The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-11
7 MINNESOTA POLITICS
New Legislature to Elect United States
Senator-campaign Against knute Mel
:. son Already Under Way, Led by Joel p.
misunderstanding Of State Senate
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Inc fact that an entirely new legisla-
lure is to be elected next fall, and that
It's hrst duty will be the election of a
Onlted states senator, lends unusual in
terest to the preliminary moves in the
sixty third legislative district It is gen
orally assumed that Senator Knute Nelson
VIII nave an easy road to re- election, but
IN spite OF his strength with the voters,
there is deep-laid scheme under way to
undermine him and secure the election
OF unpledged senators and representatives.
The senator himself. feels confident. but
some or his friends are nervous and they
are beginning to check up the situation in
each locality and count the noses of the
Nelson men Who are likely to sit in the
next legislature. r - ~
The prime mover in the anti-Nelson
campaign is Joel P. Heatwole, who bears
a grudge against the senior senator for
his interference in the state committee
last summer. Heatwole had combined
With Dunn for the one purpose of unseat-
ing Moses E. Clapp, and was using the
state committee for that purpose. It is
too recent history: to need telling, how
Senator Nelson descended on st. Paul and
G0,
which forced Heatwole entirely outside
the breastworks and broke off all relations
between himself and Dunn. The North
Held statesman hadn't very much time for
Senator Nelson before, and after the
earthquake year ago he sWore eternal
vengeance. Ever since that time Heat
Wole has been pounding the railroads, ana
by sheer persistence and radicalism has
forced the state to recognize him as a
leader In the fight for government regula-
tion of rates. Until recently he was
known to be training with the Great
Northern political machine, and his con-
version and enthusiastic espousal of the
other side have delighted the hearts Of a
good many republicans, 1t is evident that
Heatwole expects the railroad issue to be-
come paramount, that he is working to
make it popular isst1e, and that he him
self expects a political advantage as re-
suit Of his prominence in the contest.
The Heatwole program is apparently to
put Senator Nelson In the hole on the rail-
road issue. He cannot get radical enough
to suit them. He is constantly charged
with being a railroad ally. 1t is a we'll
known fact that ten years ago the SEN
ator was favored by the Great Northern
When first elected to the house Of lords
1t is equally well known that his course
in the senate did not suit Mr.. Hill, and
that he has since been persona non grata
to the railroad machine. The senator's
natural caution and his passion for being
regular have prevented him from beating
the tomtom and demanding recognition as
a railroad buster, and his opponents are
taking advantage of that fact. They are
spreading the report that Nelson and the
Great Northern made up last year and
are once more friendly; that therefore the
senator will not support President Roose-
velt's program for rate legislation.
The session Of congress this winter will
furnish plenty of opportunity for the sen
ators to show their position. Railroad
rate legislation is bound to come to some
sort of an issue in the upper house, and
Senator Nelson will be able to show right
where he stands. His Minnesota ,oppo-
nents will be watching him with an eagle
eye; and may be relied on to call atten-
ton. to any Of his mistakes either Of
omission or commission. Before the legis-
lative primaries are held the people Of
the state will know more about the rail-;
road question. ::1# ..- f.. .a-
The senatorial succession will be an
issue in the primaries. No doubt the
managers Of Senator. Nelson's interests
himself, and will attempt to get COM
Portable majority pledged in writing. The
opposition will plead for an unpledged
delegation. The state convention next
summer is pretty certain to indorse Mel,
son for reelection, and with that as a
lever, the Nelson men will demand a dec
larat1on from every one. ,..f
There will be a good. many new faces
"a Y1n rt0 - I~ -. a
the senators will not, ask for reelection,
being either after other things or retiring
from politics. Some Of the strongest men
In the senate Will so retire, including
probably, George p. Wilson, George W.
Somerville, r. B. Brewer and Samuel
Lord. The record made by the senate on
railroad legislation spells trouble for a
good many, and some who want to come
back are sure to be disappointed It
would not be surprising to see a new SEN
ate with two-thirds of its membership
new men.
The democrats have some hope Of in
creasing their legislative representation. .
At the last session they cut no figure at
all as minority party, and even split on
the senatorship. They hope to run in a.
larger membership next year behind the.
coat tails Of John "A. Johnson. Their
total OF eleven senators and eleven repre-
sentatives may be increased, but as an
organization the democracy Of the state
Is In a bad way, and they cannot hope to
threaten republican control Of both houses.
The friends Of A. L. Cole OF Walker
have found another place for him. Some
OF them have proposed him for speaker Of
the next house. = Mr.. Cole is reported to
nave the congressional matter still under
consideration. He has been mentioned
for governor, but Is apt to run either for:
congress or for state senator. The latter
place, it is believed, he can have for the
asking, but the speakership plum may
tempt him to remainsin the lower house.
Charles B. Cheney.
/. II. LAWYERS MUST LIVE
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