The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-27
Minnesota Party Leaders As
sembIs al Mill City
LARGE CROWD PRESENT
This Gathering Wrought Itself
Up to Great Pitch of
Enthusiasm

Minneapolis, Feb. 25.-Twelve hun
6rcd Minnesota Democrats in session
at the West hotel went home firmly
convinced that they have n great fight
ing chance in the next campaign. The
Democrats of the state have held no
such meeting since John Lind's ia
Elous Philippine speech in 1900.
Champ Clark In a telegram to the
meeting spoke OF The Militant Dem
ocracy OF Minnesota" and the few Re-
publican spectators admitted that II
had been a long time since the party
in Minnesota has looked so thoroughly
militant.
II was evident from the spirit of the
meeting and the speeches made that
the Democrats have taken heart from
the success and popularity of Presi-
dent Wilson.
Various threatened storms did not
break and predicted ructions did not
materialize. The one big fight ended
so decisively and apparently left so
little bitterness that the banquet was
all that a party love feast should be.
Hardly a Democrat OF prominence
In Minnesota was absent. the notable
exception being Daniel w. Lawler of
St Paul. III.
The two big facts apparently shown
by the gathering were the continued
ascendency Of William Jennings Bryan
as the idol Of Minnesota Democrats
and the dominance of National Com
mitteeman F. b. Lynch so far as the
state committee Is concerned.
Applause ereets Bryan's Name.
Not even Woodrow wilson's name
drew the wild applause that greeted
Bryan's every time II was mentioned.
Bryan's picture on the screen always
brought a tremendous ovation.
The banquet was an old fashioned.
slashing anti-Republican gathering. In
which the speakers took mighty wal.
lops at the "wickedness" OF Repub-
licans and all their works and urged
a mo compromise" fight all along the
line.
There we're cartoons representing
Governor Eberhart singing his latest
song and representing the Democratic
donkey landing his hind heels on the
governors anatomy.
From a political standpoint the
three-hour session of the state central
committee was most important. The
net result of the gathering was to
show the so called Lynch crowd firmly
In the saddle.
The committee kept religiously
away from even a hint OF slatemaking
and no mans candidacy was indirect.
ly mentioned.
F. A. Pike OF st. Paul. z. III. Austin
Of Minneapolis and Frank A. Day OF
Fairmont led a forlorn hope fight
against the plans OF the committee
and were beaten Overwhelmingly. the
one vote taken being SIS TO s. .-
Only One Brief Contest.
q This fight came on the proposition
first advanced by Chairman o'Brien
fecting county and precinct organiza-
ton throughout the state-a thing
which under the new law cannot be
done by county candidates as In for.
mer times.
II finally was voted to call county
mass meetings in all counties to name
county committees and elect dele
gates to a state massmeeting 70 name
a state organization.
Judge M. c. Tiff OF Glencoe was
toastmaster at the banquet and read
kilograms OF congratulations from
President Wilson. Speaker Clark, Ma.
tional Chairman w. +. McCombs.
Congressman w. s. Hammond. Con-
gresham Oscar Underwood and 9th.
ers.
John Walsh OF Ashland. Wis. was
introduced as 'the next governor OF
Wisconsin"
G. c. Daniels OF North Carolina. a
brother Of Secretary Of the Navy Jo-
sephus Daniels. was the chief speaker
at the banquet and made such a hit
that when he wanted to stop the
crowd begged him TO keep on. He
ridicuied the Bull Moose party.
Fred B. Lynch. Albert Pfaender OF
New Ulm, Senator T. e. eastman of
Owatonnal ]. NJ. Freeman OF Olivia
and Alfred jacques OF Duluth spoke
briefly.