It is only doing justice to the truth to state that the lobbies of the Merchants hotel contain, at the present writing, more professional windbags than any other spot in Minnesota. And for first-class Eli Perkins, Munchausen pseudo maniaists it is a full-blown Persian paradise. The absence of any considerable number of legislative members, thereby making material for wire-pulling scarce, has thrown the professional politicians upon their imaginations, and not an opportunity has been lost to dupe their opponents or the outside public. The whole thing has become a side-show of farcical proportions. So much tall lying has been done that even the pretense of being truthful has been dropped and a free-for-all hippodrome inaugurated. With not over twenty members of the house and senate present, it is very doubtful if any accurate prognostication of the senatorial situation can be given before Monday. The speakership fight is the only thing upon which results can be conjectured with any degree of accuracy.

*   *

Mr. Morgan's part in that received a check yesterday when the Grave's men, realizing that he seemed to be dangerously strong, redoubled their efforts and made a spurt forward. On the arrival of J. C. Flynn from Little Falls, it was announced that he had withdrawn from the contest in favor of Colonel Graves. The Fifth district people were pleased with this. They conveyed the further information that the Southern Minnesota section was not solid for Morgan. Mr. Flynn felt confident that Hennepin and Ramsey would divide their votes between the two candidates. Mr. Knox regarded Col. Graves' selection, as a strong probability. Mr. Estes on the other hand, was equally confident for Mr. Morgan. Despite strenuous efforts made to prevent it, the senatorial fight is being dragged into that of the speakership. The Washburn men are now openly championing Morgan, while the strongest Sabin leaders are for Graves. Quite a little of Donnelly's strength, it is claimed, will go to Graves also. Out of fourteen senatorial dsitricts represented at the Merchants yesterday, eight declared themselves for Graves and six for Morgan. The presence of Capt. Castle in the lobby for several days past has caused some commend. He said to the GLOBE yesterday:

"I am only here to do something for my friends. I favor Col. Graves for speaker and Gen. Washburn for Senator. I am not after any office for myself. I think the legislature this winter will cut down the oil inspector's fees to a point where the office will not be worth much. It would have been done two years ago but for misapprehensions existing."

*   *

P. H. Kelly floats about the lobby every morning with an eye on Senator Sabin. He is booked as a mild Washburn supporter and a strong advocate for a new man - if such a one can be found.

*   *

Dr. Phillips, of Preston, is one of the new members of whom much is promised. The following letter to the GLOBE may enlighten him:

To the Editor of the Globe:
HURDAL, Fillmore County, Minn., Dec. 31, 1888. - After discussing the senatorial question at its last meeting, Dec. 29, 1888, the Bloomfield Farmers' Alliance drafted and adopted the following:

To the Honorable Legislative Members from Fillmore County: The Bloomfield Farmers' alliance would respectfully call your attention to the pending election of United States senator. As citizens of the great and growing state of Minnesota, we are anxious that the men who are to represent us in the national congress are such as will do honor to themselves and the state they represent. Men of large intellectual capacity and moral worth. Men who sympathize with the common people, and know their wants. Some of the present aspirants to senatorial honors will fall miserably short if measured by such a standard. The fame of W. D. Washburn, whose praise is sung by some newspapers in every county, doubtlessly for so much per line, has reached even this part of the state. What has Washburn ever done to merit any gratitude or honor from the people of Minnesota? He was one of the leading members of the old Millers' association of Minneapolis that fleeced the poor farmers of this state so cruelly. He is identified with several railroad schemes, his last feat being, as president of the Minneapolis & Pacific railroad, to issue over $4,000,000 of fraudulent watered stock under the name of income certificates, and this in direct violation of a law passed by the last legislature, and contrary to the pledges of the Republican party two years ago - that watered stock should be eliminated from railroad capital. The proud state of Minnesota should not send men to Washington who will likely help whitewash Credit Mobilier swindles, and defend and fortify trusts and monopolies, or doze beside Stanford, Paine, Paddock and the rest of the money hags. We have enough railroad presidents, railroad attorneys and railroad lobbyists in our legislative assemblies now, and the fewer we have the better we are off.
Therefore, resolved, That this Alliance indorses the Hon. Ignatius Donnelly as its choice for United States senator, and that we ask the legislative members from this county to use their vote and influence in his behalf.
    O. P. HADLAND, Aliiance Secretary.

