The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-20
A Palpable Absurdity.


to one spectacle in this campaign which
has never been witnessed before in this
state. and which probably will not be
presented to them again very soon.
They see the members of congress-
half a-dozen of them-going about over
the state, pleading with the people 10
save the head of the republican ticket
some of them identifying their own
cause with his, and all of them in their
words and manner betraying the fact
that the case is desperate.
AS matter Of fact, the issues of M
tioual politics have been practically
lost sight of; the grounds upon which
these members themselves are claiming
reelection are made of comparatively
little consequence by some Of them, and
everything is subordinated to the one
agonizing cry: "Save the head of the
ticket, for the sake Of the grand old
party
If the members of the congress who
FIND themselves compelled by the des-
pcrate nature of the case to throw
themselves into the breach in this man
ner and center all their efforts in be-
half of one member of the state ticket,
practically ignoring all other considera-
lions, had been one-half as active and
diligent before the convention, and had
displayed one-quarter as much concern
for the good of the party as they dis
play today for the head of the ticket,
thew would not have been placed in the
pt sition which they now occupy OF
having to plead for the election Of
man whose official record will not wash,
and whose personal characteristics and
lack of fitness convert every appeal for
him into an apology. He would never
have been nominated.
A deplorable feature Of this campaign
| by the members Of congress is the at
tempt to foist upon the people OF the
state an unworthy candidate upon the
theory that on his election depends
somehow the complexion of Minnesota s
representation in the United States
senate The Journal has already
demonstrated how utterly impossible it
would be for the democrats to elect a
successor to Senator Clapp by showing
that they have not even nominated
enough candidates for the legislature,
if they should succeed in electing them
all, to give them more than a third OF
the membership of both houses. 1t is,
therefore, perfectly clear that Senator
Clamp is in no possible danger from the
democrats.
AS for Senator Nelson, who will no
doubt be candidate for reelection in
1907, it is the height Of absurdity to
assume that his seat in the senate can
possibly be endangered by the defeat
Of the head of the republican ticket
in this contest. There is no more rea-
son to expect change in the legislature
unfavorable to the republicans follow
ing the election of Mr.. johnson than
there was following the election of Mr..
Lind.
Mr.. Lind went into office, in January,
1899, with legislature, on joint ballot,
composed of 1874 republicans to At of
the combined opposition. In 1901, af-
ter Governor Lind had exerted his
baneful influence for two years to cor
rupt, influence and convert the legisla-
ture to the democracy, Governor Van
SAINT came into office with legislature
composed of 139 republicans to AZ of
the combined opposition. In other
words, the republicans made net gain
of 10 members after Lind had been in
office two years. In the next legisla-
ture, that of 1908, only 26 democrats
were elected to both houses.
T.. 10. &+o1
influence upon the fortunes Of the demo.
Gratis than did Mr.. Lind, and nothing
is offered to show that he can have, the
opposition in joint ballot when Senator
Nelson comes before the people, ought
to be reduced to sixteen, 50 that it will
hardly be worth while for the demo,
Gratis to select candidate; they might
as well make it unanimous.
At any rate, we have seen that Mr.
ILind's election in 1899 had no damag
ing effect upon republican chances fol
the control Of the legislature in 1901
but that, on the contrary, the repub
lican majority in that body was in
creased after two years Of his occupa
ton Of the office of governor.
; of these frantic appeals for the cleo
ton of Mr.. Dunn, in order to save ou1
legislature and our senators, anything
to Justify the fear that the temporary
occupancy of the governor chair by
Mr.. johnson can influence republican
ascendancy in this state any more tt
it's detriment than did Mr.. Lind.
The only thing we can discover now
likely to have an unfavorable effec1
, upon the chances of republican contro
Of the legislature in 1907 would be {
revulsion Of feeling among the people
consequent upon the activity Of repub
lican leaders in indorsing and seeking
to make the republican party RESPONSE
BILE for the acts and the indefensibl,
record of an unworthy candidate.
We do not care to press this latte:
point at this time, but it is a matte
which will bear thinking about.
|
, General Joe Wheeler, Fighting Joe,
( is Of the opinion that Russia will VIII
the present war from weight of number
) and superiority Of resources.
"Japans only hope says the general
twas in a series of smashing blows quick
ly delivered, which would have shattered
. Russian power in the far east in short or
{ der. They have not been able to do this
2 and, in my Judgment, Russia will Ger
tainly outlast them"