Morris tribune., 1912-03-01

ton is never idle. Insurgents some
times s'eep, but the organization never.
4 !. !.
Fears are entertained by some of
those interested in the Roosevelt
cause that the state central commit
tee will so arrange the convention and
primary dates that the rural element,
which is supposed to be strong for
the former president, will be incon-
venienced. do not think so. In poll
tics might is right and Chairman
Smith and his lieutenants are pretty
much in charge now, but l think that
all interests can depend on Mr.. Smith
for a square deal. He has that repu-
tation down here. The Silent one"
may be for big Business" as some
charge, but no one ever found him
playing small politics. 1t may not be
generally known, but the chairman of
the Republican state central commit
| tee frets like novice under criti-
cism. When Frank A. Day was trying
to make Jim Gray the successor of
John A. Johnson the Republican chair
man was picked as the one best cal
culated to poison the public mind in
| favor of the Democratic standard
bearer and his record was gone over
with fine comb in an effort to find
material. The stuff that resulted was
only generalities and while the voting
public refused to bite Ed fretted under
| IT,
taliate in kind. In this neck of the
woods, Mr.. Smith is looked upon as a
fair fighter, loyal to his friends and
always willing to give and take. For
that reason they believe that all sides
in the present Republican controversy
will get square deal.
| i !. +
That the Republican organization in
Minnesota faces trouble as a result of
the present scramble for place is GER
tain, but even in politics it is an i'll
wind that does not blow somebody
good. l refer to those candidates for
reelection below that of governor.
Not a one of them is opposed. The
press, which is usually more than will
ing to give ear to some baFkis, has
been so taken up with the presidential
controversy that it has overlooked the
other bets and the seekers for re-
nomination are reaping the reward.
Perhaps the one lone ofaceholder out
side Of Governor Eberhart to be
picked for opposition is Secretary of
State Schmahl His enemies have
pounded him from all sides, but so
far have failed to make even dent in
his breastworks. julius looks like a
safe bet down here and if he succeeds
well, there is nothing to it with the
others.
Minnesota and the state legal de
partment won a decided victory last
week when the United States supreme
court upheld the right of the state to
tax the express companies operating
in the state on a gross earnings basis.
The decision was sweeping. In her
aiding the victory the work Of Attor-
ney General L. A. Smith and his as
sistants was lost sight of, but justice
compels the statement that if it was
not for General Smiths activities the
question would still be unsettled. Mr.
Smith laid the ground work for the
whole thing. The decision means
thousands of dollars to the state.
j. X <
Speaking of the present attorney
general, this department of the state
government, over which Mr.. Smith
has jurisdiction, has not been so much
in the public eye since the retirement
of George T. Simpson. Mr.. Simpson
was one of the best advertisers in the
official game. He had daily copy for
the boys and profited accordingly. Mr.
Smith is equally as accommodating in
giving out the news of his depart
ment, but he does not carry the self
publicity feature to the extreme II
was Mr.. Smiths close attention to
b. business that resulted in the express
victory and the state can expect more
Of this kind of work as his tenure OF
Office grows. Governor Eberhart has
been criticised in certain quarters fol
some of his appointments, but that OF
Mr.. Smith is among few of the good
things of his administration.
i j. +
Lieutenant Governor S. Y. Gordon
who is after Governor Eberhart's job
is out with vigorous denial regarding
the reported desertion of his manager
James Arneson of Chisholm. Mr.. Arne
son left suddenly for California last
week and the story was quickly circu
lated that the Chisholm man had aban
doned the management of the Gordon
candidacy. Mr.. Gordon says that Mr.
Arneson went to California on an i'm
portant land deal and will return tc
his managerial duties next week.
THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN.