The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-10
Steel Trust Man Is a Candidate
For Delegate at-Large.
Senator CIapp Is Said to Be
Opposed to Him; Why?
La Toilette Backers Are Putting
Up Stiff Battle Also.

The Minneapolis Journal says that
Thomas Lowry is a candidate for one
of Minnesota's four delegates at large
to the republican national convention.
This became known in local politi-
cal circles this morning and Mr.. Lowry
when seen afterwards said that if he
were to be chosen as delegate he
would be glad to serve.
"Twice before" he said, 81 was
chosen as delegate to a republican
national convention without knowing
anything about it in advance. This
time some of my friends came to me
and asked me if l would serve; and
told them that if / were the choice
of the party 1 would be willing to
serve"
When asked by The Journal as to
his preference between an instructed
or uninstructed delegation Mr.. Lowry
said as general proposition he favor
ed uninstructed delegations, but he did
not like to commit himself as to this
particular case without further time
to consider. He was even more non
committal as to the third-term ques-
tion and the candidacy of Secretary
Taft for the presidency.
When asked how he considered the
candidacy of Frank B. kellogg of st.
Paul as possible member-at large of
the Minnesota delegation Mr.. Lowry
preferred not to express himself. 81
have always been Franks friend"
he said, "but this is st. Paul fight
and / would not like to take any hand
in it."
Frank B. Kellogg will have to fight
for his place as delegate-at large from
Minnesota to the republican national
convention. Strange to say, the oppo
sition to him centers in the Twin
Cities, and the Standard Oils Nemesis
has contest on his hands right at
home
Kellogg is outspoken for Taft, and
is close to President Roosevelt, but it
is apparent that there are other inter
ests besides the La Toilette coterie
that are determined not to let Taft
have the Minnesota delegation. 1t has
been suspected in the last few days
that the Lowry interests are against
kellogg, and will fight against Taft
delegation. They are believed to- be
planning pretty strong line of oppo-
sition in both Hennepin and Ramsey
counties. In Hennepin the announce
ment of Mr.. Lowry was not uneXpect-
ed and in Ramsey the talk is of
George Thompson of M. d. Mum.
Senator Clapp and the federal
crowd" generally are reported to be
hostile to kellogg. The junior senator
has not forgotten that Kellogg was a
dark horse at the time of his re-
election in 1905, and has fears of
Kellogg when the next occasion arises
in 1911. The men holding office by
grace of Clapp share his feeling.
This element is now talking of an
"uninstructed Roosevelt delegation"
from Minnesota. Such a delegation,
though, would be hostile to Taft, and
in that sense would not please Roose-
welt at all.
Kellogg has developed into the head
of the Taft movement in the state. So
far it is unorganized, but it is report
ed that Taft campaign will soon be
under way in Minnesota.
Naturally, the La Toilette organiza-
ton is atCacking Kellogg. There has
beens considerable talk against Kellogg
on account of his activities as cor
poration lawyer, but that has been
counteracted since kellogg entered the
government service, dissolved the pa
per trust land then opened his great
campaign against the Standard Oil. In
the last two or three years he has
become very close to President Roose
welt, and that fact has removed to a
large extent the former objection to
him as national committeeman and a
delegate.
Now, however, Kellogg is between
two fires. On one side are the cor
poration interests that are hostile to
Roosevelt, and therefore to Taft and
Kellogg. On the other is the radical
element that cannot forgive Kellogg
for having accepted retainers from cor
porations in the past.
The Lowry interests, it is rumored,
favor Hughes for the nominee, though
it begins to look like a three cornered
fight in Minnesota
Injured in Runaway.