The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-05
RECORD in CONGRESS
Eugene G, Hay and Congressman
itLoren Fletcher Discuss That
of Mr.. Fletcher.
Mr.. Hay Sets Forth the Need Of a
Brand New Federal Building
in Minneapolis.

For the second time this season Loren
Fletcher and Eugene G. Hay, rival candi-
dates for congress, met last evening at the
Fifth Ward Young Mems Republican club,
$40 Seventh street S. T. T.. -
Mr.. Fletcher was in the midst of his
speech when Mr.. Hay entered The con-
| gresham. invited Mr.. Hay to- occupy a
seat near him, an invitation which Mr..
Hay promptly accepted. Mr. Fletcher
then took up criticisms of his record made
| by Mr.. Hay. rs,.-~.E -,
| With reference to his stand on the
| Nicaraguan canal question, Mr.. Fletcher
admitted that he had opposed the Mic
araguan route from the outset, but said
| that he had always been in favor of the
Panama route. The fact that both senate
and house had finally favored the Panama
route, he said, indicated the soundness
of his Judgment. !: ".
| Mr.. Fletcher next admitted that he was
paired with Representative Shattuc on
| the Morris amendment to the Cuban reci-
| proc1ty measure, lowing to his being
| forced to leave the house on important
business. Shattuc being opposed to the
amendment, Mr.. Fletcher had simply
| awaited himself of a common practice.
He had finally voted against the measure
because he was opposed to the bill, even
as amended.
Replying to the charge that he repre-
scented the sugar trust. Mr.. Fletcher de
clared that such a statement was I'M
worthy of his opponent, to which the lat
ter promptly replied: II said you had
| done only what the sugar trust wanted tc
have done"
AS to the charge that he spent too much
time looking after the "petty wants Of
| individuals" the speaker declared that sc
long as he represented the district he
would continue to follow out that policy
Taking care Of "the poor old man and the
disabled young man. was good enough
| work for him.
Mr.. Hay Makes Answer.
In replying to Mr.. Fletcher, Mr.. Hay re
| marked that his career both in private
and public life seemed to run in cycles
Mr.. Fletcher, had said that he had serve'
ten years in the state legislature, that h
had then enjoyed ten years vacation
and that he had almost completed tel
years In congress. And it looks YER
much now" said Mr.. Hay, las though tn
people are about to give Mr.. Fletcher an
other -ten-year vacation.
Mr.. Fletcher has failed to answer tn
questions I have asked. except to admi
that he was paired with Shattuc on tn
Morris amendment. Mr.. Fletcher raise
the question as to who was looking afte
the sugar trust interests in congress, an
l simply asked him the question in goo
faith to ascertain who had actually take
the part or the sugar trust in congress-
THE attitude of the sugar trust towar
our representative form of government
not Of paramount Importance. Our att
tude toward Cuba, our duty toward tn
born republic, and, the treatment du
her by this country are the real towerin
questions at ISSUE
Need Of a New1P. O. TBuiidinq.
Coming down to local issues, Mr. Ha
e said he did not agree with Mr. Fletcher
8 spending considerable dsums of money
patching up the old postoff1ce Minnear
Oils needed and was !,entitled to a ne,
building at once, on ACCOUNT of the crowd
J, ed condition of the old building. It woul
: take ten years to. secure new buildins
:, even If the agitation was comm enced nov
t Additions from time TO time to the oil
structure would put off the erection of
/. new building indefinitely. It would be i'm
= possible to get into one bill Ian appropria
= ton for additions to an old building an
n for the construction Of a new one. Ever
dollar on the old building would postpor
the day when there would be any hope {
T a building; commensurate with the size ,
I minneapolis and the volume Of governme1
: business transacted here I..''
He believed it should be the policy of tt
government to rent space in some adif
: cent building and invest money in a ST
for a new building in a central locatio,
as all available property in the bushes
district would soon be covered by perm,
nent improvements Action should
taken Immediately to secure an enti
block. .-~