The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-03-10
STIR THINGS UP
County Optionists Have q Great
Demonstration
MAKE THE WELKIN RING
St. Paul Convention Indicates That
the Movement Cannot be IgnOr-
ed in Coming Camgaign
st. Paul Special to The Herald. Mar. Q

1t. Paul Special to The Herald. Mars
The county option people have
made their demonstration here and
appear to be very we'll satisfied with
it. The size and character of the con-
ventiCn certainly indicated that the
movement for county option in this
State cannot be ignored. The men
who took part in the convention, are
among the most substantial citizens
of the State. They are tremendously
in earnest They come from every
section
Quite a number of those who were
in st. Paul attending the convention
have long been prominent in public
affairs. The occasion was taken adj
vantage of by many not identified
with the movement to be here. They
wanted apparently to guage the eX-
tent Of the sentiment. There were
few who were not surprised to learn
how general and how widespread the
movement fer county option is and
what hold it has secured on the
population outside of the larger cities
They were not less surprised to learn
that the lcaven is working here also
and that many men in both cities
are willing to identify themselves
with a movement which a few years,
ago they were quite satisfied to ig-
more
Tie convention showed a DISPOSE
ton to mix up in State politics. In
former years, the county option peo-
Die have been satisfied to confine
their activities to the legislative dis
tricts. This year their resolutions
commit them to the policy of electina
delegates TO the State convention with
view to influencing the nomination
OF State officers and the framing OF
State reforms. More than that, there
is going to be county option State
central committee with three repre-
sentatives from every congressional
district. This committee will be in
close touch with county committees
and they in turn with township and
precinct committees. Altogether the
movement has impressed itself upon
the politicians even of the State cap
itol as being a formidable and one
that must be reckoned with. While
the brewery interests find the sa-
looms convenient recruiting stations,
and centers CT political activity, if
one is to Judge from the character
of the county option cOnven-
ton, the churches and educational in
stitutions Of the State are the CEN
tiers from which considerable part
OF it's activities will radiate. The
farm and the home are its strong
holds.
] am told that the brewers fully
recognize the formidable character OF
the opposition, which they will have
: to meet in the campaign, which may
now be said to have opened. One
more than ordinarily familiar with
their methods told me the other day
that in more than one district, they
have already selected their Anti-Sa-
loon league candidates. The person
al liberty leaders are nothing if not
resourceful, and they have the adj
vantage of close and intimate ac-
quaintance with the politicians
Evidently threats from quarters not
without their i-fluence do not appal
Professor A. j. Mcclure, who is at
the head of the State experimental
agricultural station in Northeastern
Minnesota, He was among those
who took an active part in the coun-
ty option convention. Mcclure is
testing the production capacity of the
cut-oyer section of the State-that
which formerly was covered with
pine forests. He regards it as in no
way inferior from the scientific far
nlers' point of view to the rolling
country south of st. Paul or the rich
black loan lands of the Red River
Valley. Moreover. the men going to
Northeastern Minnesota to work. in
the mines, and the forests, are the
very best material out of which to
make prosperous farmers. Largely
they are from Northern Europe. Sean