The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-30
WORDS THAT COUNT
Stonecutters Give Reasons Why Mr..
Fletcher Should Be Re.elec-
ted to Congress.
He Has Stood by Minneapolis La
boring Men, They Say-Speci-
fic Instances.

Reasons for the reelection of Congress-
man Loren Fletcher are not only not hard
to find but are offered on every hand.
Here are few from the stonecutters of
the city:
Arthur JONES' Member of the Stonecut-
ter's Union, S24 Seventeenth Avenue S.
Even If a man was not republican it
seems to me that the interests of all
parties commemorative corporation, which
has it's rights, the business men and the
wageearners-Would be best subserved by
the reelection of Mr.. Fletcher. With
wageearners there should be common
desire that the prosperous times continue.
Is there any Intelligent workingman in
Minneapolis who reasonably main
tain that surrender Of the national con-
gress to the democratic party with all
that that party contains and stands for
is calculated to improve general condl-
tons? On the contrary isn't it the wise
thing for industrials as we'll as all others
to leave we'll enough alone?
James Robinson, Delegate from the
Stonecutters' union to the Building
Trades Council, go Sixth Street s.
There is hardly any use in my telling you
how I or any other union or union
stonecutter in Minneapolis feels toward
Congressman Fletcher. The action OF the
Stonecutters union about two months
ago in coming out boldly for MI. Fletcher's
nomination ana Ln0n uOlIlS Hill iIIe COu1
tesy of giving him card, and thus MAX
ing him an honorary member OF the union,
indicates very plainly how our craft stand
towards the man. Some friends of or
ganized labor might perhaps question
the propriety Of our unions thHs honoring
Mr.. Fletcher However, if they could
only know the facts in the case, and I'M
derstanG how ready Mr.. Fletcher was, in
season and out Of season, before he went
to congress. and since his election ten
years ago to give a fair and respectful
consideration to every request made by
the Stonecutters' union, then they would
realize that the honor bestowed was fully
earned. IN 1890 this district was rep
resented by a democrat Captain Castle of
saltwater. The postoffice stone work was
done in the penitentary at Saltwater. In
1898 Congressman Fletcher secured an
appropriation Of $4,000 for addition
to the postoffice, and at the request of the
stonecutters fthe city he had inserted
in the specifications a provision requiring
that the work be done in Minnea polls.
Later the congressman secured an appro-
priation of $3.50, 900 for addition to the
postoffice, and it is safe to predict that
every dollar Of this appropriation will be
given to Minneapolis wageworkers and
| then spent among Minneapolis business
men.
John Colquhoun, 621 Seventh Avenue N,
President Of the Journeymen Stonecut-
ter's Union-We would certainly be un-
grateful if we did not do everything that
we can to secure Mr.. Fletcher's election.
He stood by us from first to last, and how
ungrateful we would be if we turned on
him now. We went to him as union la
Dor men and he granted everything that
! we asked, and then went ahead and did
! more than We expected. There are toe
| many men elected to office who, when
! they are installed, turn a deaf ear to the
| requests of the working men. Therefore,
when we do find man who Is so enthus-
| iastically in our favor and always willing
| to help us out in our struggle for bread
| and butter. the least we can do is to re-
member his efforts in our behalf and dc
something for him. Mr.. Fletcher was
such a strong friend of the stonecutter's
| union that we made him an honorary
member, and we propose to show the
officeholders Of the future that we stand
| by men who stand by us. If we do moi
support Mr.. Fletcher at this time what
right would we have to go to any man ir
| the future and ask him to do something
in behalf of labor? We would have nc
right to complain if he turned on us anc
said II might as we'll oppose you az
| support you as you turned on the las
man who worked in your behalf" 1
seems clear to me that this is the righ
stand for union labor men to take, "Stant