The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-11-11
ON A new TACK
Politicians Spread Sails to Catch
The Popular Breeze
TALK OF PRINCIPLES
Not Unlikely That Coming Republican
State Platform Will Cater to
County Option

St. Paul Special to The Herald, Nov. 10.
AS the time approaches for the real
opening of the next state campaign,
it becomes more and more apparent
that a change is gradually coming
over the spirit of the dreams of the
men who make and unmake governors,
lieutanant governors, treasurers, sec
retaries of state, etc. The old idea
of the man first and principles be
hanged, seems to be giving way to a
somewhat respectful regard for some
thing like principles first with good
man to stand by them. In other
words, it begins to look as though the
manipulation, and the office seekers as
well, have seen great light; that
they are beginning to recognize that
the people, instead of mildly standing
by and permitting few party bosses
to ram any Tom, Dick or Harry they
may choose to nominate, down their
throats, should receive some consider
alton at the hands of the managers
and the nominating convention. At
least one of the numerous republican
aspirants to the governorship has TAX
en- the stand that the next platform
should contain some reference to
Minnesotas tariff ideas, and that
local option plank should be inserted.
This man is after the place in quiet
way and does not want to mix up in
a hot fight for the nomination, but
he is out and out in his expression of
ideas quoted above.
This is simply one of the straws
that indicates which way the wind is
blowing in political circles. There
isn't the slightest doubt that local
option is popular proposition just
now. There are those who believe
that one or the other of the two great
political parties must adopt it in the
coming campaign. Several we'll
known republican leaders have ex-
pressed themselves to that effect.
The Anti-Saloon Leaguers go so far
as to say that unless the republicans
put local option plank in their plat
form they will be defeated. There
does not seem to be much hope that
the democrats will favor local option,
though there are many members of
that party who do. The democratic
organization is out to win on any
platform on the basis of profiting by
republican dissension. The question
of candidate to lead the democratic
ticket is not yet settled. John Lind
doesn't want the nomination, and
Hammond would rather run for con-
gress again. The democratic leaders
are playing waiting game; that's all
there is to their campaign just now.
Frank Day has stepped down and
out of the office of private secretary
and Ralph Wheelock has walked up
and in. Ralph seems to take hold
pretty we'll and acts as though he
wanted to run the job successfully.
Franks smiling face is missed in the
statehouse, but the government
moves right along just the same as
though it was on daily exhibition as
, it was for five years. Frank has hired
offices down town and will write life
of the late John A. Johnson, being
assisted in his work by the we'll
known newspaper man Theodore M.
M. Knappen, who won his journalistic
spurs some years ago on the Minnea-
polls Journal. Harvey Grimmer,
whose resignation as executive clerk
has been accepted and whose successor
in the person of j. A. o. Preus, an
Ada lawyer, has been named, will be
at liberty in few days to help. Har-
vey will be manager of agents and
that is sufficient to ensure the push
ing of a vigorous campaign of sale of
the forthcoming book. Frank Day is
in position to write a fine biography
of his late chief, as no other Mime
sofa man stood so close as he to the
lamented governor. The book will
undoubtedly have big sale.
The newspaper antics of one Chas.
H. Grasty are still the wonder of the
capital city. Charles came here from
Baltimore with great flourish of
trumpets and bought half interest
in the St. Paul Dispatch, made the
paper independent, improved its news
and editorial service immensely and
looked like conner, slayer and