The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-07-17

an eplQeIulCal disease al over the state
and especially in the rural districts
The Farmers Alliance, although ii
had not vet launched forth as sep.
arate political party, had waxed
of the state. and was DANGEROUSLY de.
manding recognition.
When the convention assembled
there was a strong faction demanding
the reorganization Of Governor McGin.
nearly all the delegates with Farmer
Alliance tendencies, rallied around
Albert Schafer of st. Paul, who in
gressive," and who made open over
lures for the support of that element
William r. Merriam, speaker OF the
preceding legislature ,aa shre vn5, and and
a number of ''favorite sons with their
home counties behind them.
| At the psychological moment, after
out results, number of delegates who
had carefully kept their Merriam af-
| fliation under cover, changed their
votes to him. This started STAN
nation. No one except those on the
| inside understanding just how it was
| brought about.
The action Of the convention did not
meet with popular favor; the McGfll
men sulked in their tents; the Schafer
| men were disgruntled and the Farmer
Alliance contingent sore; However, q
days were reliably regular. After the
conventions were held and nomina-
tions made, they shut their eyes and
voted the ticket straight whether they
liked the candidates or not. Mr.. Mer-
RAM was elected by a fair majority.
No organized effort was made in
1890 to defeat Governor Merriam in
son and W. W. Braden bottle received
some scattering votes. For the first
time the Farmers Alliance put full
ticket in the field. Governor Merriam
a plurality of 2.267 votes but political
dissension had become so widespread
against both old parties that S. M :.
stood: Merriam, SILL votes; Wilson,
1884; Owen, 58,513; and Pinkham,
Prohibition, S.424. But the Republi-
cans lost the State Auditor and elected
only one out of the five Representa-
tives in Congress.
In the Fifth district the Republican
Congressman, S. G. Comstock, one OF
washington from this state. was a
candidate for reelection. Alonzo D.
,, Whiteman of Duluth, who afterward
developed into notorious crook, who
was so skillful that he could pick a
mans pockets while wearing boxing
| gloves, and finally ended his carer in
a New York prison, was the Demo
cratic nominee.
/
| idea of coming down to Brooten in
Stearns county and persuading Kittel
HalvorSon, a farmer who had served
one term in the State Legislature, to
candidate. He agreed to pay Halvor-
sons campaign expenses, thinking
the Brooten man would draw enough
votes away from Comstock to elect
Whiteman. Halvorson made the run
and much to the surprise of every
body was elected beating both Com
Gratis, who disliked the Farmers Al
lance even more than they did the
Republicans, were particularly chag-
rined.
| istration of Governor Sibley the Re-
publicans lost control of both branches
of the Legislature. Under the shrewd
leadership of Ignatius Qonnelly, a com.
bination was formed in the Senate and
the power of appointing the commit
| tees was taken away from the Lieuten-
ant Governor to be vested in the Sem
are itself. The same parties formed an
alliance in the House and E. I. Cham
plin of Blue Earth county was elected
Speaker.
The census of 1890 increased the
number. of Representatives in Con-
gress from Minnesota from five u
seven, and on this fusion controlled
Legislature devolved the task Of re-
gressienaf districts. It evolved the
most fearful and wonderful piece Of
gerrymandering ever patcehd up in
any state at any time. Three rea-
sonably safe Republican districts, the
FIRST, Second and Fifth were created,
because by no sort of political chic.
anery could it be avoided. Three sup.
R9sedly Demoeratic districts the Third
AS payment to the Farmers Alliance
members for their aid in putting
through this unholy arrangement, the
Seventh district was created in the
shape Of the letter H." consisting of
fourteen counties beginning with Kit
son county on the Canadian boundary.
boundary of Big Stone and and then
eastward making the foot of the 'L''
by taking in the counties of Swift and
Kandiyohi
year, opened up inauspfciously for the
Republican party. President Harri-
sons administration had proved UNI
country. His denomination was pos
sible only. through the solid support
Of the eleven southern states that
could not and did not furnish single
electorial vote for the Republican
In Minnesota, the Peoples party
had completely swallowed up the
Farmers Alliance and had put up the.
candidate for Governor.
Silver.tongued Daniel w. Lawler OF
st. Paul, then in the prime of his
vigorous young manhood, was the
democratic nominee and he made an
active campaign. Believe me, he could
make some campaign.
!, The Republican party was in much
the same condition as it is at the
d1sheartened. Fortunately, wise coun
sci prevailed. Knute Nelson was draft
ed from his voluntary retirement %
Aiexandrla and unanimously nomip K
ed for Governor at
Senator Nelson made not the
est effort to. procure the NO slght-
ne never left his home in .1nlnatlon;
curing the pre-convent' alexandra
and he had no manager" .1on campaign
He simply stated after his interests.
cans wanted r.. that if the Republic
trust and r. an he would accept the
could. ] lake the best campaign he
not ee happen to know that he was
ther ger for the nomination, although
,,o}- never existed any doubt in his
!" al about his election. Senator Nell
sop, Notwithstanding he spent more
than forty-five years in public service,
was never enamored with official life.
He voluntarily retired from the. House
retained the place as long as he de-
sired by saying the word. He declared
and he meant it, that he was through
| with politics and was going to devote
| the balance of his life to the tillage OF
his Alexandria farm which he loved sc
well His third and fourth nominal
tions to the Senate he accepted with
reluctance and from sense of duty
rather than from inclination and de-
sire and he always looked forward
with pleasureable anticipation to
l. hi rot i've q n