St. Paul, MN, 19 Jan. 1893
Dear Wilhelm.
With today's mail, I send you an English
newspaper, which you may not be able to read, but from which you can see that they honor me
so much to publish my picture in it. I recognize it an honor especially, since the paper
defends the republican principles, which are almost always the opposite of my democratic
views. The small biography, which the paper prints, is translated about like this:
"Clemens A. Huenck, representative of Benton County, resides in Duelm and operates a department store. He was one of the first settlers of the county and works from early to late for the benefit of his community. His long, flowing beard has at times been a reason to be mistaken by friends to be an Alliance man, and he was sometimes asked if he was not a relative of the United States Senator Pfeffer (who has the same beard and is an Alliance man or maybe even a populist), but such flattery, nobody refutes faster than he himself. He holds fast to his principles, laid down by Thomas Jefferson long ago and by Grover Cleveland, and he has no time for the radical wishes or desires of the Alliance or the populist party. He is more an intelligent and charitable businessman and makes an excellent representative."The picture in the paper is not too good, as a foto; they are thoughtlessly taken, for they are only used now and then and are not being paid for.
Yesterday was election day for the U.S.
senator the state of Minnesota sends to the legislature and, unfortunately, the German- and
Catholic foe, C.K. Davis, was elected or, better said, reelected. His term in office
is for six years. He received 85 of the 168 votes, so, just one vote would have denied
him the majority, and he would have lost at the next voting, for the current conditions would
have led to it. If there had been a way to prevent his election, it would have happened,
but the majority decides.
Our, or the lower house, consists of
114 members or representatives, and the upper house of 54 members or senators.
Both houses come together for this election.
Had he gotten the majority vote in the upper
house, both houses would not have had to convene. Minnesota sends two senators to the
U.S. legislature, and after two years, one has to be reelected, and we probably get a
democratic one.
The pay in the upper house is the same as in
the lower house, $5.00.
The weather here is pretty cold, mixed with
snowstorms. Further no news today.
With best regards to you all,
Clemens Hünck
Translated by Lucia Nezelek
