The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-22
Van SAINTS TALK
MAKES EN- SIT Up
The Most Sensational Develop
ment Of the Senatorial Con
test to Date.
THE ISSUE rs SHARPLY
DRAWN AGAINST CIuAPP

DRAWN AGAINST CLAPP
Van SAINTS Position Strengthens
Opposition, Which May Make
Him Leader.
| Governor Van SAINTS speech at Hast
ings last evening is the sensation Of the
hour in the senatorial contest.
The governor 8 address was his most
outspoken declaration on. the railroad
question. He stated the issue which ID
being raised against Senator Clapp, and
without mentioning the senator g name,
arraigned his attitude on the question
made himself the active leader in Min
nesota in the agitation for the Cooper
This is the issue that spells danger
for Moses y. p: ClapP; s. r. Van SAINT
Speech, a candidate aed ef for the senate St
this time. However, that speech
amounts to declaration against Clapp,
and it make Van SAINT, whether an
nounced or not, a logical candidate of
the Clapp opposition.
To borrow phrase from one Of the
governor warmest adherents, he has
merely. hoisted his sails to meet the fav-
oring breeze.
The business and shipping interests
Of the state are aroused on this cues
ton Of rate regulation. They have
been growing moro and more hostile to
Senator Clapp since his failure to place
himself ssquarely on the issue. Last
summer: there was scarcely cloud Of
opposition in sight to the Junior sena-
tor IS reelection. Ever since election
, storm has been brewing, and it is now
on. There are murmurs from all parts
Of the state, and members of the legis-
lature have been changing their former
For three or four weeks political
friends Of the governor have been work
ing up boom for him, and have done
their best to get him actively in the
field. They are somewhat disappointed
that he did not make a positive state
: ment of his candidacy last evening, but
the speech was "loaded' nevertheless,
l and the opposition to Senator Clapp was
making effective use Of it today. The
l Van SAINT talk was redoubled.
. Declarations Expected Soon.
= There will not be much doing in the
8 senatorial fight for three or four days,
t but early next week it will warm up.
1 BY that time it is predicted that a
:. counted for Clapp, will be out in the
open for Van SAINT. The battle royal
The governor s declaration last night
was another, challenge to the Great
open in his condemnation of railroad in
reference with politics and legislation.
e His recital Of the fight made against
Y him by the railroad interests was almost
Il sensational il. tons: He declared that
!. a powerful interest, but with full knoWl-
q edge Of the facts he was ready to join
n hands with any man or any body of men
: to carry on the fight.
, "This is fght,' he said, "between
:, . the people on one side and the rail-
. the remedy in their own hands; they
4 should demand that their representa-
=, tives in congress should vote right on
q this proposition.
= emo man should ever be sent to
Z Washington who is not right on public
4 questions and who will not support
= measures for the general good.
~ This trumpet blast was aimed ut one
= man, and that man was Moses E. .Jlapp.
T. T. While couched in general terms, It also
n singled out the Great Northern rail-
- road, and in his conclusion the gov
y ernor declared himself unalterably
: and everlastingly opposed to the dom
90 Great Northern Railway company.
Issue Will Be Met.
This has raised the issue. The gov
ernor has declared that the Great
Northern is interested in the reelection
. Of Clapp; that the railroad has been
and still is trying to dominate the
Is ing to stand for the Cooper bill the
senator is standing with the railroads
and not with the people.
This puts it up to the Great North.
ern, and beyond a doubt the challenge
will be accepted. The election Of Van
IN II The governor realizes that such oppo
y ~ sition is powerful, and it is quite likely
rs. that he never will declare himself more
ne openly. than he did last night. He has
% % spoken his mind and given notice o,
90 30 where he stands on the rate question
~ IF Clapp is to be turned down on thai
issue, Van SAINT is willing to be tax
, We Political barometers will be watched
, ,,s closely in the next few days. If th,
11e Van SAINT boom grows rapidly the wis
gie ones predict that money will be usee
m freely, and even lavishly, If necessar,
- to defeat him. For this reason the,
tn possibility Of Van SAINT winning, blu
cas- they think his entry in the fight is
tn serious menace to C1app. It is likel,
ian to bring out other candidates, and i
led the event Clapp cannot win, some on
the else may get the railroad support i
ely order to head off Van SAINT.
lit However, the remarkable politics
events of the last two years have cor
co. founded the prophets. The outlook j
in any sort Of fight where the railroa
my issue appears is uncertain. Beyon
Pc question number Of senators and ref
ri resentatives are now pledged to Clap
as as who would be glad to get away. The
TO to will try hard in the next few days
,o OF make the break, and if they do brea
hey lgs they are g' more than likely to go to Va
laio some votes for Clapp that are no
tba doubtful, but it will turn others ava,
,,,a 1t is announced that Senator Clap
.lio' has left Washington and will be HON
one for the Christmas holidays tomorro'
on ON morning. It will be very little Of
Ed holiday for him, however. Fence buile
Ia ing and repairing will keep him bus
re1 ali thru the vacation, and the sem
IND torial fight will just be getting war;
'm- when congress meets again. The le.
ess islature meets Jan. 8, but the ballotin
her for senator does not come until Jan. 1
liz oo,,o,,o ha hold af anu FIN