The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-01
FRED STEVENS IS
ON EASY STREET
FIREWORKS OF ROGERS CAM
PAIGN HAVE ALL BEEN
BURNED
st. Paul Congressman Certain to Win
an Overwhelming Victory Over His
Testy Rival, Who Has Made q Cam
paign Of Personal Abuse and Liberal
Spending.

Paul seems absolutely assured Of re-
nomination and reelection. The bitter
fight made against him by his repub-
hcan opponent, E. G. Rogers, has be-
gun to react, and the impartial verdict
Of St. Paul politicians is that Stevens
will carry the primaries by at least
two to one, and probably three to one.
water, and has all the grafters and
leg-pullers attached to his organization.
The "sport s' are for Rogers, and make
quite a noise for him in the downtown
districts, but out in the residence por-
tions Of st: Paul there is little or no
Rogers sentiment. When it is analysed,
the Rogers support SINNERS down to
three elements. First, there is the
floating class which is for Rogers be-
cause he spends money. Second, there
are politicians who have grievances
against Stevens, and third, there are
personal friends of Rogers, and men
who are under obligations to him for
past favors.
Rogers has been badly disappointed
in his reception. He had a meeting
adyertised for Wednesday night in the
Fifth ward, but when he arrived no
one was present but a few Of his hang
ers-on. He drove them out with oaths
to bring In an audience, and even went
out on the street corner himself and
stopped passers-by, trying to bring
them in to hear him make speech.
He has also received "frosts' in other
wards where he has gone to present his
claims.
The character of his Organization is
one Of the worst handicaps for Rogers
Oar Reese is his chief platform apolog.
lst: headquarters are in the office Of
Ill III
managers. Another leadings Rogers
cred factotum of Governors Nelson
Clough and Lind. Rogers managers
have been running the campaign on a
low plane, chiefly abuse Of Stevens
Ihey have put out circulars and posters
attacking the congressman scurrilouslv
on the old bank trouble, relic of
panic days before Stevens COMPRESSION.
al career began. The effort to make
votes by digging up ancient scandal
has reacted. The people of the district
feel that after ten years in congress
Stevens ought not to be subjected to
such treatment. : -
What Rogers Said in 1900.
Mr.. Rogers himself knew the stories
that he is now circulating when he
made his speech at Cambridge, Mimi,
May II, 1900, placing F. @. Stevens in
nomination for his third term in con
gress: In that speech Mr.. Rogers said 4:
What more can be said Of q man
than that he is always equal to the
trusts reposed In him, always faithful
and true to his constituency: that he
has never neglected their interests, has
never been false to trust. ALI that
l can say Of our splendid representa-
The seconding speech, was made by
Oar Reese. Two years before Mr.. Reese
nominated Stevens in the convention,
Rogers. They iaaded Him the s 1 but a ny
abusing him now for acts he IS alleped
to have committed long before those
speeches were made.
One Of the Rogers arguments that
was spread over the district at first
was that Stevens had been in congress
ten years, and had received all the hon
or one man should ask for. It was time
for him to step aside for some other
good republican,. It hash It taken long
to answer this argument. Mr.. Rogers
has been clerk Of courts for twelve
years, enjoying an income Of $4,000 to
$4,000. a year from fees, the latest
office IN the state. Mr.. Stevens has
Years.
Ing every cent Of his $4,000 salary for
necessary expenses, and has arrived at
a pitch Of influence and usefulness
rivaled by few men in congress.
Was Flash in the Pan.
The Rogers campaign went for a
while like whirlwind, and made ouite
furry in the district. Many feared
Stevens was going to be beaten, Rop-
ers made foray into Chisapo county
and bought the support of some pa
pers. He lined up some leading poll
ticlans who were sore toward Stevens.
and passed the word in st. Paul that
he had Chisago solid. This news had A.
moral effect in st. Paul, where plenty
Of noise was being made for Rogers.
The situation has since changed all
around: Stevens friends have been en-
tightening the voters of Chisago as to
the character Of the opposition, and the
Rogers boom is fading there. In Wash
ington county be has been able to get
very little foothold. Saltwater is strong
for Stevens on account of his work in
getting public building for the town.
and q disinterested politician from
Washington county says Rogers will
hardly get "look in' there.
AS far as Ramsey is concerned. there
is now no doubt of Stevens lead. Roy
ers will carry some Of the downtown
precincts, but the residence districts,
where the heavy republican vote is cast,
will 20 overwhelmingly for the con.
gresham. The Rogers candidacy has
passed its best days. The bottom has
fallen out. Of it, and during the last
two weeks of the campaign it will at