The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-23
FACTION FIGHT IN MINNESOTA
ron DELEGATION TO REPt SLI-
CAV NATIONAL CONVENTION.
rh~ strugxic WIN Ne Between Friends sf
TAFT and These VIVA Faves the Ssnsi.
nation of Cumnsans or IN feii~tte-fs
May Result I'm RetirfHw senator Ciapss-


WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-According to
Trustworthy Information obtained here
tonight fight i about to be begun
between the two Republican factions
in Minnesota for the control of the dele
CATION that the party of that state will
send IA the Republican national conven-
ton IN 1911. The struggle will he be-
tween the old line Republicans. who favor
the denomination OF William II, Taft
a. the Republican Presidential candidate.
and the progressive forces. which are
favorable To the nomination OF Senator
A. B. Cummins of Iowa. senator Robert
NJ La Toilette or some other Republican
Of radical type
Adviccs from Minnesota are that the
opening gun In this battle will be the
announcement of the candidacy Of a con-
sentative Republican for the place now
held in the senate by Moses Z. Clapp.
For two years senator Clapp has identi-
fled himself with the insurgent band
in the senate He voted against the
Payne Aldrich tariff bill. opposed the
Administration bills at the last session
Of Con grsss and generally has assumed
an attitude OF hostility to the Taft Ad-
ministratiou Senator Clapp Is not on
friendly terms with the Administration,
and only rarely visits the White House.
senator Clapps antaxonism to the Ad-
ministration has irritated a great many
Republicans in Minnesota. and his align
ment with Senator La Toilette has stirred
up q feeling OF hostility in the state
that may be his undoing
II became known here a day or so ago
that Gov Eberhart Of Minnesota. while
in Washington this week. minated 10
friends that he contemplated announcing
his candidacy for the Senate. This news
stirred up a sensation among Minnesota
politicians. Mr. Eberhart succeeded John
A. johnson in the office OF Governor.
Az the time of the succession he was
Lieutenant Governor. He WA nominated
for the Governorship this year and won out
by n good majority. n Gov Eberhart
adherss 10 his determination TO run for
the senate the prediction IL being made
that IL will result in free for all fight,
with the probability that senator Clapp
will retire TO private life on March ),
1911. when his present term expires
While here recently Gov. Eberhars
had a long conference with President
Taft II was said at the time that the
Governor had talked with the President
about state matters. The Governor him
self refused 20 comment on the object
OF his visit to the White House. saying,
The matter was confidential and do not
care to discuss II
II was the day after Gov Eberhart
called at the White House that the news
leaked out that MIR Eberhart came here
tn confer with friends ~ TO the adv ieabi iity
of his entering the race for the Senate
Gov Eherhart IL on cordial terms with
President Taft and has on a number OF
occasions publicly Endorsed the Admins
tration.
II fight for the Senate is precipitated
in Minnesota II Is believed that the mora
support Of the Presidents advisers would
GO to some candidate other than Mr.
Clapp. Among those who have been
mentioned as probable candidates in
addition To Gov Eberhart are Repre-
sentatives James \. Tawney. one Of the
House leaders. and Frank b. Kellogg
who prosecuted the Standard Oil Com
pany for the Government. Either Of these
men undoubtedly would be more ac-
ceptabIe to the Administration than Sena
tor Clapp.
The Rack Eagle of Fergus Falls as
Senator Clnpp - known in Minnesota. left
for home to-day convinced that some OF
his political feathers would he plucked
unless he got on the job without delay.
Politicians III Washington are watching
developments in Minnesota with keen
interest. There IL more than the Senator.
ship at stake. II Mr.. Clapp is defeated
IL will be- accepted AS a victory OF tho
conservatives over the progressives. With
Mr. Capp out Of the way peopl. here who
are familiar with Minnesota politics say
IL will not be possible for Mr. la Toilette
or any other progressive to capture the
State delegation TO the Republican ma
tional convention two years hence. Con-
servafive Republicans in Minnesota are
favorable to the denomination Of MIR Taft
and they will bend every energy to the
end that the standard shall again he
placed in the hands Of the President