The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-10-27
WILL LORD STEP OUT
Story That Senator Is Not to
Be a Candidate.
GubernatoriaI Bee Has Ceased
to Buzz; Brewer Talk.
Reported That a Meeting Is
Planned for Politicians.
Report That SomerviIle Wants
to Be States Head.
From Tncsday,s Daily

\ big gathering of state senators and
prominent republican leaders is sched-
uIed either for st. Paul or Minneapolis
this week.
1t will have to do with the republican
pubernatorial situation, and, it is said,
will concern Itself with picking Il sue
cessor to Senator Lord as a gubernator-
ial candidate.
Senator Lord, it was said this morn
ing, was preparing to withdraw from
the list of eligibles, and for this reason
the senatorial combine was anxious to
fill the break, but it is generally thought
that there is more than this in the
meet
The story of the contemplated meet
ing was brought i'll Saturday by late
arrivals from up the state, and the Cos
sip obtained from them was to the eff
feet that the candidate in contemplation
was Senator Ripley Brewer of ST. Cloud
Brewer. ostensibly candidate for
Congressman Buckman'S berth in the
sixth district, ana VowIrg by the eter
nal that nnrhing can pull him off, is TO
be dissuaGeI from carrying out his
plans. and the price is to be the support
of the senatorial combine. Senator
Nelson is reported to have given the
scheme his unqualified support
While to all mtents having for its end
the cleaning of the atmosphere in the
warning sixth, the meeting is not likely
to be the success that some think Sew
\ eral of the representatives, among them
Zelch, of Washinton: Ward, Stone. and
Gandrud, of Kandyohi, it was said to-
day, were registering a protest against
action of any kind at this time, and
threatening if anything was done, to
start an opposition movements Paul
Dispatch.
The Minneapolis Journal of last even
ing sprung the following interesting
piece OF political gossip:
Southern Minnesota is the scene of
Il governorship boom that is likely to
become an important factor in the state
situation. George w. Somerville of
Sleepy Eye, state senator from the
Brown-Redwood district for the past
eight years, is the proposed candidate
Senator Somerville has been considered
probable successor to Judge Weber
N I'm VII * oil rt,i,, 10
retire next year, but the latest report
is that he has serious thoughts of con-
testing for the govenorship and is re-
ceiring considerable encouragement.
Senator Somerville is widely known
over the state as an attorney, and was
one of the counsel for DIR. Koch i'm the
three great trials of the New Ulm case.
He is better known, however, for his leg
/ islatire activity. He is author of the
act requiring foreign corporations doing
business i'll the state to pay IA license
fee and appoint an agent so they can be
sued i'll the state courts. He was chair
man of the state judiciary committee at
the last two sessions, played = promi-
nent part in revising the revised stat
utcs, and drafted the latest Inheritance
S tax bill, which is now being contested
in court.
Politically speaking, the Sleepy Eye
man occupies a strategic position. He
has always been an ati-McCleary
b man, and has had hopes of displacing
& the congressman. In order to get him
out of McClearys way it is said that
the congressman's friends would be
+ pleased TO help him get the nomination
Tor governor, expecting III return, of
course, that Somerville wouiI stand by
AcCleary thereafter. This would be an
excellent stroke of business for Me-
Cleary.
'On the other hand, there are several
aspirants for Judge Webber's place in
the ninth judicial district. which takes
i'll four counties outside of the second
congressional district. and the other
judgeship candidates would be glad to
back Somerville for governor. Bowers
of Redwood Falls, Virgil B. Seward of
Marshall and others are anxious to sup
port the man from Sleepy Eye. With
the second congressional and the ninth
judicial districts to start with, Somer-
Vile would be in position to play am
important part in the state convention.
Somerville and Samuel Lord are good
friends, and both are strong in the sem
atorial coterie, and it would be inter
esting to see them rival candidates for
governor
=:
Those who are very well acquainted
with Senator Somerville will not take a
great deal of stock in The Journals
story that the Sleepy Eye man is suf-
fering from an attack of the governor
ties Mr.. Somcrville is very anxious to
change his title from senator to that
y of judge. and he is laying his plans to