The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-02
COMMITTEE DECIDES
TO GAG COL. WRIGHT
Republican Leaders Will Have
Candidates Speeches Blue
PenClIed.

At the meeting Of the Republican
city campaign committee last evening
it was decided that +. p. Wright, the
Republican candidate for mayor, should
be effectively gagged. To make the
blow the milder it was concluded that
the public should be notified that all
| candidates shall quote in their
speeches only such facts as are pre-
pared and furnished by the press"
committee.
w. B. Webster, chairman Of the
press" committee, was made the CEN
sor of speeches and authorized to sub
ject the candidates to a close examina-
ton as to their oratorical intentions
previous to their next appearance at a
political meeting. 1t was stated at the
meeting that Mr.. Webster could be re-
lied upon to suppress future reference
to the alleged "jaii graft" as he was a
member of the board of county COM
missioners at the time some of the
contracts were let.
In way the discussion of the mat
ter was diplomatic. The argument was
that some competent person should be
In charge of the material to be used in
the speeches, sitting the chaff from the
wheat and instructing the candidates
and other speakers as to the proper
thing to say. 1t was even said that
several of the speakers have been
guilty of saying things that cannot be
substantiated
In every way but in words those
present at the meeting showed that
they resented the speeches and the at
titude of Col. Wright, the Republican
candidate for mayor, who is said to
have practically announced that his
speeches will be made up of the ma
terial that he sees fit, one of his
friends on the committee arguing that
he could not be gagged"
When the vote was taken it was
found that 1t was practically unani-
nous that Webster should put the
candidates through a rehearsal before
their future appearance in the presence
of the voters.
In consultation with the conference
committee from the Republican clubs it
was agreed that the Republican cam
pa1gn will not be formally opened I'M
til day or two after April 10, when
1t is the purpose to hold a ratification
meeting. A committee was appointed
to select a hall and make arrange
ments.
Candidates for the minor places on
the Republican state ticket. cannot get
a hearing anywhere in the state. In
terest so decidedly centers about the
identity of the man who will head the
ticket that men who have ambitions
to occupy the positions below that Of
chief executive are encountering moth
Ing but disappointment In attempting
to interest the politicians In their little
games.
In the past political history of the
state the candidates for lieutenant gov
ernor, auditor, treasurer, attorney gen
eral, clerk Of the supreme court and
railroad and warehouse commissioners
have made hard campaigns for the
nominations and In some instances the
prominence of their fights have over
shadoWed that for the head of the
ticket. This year it is all changed, the
gubernatorial fight has taken first DO
sition in the political drama and every
thing else is merely incidental to the
contest for governor.
The rival candidates for state Offices
are trying hard to extend their sphere
Of influence outside of their own coun-
ties, but are making a sorry failure
of the effort. Not congressional dis
trlct has as yet lined up for any favor
lite son for a place on the ticket and
the best politicians say that it is not
to be expected this year, with the
hardest fight on for governor in the
history of the party.
In previous campaigns certain favor
ed candidates, coming to the state con-
vention with the solid-support of their
home districts, were able to make
trades that resulted in combinations
effective in delivering the goods. This
year it is said that unless the guber-
Material fight should be settled be-
yond a doubt weeks in advance of the
convention the delegates are quite like
ly to perform all kinds of foolish acts
in the break of tension after a can
d1date for governor is nominated.
Candidates for treasurer, attorney
general, railroad and warehouse com
mlssioners and members Of the su-
preme court will not know for a GER
tainty where they are at until the gov
ernorship is settled and then the con-
vention cannot be depended upon to
act along sane and respectable lines
and to follow any particular line Of
conduct.
With the home counties Of various
candidates simply declaring for their
candidates, friends of the candidates
for governor are calling on aspirants
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