The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-08-26
HIS POLITICAL CAREER
1t Was Marked by Clear and Un-
selfish Methods.

By Mr.. Evans untimely death the re-
pupllcan party loses its most magnetic
personality in this state. Others have at
tanned higher rank and position, and per-
| haps figure in the public eye as of greater
prominence, but no man in. the state could
have counted more personal friends or de-
! voted followers than he. The greatheart-
| edness and whole -souledness Of the man
drew to him all who had the privilege OF
| knowing him. The purity of his character
was remarkable in one engaged almost
constantly in political work and his innate
| courtesy, which made him the same to the
humble as to the great, added to his un-
deniable intellectual attainments, made
| him one OF the truly strong figures in poll
| tics in the great northwest. Although
| he mingled actively in the politics of the
| state for seventeen years it is believed
| that he left behind him not a single enemy.
| This is truly remarkable and was due abb
| solutely to his perfect fairness and his
| ability to forgive and forget, no matter
how great the wrong against him might
| have been. 1t can truly be said of him,
as it can Of few men in political life, that
whether dealing with friend or foe, he
was always just and honorable.
From the moment Mr.. Evans arrived
| in Minnesota and announced his determ-
| ination to make this state his home he
was leading figure in the public life Of
! the commonwealth. Gifted with winning
personality, pleasing presence, and with
every substantial quality which leads man
| to admire man, he was received with open
arms by the leaders of the republican
party and sprung almost Immediately to
| the front
Trained in the strenuous political life
of close state like Indiana where he had
| been very active, he could hardly have re-
| sisted, even had he so wished, the inclina-
tion to take part in shaping the destinies
| Of the great state which he had adopted
| as his home. He had no more than ar
| rived in July, 1884, than he took the
| stump and as he was an orator of great
! force and eloquence, his influence for
James G. Blaine in that campaign was felt
| and appreciated and he soon won the es-
| TEEN and confidence Of those who were
counted at that time as the leaders OF the
party in tht state.
Mr.. Evan sought office but once In his
| busy life, aid that time he was defeated.
In all his life he held just one political
office, that of United States districr at
| torney and that was forced upon him BIZ
friends against his protests.
EarIy Prominence In Indiana.
When he left his native state of In
diana he had obtained some renown,
though but about 80 years Of age at the
| time. He had always taken a great inter-
| est in politics and was stalwart repub-
| lican who boasted that he had always
! voted the ticket straight, trait which iS
more common in Indiana and other close
| ly contested states than it is here in the
middle west. Always ready to place his
| talents at the disposition Of the party
managers, his ability was soon recognized
and he was elected national committeeman
by the republicans of the hoosier state In
| 1880. He refused reelection and also
| declined the proposition made to him at
that time by the party managers to become
! a candidate for attorney general. To his
| friends he explained this action by say
| ing that he had reached a time In life
| when he must lay his plans for the future.
| and to have ben a candidate for office then
would have meant that he retain his home
| in Indiana Instead, he chose to remove
| to Minnesota, and Lewis Michener was
nominated in his stead.
His Friendship With c. X Davis.
| Before leaving Indiana he secured from
| Walter O. Gresham, then one Of the great
men of that state, a letter introducing him
| to Cushman X. Davis, and that letter led
| to the close friendship which ever after
| existed between the late senator and Mr..
Evans Mr. Evans himself told the writer
| at the funeral of his old friend Of the
manner in which Senator Davis received
| him. Said Mr.. Evans:
| l can never forget that interview. was
then young man, WltnouI rspuI1IAon ~n@
practically without means. handed the let
| ter of introduction to Mr.. Davis, and after
| he had read it he gave me very cordial
welcome telling me that IL there was any
I thing he could do for me, to let him know
| But he did not stop with that. He dis
| cussed with me my future prospects and ad-
| vised me what to do. followed that advice
| and was substantially aided by him many
| times afterward. He was good friend.
| Three years after Mr.. Evans arrival IN
| the state, Mr.. Davis was elected United
States senator and was compelled TO re-
sign as national copmitteema1 sFom