*   *

There are four candidates for clerk of the house, viz: John R. Howard, Fred L. Warner, C. P. Carpenter and Robert Deakin. The quartette are on the ground, with Messrs. Howard and Warner running neck and neck. Both are popular, both have had long legislative experience, and either would grace the clerk's desk. Mr. Howard's return to his old position seems probable since he has been personally solicited to permit his name to be used. Fred Warner will be first assistant clerk if he does not defeat Howard. Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Deakin have as yet made no visible headway toward success, although minor positions may fall to their lot.

*   *

The simple announcement that Mr. Windom was in St. Paul has been sufficient to bring in from all quarters of the state men who once rallied under his standard. The first to arrive was the auburn-haired Thomas Pugh, of Mankato, formerly of the Fargo land office by the grace of Mr. Windom. Mr. Pugh is now an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Sabin and considers his chances of success more than good. Despite reports to the contrary he thinks that a majority of the Blue Earth delegation will support Mr. Sabin. In the afternoon Dr. Wedge arrived from Albert Lea, merely to look on, he said, amd not to take any active part.

*   *

When Mr. Windom ventured down into the lobby a swarm of Washburn men surrounded him. Eugene Hay laid his arm lovingly on his shoulder, while E. H. Gilbert stood at a distance, lost in silent admiration. Capt. Shuler blinked at the pair, and Freeman P. Lane dropped a scowl, which fell on the floor with a dull, sickening thud.

These friends of Mr. Windom disclaimed any knowledge of his intention to become a candidate for senator, but when asked if some public sentiment in that direction had not been skillfully developed in Southern Minnesota, admitted that it had.

*   *

James Morrison, engrossing clerk of the house for these many years, is a candidate for re-election to the same position. Mr. Morrison is well known to old legislators and has strong backing for a return. His only opponent is Gilbert Gutherson, of Blue Earth county.

The Blue Earth county delegation is receiving enough attention to make it feel haughty and proud. L. P. Hunt, of the Mankato Free Press, and who was in St. Paul yesterday, claims that the sentiment of the county is for Sabin.

*   *

Henry Birkett, of Owatonna, one of Mr. Dunnell's chiefs in the late campaign, said yesterday that he thought Mr. Dunnell would not come to St. Paul, and that he did not intend to take a hand in the senatorial fight.

*   *

J. A. Towney, of Winona, who is quite conspicuous about the lobby, has his eye on the United States district attorneyship after March 4.

*   *

Col. Welz and his assistants are now holding as stakes $8,000, bet upon the result of the senatorial election.

*   *

Hon. C. H. Smith, of Windom, and defeated candidate for the Republican nomination for congress in the Second district in 1886, is a candidate for insurance commissioner under Merriam.

*   *

Fred G. Potter is making a strong fight for re-election to the position of assistant sergeant-at-arms of the house. Mr. Potter served capably in that position two years ago.

*   *

Mr. Dement, of Owatonna, has been selected to nominate Mr. Morgan for speaker in the caucus of Monday night.

*   *

The prospects for a senatorial caucus are beginning to look dismal. Senator Buckman says the Sabin men desire it, and Mr. Washburn is sure that he wants it. If, before the 22d, any one candidate gains the needed majority of votes, a caucus will probably be forced. Today no reliable authority believes that a caucus could be held.

*   *

The GLOBE's prediction as to who the railroad commissioners would be, was slightly shaken yesterday by the following statement from a Fifth district member of the legislature:

"At the time of Judge Sleeper's death, Mr. Merriam had tendered to him the appointment of railroad commissioner amd he had accepted it. At present Mr. Merriam is determined to reappoint Gibbs and Becker, for he says that experienced men will give better satisfaction than untried ones. If he could find in the southern part of the state a man who would satisfy the class of people that Gibbs does, he would drop Gibbs. As it is, he now intends to retain him and Becker. Whether he will select Barto or not remains to be seen, and he may change his mind about the other two."

