The Ely miner., 1912-03-01
HUSTL|NC HARD
FOR ROOSEVELT
Minnesota Manager Gets Into
Game With a Rush.
IS A FIGHTER OF RENOWN
Caswell Has Had Some Bitter Con-
tests in Years Gone BY and
Is Old at the Game.
Especial Correspondence

~ e@oi, L GU. AI.-ll wing A. SdSWSll
of Anoka, clerk of the supreme court,
mas assumed command of the Roose-
Velt movement and it can be said that
the tight for national control of Min
nesota is now ON. With burst of
speed characteristic of this latest addi-
ton to Minnesota's list of king makers
Mr.. Caswell jumped for the throttle
and ever since the political dopesters
In the Twin Cities have been regaling
the voting public with tales of Mr..
Roosevelt's strength in the various
counties. Mr.. Caswell kept the wires
hot for day and then sat down and
awaited the deluge which followed.
And it was bona fide deluge at that,
good cheer and tenders of help. 1t is
reported Mr.. Caswell will open head
quarters at the Merchants hotel short
ly and then look out. Truth compels
the statement, and l have not been
backward in making known the fact,
as Minnesota was concerned, was re-
garded with suspicion by quite few.
1t was believed by many, and possibly
there was some foundation to the
hunch, that men more interested in
President Taft than Mr.. Roosevelt
were fostering the boom for selfish
purposes. Some of the self appointed
leaders, too, did not appeal There
was a lack of confidence all down the
line. The appointment of Mr.. Caswell,
however, seems to have removed their
suspicion and the lack of confidence
and the movement is on a foundation
second to none in point of stability in
the political history of the state.
1. 4. +
Who is Irving A. Caswell? Well,
the first the state capitol knew of him
was when he became attached to the
official family of C. A. Pidgeon, clerk
of the supreme court. That was four
years ago. Pidgeon resigned and Cas-
well succeeded to the place. Then
came the announcement of his candi-
dacy for reelection and it was resent
ed in some quarters. George Dix of
Caswell charged Dix up to the brewers
and the Eberhart administration, but
he did not stop to sit down and cry be-
cause of the opposition. He was the
first to open headquarters and there
was not minute that he was not on
the job. Friends told him that he had
the place cinched, but he refused to
be convinced. He kept right at it and
the convention fight which followed
justified his judgment. He was traded
to frazzle, but he beat the bunch at
every turn. Since that the admins
tration has had more or less respect
for him, but it cannot be said that
Cas-" as the boys call him, has re-
turned the compliment. Hewas among
the first to extend the glad hand when
S. Y. Gordon of Browns Valley entered
the gubernatorial arena and it is said
the lieutenant governor has since
profited much from his advice. The
best hater in the game is the way the
boys describe him, with the added in
formation that he does not burden his
friends with his troubles. He fights
his own battles and respects his foe
when the fight is on the square. Cas-
well, prior to entering the state game,
published paper at Anoka. His
battles there and in the district are
historic. The only way his enemies
could down him was to buy his paper
and it is said he got fancy figure.
This is the man who will conduct the
fight for Roosevelt in Minnesota and
II there is any chance at all to win he
will make it.
I would not be telling the truth if
did not say that Governor Eberhart
and his official family and those back
Of President Taft and his cause as far
as Minnesota is concerned are worried
over the latest developments in the
national game. The injection of Cas-
well into the controversy is something
they never expected and they show
their surprise With H. T. Halbert
and other self appointed leaders in
charge the whole thing was pretty
much of a joke, something they never
failed to infiict when the occasion
permitted it, but now it is different
In the case of Governor Eberhart, Cas-
wells promotion means prestige for
Sam Gordon, who has espoused the
cause Of Roosevelt, while with Chair
man Smith and the other ardent Taft
followers his elevation means rival
who refuses to forget the last conven-
ton fight. Already the administration
is commiserating with II. T. Halbert
and others who were supplanted by
Caswell, but for some reason or other
Halbert and the others refuse to get
excited. One thing in favor of Govern
or Eberha-t and his official family and
the Taft cause is the organization. 1t
is powerful and it is statewide and it
knows all the tricks 1t includes the
state central committee and that COM
nittee will name the convention date.
Lack Of published information would
indicate that 1t has been idle, but for
your benefit, dear reader, the organiza-