The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-31

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Are That the State Nine Republican Congressman
Washingon-Ffth and Sixth Districts the Only Debatabe
Ground Fletcher All the of It
Lind and Du Bots.

Nine republican congressman from Min
nesota-that is the mark set by the ma
tional congressional committee.
From 1894 to 1900 Minnesota returned
"solid seven" to Washington. Under the
reapportionment following the 1900 census
two were added to Minnesota's quota, and
resentatives. Republicans outside Min
nesota expect the state to replace the
"solid seven" with a "solid nine"
Appearances indicate that this Will be
done. Candid democrats concede repub
lican victory in seven Of the nine districts.
They claim the election Of two democrats,
John Lind in the fifth district, and Julian
A. Du Bots in the sixth.
The best information, from all sides, in
dicates that these two have a fighting
chance, and no more. Both districts are
republican on national issues, which are
all that should be involved in contest
for congress. The republican candidate
in each district is time tried in politics,
and good votet getter, and in spite of
off year apathy and defections, each
should win out without a close shave.
FIFTH DISTRICT.
Hennepin county has not given a ma
jority for a democratic candidate for
president or congress since $780,. Loren
Fletcher has had difficulty in being
o1CCIcu SVoi SIIlCo tL0 COuuty was 06S OIL
by itself as congressional district. Four
years ago he carried the district by 5000,
two years ago by 10000, a greater mar
gin than any Of his six colleagues from
Minnesota received. With any other op-
ponent but John Lind, there would be no
argument this year. The democratic can
didate Is a man who in times past has
shown his power to draw votes in this
county. He has been candidate for gov
ernOr three times. In 1896 he carried the
county against David M. Clough of Min
neapolis by over 5000. In 1898 he carried
it over William H. Eustis Of Minneapolis
by over 5000. Two years ago he lost it to
S. R. Van SAINT by 557 votes. In an Off
year it is vantage In for the democrats,
and the Lind men figure that he will once
more carry the county.
However, it Is not a governorship at
stake next Tuesday. Local issues are
not to be considered. The broad question
Of national policy is involved. Party lines
will be drawn tighter, and it does not sp-
pear possible that a normal majority of
5000 can be overturned. The rancor of
the primary election has disappeared, and
with few exceptions the friends of Eugene
Hay and James A. Peterson are heartily
supporting Mr.. Fletcher. Mr.. Lind must
get republican votes, and he Is making a
strong bid for them, but nearly all he gets
will come on the question Of nationality,
which Is raised in a quiet way all over the
| city. On the other hand, Mr.. Fletcher
has democratic strength which he can
always depend on and which will in part
unbiased experts is that the contest will
be fairly close, but that Mr.. Fletcher will
win by about 2,O00.
SIXTH DISTRICT.
c. B. Buchanan, republican candidate in
the sixth, has to contend with a (isaffect-
ed element among republicans. It is a
| silent vote, and hard to estimate in num-
bers. Democratic confidence is largely
built on the poor showing made for Buck
! man at the primaries, when an almost un-
known man, came within thirty votes OF
| defeating him, out Of 1900 votes cast
| Colonel Foster, the opposing candidate, is
| in cline for Buckman,' and has done some
good work for him, but democrats claim
| that in every county there are several
good republican workers Knocking
Buchanan On the other hand, Buchanan,
| like Fletcher, has a democratic strength
He was elected to the senate four years
| ago by democratic votes, and he is a past
master in manipulating deals for the
confusion Of his enemies. Knowing this
| leading republicans of the district are con-
| fident Of his Success His hardest terri
| tory Is Meeker county, newly taken into
the district from the third. and Douglas
an acquisition from the old seventh. A
| light vote is looked for in Stearns, which
| will a, falling off in the democratic
majority there. Buckmans strength a
home Is counted on to carry the demo
cratic county of Morrison, and large re-
publican gains are looked for in the north
ern counties, Crow Wing, Cass and Hub
bard. Many new settlers have come int,
these counties and they are largely repub
licans, as the gains in 1900 showed. Grow
| b o.
Morris, Cass from $50 to $50, and Hubbard
from so to nearly 500. Many more hav
settled in these counties since 1900, AM
even in this off year republicans are claim
ing that they will duplicate 1900 plurali
ties.
The counties in the next sixth distric
gave their various candidates for congress
in 1898, a plurality Of 1,196, and S,051 II
1900. The result will be close this year
and Buckman's lead is not likely to over
top 1000. He Is used to close rubs, how
ever, and will be quite contented wit
1000. ....-.
FIRST DISTRICT.
! James A. Tawney is not having the har
chase that l.. l.. Brown gave him In 1906
Although Brown cut down his majority
the result showed that there was littl
5000 is pretty good lead. Senator Nc
Govern has been. "gum-shoeing'' tn
district at a lively rate, and on the plat
form has gone after Tawney in the Brow
style, but does not seem to have made
! very deep dent in. the Tawney arrnol
Since the passage Of the oleo bill Tawne
has been solid with the dairy interests {
the district, and it was that inhuenc
which made his triumph over Knatvold a
the primaries so complete. It will stan
by him at the polls. : The bitter ante
primary fight has left fewer sore spot
than any one thought possible, and tn
party is behind Tawney in good shap'
While the vote will be light, Tawne
should get nearly as large plurality 8
two years ago, between 1000 and 5000.
SECOND DISTRICT.
Congressman McCleary has worth
opponent in G. N. Andrews Of Mankat
but there do not seem to be many break
in the republican ranks: McCleary he
made his great effort toward getting o,
the vote, being very anxious to go In wit
a large plurality this year. He has To-