The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-03
FLETCHER' S SILENCE
Furnishes Text for Speech by Eu.
gene &. Hay Before Fifth Ward
Republican Club.
The Fifth District HAS an Interest
in Great National Questions
.. Says Mr.. Hay. .,

Eugene G. Hay spoke before the Fifth
Ward Republican club last evening. He
noted the fact that Mr.. Fletcher had
ignored the questions he propounded. and
criticised the congressman statement
that the people of the district were more
interested in local matters than in ma
tional questions. He said in part:
Il do not believe that you should send
me to congress simply because T want to
go. There are differences between Mr..
Fletcher and me as to what representa-
tive should do in congress and it is on
that account that L expect to be sent
down there. I do not believe that local
and not national issues are paramount
with the people Of this district.
Il believe that the people Of this dis
trict consider themselves part. of the
great nation and have an interest in the
great national questions which congress
is called on to deal with; that this is not
a little pocket borough set apart by itself
and caring nothing about the great ma
ton of which it is a part.
Il believe that it was to establish this
fact. that the country entered into four
nesota, the most gallant regiment the
world ever saw, swept down the slope at
Gettysburg into the red jaws Of deat TIL
The conflict of that day, and the day
following, decided for all time the para
mount Importance of the nation to any
have, a deep interest in all questions Of
national Importance that come before
congress. The isthmian canal is not only
a national question, but one affecting our
local business interests. Cuban reciprocity
affects us on economic grounds, and the
moral side Of it appeals to us as citizens
of the nation.
/ Questions Repeated.
Mr. Fletcher has seen fit to ignore the
Yo1 l. %I,~,, IL
ago, and from his silence I take it for
granted that my construction of the rec
ord Is correct. asked him then, and l
repeat the questions tonight:
"First-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 voting against the bill and
Mr.. Shattuc Is recorded Is paired with
Mr.. Wooten?
"Third-If you were not paired upon
the amendment taking the differential
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 opposition
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 refined sugar:
Do you not know that the only interest
the sugar trust had in this legislation was
in preserving the differential on refined
| sugar."
If Mr.. Fletcher continues to ignore these
| questions, I shall assume that the record
is CORRECT, and that he alone of all the
Minnesota delegation did exactly what the
| sugar trust wanted him to do His posi-
ton was unique among all the northwes
ern members, and from his silence At, l!
only fair to assume, and for the remainder
of this campaign shall assume, that Mr.
Fletcher is the peculiar representative o
| the sugar trust.