*   *

It was generally conceded, however, on the part of all impartial spectators that Sabin had increased his lead most decidedly yesterday, and was now so far ahead of the Minneapolis gentleman that he could come under the wire ahead of his antogonist, and indeed could distance Gen. Washburn if he desired to do so. The presence in the lobby during the afternoon of several gentlemen of decidedly anti-Washburn sentiment, would seem to bear out this hypothesis. The three Pillsburys dropped in shortly after 3 o'clock, and while the ex-governor lingered about a few moments, and speedily crossed the street and allowed the massive door of the Merchant National bank to close upon his form, the younger gentlemen remained about the Merchants and culled the latest news from more than one political flower.

*   *

Hundreds of tongues were wagging before the Minneapolis flour kings had fairly entered the Merchants, and the concensus of opinion pointed towards the fact that their visit was not favorable to the candidacy of W. D. Washburn; in fact, that the distinguished Minneapolis trio had come over for the express purpose of estimating the senatorial strength of John S. Pillsbury in a superficial way.

*   *

Frank Meade, however, attempted to offset these rumors, and said: "I am not prepared to say what the Pillsburys are doing in St. Paul, but they are bent upon doing a good deed for Gen. Washburn."

*   *

Gen, Washburn substantiated the statement of his faithful lieutenant, and said: "The Pillsburys have always been friends of mine, and I have always been assured of their support socially, politically and in a mercantile way. John S. Pillsbury is not a candidate, and I am sure that in common with the majority of the representative men of Hennepin county, those gentlemen favor my candidacy. John S. Pillsbury told me four days ago that he did not want the senatorship, and all of the Pillsburys have been repeatedly assuring me of their fidelity and support."

*   *

"There goes the next United States senator," remarked a hitherto reputed Washburn man, as Tom Lowry, tall, erect and slim, stalked through the lobby in company with Clint Morrison, of Minneapolis. Both gentlemen came over to the Saintly City at a comparatively early hour yesterday morning, and made a bee line from the Union depot to the office of A. H. Wilder. What transpired within the sacred precincts of that gentleman's private office rumor sayeth not, but the street railway magnate had a huge roll of manuscript under his arm as he chatted with friends about the lobby during the few minutes which he spent at the hotel. The shrewdest guessers were unable to say whether the scroll was filled with signatures of appreciative Hennepin county constituents, or was simply the trial balance of the street railway company's receipts for the past year.

*   *

"There is absolutely nothing of a political nature in our mission," remarked Clidt Morrison as he passed one arm through that of Mr. Lowry, and lifted the Merchants' latch with the index finger of the other hand. We are simply over here on a little private business. Why, I am for Washburn, and so is Mr. Lowry. Eh sir?" "Why of course,'' said the gentleman addressed, and as the door closed with a harsh clang its sound was an unconscious commentary upon the ambiguity of the Minneapolis gentleman's remark.

*   *

Several gossipers about the lobby insisted upon saying that Mr. Lowry came over for the express purpose of shelling the woods, and if he found that there was the slightest opportunity, would enter the list. The Minneapolis capitalist is a shrewd man, and although hitherto taking but a slight interest in politics, is but human, and would accept the senatorial ermine if it were offered him. As a proof that Gen. Washburn is weak in his own county. Mr. Lowry will come out as a candidate, or at least permit his name to be used as a dark horse, if rumor may be credited.

*   *

William Windom was about the corridor but a short while, and declined to define his position yesterday with any more exactitude than was outlined the day of his arrival. Political wiseacres aver that his presence will operate upon the Washburn forces like a boomerang, and that his effort to fight Washburn's battle will prove as disadvantageous to the man whom he wishes to benefit as did the Scheffer-Aberle et al, bolt to the candidacy of Eugene Wilson.