The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-15
THEY DISCUSS
MINI. POLITICS
Washington Wiseacres Prelict a Re
newal Of the Fletcher-Hay
Fight Next Year.
Moses Clapp Is Picked as the Win
ner in the Senatorial
Race.
Eddy Laughs at Worlds Report That
Rural Carriers Are Against
Roosevelt.

R00SeVelC.
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build.
ing, Washington,
WASHINGTON, D. c., uJne Is. - Min
nesota politics have been discussed fire.
uuently in Washington during the past
ten days, owing to the presence here Of
several well known public men from the
state. These men bring word OF very
serious situation in Hennepin county. Mr..
Fletcher, they say Is determined that Mr..
Hay shall not be candidate for congress,
and If nominated that he shall be defeated.
MIR. Fletcher would be glad to run for
mayor If he could be persuaded that Hay
would not run for congress-; but II Hay
runs for congress Fletcher wants to be in
position to draw his snickersee and go
after him. Some Of those who were in
Washington the past week thought 1t
would be a good idea for both Fletcher and
Hay to retire next year; others thought
that Hay could not afford to retire under
fire, but would be compelled by Fletcher's
hostility to make the run again for the
congressional nomination.
The senatorship also has received some
attention here. Senator Clapp is admitted
to have strong leverage. Many OF the
lholdover state senators are his friends, and
he is expected to have strong support in
northern Minnesota, and the official sup
port OF st. Paul. If defeated It must be by
"a fight led by Hennepin county, with the
support of the southern part Of the state,
and possibly of the third district: The in
ability Of Hennepin to get together in the
past suggests that she will not be able to
get together next year, and this Is re-
garded as another element Of Clapp
strength. t..--.
] Lowry Possibility.
Thomas Lowry was in Washington for
a day, but on business connected with the
II Ia ,nf fo1l II foc hI1f no
found a good many Minnesota politicians
here, and they did the talking after he had
gone away. Mr.. Lowry's availability as a
candidate for the senate is conceded by
these gentlemen, and the fact that he is a,
railway president Is rather counted as an
element Of strength, strange this may
appear. On second thought, however,
there is nothing strange about it.. The 500
railway is peculiarly Minnesota institu-
ton. It has done more to keep rates level
and to keep the state out Of the clutches
of the Chicago lines than it has been cred
lited with thus far, and Mr.. Lowry as its
president Is therefore entitled to the conf
dence of the state. and If a candidate for
the senate, ought to have a large support.
So argue the politicians here, but they do
not fail to take into account the we'll
known inability of Hennepin county to
support anybody solidly for any high Of
flee, and 1t Is their opinion that the Lowry
candidacy, should it become real fact.
crippled as to prevent Lowry from being
elected.
The governorship, too, has been attract
ing considerable attention, and Mr.. Eddy's
presence has given an impetus to talk Of
the state ticket 1t is believed here that
conditions are very likely to shape them
selves in way that will require Van SAINT
to run again, and should he run the wise
ones in Washington think he get the
nomination. They also think there Is a
Heatwole and Eddy will not be candidates
for the nomination than that Van SAINT
Twill not be. This Is said despite the gov
ernors recent statement that he is not a
candidate. Events may develop that will
demand that he enter the race, and the
gossips here think the chances are more
than even that they will develop. On the
surface, however, 1t Is cheerfuly con-
Eceded that Dunn is the strongest candi-
date.
Eddy Is Waiting.
1 Eddy has not declared himself, and will
mot do 50 unless the opening should seem
to invite it. His strength at present lies
in his splendid isolation. He is in COM
bination with nobody. Heatwole Is be-
ing figured as a powerful factor in deter
mining who the next governor is to be.
He may or he may not be candidate
himself, this Ringing upon the way in
which the situation shapes up during the
summer, fall and early winter If neces-
sary to the carrying out Of his plans, he
will come into the race, altho it Is felt
here that he would much prefer to have
somebody else make the race and win,
with the backing of his organization
There are many here who believe that
Sounn and Heatwole parted company be-
cause there was room in the proposed
combination for only one big man, and
neither would give way to the other. The
rupture Is said to be genuine.
Carriers Not for Hanna.
Former Representative Frank M. Eddy
lof Minnesota was highly amused at the
sensational story published recently in the
New York World, to the effect that the
'Irural free delivery service was intended
to be a part OF an anti-Roosevelt machine
the rural carriers to spread the gospel Of
Hannaism over the country and poison
ishe minds of the people against the presi-
dent. Mr.. Eddy said:
5. "a more foolish report has not come ou
of the New York newspapers for a long
time. I happen to know a good deal abou
THE rural free delivery business, and an
very familiar with its workings in the
middle west, notably in Minnesota, the
IDakotas, Wisconsin and Iowa. In these
states the rural free delivery carriers ar.
almost without exception strong Roosevelt
men, and it has been difficult to proven
them from talking Roosevelt while in tn,
discharge of their daily work. Such talk
OF course, IS contrary 70 the pOStOftc
rules
II n all Of the middle west can say
with entire truth, that the rural free de
livery institution has added immensef
to the presidents popularity with the PEG
pie, and am advised on good authorit,
that this is the case also in the east. TIL
rural free delivery has done the presi
dent an immense amount of good alon
practical lines, and no harm. I never hav
heard of rural carrier, who being a re
publican, was not supporter Of the pres
ident.''
Hay at the Capital.
Eugene G. Hay spent several days i
washington. looking up Canadian reel
procity with the president, Secretary Ha
and with other public officials. He di
not learn anything new. In fact, he wa
told very frankly at the state department
that he had much fresher and more com