
following suggestive futurity stakes:
Senator Hanna is for Roosevelt. A
wise course. Hanna next term"
That's very nice and, of course, COM
plimentary to our old friend, Mark, in
a degree which all Minnesota Repub-
licans would heartily indorse if we did
not need that presidential job for Van
SAINT when Roosevelt gets through
with it. George A. VanSmith.