Mower County transcript., 1904-04-20
sDunn's Efforts TO Beat
Senators C1app and
......t ...:- Nelson.

Ds~AAAA 80 - - e sA
Senators C1app and
*.E ... Nelson. |
From Minneapolis Journal.
| Who. has taken the place on the
Dunn Heatwole slate that was offered
toe. A. Smith?
The slate has been we'll formed, and
it. contemp]ates the retirement Of both
senators. Heatwole is to oppose Clapp,
and the proposition was made to G. A.:
Smith to make him the candidate of
the combination against Nelson. He
refused it, and now the question
arises, who has been taken into the;
deal in his place?
Mr. Smiths statement furnishes the
strongest kind Of confirmation of the
plot against the senators, which has
been common talk for several months.
"The proposition was made to me"
says MI. Smith, "by friend of mine
who is very close to MIR. Dunn's mana
gers, or rather to one of his managers.
He outlined program to me which he
said was authorized and would be go
if l would only say the word. 1t
would tie things up absolutely and
nothing could break the slate. The
plan was to nominate MIR. Dunn for
governor, elect Mr. Heatwole to the
United States senate in place of Sena-
tor Clapp and then to turn in and sup
port me against Senator Nelson. l re-
fused to become party to such pro-
gram, and gave him my refusal on the
spot. That was the last 1 heard on
the subject, till certain papers, friendly
to Mr.. Dunn, began to accuse me Of
being candidate against Senator Clapp.
AS soon as my attention was called to
it l stated that was not and would
not be candidate, but they kept it up,
and sent word to the gentlemen who
had made me the proposition, that if
they did not let me alone and quit
questioning my political good name, 1
should have to say something to de-
fend myself. They kept the story
going, and I decided that [ would have
to tell the truth SO the public would
understand my position. That is all
there is to it,
There is plenty of other evidence
that Joel 2. Heatwole is planning to
oppose Senator Clapp, and a fight
against Clapp/ means fight ON Mel
Eson. The two senators have joined
| their interests, and to oppose one
means to oppose both. MIR. Smiths
story shows one plan that was devised,
but was spoiled by Mr.. Smiths refusal
to fall in with it. The combination
still exists. 1t is Dunn for governor,
Heatwole for the senate in 1905, and
some one else for senator in 1907. AS
Heatwole is from the country, and
Dunn from the country, the supposi-
tion is that the candidate against Mel
son will be picked from the cities.
The activity of James 4. Peterson in
Dunn's interests, and his close relations
with Heatwole, give color to the theory
that he is the man selected to retire
Nelson. Peterson was Nelson's lieu
tenant for years, but their relations
have severed, and he is now hand III
glove with Heatwole. He is very am
bilious, and has expressed the idea
that his new political alliances would
bring him high preferment in the fu-
ture.;
Whoever they have picked or intend
to pick as Nelson's opponent, the COM
bination is going to be tried out this
summer. Its success depends on
Dunn's nomination. The success of
Dunn would not insure the retirement
of Clapp or Nelson, but Dunns defeat
would destroy the hopes of the COM
bination, and lose them all hope Of
controlling republican politics in
Minnesota.
Forces that are hostile to Senator
Clapp have been brought into the
Dunn camp. The big four" IN
Ramsey county, who are sore at Clapp
because of his failure to make Tim
othy Sheehan district attorney, and are
> ready to do anything to compass the
senator's defeat, are the managers OF
the Dunn campaign in Ramsey coun ty