Morris tribune., 1911-08-11
Quiet Gatherings Of Republican
Leaders at 81. Paul.
VAN SAINT MAY ENTER RACE
Former Governor Possible Rival Of
knute Nelson for the United
States Senate.
Especial Correspondence.)

Il refer to those now handling the
reins of state-it will not be because
of any lack of work on the part OF the
committee and those in charge. The
past week in state capitol circles has
been more than indicative of this
feature, for between quiet gatherings
at a certain restaurant in St. Paul
much patronized by politicians, and
lobby gatherings in the West hotel in
Minneapolis, he would be a thick
;skulled individual indeed who failed
in an answer. Not in years has the
activity been so marked at this time.
AS result of these conferences Sew
eral erring and wandering sheep were
brought back into the fold, l am told,
and more are to follow. At each of
these gatherings Chairman E. E. Smith
of the Republican state central COM
mittee was chief in evidence and the
importance of the matters under con-
Sideration were shown in his every
move. The heavyweight of the Re-
publican machine is not given to light
ming movements while on foot, but
he was going some last week. A
smile and an invitation to see me next
week was his only answer to inquiries
as to what was going on.
\ !. !.
Naturally you ask who is to be the
beneficiary of all this activity-who
is to realize from this wholesale bury
ing of the hatchet 1t seems a waste
of good space to make the answer
here. I'll just whisper it: Governor
A. o. Eberhart and the Republican
party. To many who abhor the slate
and the organization all this may
seem presumptious, but it is true nev-
ertheless, SO what are you going to do
about it. Lieutenant Governor S. Y.
Gordon, Attorney General George T.
Simpson, State Auditor S. G. Iverson
and number of others whom rumor
credits with an ambition to be ad-
dressed as your excellency," may
atfix codicil to this instrument of
''To Have and to Hold" but what
they will do is matter of the future
Just now accuracy demands facts.
To the lover of the organization all
this activity on the Republican side
of the house would indicate hard sled
ding for the Democracy, but National
Committeeman Fred B. Lynch refuses
to accept it as such. Democracy
never was in better shape than it is
right noW,'' was his answer. I'VE are
gaining ground all over the country.
True, the future may look dark as
far as a Minnesota Moses is con-
Cerned, but l am not worrying because
of that fact. We will find the right
man" Behind all this optimistic talk,
however, was a note Of sadness, pune
Gured with bitterness, when, comment
ing upon the clash between w J.
Bryan and the Democratic leaders at
Washington, he vehemently declared
that if John A. Johnson was only on
earth nothing could defeat him for
the presidency. taft is going to have
the Minnesota delegation; it is abso-
lutely certain" said Mr.. Lynch, but
it would avail him little it John was
only with u.s." -...
T-@~zsg sF.gs..--. \ = !:
; No one perhaps has less love for the
"Peerless One," as far as Minnesota
is concerned, than National Commit
teeman Lynch and no one has fol-
lowed with less concealed joy the
grillng given the Lincoln man by the
leaders at Washington than Mr..
Lynch MI Bryan was the one that
put the lid on the early presidential
ambitions of John A. Johnson and Mr..
Lynch knows it. Another who might
add to Mr.. Lynch's knowledge of this
fact is T. D. O'Brien, late of the SUI
preme court, who was called one day
to Lincoln, Neb., shortly before the
Denver convention, and informed with
out any reserve that Governor John
son was out of the question. And
that also includes the vice presi
dency," Mr.. Bryan added.
!. !. !.
With Minnesota now entitled to an
other congressman, and he to be des-
ignated "at large" capitol gossip is
just now running as to the method Of
his selection-whether by convention
or by primary. The act providing for
the additional representative, some
say, calls for his selection at a con-
vention, but some of the leaders are
advocating the use of the primary.
Not that they favor the primary, how,
ever, but for the purpose of further
demonstrating what they call it's bad
features. If the primary is used they
say it will forever put an end to the
extension of the primary to state Of
ficers What course will be adopted,
however, remains with Attorney Cen
eral Simpson. He is to be asked fol
an opinion covering the question.
+ !" i
1t may be news to some, but tall
the past week runs strong to forn1e
Governor s. -. Van SAINT of Mime