The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-17
DEMOCRATS MAY
MERGE CONVENTIONS
National Delegates and State
Ticket Could Be Selected at
the Same Time.

One Democratic state convention for
the dual purpose of nominating dele
gates to the st. Louis national Demo-
cratic convention and for placing in
the field a state ticket in the fall has
been suggested, and Democrats
throughout the state are giving the
proposition consideration. 1t is under
stood that the suggestion has been
passed along to Chairman Buck, of the
state central committee, and that he
and other men high in the councils of
the party are inclined to give 1t ia
vorable view.
1t is argued that a convention, to be
called some time in June, would be
amply early to name delegates to the
st. Louis convention, to be held in
July, and that state ticket named at
that convention would be as well con-
sidered and prove just as formidable
at the polls as one nominated later in
the campaign. The question of ex-
pense is one that Democratic leaders
are taking in account in proposing one
convention to do the work usually re-
quired of two. Delegates come from a
distance in many instances, and as
there does not promise to be any great
contest either for the honor of repre-
senting Minnesota Democracy at the
national convention or for the places
on the state ticket, the idea of effect
Ing the large saving in holding but one
convention has found favor with some
of the best men in the party in the
state.
The Democratic city and county ex-
ecutlve committee met last night at
Democratic headquarters and elected
Prof. John A. Hartigan, of ST. Thomas
seminary, temporary chairman, and
Frank S. Bailey, secretary.
Steps were taken to actively begin
the campaign organization and reports
from the various representatives of the
wards were of most encouraging ma
ture.
The members of the committee were
heard from in detail and the feeling at
the meeting was that everything point
ed to sweeping Democratic victory in
May.
The full representation of the COM
mittee was present, the executive body
of sixteen members answering to the
roll CALL The different ward organiza-
lions were instructed to call the yari-
GUS committees in their wards through
out the city with a view to the selec-
ton of judges for the primary and reg
ular elections.
The names of the judges will be sub
mltted to the executive committee, and
by that body to the city council for it's
APPROVAL. The committee adjourned to
Monday night, Feb. %, when details as
to the primary election will be given
attention. The selection of a temporary
chairman was made necessary by the
absence from the city Of Chairman
Fleming.
Judge Collins has appointed George
l.. Matchen, surveyor general of logs
and lumber, his Hennepin county man.
ager. Circulars have been issued ask
ing Minneapolis men friendly to Collins
to call on Matchen at his office, 81
Globe building, for consultation and adj
vice.
Former Congressman Loren F1etch-
err of Minneapolis, Is said to be in the
field for the Republican nomination for
his old berth in congress. Frank M.
Nye is also credited with aspirations In
the same direction. Fletcher was in st.
Paul Sunday consulting with some of
his close political friends relative to his
candidacy.
at is time that Democrats were be-
ginning to give some attention to the
state ticket" said leading Democrat
from up the state last night. There
has been nothing further than a mere
complimentary mention of this man or
that for the head of the ticket, and we
are woefully backward in discussing
the personnel Of the ticket. The best
way-I might say the only way-to get
the ablest men to go on the state tick
ct is to carefully consider the merits of
the various men suggested and then
agree on what appears to be the very
best that is in our party. I hope that
T h Glob e, as the leading newspa-
per representative of the party In the
state, will put this matter before it's
Democratic readers, to the end that
there will be an awakening Of interest
in party administration and that we
will have large field of available men
to select our ticket from. This propo-