The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21

Did certain men, in the interest of
Republican harmony" offer ]. j.
leighton $500 to withdraw his name
from the county auditors Office yes
terday afternoon?
This is a question that was be-
ing asked with considerable interest
about the city hall and the street cor
ners last night. The questions were
both answered in the affirmative by
quite good many men who are on the
Inside of the political game.
The story goes that a well-known
politician waited on Leighton and after
arguing that he stood no show for the
nomination, suggested that a financial
consideration might be arranged as
balm for Leighton's blighted ambi-
tions should he consent to the with
drawal of his name from the mayor
atty race. Nothing less than $4,000
was mentioned as the amount to be
paid over in case Mr.. Leighton would
step aside.
Leighton, who evidently filed in good
faith, declined to make any such agree
ment. He was seen regarding the
story and while he did not absolutely
confirm it, he gave the impression that
this or some such similar offer had
peen maze 10 MIN.
Leighton Says He'll Stay.
Il am in this fight to stay" said
leighton, land no inducements to Sc
cure my withdrawal will be entertain
ed. | am too much of man to make
political capital out of such an offer,
but Will say that / have received a
number of delegations within the past
forty-eight hours asking me to with
draw in the interest of harmony I
have refused and shall continue to re-
fuse to get off the earth. / filed in
good faith and intend to make the best
fight know how to make. have been
a Republican all my life and a work
ang Republican and If my friends in
the party see fit to give me the nomi-
nation, shall make an earnest fight to
be elected"
Following a conference Of Repub-
1ican workers, held at the Lincoln club
headquarters at noon yesterday, Col.
frederick P, Wright filed as a Repub-
1lcdn candidate for mayor. At the
same time Deputy Auditor Drummond
filed the certificates of Herbert P. KeI-
der, 431 Eighth; ]. Watson Smith, 35
Summit; H. c. McNair, 439 Laurel, and
Sidney H. Reeves, 800 Dayton, all Re-
publican candidates for the assembly.
at Is stated that w. B. Dean will file
All IlG d6SSUlO1y vi the republican
ticket, and that F. 3. Doran will file
on Tuesday for the assembly :
James Drummond presided at the
Lincoln club meeting, and Edward r.
NV akeheld was secretary. About forty
of the men who have been instrument
tai in getting Col. Wright into the
field were present and his candidacy
and the filings for the assembly indi-
Gated above were the result of their
1abors.
: Col. Wright had refused to give his
consent to become a candidate until
an assembly ticket had been framed
and when the executive committee Of
the allied Republican clubs reported
their success, he decided to become a
candidate. He was present at the
meeting and said that the candidates
for the assembly were of such a stamp
as to presage Republican victory at
the polls.
Message From Klefer.
A message from Col. Kiefer came in
from over the Rhine and the colonel
pledged allegiance to his brother SOL
der. H. Q. McNair, in giving his con-
sent TO become a candidate, said he
was willing to sacrifice his business
interests" in the cause of good govern
ment and against BOSSES" s. H. Reeves
spoke along similar lines The result
OF the meeting was the determination
to file Wright and the list favored by
the coterie of Republican leaders, and
the plan was executed Immediately
after the adjournment of the confer
ence.
The meeting was held behind closed
doors and only the favored ones were
invited. Those who, 1t was feared.
might have hammers concealed about
their persons, were not in the list IA
vored with invitations and the fact of
the meeting was kept from the knowl-