The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-03
Mr.. HAY. OPENS CAMPAIGN
Gives Clear Outline of Position on
Important Questions.

Eugene G. Hay opened his formal cam
paign for the republican congressional
nomination in the fifth district with an
address in the Fourth Ward WigWam last
night The attendance was good and Mr..
Hays statements, which he had careful
1y prepared, were listened to with great
deal of interest. 1t is his purpose in
the next two months to deliver substan-
TALLY the same address at number of
points in the district, to the end that
as many of the voters as possible may
know definitely what his position is re-
garding important pending public ques-
tions. E -.-'.
To begin with, Mr.. Hay stands square
ly for an isthmian canal, holding the mat
ter of route to be a matter Of detail. He
attacked the position of Representative
Fletcher, which he said had been con-
sistently hostile to canal legislation, and
argued that that position was directly
opposed to the interests of Minnesota
and the northwest in opposing canal
legislation, and finally, as last resort,
stating that he favored the Darien route,
which Mr.. Hay said. was the last refuge
Of the anti-canal politicians in congress.
Mr.. Fletcher has run directly counter to
the wishes of his constituents. While
suggesting that a great deal of the OPP,
position in congress to an isthmian canal
was insincere and prompted by unworthy
motives, Mr.. Hay was careful to say that
he was willing to give Mr.. Fletcher credit
for being sincere.
On the question of reciprocity in gen.
eral and of reciprocity with Cuba in par
ticular, Mr.. Hay was equally emphatic.
He announced that he stood Squarely with
the president, and believed that congress
! should have given Cuba some definite re-
| lief in the way of trade advantages: To
| fail to do SO was to ignore moral OBJ
| legation of the most important character.
The applause which followed these state
menth showed that the audience was in
| sympathy with them.
Mr.. Hay favors a radical revision of the
Dingley law, especially as to the iron and
steel and other so-cal!ed trust" sched-
| ules. This revision, however, he thinks
should be made by the friends of protec-
tion, the republicans, and not by it's enc
mics, the democrats.
| He favors free wheat and made an
elaborate argument to show how it would
result in direct and immediate benefit to
| the American Wheat-grower and miller.
He would have it brought about through
a reciprocal trade arrangement If pos
sible. Great care has been taken with
this portion of the address, because of
| the Importance which the subject Of free
wheat has for the milling industry of
| Minneapolis.
AS to trusts, Mr.. Hay also took de-
cided stand. He would bring all great
combina tions of capital under proper con-
troll, and, while realizing that doubts ex-
! ist- as to whether any proper way. of. do
ing this has yet been found, is inclined
to think that a law providing that all
capital stock shall be fully paid UP in
cash would accomplish much. -....z r.
| AS a whole, the address was manly
| and frank statement of the speakers posi-
tion, regarding all public questions, and
a pledge of what he will do regarding
them if sent to represent this district
in congress. The audience was sympa-
thetic and interrupted him frequently
with enthusiastic applause.
Speaking of Cuban reciprocity and the
attitude of the Minnesota delegation in
congress on that great question, Mr.. Hay
quoted well-known epigram that what
was morally wrong could not be POLITICAL
ly right The address will be interest
ing as pointing out~the principal lines
along which he proposes to urge his can
didacy.
John sch1ener presided at the meeting