The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-28
Minnesota Politics
What is the "Normar' Republican Ad-
7 vantage &c. s.. Benson NithdraWs
j from the Sixth District Contest Dem
ocrats VIII Make Nc Contest In a Ma
JorIty Of Legislative Districts.

s ssfa 44t$ tvH5 +
The Crookston Times is persistent in
Its caution to republicans against over
confidence in this campaign and protests
against the 40, 600 falacy:''1awhtch de-
clares that the party has a normal ma
jorlty Of 100000 In an off year. With the
exception Of 1902, when Van SAINT swept
the state on the merger issue by $4,000,
the largest plurality received by a repub-
! lican candidate for governor since 1888,
over the combined democratic and popu-
list vote, was 5000, the Nelson plurality
| in 1894 over Owen and Becker. From
! this the Times reckons that the normal
republican advantage ais to governor is
less than 5000 votes. .5sa
That is one way Of looking at 1t, but
such detection as the republican party
experienced in the three Lind campaigns
and the 1904 campaign is hardly normal.
1t is due to peculiar conditions. The
| head Of the ticket is always cut, and
| even in 1902 the other candidates got
larger pluralities than the governor, but
the normal republican plurality in an off
year is no less than 10000. There will
have to be a detection. of at least 20 per
cent in the republican, vote to wipe out
| this advantage.
/ C. s. Benson Of st. Cloud has with
drawn from the congressional race In the
sixth district, making the second ST..
Cloud man to shy at congressional hon
ors this year. This leaves C. 3. Buck
man and c. A. Lindbergh, both Of Little
Falls, to fight it out. In letter Of ex-
PLANTATION Mr.. Benson says that he was
prevented by illness from starting on a
canvass after his announcement, and
meantime another entered the field. He
thinks it best for the party that the sue
cessful candidate should receive a clear
} majority, and as this may not happen In
a, three-cornered fght,%he pulls out. II
has >been clear since Lindbergh's entry
that the race would be between him and
Buchanan. Mr. Benson would have dra VIZ
more votes from Lindbergh than he would
from Buckman, so the withdrawal Is nj
doubt, pleasing to the new man..
Democratic leaders laugh at the stories
that they are trying to capture the legis
, lature this fall. Plans have been made
already, and it is agreed not to make an,
contests at all In a majority of the dis
tricts. Every effort will be centered OF
Johnson The democrats hope to make
a better showing than they did in the las
;, Legislature, when they had only twenty
) two out of 1s2 members, but they sa.
that If they should elect every one o
their legislative nominees this fall the,
would still lack a good deal Of controlling
either branch. -s.
Y The Elbow Lake Herald says:
] | Jacobson's defeat has caused keen disappon
- | ment in almost every section Of the state, bu
l. there Is GOOD reason for the rash staterne1
q 50 often made since the convention that II
y no'niLation, OF Cole means two years more II
n Johnson. I1l: Herald believes that Jacobson
= $4,000 votes stronger than Cole; 1t is also
:. the opinion thut Cole will defeat Johnson Co
K was the second choice. Of nine-tenths of Jaco
4 sons followers.
q There will be another senatorial cor
|, test in Renville county. Oar S.. Hall
4 Buffalo Lake. who, opposed Senator Rick
= four years ago, has fled again, and wi
fight 1t out with J. H. Dale of Renville.
n ..a -. Charles B. Chenev