The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-02
Who Is the Man?

timber is under way. Politicians and
newspapers are coming the list Of eligi-
bles, debating their good and bad
points, and seeking to arrive at a con-
clusioI that Will be to the best interests
Of the republican party in the Mime
sofa campaign Of 1906.
In all this preliminary discussion, it
will lead to better results il a standard
is set to which the candidate should
measure. 1t is possible to arrive at
such standard by studying the lessons
of recent state campaigns. -..-
For instance, it does not follow that
man should be nominated for governor
because he wants the job. = Neither is
the fact that the politicians want asnaan
conclusive proof that he is the proper
choice. -
The question is: Do the people want
him? Unless that question is answered
in the affirmative, the candidate and his
and money. The man who wants to be
governor, who taps 'barI and lines
up sufficient number of leaders, may
get the nomination in a delegate con-
vention, but at the polls he will heargan
altogether different story-unless the
people want him. r.
This sounds old. and trite, but. it is a
lesson politicians have been slow to
learn. There, IS no avoiding it new
The past three years In Minnesota have
-, Jn - in A U '--5..-g~ 49, >
In 1902 most of the politicians in the
state were lukewarm in their support OF
Governor Van SAINT for reelection. His
friends were afraid of his defeat. He
was reelected, and the people Endorsed
tne antimerger fight by the largest plu
rality ever given republican candidate
| for governor of Minnesota. Within
| two months the legislature was organ
| lied against him by politicians, and il
| 1904 the state convention was controlled
by his enemies. A man who wanted tt
be governor, and who had the majority
Of the politicians with him, was nomi
mated for governor. The people were
not consulted, but as soon as they ha(
an opportunity to speak they were
heard from. Dunn was defeated by thu
same voters who gave President Roose
KeHa 100 900 plurality. ,,.bug ,er@ree<,
THE people by that vote. served MOTTO
that hereafter they must be consulted
if the politicians would notaiinvite fur
ther rebuke. The question for the mex
state convention is: Whom do the PEG
pie want? ....<,--.. -. 49, ..
/ There are certain things that the pee
pie want, and some things that the
will demand, Of man who aspires
the highest office in the state. i. The
will expect him to be man who ha
been weighed and not found wanting
He must be man with clean hands an
record Of honorable service. He ma
/ have his faults-no one is looking for
u paragon Of all the virtues-but he mus
be honest. needing no apologies, an
standing for something beside desir
|. for office. He must have something t
:, that the people want. The public wi
also expect him to be a man of some a.
tainments, capable Of holding his ow
on the platform and "making good
among men wherever he is put;
2 short, man. for whom no excuses wi
S. be necessary.
These are some of the things poop
: will look for in the next nominee fl
governor. When they go to the pol
in November, the voters who do tt
r business will not ask: Can he bes
,, johnson? They will ask themselves
1 Do we want him for governor?
; 1t is more too early for public opinic
r to assert itself. It will not have the O.
r portunity of a popular referendum, bl
| the delegates to the state conventic
n can find out what their home poop
q want. 1t makes no great different
+ who is wanted by the County office
:, or the members of the legislature. II
: they make politics business, some
y them, they speak only for themselves
r the polls. Let the rank and file NAL
r their choice, and, find out what tn,
+ choice is. Nominate the man WI
: measures up to their standard, and the
p will vote for him. :. E@. se
: Who is the mans? 1--we r. tEz w