The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-05
MINNESOTA POLITICS

Lively Contests Promised at the Pri-
rnares In at Least Five Congressional
q Dstricts-SIxth Already a Storm Gen.
ter. a.-..-1
Strenuous attempts will be made to un-
seat majority of the nine congressman
from Minnesota at the primaries next
year, In spite. Of the big handicap placed |
by the primary law any man who
undertakes to defeat congressman. The
sitting member, with his franking privi-
lege, has all the advantage in cam
paign of advertising, such as the primary
election requires, and has the advantage
of being already well known to the voters
His opponent must get into personal touch
with the people Of the entire district at |
his own expense. The postmasters form
the nucleus Of a powerful machine, rein
forced by other federal appointees, and
the large majority of the newspapers are
thus lined up for the congressman.
However, the fact that it is so hard to
get a man out Of congress under the
present system seems to be powerful
inducement to others who want to get
in. The chances are that there will not
be any primary contest in the first dis
trict against James A. Tawney, in the
third against C.. R. Davis, or in the sew
enth against A. J. Volstead. In all this
other districts there is trouble brewing,
and a probability of a good fight in at
least five of the six.
The situation is further developed in
the sixth district than anywhere. While
Ripley B. Brewer Of St. Cloud has not
made any formal announcement, his
friends have given it out positively that
he will file for congress and make things
interesting for C. B. Buchanan. The con-
CHEESEMAN'S friends have been trying to
| switch Brewer to the governorship, and
! have promised him the solid support of
the sixth district in the state convention
| If he will say. the word. But Brewer has
been deaf to their: pleas, and. declares
! thatEhe does not care to be governor. He
| does want to go to congress and carve
out a career at Washington, and he will
make the effort Of his life next summer.
Brewer is good campaigner, and with
| an even start he would be pretty sure
of a victory. Conditions are peculiar in
the district, however. Many who took
sides with Dunn last year are prejudiced
| against st. Cloud as the home Of Judge
| Collins, and against Brewer as one of
| the Collins leaders. At the same time
| some Of the strongest Collins men in the
district are tied up to Buchanan. James
| A. Martin and G. G. Eastman are post
masters at ST. Cloud and Wadena, and
are supposed to be under pledge to the
man who secured their appointment
| Then it is quite possible that there will
be other candidates to split up the anti
Buchanan strength. A. L. Cole of Walker
has not declared his intentions, and con-
trary to all reports has not taken himself
out of the range of congressional posi-
bilities Cole is strong in the northern
counties, and should he enter would make
. the fight more doubtful than ever. He
! would cut into Buchanan quite as much
as into Brewer, and possibly more. There
is another possible entry, however. A. F.
Foster of .Litchfield, who has made two
races against Buchanan, and lost the first
one by only thirty votes, is not sure that
he is ready to quit. If he concludes to
try again it will split the southern end
of the district, and cut into Brewer prob
ably more than anyone else. The out
look certainly indicates 'lovely fighting"
in the old sixth.
T. Reports from the eighth indicate that
j J. Adam Bede will have to defend his
n title next year, after having a free field
at the last primary. Bede has gotten into
some patronage troubles that have an
tagonized large section of the party
in Duluth and elsewhere. He seems to
have been more than usually unfortunate
in running into fights which left sore
spots. Bede had strong opposition when
first nominated, and much Of this feeling
still remains. The man selected to try
conclusions with the congressional humor-
list is said to be w. p: Culkin. formerly
Of Buffalo, from which village he was
, appointed register of the Duluth land
office Bede has let Cullzin out, and the
former register now a citizen of Duluth
is said to be ready to make a contest
He is a campaigner of no ordinary ability.
and may give sBede trouble u
The prospects are that the second dis
trict will see a fight on the same lines
as last year. The McCleary opposition
will run someone, and is endeavoring tt
get H. j. Miller to go after the school
), master again. 1t is recognized that {
! good deal depends on McCleary's success:
: in landing the craftsmanship of appropria
: lions. If he wins it he will be strongl.
, irtrenched and if he loses the opposition
; will have considerable to say. Ed Weave
Of Mankato is discussed as possible
, home opponent of McCleary. George w
) Somerville has had congressional ambi
), tions but will not be reckoned with mex
2. wear It is assumed that Judge B. F
t Weber Of the ninth district is going t
: | retire next year, and in that event Sena
r tor Somerville expects to be a candidat
t for the judgeship.
: & In the fourth district there IS the pros
d pective three-cornered contest, with Hile
i n. Horton and E. J. Rogers attacking tn
intrenchments of F. G. Stevens. In tn
fifth there will be fair-sized field G
IS candidates whether Uncle Loren quit
IS or not. William n. Eustis Albert F
Y Hall, w. D. Washburn, Jr., w. s. OWN
6 nell, John G.. Lund and others are dis
:; cussed as possible entries. AS for tn
: ninth district, Halvor Stevenson seem
n likely to succeed himself, but A.
3 Stephens wants to put him out and wi
IS lsbe candidate If he sees a good open
n ing. Stevenson has put a quietus on hi
e proposed candidacy for governor, an
ID says he will be candidate for thir
n term in congress. so there is no prospec
r. Of his being sidetracked.
y Charles B. Cheney.