The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-05
DAVIS IN THE LIST
COUNTED AMONG THE POssIBILI-
TIES FOR THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINATION IN 1904
FLETCHER HAS ASPIRATIONS

AcavOtis congressman with q De-
sire to Enter the Upper House
When Senator Nelson's Term Ex-
pfres-MethOds by Which This Is
to BE Done Not Plainly Apparent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4. = Especially -
Senator Cushman K. Davis, of Mime
sofa, is looming up for the Republican
presidential nomination four years hence
There are many reasons why the Mime
sotan will be an available candidate for
this high office in 1904. At the present
time he occupies position only second
to that Of Maj. Mckinley, president of
the United States. This is due TO the fact
that he Is chairman of the senate com
mlttee on foreign relations, at this time
considered the most important legislative
body In this country
In 1896 Mr.. Davis desired to go to the
st. Louis convention with the backing
OF the Minnesota delegation for the presi-
dentiaf nomination. He was unable to
secure the support of the delegates from
his state and therefore retired gracefully
Ever since that time he has been an earn
est supporter Of the Mckinley admins
tratlon. There will be a contest in 1904
and the leading candidates will be Davis.
of Minnesota; Gov. Roosevelt, of New
york; Gov. Nash, of Ohio; Secretary
Root, who halls from New York state:
senator Spooner, of Wisconsin; Gov.
P1ngree, of Michigan, and Senator Chaun-
cey Depew, of New York At the present
time politicians here consider that the
above list is the most available for the
republican nomination for the presi-
is concerned, If his age is not against
him. ne is looked upon by his most init
mate friends as man thoroughly well
qualified to lead the ticket for the Re.
puDucanS in the national campaign In
1894, and If he makes no mistakes his
opportunities for coming to the front are
many. His greatest competitor In thu
contest will be Gov. Roosevelt, of New
York. The latter, as was announced sew
erai weeks ago, made a compact with thu
present chief executive of the nation that
in return for the support that he could
give the New York governor would have
all the influence this administration can
WELD four years later to bring about his
nomination. In the event, however, that
Maj. Mckinley fails of reelection in No
vember. 1900, all pledges will be off, and
it will be possible for Davis. Spooneri
Pingree or any other man to try for the
honor.
FLETCHER'S PLANS.
"Old Fletcher is sly, devilish sly
This statement was made in Minnesota
years ago. 1t refers to Loren Fletcher,
representative from the Hennepin county
district Of Minnesota, Mr.. Fletcher has
history which has not been related In
book form, nor has any Of it been printed
in daily publications. 1t is conceded, how
ever, that the representative of the Hen
nepin county district is one of the clev-
crest politicians in the United States
Mr.. Fletcher has served several terma
from the Hennepin county district in tha
lower house of the national congress. At
the present time there is serious opposi-
ton to his denomination. If he secures
his denomination there is a probability
that man on the other side politically,
like James Gray. the present mayor of
Minneapolis, might defeat him at the
polls. As before stated, there is no clever
er man in the North Star state, from
a political standpoint, than Representa-
tive Fletcher. This is a mere statement
simply to forecast the Intentions Of this
clever politician to capture something big
ger than seat in the lower house.
There are men from Minnesota today
who state that this shrewd political wire
puller. having secured all the honoEs that
may come to him as a member of the
HOuSe, Is now laying plans TO secure the
seat in the upper branch Of the national
congress now occupied by Knute Nelson,
the senior senator from Minnesota. Just
how Mr.. Fletcher is going to be abe to
defeat Mr.. Nelson is something which
must be left to the minds of the voters
of Minnesota. That he has plan In his
head to come to the senate instead Of at
tempting to succeed himself In the house
is said to be true by the opponents of
the Minneapolis congressman. These men
are guessing as to what methods Fletcher
will take to carry out his alleged designs.
If, however, Mr. Fletcher Is really seek
ing to succeed Mr.. Nelson, it will be
most interesting contest before the legfs-
lature which will assemble to elect the
latter's successor. Nelson and Fletcher,
1t is conceded, are the best under the
surface" political manipulators in Min
nesota. The contest between the two gen
tlemen, therefore, If Fletcher decides to
run for the senatorship will give the peo-
pie of the North Star state something to
talk about in after years. From a finan-
cial standpoint Fletcher is probably more
able to advance his own interests In
money matters than Is the Alexandria
statesman. 1t Is not known, however,
how much backing the other might have
through corporations, and as there is
third figure in the contest, namely, John
a three-cornered fight between this trio
would doubtless interest the people of the
state. j. 8. Van Antwerp.