New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-10-25
SLEEPY EYE MAN FOR GOVERNOR
Minneapolis Journal Springs Name
Of Geo. ". SOmervilIe.

Whether the Journal political writer
IS Joking Or whether he means it never
theless he has sprung a matter that
might result in the best thing for the
Republican party. The Journal claims
that the esteemed senator of Brown
and Redwood counties is after the NOM
ination of governor,
1t is doubtful if Mr.. Somerville with
the large practice he has would desert
1T for the comparatively small salary
the Office of governor affords and the
certainty of its termination at the end
OF four years in case he were able to
land the nomination and then succeed
ed in getting into the Office by the favor
of the people.
Few republicans of the ability and
ambition of Senator SomervilIe will
want to risk the chances of an election
at this time against the present COVER
nor who will undoubtedly seek re-elec-
ton. 1t looks as if the conditions
would be the same as they were when
Lind made his second attempt to get
the otfice-some man whose ambitions
are not higher than were those of Van
SAINT will be put up as sacrifice and
his election will be circumstance if he
fails the best men of the party will be
free to enter the race at the close of the
next term with certainty of winning.
The Journal has the following:
Southwestern Minnesota is the scene
of gOvernOrship boom that is likely
to become an important factor in the
state situation. George W. Somerville
of Sleepy Eye, state senator from the
Brown Redwood district for the past
eight years, is the proposed candidate.
Senator Sonerville has been consider
ed a probable successor to Judge
Weber of New Ulm, who is almost
certain to retire next year, but the
latest report is that he has serious
thoughts of contrasting for the COVER
norship 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
legislative activity. He is author of
the act requiring foreign corporations
doing business in the state to pay
license fee and appoint an agent so
they can be sued in the state courts.
He was chairman of the senate judici-
airy committee at the asst 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 anti-McCleary
man. and has had hopes of displacing
the congressman. In order to get him
out of McCleary's way it is said that
the congressman friends would be
pleased to help him get the nomination
for governor, expecting in return. of
course, that Somerville would stand bv
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 ninth judicial district, which takes
in four counties outside of the second
congressional district, and the other
judgeship candidates would be glad
back Somerville for governor, Bowers
of Redwood Falls. Virgil B. Seward
of Marshall and others are anxious to
support the man from Sleepy Eye.
With the second congressional and the
ninth judicial districts to start with,
Somerville would be in position tc
play an important part in the state
convention. Somerville and Samuel
Lord are good friends, and both are
strong in the senatorial coterie, and il
would be interesting to see them riva
candidates for governor.
McClure'S Magazine for the month