The Saint Paul globe., 1903-06-02
Crist Of the
Political Mill

The early 5tirs in the Second and
Fourth districts have awakened inter-
est in the whole Minnesota congress
sional situation. Tawney, in the First
district; Davis, in the Third, and
STEVENSON, in the Ninth, appear to be
the only members Of the delegation
destined to get back without a fight
FOR their nominations. and their
chances are not lead pipes.
Ii Van SAINT Is surely out Of the
gubernatorial race, he may be in
duced to try conclusions with his fell
low toWnsman for the First district
nomination, but will be quite as like
ly to accept the Lowry backing against
Clapp If Mum does not develop more
strength than he is generally accred-
lted with. AS a congressional candi-
date Van SAINT would be far more
| dangerous than his enemies are prone
| TO admit. He has developed a pecul-
larly fetching kind Of oratory: is an
1ndefatigable campaigner, and well
backed with the needful could be re-
leo upon to make saucy stir in
his home district.
| Davis, with. the backing of the Heat
wole machine and a large personal
following coupled with a fine practical
political perception, stands to win a
denomination hands down, even should
the administration crowd try 70 down
him. McCleary is to have trouble, and
his only hope lies in the chance to
divide the opposition between two or
| more in urgent candidates.
q q
In the Fourth district the situation
/ bids fair to become complicated. SEN
| ator Hiler Horton is out after Ste
vens' scalp. If the Stevens opposition
is left entirely to Horton he will un-
| doubtedly make an excellent showing,
| and stands more than a chance of
winning. But Ed Rogers has heard
the buzzing Of a congressional bee
for half a dozen years. With Horton
4. breaking the ice, Rogers must get
| in as measure of f-protection or
hang up his ambitions. With two
candidates fighting him for the NOM
lnation, it would probably take two
campaigns to beat Stevens, but the
man who makes the real fight next
year will be the strong man in 1906.
In view of which it is up to the gen
! tlemen who want Stevens seat to
| make their entries for the coming race.
The newcomer in 1906 will not have
| the strength of one who makes a good
| fight in 1904.
In the Fifth Lind will have no op-
position for the Democratic nomina-
ton if he chooses to run again. Thete
will be a mess on the Republican side
of the fence, though. Uncle" Loren
wants another chance, so his friends
say. This is probably poor Judgment
on the part Of Uncle" as the friends
of Eugene Hay are again grooming
| him for the primary sprint and the
Hon. James Peterson has not entire
ly given over the idea that he G
about the fit thing to represent Min
4 neapolis in congress.
1t will probably be easy for Buck
man. as far as the nomination is con-
acerned, although there is now some
talk of real opposition to him. The
Little Falls man was elected by such
a surprisingly large majority that all
| the possessors Of lightning rods on in
| the Sixth figure the district is safely
1 Republican under any circumstances,
| and that they take no chances in
! making a primary fight. Col Foster,
/ Of .Litchheld, thinks he did not get
fair shake at the primaries, and that
he has the beatings of the Little Falls
man. Babcock's nose is said to be
| out of joint. and during the session
he remarked that he would do Buck
| man if he had to run for congress
| himself. Later the doctor was unde-
cided whether to go after Buckman's
place or Clapp's, and by next year
| may decide to run for governor.
q q
AS to Col. Foster, he will have trou-
BILE securing the same Democratic CO.
operation he enjoyed last year, and
a lot Of the factional differences in
the Sixth have been settled. Brewer
can afford to wait, and can better af-'
ford to have Buckman reelected than
to chip in with the opposition, If op-
position there be. Buckman has been
| in Office only three months, but in
that time he has made a remarkable
| record; a showing entirely commensu-
rate with the proportions of his ma
| jority, and the chances are that it will
be easy for him at the primaries. if
he is not allowed to canter down to
the post unopposed-
q q
1t is persistently reported that
| with Volstead. By next year Bowling
will probably be of another mind.
Volstead is a good man to leave alone
for while, and two drubbings at his
hands would add little to the prestige
Of anyone really desirous of going to
congress.
q -
In the Eighth district the Willcuts
people say they will not go after Bede
| unless he falls down. AS a simple
matter of self preservation they will
probably be compelled to decide that
he has fallen, but the chances are all
| against their beating him. Forces not
| naturally for Bede will rally to his
support to put the Willcuts crowd
| down and out for all time, and they
will send Bede back.
q q
In the Ninth the appointment Of
Grindeland to the bench has proba-
bly, removed a large element of dan
ger from Steenerson's path, who if he
gets over the idea that he must shine
as a statesman at his first session
ought to have little trouble in sucN
ceeding himself.