The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-23
MINNESOTA POLITICS
Second District May Present George w.
somerville as a Candidate for Gov
sernor--Would Solve Some Political
Problems in That Section of the State
Opposition Brewing for Judge
] Searie.

:. Southwestern Minnesota is the scene
.Of a goyernorship boom that Is likely
to become an important factor in the
state situation. George w. Somervil1e Of
Sleepy Eye, state senator from the
Brown-Redwood district for the . past
eight years. Is the proposed candidate.
Senator Somerville has been considered
probable successor to Judge Weber OF
New Ulm, who is almost certain to retire
next year, but the latest report Ia that
he has serious thoughts Of contesting
for the governorship and is receiving
considerable encouragement.
Senator Somerville is widely known
over the state as an attorney, and was
one of the counsel for DR.. Koch in the
three great trials Of the New Ulm case.
He. is better known, however, for his leg
islative activity. He is author Of the act
requiring foreign corporations doing
business in the state to pay a license fee
and appoint an agent so they can be sued
In the, state courts. He was. chairman
of the. senate judiciary committee at the
last two sessions, played a prominent
part in revising the revised statutes, and
drafted the latest inheritance tax bill,
which is now being tested In court.
Politically speaking, the Sleepy Eye
| man occupies a strategic position. He has
always been an -McCleary man, and
| man. ! In order to get him out of Nc
| Cleary's way it Is said that the congress-
mans friends would be pleased to help
! him get the nomination for governor.
expecting in return, Of course, that
Somervile would stand by McCleary
thereafter. This would be an excellent
stroke Of business for McCleary.
| On the other hand, there are several
! aspirants for, Judge Webber's place In
! the sninth judicial district, which; takes
in four counties outside Of the second
!, congressional district, and the other
iudgeship candidates would be glad
! back Somerville for governor. Bowers OF
i Redwood Falls, Virgil B. Seward Of Mar
shall and others are anxious to support
the man from Sleepy Eye. With the Sec
ond congressional and the ninth judicia
districts to start with, Somerville would
be, In a position to play an important par
in the state convention. Somerville anc
Samuel Lord are good friends, and botf
are strong in the senatorial coterie, ant
lit would be interesting. to- see them riva
i candidates for governor. . ~ 49, =
| CONGRESSMAN Buchanan has put an
i other good post in his Wright count!
fences by appointing Senator j. =. Aile!
stpeStHaster at Buffalo. tJudges Alley, a
he is usually known, stood high as, I
/ Legislator and Is popular at home, Wher
his influence will be of considerable he'll
Ito Buchanan. The appointment probabl!
means that Judge Alley will not return
to the senate, tho he could legally hol
both offices, as A. r. McGill does in 81
Paul.
It Is reported that Judge D. B. Scarf
of st. Cloud will not be a candidate TO
reelection next year. Whether he doe
or not, there is pretty sure to be
contest for the nomination in the sew
enth judicial district. P. V. Coppernu
of Wadena5 and C. A.. Lindberg of Littl
Falls are among those reported to hay
designs on the judgeship. -. W. Maso
of Fergus Falls Is not expected to ru
again. since. he comes from the sam
town ssas Judge Baxter, who ,defeate
him. at the polls last year. Howeve
there is said to be opposition to Judg
searle Of the strongest kind in Otte
Tail; Becker and Clay counties. In Cha!
especially there is a feeling becaus
Judge searle got into the supreme coul
fight last year and injured the chance
of w. B. Douglas. - :
| u