The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-30
|BOSSISM ISSUE At
ST. PAUL'S POLLS.
VOTERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
SMITH AND HOFFMAN,.
paign Marked by the Expenditure Of
Thousands and the War of Republi-
cans on Cardinal Dick'' O'Connor,
Dubbed the Real Mayor.

Voters Of st. Paul will tomorrow de-
eide whether bossism will continue to
hold the city government in ablect sub
lection, or whether the city will join
hands with up-to-date municipalities
thruout the country and throw off the
grip Of the boss.
Both sides believe they will be VIC
torious, the democrats under the leader
ship Of Richard T.. O'Connor, mayor de
ing claim to majority Of 1900, and
the republicans under the banner of
Luis G. Hoffman, asserting that he will
have at least $500 votes to spare.
Robert A. Smith, the record-holding
mayor of st. Paul, appears on the Of
fetal ballot as the democratic nominee,
but that is as far as it goes. Demo
Gratis do not hesitate to state that in
voting for Smith, they are really cast.
ing ballot for O'Connor and every
office holding member of the party and
all those who ever intend to hold office,
members Of the executive committee,
and scrape before the real head Of ST..
Paul democracy.
Bossism and O'Connor.
The republicans are alive to the fact
that the real issue in the present cam
paign is Richard T.. O'Connor and the
record he has made during the past six
years Of uninterrupted supreme power
has held all the municipal Offices except
two municipal judgeships, and no re-
sponsibility can be shifted to the op-
position. All other issues have been
relegated to the rear and Mr.. Hoffman,
and his associates on the republican
ticket have made war on bossism the
most prominent feature of the cam.
paign.
The democrats have banked upon the
present prosperity Of the city to offset
the republican charges and ascribe the
activity in real estate and building
operations to the wise and benefcent
government made possible BY Mr..
o'Connor and the city 10 officials he
deny his overlordship; some have even
sprung his name as the next candidate
Of the party for mayor. Mr.. O'Connor
does not care, however, for the job, but
should he win in the present fight i is
said that next fall he will be after
the position Of clerk of courts, which
carries about $4,000 in fees, a position
much more commensurate with his prom
inence. This feature of the campaign
IS being watched WIN CONSIDERABLE ap-
prehension by his opponents, for while
D Conner has been able to control the
city, he has had little success in the
county.
Wide Open Town.
At present St. Paul is wide-open
town. Most of the saloonmen, having
thrown away the keys to their saloons,
make no pretension Of closing from one
Monday morning to the following Mon
day morning. Women frequent saloons
as freely as men and minors can get
liquor as easily as grayhaired men.
| Concert halls and winerooms of the low.
est type prevail and blind pigs are
scattered thruout the city. Gambling in
q modified form exists and the social
evil is allowed uninterrupted. sway in
the business section and unchaHenged
extends into the residence districts.
The police department, however,, has
crime and the criminal element well in
hand. This appeals to the average citi-
zen and nothing but good words are
heard for the, police department. a de-
partment to which Boss O'Connor points
with pride. The republicans have not
tried to bring the police into the cam.
paign, Mr.. Hoffman, stating that he