St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-12
THOMAS EVANS BOWEN.

Die, nOtnlllS cOulu NC Aholo nuns
than the selection of some one OF THIS
Younger and more enthusiastic element
to bear the party's standard in the COM
ing state campaign, not with the idea of
making it a campaign of either the
Younger or the older elements III the
party-an invidious distinction made by
the Republicans two years ago-f0r no
set of men are entitled to more conSld-
Grafton than the noble host of gentle
men who have during the last thirty
wears upheld the standard of Demuc-
racy in this state But at this partlcu-
lar time nothing could be more fitting
than the nomination of a young and pro-
gressive Democrat like Senator Thomas
E. Bowen, of Brown county, as the
Democratic candidate for governor this
wear. Senator Bowen is a staunch
Democrat. always to be found In the
front rank of every movement that
tends to the betterment of the condition
of the farmers and labOring men OF the
state, and his nomination would be met
with wave of popular favor that
would sweep him into the state capltol
by good round majority.
Thomas Evans Bowen was born in
Blossburg, Penn, Oct Is, 1S49, and is
consequently only a little over forty
years of age. His father emigrated to
Minnesota, then a territory, in 1855,
and settled in Blue Earth county, where
Mr.. Bowen received a common school
education, later on graduating from the
Mankato State Normal school. He then
commenced teaching, and was principal
of the public schools OF Lake crystal
during the years of 1S70-71. From 1879
till 1873 he occupied the same position
in the schools Of Sleepy Eye. In 1880
Mr.. Bowen established the Sleepy Eye
Herald, which he has edited with great
ability ever since. Having a natural
talent for the business, it didn't take
MIR. Bowen very long to place his paper
in the very front rank of the weekly
papers of the state-a place it has ever
since retained.
Shortly after Senator Bowen stated
his paper the few Democrats in Brown
county gathered themselves together
and formed an organization. Among
these gentlemen, in addition to Senator
Bowen. were Hon. NJ. Mullen, of New
Ulm, now a valuable member of the
Democratic state committee; Frank 5.
Randall, now of the firm of Tawney u
Randall, lawyers. of WinOna; Hon. G.
w. q. Heidemann, and several others.
So perfect and thorough was this or
ganiZatiOn that Brown county, which in
1880 gave Garfield a plurality of
5S5 votes over Gen. Hancock,
was carried by Grover Cleveland.
But this great reformation was
caused not only by organization, but by
showing the people of the country that
the Republican party, having outliyed
its usefulness, was no longer the party
to be trusted with the administration of
this government. In both branches OF
the work Senator Bowen and his paper
did herculean work. Indeed, so pleased
were the Democrats of Brown county
over Mr.. BOWen's work that in 1886
they gave him majority of more than
600 when he was a candidate for the
State Senate. This majority was so
large that it overcame the Republican
majority given his opponent, Clarence
E. Ward, in Redwood county, and made
him Senator Bowen by a good majority.
Tom BoWen'S record as state senator
was lust what those who knew him best
would have predicted. He opposed with
all his characteristic energy the passage
OF that Infamous act known as House
File 157." by the enactment of which
the people of Minnesota were robbed of
MANY millions of dollars in the way of
taxes due on railroad lands. He was
also the author of the act to remove the
Pinkertons and kindred organizations
from the state, and while fair and just
to railroad corporations, he belonged to
that class OF gentlemen in the last two
legislatures that held that the railroads
being subject to state regulation must
make their rates Just, reasonable and
without discrimination in favor of any
locality. On questions of political
nature, Mr.. Bowen in the legislature,
as in private life, was an uncompromis-
ing Democrat.
But Senator Bowen comes from por-
ton of the state that ought to be rec0g-
nized by the Democracy, and, if per
sonal popularity and availability count
he ought to be the candidate. He is
personally very popular throughout the
twenty counties of the district. and has
frequently been mentioned as candi
date for congress in that district. LII
times past but two or three OF the
twenty counties in the Second district
have cast their lots with the Democracy
and, as Brown county is now one OF
these Jewels, a very graceful act, sure tC
be appreciated by the citizens of thai
county, would be the nomination o.
Thomas E. Bowen for governor OF the
state by the Democratic party at the
coming state convention.
In appearance Senator Brown is tai
and slim, with full, broad forehead
and of rather nervous temperament
He is a close observer and deel
thinker, and has way of getting a
the bottom of things that is both re
treshing and interesting. AS governo
the people could depend upon his nail
ing every woodchuck placed before him
He his honest, he is capable. and he il
mighty good Democrat, and he would
make a splendid governor.