Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-10
MAY DEFEAT dunn
Energetic Efforts of Minnesota
Democrats.
REPUBLICANS DIVIDED
ROOSEVELT CERTAIN TO CARRY
THE STATE.
A Vigorous Fight Being Made Over the
Governorship and Party Ties
May Be Sundered.
REPUBLICANS DIVIDED
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star


may be looked for. This state is assured
for the republican electoral ticket by a
majority fully equal to that obtained by
Mckinley in 1900, which was 1900. and
the nine republican candidates for Congress
can read their titles clear; but there Is a
possibility, and even a strong probability,
of the election of a democratic governor.
The republican party of the state seems
10 have bitten off more than 1t can mast1-
cate in undertaking to elect R. c. Dunn to
the governorship. Dunn was nominated
July 1. after one of the most bitter fights
In the history of the state. overturning the
present state administration and its candi-
date, Judge L. w. CoIline, and other state
officials prominent in the famous "ant-mer-
GER campaign. Dunn, the nominee, had
publicly proclaimed himself out of sym
patty" with the merger litigation and In
sympathy with President Hill of the Great
Northern. The ante-cOnvention campaign
was fought the merger lines. Dunn
manager was Joel 2. Heatwole, the former
representative, and he was backed by the
railroad intere all over the state. Gov.
Van SAINT was an open supporter OF Judge
Collins. who resigned from the supreme
bench to become a candidate, and James
A. Martin, q Van SAINT appointee. managed
the Collins campaign.
Charges Against Dunn.
In addition to the merger, the air was
superheated by the introduction of charges
against Dunn's record as state auditor from
1895 to 1903. The last legislature started
an investigation and turned 1t over unfin-
ished to the public examiner. s. T. john
son. After several months Of sensational
episodes including the desertion of john
son by the two men making the examina-
ton, and their employment at the Dunn
headquarters, the public examiner mace
aho
states timber interests Dunn was alleged
to have settled for trespass, while auditor,
for less than the actual value OF the TIM
Der. though the law required douole OF
treble payment for such populations. Dunn
defended himself against the charges, and
made counter-charges against his oppo-
nents.
of a change at the capitol. The Van SAINT
administration had lasted four years, and
the Collins candidacy was considered an Ell
fort to perpetuate the incumoenis
in office Dunn had a strong personal fol-
lowing and when the convention met he
led the field. Collins had captured the del
egations from the two large counties, but
in both cases the Dunn delegates DOTTED
and sent contesting delegations. 1t now
seems that Dunn could have been nomi-
mated without either of these delegations
but to make assurance sure the delegation
of 113 from this county-Hennepin-wa un-
seated and the delegation sent by the rump
Dunn convention was given seats. Henne-
pin not being allowed a vote on its own
case, the Dunn forces carried this move
through easily, and thus controlled the
convention.
johnson Nominated by Democrats.
Dunn had the help and sympathy of many
democrats, and for some time after the
convention his election seemed certain, in
spite of the feeling of soreness among his
opponents. The democrats pulled themselves
together however, and nominated FOR gov
ernor John A. Johnson of ST. Peter former
state senator young and aggressive. He Is
a Minnesotan born, but of Swedish parent
age. a fact which will bring him many
votes from the republican side of the fence
The democrats who helped Dunn get the
republican nomination have nearly all lined
up behind Johnson, and he seems certain
to get the party vote about solid. Dunn is
a native Of ireland, and Will draw some
what from the Irish democratic vote.
On the other hand, thousands OF republl-
cans are in open revolt against Dunn. The
bitter feeling among his convention oppo-
nents has made II impossible for GOV van
SAINT or Judge Collins to support Dunn,
and while they are not actively engaged IN
the campaign, their influence is adverse
Public Examiner Johnson is still hammer
ing away at Dunn's official record with re-
governor and turned over to the attorney
general for action. Mr.. Johnson is accused
of making the reports for pohtlcai erect,
which he denies. Nevertheless, they are
factors In the campaign, dic pSiliS
given wide circulation by republican papers.
The later reports refer to the issue of min
eral leases to employees IN the auoi'or
office and to neglect in closing up ana COL
lecting for permits to cut state timber
Dunn and his former employees have made
yoluminous answers, and the present state
auditor has taken hand In Dunns pehair'
but some of the facts have not been en-
tirely explained away and have intensified
the feeling. The merger issue Is stu at
the front, and the democratic candidate.
Johnson is driving 1t home to Dunn with
some effect.
Senator Nelson's Attitude.
Senator Nelson is responsible for the
latest sensation in the campaign. The Sc
Nor senator took no hand in the governor
ship contest. but did not favor Dunn per
sonally He is a strong party man. how
ever and John Lind. former governor and
now representative from this district. who
has always had ambitions for the United
States Senate, might, II Johnson were
elected, capture the legislature two years
hence and beat him out. SO Nelson has
taken his coat off for Dunn. His first speech
was made at Madison, town strongly anti
Dunn and when Nelson began to talk for
the candidate for governor he had a dis
agreeable experience. The larger part of
the gathering deliberately arose and walked
out, and he had to cut his address short or
talk to empty seats. He was strongly i'm
pressed with the danger confronting the
ticket and came back to St. Paul with
blood In his eye. He Joined forces with
Senator Clapp, and they bore down on the
state committee. Clapp comes up for re-
election next winter. and is opposed by Joel
T. Heatwole, who managed the Dunn cam
paign. Dunn has had little to say and has
naturally been suspected of sympathy with
Heatwole.
A special meeting Of the committee was
called. and the influence of the senators, who
had won Dunn and Dunn's personal friends
to their way of thinking forced the resig-
nation of w. f. Verify as secretary of the
committee, Verify was appointed at Heat
wOle's recommendation. and his resigna-
ton was put on the ground of his friend
then strengthened by the addition of James
A. Martin. who had been the Collins man.
ager in the ante-convention campaign, and
led the bitter fight against Dunn. Condo
Hamlin. manager of the st. Paul Pioneer
Press. who is chairman of the committee
retains his title, but has practically given
over the reins to Martin. whose former as
sociateS are mad all through. Martin re-
sisted much pressure from Dunn's friends
and accepted the post only at the request
of Senator Nelson.
The slap at Heatwole is resented by his
friends. who claim that to Heatwole Dunn
owes his nomination. 1t is also charged
that Dunn and Heatwole. formerly bitter
enemies. entered the fight together on an
understanding that If Dunn was nominated
he was to throw all his strength to Heat
wole and assist him In defeating Senator
Clapp next winter. Clapp proved too strong