Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-10-30
HAUGEN FOR GOVERNOR.

as TO the best timber.
We were at Des Moines a day last
week. and while there were pleased
to hear the name of our Congressman.
G. N. Haugen. mentioned several
times in that capacity. and by men
who generally have good deal to say
about who the candidates are. We
thought little of the matter at the
time. except the compliment. to the
ability and popularity of Mr.. Haugen
outside of the fourth district. We
remembered the cordial reception
given the mention of his name as a
future possibility for u. S. Senator
few months ago, and the more we
talked the more we found that his
candidacy would gather strength from
the beginning in various parts of the
state where it might be unexpected
In fact one could scarcely mention the
governorship but some one would sug
gest the possibility of Mr.. Haugen be-
coming candidate.
| Upon arriving home we happened
to pick up the Nevada Representative
when looking over our exchanges, and
ran across an account of visit to Des
Moines by its editor, Hon. J. E..
Payne, seventh district politician,
and in writing up the political situa-
| tion he SAYS the followi ing respecting
the governorship:
Still another suggestion occasion
| ally heard in connection with the
goyernOrship is that of Congressman
Haugen. He has never been a dodger
in the political fights in the state
but he has exceedingly good standing
in both crowds; and SO far as we can
see he is almost or quite the only man
in the state with personal strength
sufficient to enable him to compass a
nomination for governor without be-
ing definitely presented as a factional
candidate. We do not know whether
he would be willing to give up his
seat in congress to accept the gov
ernorship, and if we had for ourself
the choice of the two places we would
rather have the seat in congress but
the governorship is generally counted
the higher Office, and to man whose
political strength is generally develop
ling it probably has superior attrac-
riOns. Ii Haugen should think that
he would like to be governor, we
should say that he can probably get
the nomination withou6 an extra
ordinary amount of fuss. and upon
the whole we think his nomination
would be good for the party; but if
Haugen prefers to stay in congress
where the fourth district is unques-
tionably disposed 20 keep him. then
the governorship so far is any man s
fight. Z"
When this paper few months ago
suggested Mr.. Haugen as candidate
for senator when Senator Allison
should retire. it was favorably re-
ceived by practically all but two or
three of the papers of the district,
who were inclined to sneer at the pro-
position, one of them local paper.
We realized at that time the develop
ment made by Mr.. Haugen since he
entered congress, that his unfailing
fidelity TO his trust, his minute atten-
tion to every detail of his duties, his
decisive stand for whatever he be-
lieved to be for the best interests of
his constituency, and his ability to
procure his full share of political
plums for his district. as we'll as his
personal popularity among the people,
was being noticed and becoming
recognized outside the confines of his
own district. He would make strong
andidate for senator. and we would
like to see him a candidate. He
would probably be just as strong for
governor, and if he should be willing
to allow his name to 60 before the
primaries he would find thousands OF
friends who would give him loyal
support. but as Mr.. Payne suggests,
we believe that his qualifications and
aspirations lie more particularly in
the direction of the u. S. congress,
and that he will prefer to continue in
the service of his district as congress
man until such time as he may be ad.
vanced to the senatorshir.
In two opinions the supreme court
has declared that the soldiers prefer