The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-26
HAY ASKS QUESTIONS
Replies to Mr.. Fletcher's Insinua-
tions About Monkeying by
the Sugar Trust.
Mr.. Fletcher's Record Cited and Ans.
wers Demanded to Four
Questions.

Eugene g. Hay put four questions TO
Congressman Fletcher last evening, for
Mr.. Fletcher to answer at his convenience.
Mr.. Hay spoke at the second ward wig
VAN, Oak street and Washington avenue
Sc. His questions were called out by Mr..
Fletcher's remark at a meeting Friday
evening, in which he said:
IF it were not for the velvet hand of
the sugar trust monkeying around In this
congressional district, there wouldn't be
so much opposition to your Uncle Loren
to-day"
Mr.. Hay read the reported utterance,
aud said:
''This is innuendo and sarcasm, but in
terpreted 1t means just this-that In my can
didacy for congress I am backed by the
sugar trust. Now If that is true, every
daily newspaper in Minneapolis is also in
fluenced by the same agency. Unless he
has some special reason or evidence for
his charge against me, 1t must follow that
every newspaper in Minneapolis Is inf1u-
enced by the sugar trust, for all three
papers have advocated reciprocity as
urged by President Roosevelt
Mr.. Hay here read recent editorial ut
terances from all three OF the Minneapolis
dailies, declaring for relief to Cuba IN the
form Of reciprocity.
mot only that" Mr.. Hay went on. "but
this same influence must have moved upon
the president of the United States; for l
stand and all these newspapers stand, in
line with the urgent recommendations OF
the president to congress. | think that
Mr. Fletcher owes it to fairness, and to
candid discussion of the issues, if he be-
lieves any corrupt influence has been
brought to bear in this district, that he
should state where and upon whom this
influence has been brought.
'Without imputing to Mr.. Fletcher that
he has been monkeyed with, I will say
4ha ct oro1c ha g
who has done in congress just what the
sugar trust wants done"
Mr.. Hay then explained that the sugar
trust is merely a refining company, that 1t
raises no sugar, but buys the raw product
and brings it to this country, where 1t Is
refined. The tariff gives it protection IN
the shape of differential duty on the
refined article. which tends to keep out
the refined sugars of other countries. The
trust is especially concerned in keeping
this differential.
When the bill was under consideration
in the house, April IS, a separate vote
was taken o.. the Morris amendment re-
moving the differential duty from re-
fined sugar. Mr.. Fletcher did not vote
on this amendment, which carried while
he was apparently absent from the room.
The Congressional Record, from which
Mr.. Hay read, shows under the. list or
pairs, MIR. Fletcher, against the Dill,
raired with Mr.. Shattuc, for the BILL This
was the vote on the Morris amendment
This record" said Mr.. Hay, seems to
indicate> that Mr.. Fletcher was against
the amendment taking the differential
off refined sugar, for when the vote was
taken soon after on the passage OF the
bill so amended, he voted against 1t, and
Mr.. Shattuc, paired with him on the
amendment was paired this time With
Mr. Wooten.
toto - 1o anti roI
not in any way misconstrue his action, l
submit to Mr.. Fletcher the following
questions, to which ask categorical ans
WerS: ..,,~
Hays Four Queries.
"F'irst-Were you paired with Mr. Shat
| tue against the amendment taking the
| differential from refined sugar?
| "Second-If you answer that you were
| not so paired, to what did your pair with
Mr. Shattuc relate, since on. the final
passage of the bill. the only other vote
| taken on the measure that day, you are
recorded as voting against the bill, and
| Mr.. Shattuc is recorded as paired with
Mr.. Wooten?
'"Third-If you were not paired upon
the amendment taking the differentla]
from refined sugar, and were interested in
| opposing the sugar trust, why were you
| not present to cast your vote in favor OF
that amendment, as you were present in
| the house a very short time afterward
and voted on the passage of the bill?
| "Fourth-If your opposition to Cuban
reciprocity is based upon your opposi-
ton to the sugar trust. why did you not
| vote in favor of the bill after it was
amended so as to reduce the tariff on re-
fined sugar? Do you not know thai
| the only interest the sugar trust had ir
this legislation was in preserving the
differential on refined sugar?"
Whatever the answers Mr.. Fletcher
should give, said Mr. Hay, he certainly
owed it to fairness and to the people o1
his district to make his charge more
| explicit, and not to insinuate the presence
of undue influence without telling in-plair
language where it was to be found, es
pecially since on the record Mr.. Fletcher
himself seemed to have done just wha
was most desired by the sugar trust
| whenever he had an opportunity to do sc
| with his vote.
Mr.. Hay repeated that in the contest he
felt no rancor, and should not at any time
and that whatever the result Of the
primaries, he would cordially support the
| republican nominee.
For" said Mr. Hay, whoever he is, he
will be preferable to any man the demo
| Gratis may name. This is a republican
contest, however, and in my belief the
party should choose for its candidate {
man who is in full accord with the
president, with the majority in congress
and with the enlightened sentiment O.
the party everywhere, rather than a mar
who is entirely out of line with them all.
! All Three are Billed
All three republican candidates for con
gress are advertised to speak at a colorec
republican meeting tomorrow evening IL
Century hall. If all appear it will be tn,
first occasion this campaign when al
three have spoken from the same platform
the same evening.
"Hoffmans Togs" Youman's Hats
sole Agent Hoffman's Toggery ShoI