Morris tribune., 1911-10-20
FEELINCITHE
PUBLIC PULSE
Letters Of Inquiry on Political
Situation in State.
OPPOSITION TO EBERHART
Executive Expected to Have at Least
TWO Rivals for Republican Nom.
ination for Governor.
Especial Correspondence.

| (Sp6Cldl Correspondence
st. Paul, Oct 17-During the last
two weeks letters, the postage on
which l learn was paid by interested
interests, have been sent to every
county in Minnesota asking for infor-
nation relative to the political situa-
ton, both national and state, and if
my informant has it right the answers
have been by no means satisfactory.
The standing of President Taft in the
state, how the Eberhart administra-
! ton was regarded and the outlook for
| the future in Republican way were
| some of the questions propounded In
! every instance the correspondence
was marked confidential and only the
faithful were entrusted with it. Those
behind the search for knowledge went
at the job thoroughly, That the an
swers were not satisfactory will not
surprise any one in this neck of the
woods. Comment on the feeling toward
Taft and his policies in Minnesota
would be a waste of good space, but
cannot let the opportunity go by to
whisper to those concerned for the
future of the present Republican state
administration, that Governor Eber-
/ hart is due to have opposition for the
nomination. And l might add also
that the number of rivals is likely to
! be two.
+ !. !.
If any one bankers for the I'M
adulterated truths regarding gossip
| that tells of statewide unrest, of dis
| paraging and undignifed remarks con-
cerning many holding state offices. and
! of expressions that bode i'll for their
future he should haunt the hotels for
few days, start an argument at his
/ favOrite lodge, or listen to the gossip
about the cigar stores or other hang
outs If in his quest for information
money is no object a trip out into
the country would be advisable. Last
week, at the Merchants hotel in st,
Paul, the Mecca of the state politi-
clans and great place to absorb use
! full information, were gathered num-
ber of whose names adorn the official
blue book Speaker Dunn, Representa-
tive Spooner of Morris, Kunze of Min
! neapolis. Houge of Washington coun-
ty, Moyle Edwards of Breckenridge
and Frank Eddy, who once said his
hat was his headquarters and the
state his home, loomed up largely in
the lobby. Later Bob Dunn of Prince
ton joined the group, with Lieutenant
Governor S. Y. Gordon and his man
ager, James Arneson Of Chisholm,
looking on from a distance.
i. X \
What the majority of this gathering
had to say regarding things political
over the state and what the future
had in store for several men certain
to seek a return to office l can not
very we'll tell here. They did not talk
for publication. Political conditions
In the state and those responsible for
them were raked over with fine
comb and Governor Eberhart's man.
ayers would have profited had they
been present. Frank Eddy listened
rather than talked, for that is his job
these days, and Bob Dunn alone spoke
encouragingly of the situation in his
district Whether this particular
gathering just happened or was pre-
arranged none of the group cared to
say. My hunch, though, was that it
did not Gust happen"
j. X 4
Reference to the expected candi
dacy of the Browns Valley man
would not be complete without the
statement that the path before him is
not the smoothest in the world. He
has not the best wishes of the king
makers and I have heard number
whe doubt his sincerity. His chief as.
set now is the growing criticism OF
the Eberhart administration, which
some popular act of the Mankato man.
Governor Van SAINT downed his critics
In a night. However, he enters the
list with a clean record. naturally
some enemies and the mistakes of
those who would succeed as a guide.
Governor Eberhart has been charged
witt, an oversupply of optimism, but
do not let this blind you to the fact
that those directly connected with his
administration are not alive to some
of the criticism directed against him.
"We know the source" said his sec
retary, Ralph w. Wheelock the other
day. "and we know what actuates
those behind the movement. One OF
our critics was fawniEg friend a
few years ago. A cheap oil Inspector
ship placed him among the list OF
knockers. Our failure to take hold OF
ditch that involved private property
and a big slice of the states strong
box added another. A third has haG
no use for us since we failed to son
vince the state dental board that i
should pass young man despite the
fact that he fell down in his examina