The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-04
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
People who have things to say to the
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to use this column. But the space Is
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be "boiIed down" as much as possible.
Three hundred words Is a safe limit,
Mr.: Fletcher on His Candidacy.

Mr.. Fletcher on His Candidacy.
To the Editor Of The Journal.
notice your leading editorial of March
2, an article headed Wanted, a Repub-
l1can Congressman. .IS8
nave read ana re-read the article with
a good deal OF interest and cannot help re-
calling the many favorable editorials of
your valuable journal during the past ten
years commendatory Of the work I have
done In congress and my untiring zeal and
never tagging efforts in behalf of this
community. the full endorsement have al
ways had at your hands until the last UNI
fortunate campaign, when, to my painful
surprise, and believe to the public in gem
eral, and for some reason unknown to me,
you suddenly discovered that I did not
measure fully up to your standard for a.
representative In congress from this dis
tr1ct. You, In consultation with some very
wise and eminent statesmen did discover
one whom you considered an ideal candi-
date, very eloquent, aggressive young,
man, well qualified for the position. and
with your support brought him before the
people Of the district
In a campaign of nearly four months be-
fore the primaries a most strenuous war
rare was Waged against me by r h e
j n a l. misrepresenting my position
and views on great public questions, thus
creating dissension in the ranks of the re-
publican party. But at the roundup was
generously endorsed by the republicans Of
this congressional district The eminent
gentleman to whom you gave such loyal
support succeeded in CARRYING the smallest
ward in the city by a plurality of nine.
He also succeeded in carrying two towns
in the county out of thirty -ene-fwo towns
that polled less than 100 votes each. That
was the result of a four months campaign
by your very efficient, ideal candidate.
What followed in the campaign is famIl-
a H.. a I'll o,,1x
the republican support. and but for the
bitterness engendered by the position that
you and your candidate and his friends
occupied, I would have been elected in
November and you would have had a re-
publican representative from this district,
which you now feel is SO desirable.
Now you are advertising for another
eminent statesman. When you discover
one who fills the bills. according to YOUR
IDEAL let US again in a od-natured
straightforward contest submit our
claims and qualifications to the repub-
l1can voters Of this district and in a
man fashioned way abide by the result
do not at the present time call to mind
man that would be more enlinently
fitted for the high position of congress-
man from this district than yourself. and
II know of nothing that would give mo
greater delight than to submit our respec
tive claims and qualifications, our use
I.AAiAo9S' ~ Iiie HFOleTS OF the district, and
II you have more votes at the primaries
than | do l will give you the most cheer
full and loyal support for your success
that | am capable Of If you have M
ambition in that direction, when YOU dis
cover your ideal candidate and he de-
slres to make the contest, will be read
to join issues with him for the good of
the republican party and the success of
| the entire republican ticket.
| I know that have been treated ,arx,
| kindly and generously by the republicans
or Hennepln county. I have tried ia
render them good service in return.
am sure there is no man in this district
| that knows the wants, the needs and the
requirements of legislation for the welfare
OF the business interests Of this great
district better than do I have lived
here nearly ali my life. I have had but
one thought and one desire In NV public
career, and that Is the best interests of
all OF our citizens Had I been elected
In the last campaign I should not have
sought further favors or honors Of the
people OF the district. But / am not sat
isfied to lay down my public work. the
| Work that : have been engaged in for Sc
long, a defeated candidate, especially de
feated IN the manner in which 1was. after
50 cord1alaa nomination as received from
the people OF the district I had hoped
that in this coming election would have
no opposition. and l still have hopes tc
that end. But If we are to have con
/ test let 1t be manly and fair, and lei
all republicans join hands cheerfullv II
the result of the primaries and rail-,
around the old flag for a. triumphant vic.
1 tory in November Il. Flefcher
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