The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-09
Minnesota Politics

Organization Preparing to Make a
Front In Next State conventIon-l
Blocks Candidacy and Nationality Ar
euments
A little the worst political pipe that
has been produced this season is the
story that the Roosevelt club banquet at
st. Paul was the starter of a campaign
for A. B. Stickney to succeed Knute Nell
son. 1t Is a clever conceit, because Pres
1dent Stickney Is a much talked about
man, and his speech at that banquet
brought him in the public eye again as
railroad man who indorses the presidents
views on railroad rate regulation. There
are several facts, however, that rob the
story of any legitimate foundation.
The first is that Mr.. Stickney is free
trade democrat. He is now and always
has been a free trader. He did not stand
| for Bryan, and doubtless voted for Nc
Kinley both times and Roosevelt last
year, but he does not claim to be re-
| publican. He could not be dragged into
| a contest for political office and if the
boomers who are talking him for govern
or or senator do not subside he will draw
back in his shell and refuse to make any
more speeches.. -, r- aef -. r.>-:..
| > That is reason enough, of course, but
| in, addition his candidacy would be DO
litical absurdity. Moses E. Clapp of st.
Paul is just starting on six-year term
in the senate. St. Paul claims a pre-
scriptive title to one senator and for some
| time the state has conceded 1t, but the
remainder of the state would hardly con-
sent to turning over the whole delegation
to the capital city. r~:.':e.,.
There is a, great deal Of hostility to
Clapp in st. Paul, and the postoffice ap-
pointment has not made the senator any
more popular with the organization. y It
has not hurt him with the rank and file,
but the republican workers were lined up
solidly for Fenton G. Warner, and they
arss sore because they were turned down.
Clapp felt that he could not appoint War
; ner, who did not favor his election, and
!; he owed little to the men who urged
Warmers appointment. If he had named
Warner, the Clapp men all over the state
would have rebelled raising the cry that
the senator was not standing by his
friends. 80. = -, s.
The boys feel their defeat just the
same, and are looking for trouble. The
workers present a more united front ir
} st. Paul now than for years. The Col
lins-Dunn fight, bitter as it was there
has been practically forgotten Jim
Martin, who organized the Collins men
swung practically all of them in line fol
Dunn. The 'kids" who carried the coun,
3 ty for Collins had a strong organization
, and combined with the Dunn following
= they took in about everything. They
want it understood that they are going te
2 be factor in state politics, and are get:
ting ready to make a showing IN the mex
: convention. There is something doins
3 in the direction Of bringing out one O.
their number for a state office.
3 State Auditor Iverson is credited tt
/ both Fillmore and Ramsey counties. H
has been away from Fillmore SO long tina
Il the first district objects to having hin
1 charged up to that locality. The tenden
t cy is to put him in Ramseys debit col
S u1nn, and if there should be opposition t
Iverson next year it would be put up t.
u Ramsey county to support him as loca
e man. That might interfere with tn
: scheme to bring out one of the boys" TO
e a state office, but unless something o
c that kind happens it will be well to watc]
d the st. Paul push"
s The Rochester Post and Record sub
9 sc1ibes to the position taken in T II
e our n a Is editorial headed 'Who j
d the Man?' It speaks along the same lin
: as follows: t.r .a -
- There are plenty Of such in the state
But this is certain, no one of them must b
the choice of politicians. The people next yea
will select their candidate and their experienc
of last year should teach the politicians that tn
part CT wisdom Will be not to interfere with tha
| choice. The multitude have acquired habi
y of thinking for themselves, and with it ais
a spirit of independence. 1t is not sufficien
that party label be attached to a candidate
He must be possessed of strong character, a
= independence that will not brook the dictatio
Of any machine, and character above reproacf
These will be insisted upon, and If the reput
lican convention does not nominate ''the man
who answers this description, why so muc
the worse for the convention and the party.
l d
Independent voting seems to have be
come fashionable. Minnesota held tn
banner last year in that respect, br
sober old Ohio and copper-riveted Penn
sylvania broke loose Tuesday with sue
enthusiasm that the laurels of the Mort
Il Star state begin to look decidedly with
cred. 1t Is pretty well impressed on til
politicians by this time that the upst
last year was no accident or sudde
freak. 1t means that the Minnesota vo1
ers insist on the square deap' hereafte
and no fooling.
julius Block has gone deer hunting
4 When the open season for votes rol
around, he will go cunning again. i
has done q great deal Of work alread
and has accumulated support in all d
rections. A close observer Of the situs
81 tion sized the governorship outlook
Il this way yesterday:
"Out Of all the multitude of men mel
toned for the nomination, I can only 81
three now who seem likely to come