Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-24
MINNESOTA SURPRISES
"Uncle Loren" Fletcher is to
Be Turned Down.
EDDY AND MORRIS
NEITHER WILL COME BACK TO
CONGRESS-
Opponents to Cuban Reciprocity Now
Meet Public Opinion. Adam
Bede a Candidate.

One by one the leaves are dropping in the
fierce gale Of public opinion which is whs-
tling about the ears Of the opponents of the
Presidents Cuban reciprocity policy. The
two Nebraska senators were marooned by
their state convention; Senator Burton of
Kansas is in hot water; four Michigan rep
resentatives have been left at the post, and
now comes word from Minnesota that
Uncle Loren" Fletcher Of the Minneapolis
district may have to take to the tall tim
Der.
Uncle Loren Fletcher has represented
the Minneapolis district for ten years and
was thought TO be a fixture. He was one
of the opponents of Cuban reciprocity and
figured prominently in the councils of the
insurgents But the Minneapolis people
would not stand for it; the newspapers Of
his district came out strong for reciprocity
Then two young hustlers came out for the
nomination.
Two Contesting the Prize:
James A. Petersen, a Norwegian, is ready
to come to Washington if they make Uncle
Loren "yump the yob," as they say in Min
nesota He is close to bosses and is a
skillful politician. Eugene A. Hay, former
United States district attorney, Is contest
ing the prize with him. Hay Is an eX-1n-
diana politician and knows a trick or two
They think they have their Uncle Loren on
the run anyhow. Mr.. Fletcher is & very
rich man. however, and is said to he max
ing the fight of his life.
Some changes in the Minnesota delega-
ton are certain, whether Mr.. Fletcher wins
or not. The picturesque Mr.. Eddy, now
repre- nting the seventh district, and who
acknowledges the soft Impeachment of be-
ing the homelieSt man in Congress, IS going
to quit Whether he has had enough, or,
as his opponents say. it is case of sour
grapes, anyhow, he is out of it. His lead
ing opponent is NJ j. Dowling. nicknamed
tine frozen son of Minnesota" from the
fact that both hands ard both feet were
frozen off IN a blizzard. He has been
speaker of the lower house of the legisla-
ture, and is very popular. He is opposed
by E. T. Young and A. J. Vols1ead.
J. Adam Bede a Candidate
Another familiar figure viii be missed
from the Minnesota delegation, Judge Page
Morris Of the Duluth district, who ret:res
voluntarily to devote himself to his law
practice, and with an eye, it is said, upon
the United States district judgeship in the
future. The republican candidate for his
place is Mr.. ]. Adam Bede familiarly called
"Jadam' Bede. He will be remembered as
the young man who applied in. President
Cleveland's IS last term for the United States
marshalship, writing his application upon a
piece of birch bark, thereby attracting the
attention of the President and getting the
appointment. He was good democrat then.
But Mr. Bede was a politician and could
not keep from mixing up in the -campa ign,
to the dismay of the Department of Justice.
Receiving reprimand from the depart
fnent, ne IN effect told his superior to please
take a running jump and go plumb to
thunder, and threw up the job. In 1896 he
turned republican, and probably will come
to Congress, it is said
Ex-Representative Towne.
This Duluth district seems to breed sur
prlses in politics. 1t was the home of
Charlie Towne, erstwhtle republican, who
left his party when Senator Teller and the
others walked out Of the convention at ST.
Louis Later he was aspirant for the vice
presidential nomination on the democratic
.icket, and a great enemy Of the octopi.
Missing his goal in politics, he took to busi-