The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-19
Congressional Results.

assuming tnaL all republican nominees
will be elected. Minnesota will have four
old and five new members of congress-
Tawney. McCleary, Stevens and Fletcher
have been renominated No matter who
finally wins in the seventh and in the
sixth, the other five will be new men, Re-
calling that three of the seven congress-
men Minnesota had under the former ap
observation-disclosures, IIeatwole and Eddy
retire from congress Of their own free
will, 1t is evident that the primary election
system, If 1t has any effect at all on the
matter, is favorable to the practice Of
keeping the same men in congress from
year to year. Other things being equal it
Is a fair conclusion to say that under the
primary system the man in the office has
O better hold on it than under the conven-
ton system.
We have no doubt that possession of the
office and long incumbency greatly helped
Mr.. Tawney in the first congressional dis
trict and Mr. Fletcher in the fifth. In the
case of Mr.. Tawney, who enjoys the
widest reputation Of any member of the
Minnesota delegation, there was the feel
Ing that Minnesota could not afford to
withdraw such a prominent man from
Washington. His work for the anti-oleo-
margarin law gave him a particularly
strong hold on the voters Of a dairy dis
trict Putting aside the Cuban question
the voters thought 1t incumbent upon
them to reward a man who had been
faithful to and potential in fuTthering their
particular interests. Mr.. Fletchers nine
years of practice" in congress stood him
in good stead.
Turning to the districts where the con-
test was wholly between new men we find
that mere largeness Of acquaintance or
previous publicity did not determine re-
suits. Mr.. Davis was opposed in the third
district by men far better known than
himself The powerful personal influence
of Congressman Heatwole may be charge
able with the result there.
In the seventh district M. J. Bowling,
who may or may not be defeated. was
the best-known candidate, and in this re-
spect Senator Young was undoubtedly
next. Yet VolStead, the obscure one OF
the three, probably gets the nomination.
Perhaps the other two were too well
known. This may be said without re-
decting on them The campaign in the
seventh was a personal one on a huge
SCALE The voters after meeting all of the
candidates and hearing all about them
may have concluded that it was safer tc
choose the one about whom the least had
been said
1t is the bane of American politics that
candidacy for office almost invariably
sets the tongue of detraction wagging and
men find themselves accused of things
they never heard Of before.
There is no explanation Of the possible
defeat of Buchanan in the sixth except
that the voters had shrewdly taken his
measure and preferred a candidate Of
whom little was known.
The result in the ninth is not of a kline
to call for any particular explanation
STEVENSON just happened to get the mos
votes The voters had an ancient grudge
against S. G. Comstock, which put him
last in the race.
J. Adam Bede's victory in the eighth
was a foregone conclusion He was fa
better known than his opponent and IL
Mr.. Bede's case familiarity does not breed
contempt. OF the new men the most ma,
be expected from him. STEVENSON ant
Volstead are good lawyers and may b,
expected to develop into good congress
men. Mr.. Davis, because Of his treat
ment of the late Senator Davis, when tn,
latter came up for re- election. is not a
present a persona grata to the people O
the state. He must expect to gain thei
good will, If at all, by the record he ha
yet to make.