The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-12
A NEW MACHINE
FOR HENNEPlN
An Inner Circle of Republicans
Formed to Control Nominal
tions Next Year.
It's Influence Has Already Been Felt
in the Late Speakership
t.. Fight.
Plans Said to Include New Commit
tee, Hays Defeat and Places
for Several.

New combinations are being formed in
Henneptn county politics, and a machine
is already being built with the avowed OBJ
ject Of controlling local nominations next
year. 1t also intends to determine the
status of Hennepin county in the next
state convention, name the delegates and
help set up the state ticket
James A. Peterson and John II. Steele,
who led the Hennepin county Babcock
lobby in the recent speakership contest
are the nucleus Of the organization. It is
a new alignment, however. and is not con-
fined to the men who supported Peterson
in the congressional race. 1t has gained
strength by various other alliances. S.
l.. Trussell is said to be one Of the leading
lights. and Peter G.. Sjoblon, formerly
assistant secretary Of state, is high up
in its councils. It has gained enough adj
herents from Loren Fletcher's former
friends to lend more color to the story OF
a Fletcher-Peterson alliance.
The promoters of the organization dined
together the night of the speakership eau
Gus and have held two meetings since, one
just after Mr.. Petersons return from
Washington. They scored a,~victory when
they turned nine of the ,Hennepin delega-
ton away from the home candidate for
speaker and another when they captured
the organization of the Hennepin Repub-
lican association at it's recent annual
meeting. Thomas H. Salmon, who was
elected president, is zone of the boys
and it is said to be the intention of the
new machine to use the H. r. A. for their
purposes. freezing out the opposition.
Those who are on the inside deny, that
the organization has any state sisnifl-
canoe. They say it is merely put up in
order to get recognition for Peterson,
Steele and the other promoters. However,
Fthe first test Of strength will come next
year when the county. convention meets
| to elect delegates to the state convention.
AI.~>4
| time. it will decide whom Hennepin will
support for governor, and for the other
| state officers. There is a strong suspi-
! cion that the intention of the promoters is
to turn the organization over to the Heat
Wole combination, and support Dunn for
| governor. It is said to be committed to
Ray Jones for a second term as lieuten-
ant governor. which shuts out the ambi-
tons Of G. A. Smith in the direction Of
the governors office.
The present county committee is to
walk the plank. if the Steele Peterson ma
chine wins out at the May primarie next
year. The campaign committee is to be
organized by the new crowd, and Messrs
Matchan and Girling will have to retire.
Stated in brief, the present intention of
| this new organization seems to be:
To throw out the present county COM
mittee,' and control the organization and
patronage. i'., ''> ~
To nominate Ray Jones for lieutenant
governor and sidetrack c. A. Smith.
To help name the next state ticket, and
control He1inepin patronage under the
! next governor. -- 49,.
| To defeat Eugene G. Hay for congress
and nominate Loren Fletcher or Frank M.
| Nye. .-. .-~. $50: -. .:..s. -
| TO nominate John H. Steele for district
, judge, H.. - l..
TO name the Hennepin delegation in the
| next legislature. ID s4.s.ss 4 r... .-
To find something good for James A.
| Peterson. ..=.4.s.5. L ..s..