The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-31
MINNESOTA POLITICS

S's%sS - SisUSA " SUSdHlxo flNCAI r1OuS6 OF
Representatives. May Meet with Hara
Sledding-Dunn and the Travelling Men
-P.sv. Collins Stands Up for Johnson-
Little Falls Wants a District Judge.
The Journ ALL story of the slate
prepared to control the organization Of the
next house has stirred up quite a sensa-
ton among prospective members It is
admitted on all sides that such a deal has
been made, tho some of the details are
questioned by the interested parties.
The combination Is formed to head off
the candidacy Of Frank Clague Of Lam
berton for speaker. Messrs. Hugo, Wells,
Nolan and Anderson have all been speak
ership candidates, but Clague has been
Enthusiastically in the lead BY pooling
forces on Hugo it is hoped to break
Clague's strength and form solid pha-
lanx for the organization of the house.
The work has been done while good
many members still fighting for re-
enough votes to control the republican
caucus It will start work in the open
Immediately after election.
tits noticeable that the committee as
signments selected for Wells and Nolan
are the same that they held in the Bah
cock organization of the last house.. Wells
Is to be chairman tof the committee on
eo@ACo, aiIo 4NOldI VI Tie rdllFOtiQ commit
tee. Taken in connection with the fact
that Hugo, the choice for speaker, was a
strong Babcock man, while Clague was
one of the opposition, it is easy to see
the basis on which the combination was
formed. Its success will no doubt be
satisfactory to the corporate interests of
the state. .,r.--.-s= 49,.
It is very doubtful whether the combi-
nation has such a tight grip on the situa-
ton as its members would make out.
There will be 100 to 100 republican mem
bers IN the next house, so that over fifty
votes will be needed to organize the eau
GUS Clague has a majority Of the old
members who are coming back, and the
new new members are not apt to be in any
hurry to tie themselves up. Clague's
friends say that he has forty-eight votes
already pledged. which would be nearly
enough. Sf.5. 90
Hennepin does not seem to have much
OF: look-in, according to the slate as
fixed up. It is certain, however, that
three or four Of the local delegation have
been taken into the deal, and will have
prominent committee posts. There are
chairmanshps of appropriations, general
hridnas ~ INSURANCE, ana roads and
there is some good patronage to be
handed out.
John T. Jones, whose name was in
Guided in the slate for first assistant clerk,
says that If he has been disposed of in
any way, it is entirely without his con-
| sent. He is a candidate for chief clerk,
and as soon as election is over will begin
an active canvass for the position. He is
not mixing in the speakersnip fight, and
does not ask the Hennepin delegation to
sink everything to his interests. He only
asks the Endorsement Of the delegation.
1t is evident that Hennepin is apt to
be as badly divided as ever. If the COM
hi Inn vvyfI,
members will be left out in the cold as far
as patronage and committee appointments
are concerned.
The travelling statesmen Of the state are
| working harder than ever against Dunn
since ne has taken to making slurring
illusions to the fraternity in his speeches.
A verbatim copy of his remarks at Jack
son IS now in circulation. Those who
heard the candidate at that meeting quote
him as follows: rrnv -. -
| There are a lot of cheap peddlers travelling
over this state selling dried herring and calico
that are agin me. They are ,agin me because:
their, firms make them vote they please.
Why do they Instruct them agin me? Because
| raised their taxes and, my dear farmer, this
reduces your taxes. $3.50 \ III II ~.
ra No one one 4 fslizea t t. Mr Dunn had
salers until he Begin Irfa5ing this play.
It was news to the " wholesalers as well as
the general public. Even If it were true
it would nott;explain the attitude of hun
! dreds Of travelling men who work
Minnesota They are against Dunn for the
same reasons that actuate thousands of
other republicans in every section of the
1 state-reasons which are obvious to any
one.
| p v. Collins, editor of the Northwestern
Agriculturist, is much aroused over the
| circulation Of the slanderous stories
against John A. Johnson When editor of
the ST.. Peter Tribune in 1888, Mr. Collins
gave space to a brief interview with
E. st. Julian Cox. who was sore over
Johnsons nomination, and. made a refer
sdiscovered the injustice Of the attack
and, altho opposing Johnson's election, he
made a complete apology and published
it in the next issue of the paper.
In a letter to Chairman Day Of the
democratic state committee, Mr.. Collins
| relates this circumstance, and says:
Indignant as were the old citizens Of st.
Peter, who knew the facts; no one was more
indignant or more sympathetic with Mr.. Johnson
than I was myself, and words fail to convey my
contempt at this late date Of the tactics of the
political opponents of Mr.. Johnson in under
taking to make political capital out of his faith
er's dereliction. It should be remembered that
at the time Of the death of his father, John A.
take the position as head Of his fathers family
and become the main support of his mother,
younger brother and sisters. When one reflects
on the earning possibility OF q boy in a small
town the absurdity of holding him responsible
for not supporting a drunken father Is appa.
rent :. - - fH
I If R. G. Dunns hackers In this campaign have
come to such an extremity for ammunition their
plight Is certainly pitiable. sd"
The Waseca Herald recalls some Of the
amenities of the pre- convention campaign
When r. Q. Dunn made his charge that
Judge Collins had Solicited and re-
cefved' between $4,000 and $40, 900 for his
campaign fund from the Great Northern
back in 1894, James "A. Martin said for
publications: 90. n r
There is nothing to say about Mr.
/ Dunn's charges except that the man who
makes them knows they are not true"
A few days later James J. Hill wrote in
reply to Judge Collins:
! mo contribution was solicited by you
| personally, or made to you by me-" ~".
1 Now, says the Waseca paper:
i This same Jim Martin is trying to
elect the man that he then said knew that
1.-the Infamous charge made against Judge
! Collins was wholly false
t How very unl<1nd of the Herald.
! The Little Falls Transcript makes an
Eappeal to local voters in behalf of Dunn
on the ground that if elected he will help
! them get bill thru for third district
Judge from the seventh district While
| + ha 1T To ryrf 10ao of