The Minneapolis journal., 1903-01-23
MINNESOTA POLITICS


ously hurt the feelings of good many
Of his friends when he endorsed the re-
appointment Of A. w. Sheets as postmas-
ter at Long Prairie. The appointment was
made by Congressman Morris, but as
Mr.. Jermaine wired T he jour n a ]
yesterday from Washington, it was done
with the endorsement of Buchanan, who,
after March 4, will control the patronage
of the new sixth district.
In standing by Sheets the congressman
elect, possibly against his will, recog-
n1zed a debt which he owed the anti
Babcock element in the fifty third legis-
lative district. And thereby hangs a
tale.
year ago, when all sorts Of plots
were" being Matched against the renom-
ination of Governor Van SAINT, James A.
Martin undertook the seemingly hopeless
task Of lining up the sixth district solid
ly behind the governor. The danger Sec
ton was in Crow Wing and Morrison
counties, and the leaders of the element
that was feared were c. B. Buckman and
A. l.. Ferris, now as always comrades in
politics. But Buchanan was then a can
didate for congress, and it was his sue
| cess that this element was looking for,
far more than the scalp of Van SAINT or
any other man. Knowing this, Martin
treated with them. He had behind him
some of the best men in the district, who
did not care much for Buckman, but
were determined that Governor Van SAINT
should be renominated. They were such
men as Alvah Eastman Of st. Cloud
Colonel Whitney and c. G. Eastman OF
Wadena, Sheets Of Long Prairie and Cobt
of Park Rapids. These men were ready
to do almost anything to help Van SAINT
and they entered with Martin in the deal
| Buckman and Ferris were to line up anC
work for Van SAINT, and in return the
Van SAINT men who were in the dea
| would stand by Bucl1man. The deal was
carried out. Buckman and Ferris an
nounced themselves for Van SAINT much
! to the disgust of the cabal that wassfornil
| ing, and this had much to do with the
collapse Of the Van SAINT opposition. The
| Van SAINT men then took hold Of Buck
mans primary election campaign in theil
| respective counties, with the result thai
he carried Stearns, Wadena and Hub.
| bard. Feeling was strong against him ii
Todd, which he lost, but Sheets stuck
of his political friends. The Babcocl
combination in that legislative distric
was not particularly unfriendly to Buck
man, but did nothing of consequence TO-
him, and only the hard work of the anti
Babcock leaders, keeping faith will
Buckman, kept those counties from goin.
overwhelmingly against him.
Sheets, like the rest fought Babcoc1
hard at the primaries and also in tn
speakership contest, and the Babcock mel
demanded of Buckman that he turn Sheet
down. Buckman worked for Babcock il
the speakership contest, Indicating tha
his alliance with Van SAINT was only tenn
porary, but the course of events prove
that he has not forgotten to keep fait]
with the men who helped him to his hard
won nominate
The Fletcher Peterson Meetlnq.
Local republicans are 10th to believe tina
Congressman Fletcher has entered int
any alliance with James A. Peterso
which involves the latter's advancement
1t is true that prior to year ago Fletche
and Peterson were very good friends, bu
the savage assaults Peterson made durfn
his primary election campaign angere
Fletcher beyond measure. However h
has evidently forgiven Peterson to the eS
tent Of hobnobbing with him in a socis
way at Washington, but the Fletcher me
cannot think that their chief has mad
terms with the man whom above all other
they blame for Lind's election.
Their grudge against Peterson is Of sti
more recent date. His activity for Bal
cock and against Johnson in the speake,
{ ship fight made Peterson lace high" wit
the "insurgent" element, but it hurt hi,
with large majority Of the local republ
cans. who are not disposed to indorse pei
Y petual knocking of the home candidat
5 Some Of Johnson's strongest supporter
j, were Fletcher's right-hand men, and the
3 say openly that no matter what sort
I terms are made at Washington, they wi
never line up for Peterson.
, 1t seems very likely that Mr.. Fletcht
2 speaks truth when he says that ether
: will be no more democratic congressme
from Hennepin,' but it is not so certai
that the next republican congressman wi
S be of Mr.. Fletcher's choosing. There
l plenty Of good material in sight, and I'll
t situation at present seems very favorab
Y to Eugene G. Hay, who ran second to M
Fletcher at the primaries last fall.
80 E' Charles B. Cheney.