The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-29

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Minneapolis, December 27.-The
Journal says: George T. Simpson, at
tcrney general of the state of Min
nesota, for the past three years, re-
tires from public life next Saturday.
Behind his resignation is story of
high politics" which Mr.. Simpson
made public for the first time today.
It is his story Of an interview with
+. L. Smith, chairman of the repub-
lican state committee. which proceed
ed Mr.. Simpsons letter of resigna-
ton August II.
That interview made political his
tory, for Mr.. Simpson had it in mind
TO become candidate for governor,
and to remain in office until the
close of his term as attorney gen.
eral. When Mr.. Smith announced
that the Organization" would stand
by Adolph o. Eberhart, Mr.. Simpson
says, he made his decision TO retire.
AS politician of experience, he felt
it was useless to make q fight on
the organization.
Il had always been an OrSaniza-
ton man." said Mr.. Simpson in tell
ing the story today. 81 believe in
the republican party. and ] have
many friends in the organization.
Rather than fight the organization, (
decided then and there to retire from
public life and take UP an advan-
tageous business proposition. | dld
have an ambition to be governor,
because ! felt there were great OPP
Ia, ii, t,.,
for the state.
Appeals to Smith.
Il appealed to Ed Smith as chair.
man of the state central committee
To act in the interests Of the par
W. I told him that | had been re-
guested by some well-known gentle.
men to run for governor.
What DO you want me to do?'
-lte,a askeass,Ga TO -Eherhart,' +, said,
~'aiid tell him that he can't be re
elected, and that he ought to retire
in the interests OF the party
II can't do that he replied. Z
am personal friend of Eberhart.
and ! can't go to him that way. He
wouldn't listen to me anyway. He
thinks he is a man of destiny. He
wont quit, and | am not going to
ask him to. What do you want to be
governor for, anyway
II said: 4 know / would be bet
ter off financially to quit public life,
but I believe there is great serv-
ice to be performed for the state in
the governors office, and / would
like the opportunity to do it. There
is chance to build up this state in
cooperation with the business inter-
eStS and the people, in the interests
of both. ] have been fair to the
business interests, and some Of them
at least | know would not fight me-
Cant Count on Organization"
"'Well,' Smith said, you can be a
candidate if you want to, but you
can't count on the support of the or
ganization. If | am the last man
in the state to go down with ber-
hart, | am going to stick by him.
"'Then that MEANS, said l. that
the liquor interests have determined
that Eberhart must be governor for
another term He did not answer
that. I then said: That settles it
for me. ] am going to retire from
public life Smith expressed regret.
but / told him had a good business
proposition, and when he asked me
what it was I told him. He said he
was glad of it, and no doubt would
be much better off to take that
course.
II have nothing against Ed Smith.
He and ] are personally friendly. He
had right to take the stand he
did, but, in my Judgment, he made
q mistake. He was acting in a dual
mil, L, 4
OF the party organization. When he
made the excuse that he was a per-
sonal friend of Eberhart, | said,
Yes, but you are head of the state
committee, and in the interests of
the party you ought to so to him
and tell him to quit He would
not listen to me. and when | saw
the situation that settled me- That
was why l went to him. / wanted
to know just how things stood.
Moved BY Opportunities.
Il had been considering the Min
neapolis business proposition for
some months. X. J. Powell. with
whom | have formed partnership,
had been urging me to make up
my mind. He and were opposing
counsel in the BrOoks-Scanlon tres.
pass case, and went west together
TO take dispositions. When we came
back he urged me to decide the
matter. While | had it under con-
Sideration some gentlemen whose
names ! will not give now. came TO
me and urged me to be candidate
for governor. | told them ] would
consider it. l knew that could
make more money and have less
care in private life, but the oppOrtu-
mites to accomplish things as COVER.
nor appealed to me.
"The governor is sort of over.
lord. To certain extent he is
above the law, unlike all other state
officials. 1t is contemplated that
when situations arise that the laws
do not provide for, he shall act. He
is free lance. and it is his right
and duty to take UP any question
that offers a chance to accomplish
something for the people of the state.