Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1922-02-08
STEVENSON ISSUES AN
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE
TO the Voters of the Ninth Congress
siOllal District

TO the Voters of the Ninth Congress
siollal District
Ladies and Gentlemen, and Committee
Members:
Having received many expressions
of approval and commentator Of my
work as your representative in Con-
gress, l have decided to again be
candidate.
Some of the measures I have cham
pioned, especially those III the inter-
est OF the farmers, have encountered
the opposition and hostility of power
full grain interests in the Twin Cities
and elsewhere, and these interests are
now laying plans for my defeat
Under the. new law the voters will
soon be called upon to give express
sion to their views in town meetings
and precinct elections by electing dele
gates to county conventions. AS this
comes at u time when, on account Of
my official duties in Washington, I
shall be unable to personally visit my
district, / will, therefore, leave my
cause in the hands Of my friends, old
and new, who have so faithfully stood
by me in the past.
The Pledge
NY attention has been called to the
announcement Of Mr.. Sageng in which
he states that he is a candidate, sub
ject to the action of the Congressional
convention, and that he pledges him
self to Loyalty support any other can
didate who may be endorsed"
I have been asked why I do not
make a similar pledge and the De-
troit Record editorilly reads me out
of the party for failure to do so. In
answer desire to say that after care
full study, I find nothing In the law
that requires such a pledge. On the
contrary, believe that if it is not
strictly against the letter of the law.
It certainly Is against the spirit and
policy of the law to attempt to get
votes by making such a promise. This
appears perfectly plain from the FOL-
lowing statutory provisions. Section
575 Of the Minnesota Corrupt Practice
Act which is applicable to pre- primary
conventions:
'Inducing of persons to become
or not to become candidates pro-
hibited-No person shall pay, or
promise to reward another in any
manner or form for the purpose
of inducing him to be or refrain
from or cease being candidate,
And also the Act Of Congress, ap-
proved August %, 1912, containing the
following: .,..s,y,.s. -. .3,.aG d. @-ss~. r..
mo candidate for representative
in Congress shall promise
to, use his influence or to
give his support to any person
for any Office or position for the
purpose of procuring the support
of such person, or Of any person,
in his candidacy"
There are several other candidates
for Congress and several for United
States Senator, but no one has sug
them.
the principle that the Office should
seek the man and indOrse some one
whose name had never been mentioned
as a candidate.
The Convention.
The principal duty Of the cOnven
ton will be to endorse the candidate
who will be most likely to best serve
the people, the party, and the country
and who has the best prospect o.
carrying the banner of the Republican
party to victory in the district at thu
primary and final election.
should consider it a great homo!
to receive the Endorsement and in tina
event would do my best to achiev'
victory at the polls.
Having ten successive times beer
nominated and elected by the people O.
the district as Republican owe
Democratic, Socialist and Independent
and Fusion opposition and having
been recognized in and out of Con
gress as a member of that party,
submit that no further evidence of m,
party fealty ought to be required, es
pecially as against those who hav
oppose dthe party in many campaign
during said time.
TO prove that the above view is COZ
rect, I need only cite Sec. 2 of tn
primary law which actually author
ICES the endorsement of a cand1dat
already endorsed by some other part
convention. Under this authority tn
convention might endorse the Demo
cratic nominee, thus effecting fusio
Of the two parties on that Office, Q
might endorse one who had alread
been endorsed by several political pal
ties, effecting fusion between all
endorsing.
go -"c The Farmer.
The office of Congressman does nc
exist for the purpose OF rewardln
worthy individuals, but to render sci
vice to the people. The question Ii
or should always be: "Who is the bes
qualified to faithfully attend to tn
peoples business, and truly represen
them and speak for them in Washing
ton?' j I'D
I have all my life. been intereste
in and identified with farming, an
have devoted myself while In Congress
largely to improvement Of the cond
ton of country life. It has been we
said that the establishment Of rurs
mail delivery constitutes "the renai'
sance Of the YeODle who live In th