New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1896-11-18
COMMUNICATED.

The notion seems 10 prevail among Tilt
leading Republicans of this city that thu
vote cast for John Lind in the Scandlna
Wan townships of the county was small
one end in no way complimentary tc
Mr.. Lind. Let us see. ., u
Every friend Of Mr.. Lind and Of the
cause for which he struggled regrets, OF
course, that his vote was not larger-that
it did not approach unanimity-but let
us look for moment for an explanation
as to why it did not and why the vote
accorded to the silver candidate for gov
e1nor must, under the circumstances, be
considered tremendous. We haven't far
to look.
In the first place there has never been
waged in the political history OF this
county more bitter contest against a
candidate for office than that vaged a.
gainst MIR. Lind.
Again, the Scandinavian settlements
have always constituted Republican
strongholds. The reason for this is OBJ
vious The Scandinavians came to this
country in the most glorious period of
Republican rule. They took up, natur
ally, with the party that appeared to
spread prosperity, and they taught their
children to do all in their power to pro-
mote its intelests-even to shed their
blood for it if necessary: as they had
done during the war. The word ''Dem-
ocrat'' was considered a most fit term of
abuse, and Republican papers were found
in every hut and howell. Every other
kind of political reading would be looked
upon as contraband. Two things would
be found in the poorest farm house-a
Bible and the leading Republican paper,
the "Skandinaven.' The latter general
ly received the most attention and con-
sequently welded a great influence. 1t
was the political Bible.
During the late campaign this paper
was mailed, free of cost, to every voter,
and, Ignore than that, to people who never
existed and to some who died years ago.
In one house found seven copies.
To send out literature in this manner
during a political campaign "that's
just the stuff for Nellie's garden" but
it costs money and lots of money too.
And what reading Every line written
with the intention of influencing the vot-
ers. Contradictions and falsehood!
Donnelly once said of the editor, that he
was ''a scamp who sold his countrymen
for DOODLE" A truer statement was new
er put into print. The editorw was prom
inent worker in the ranks of the reform
party in his native country and intro
duced himself to his countrymen here
through series of articles headed: "Thc
farmer ought to rule tins land and coun-
try'
What this paper is to the Norwegians,
the ''Svenska Folkets Tidning" is to the
SWeles.
Their influence is great, whether it be
for good or bad.
But there's still another reason why
John Lind didn't get all Of the votes in
Linden and Lake Hanska. In every
township there will always be found
some of those red haired foxes moving a
boat with smiles on their faces and death
in their hearts, sneaking for a chance to
deal deadly blow and managing always
to SO manipulate matters as TO reap prof
IT for themselves. These fellows were
on the war path during the recent cam
paign, and it was hardly to be expected
that they would cast their support with
Il man like Lind, for in doing so there
would be no harvest in it for themselves.
Accordingly they fought him bitterly.
Next think of the work done outside
and inside Of the county! No farmer
could go to his naarket-place no matter
whether it was New Ulm, Madelia or St.
james, without being most earnestly en-
tFeated to vote against such a rascal,
thief and freethinkey as Lind. The very
poli,i;al hirel1ngs who worked that
scheme were only few months ago adj
mire!rss Of this same Lind; Some Of them
had the benefit Of his inideHcs, and some
of them,whp were loudest in crying" free
thinker" had not placed their feet with
IN house of worship since the day of
their confirmation.
Perhaps too it was fault on the part
of Mr.. Lind not to spend little of his
hard-pressed time during the campaign
L