The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-01-19
Republican Program for Contest
In This State.
EASTMAN FIRST IN FIELD
st. Cloud Editor Only Candidate to
Take the Public Into His
Confidence.
Especial Correspondence

st. Paul, Jan. 16.-Announcements
OF candidacy for the several places on
the Republican state ticket are now
in order, but the year 1912 opens with
the unique record of a fairly clean
slate in this respect. Only one SO far,
Alvah Eastman, the st. Cloud editor
and publisher, who will seek the nomi-
nation of congressman-atlarge has
seen fit to take the voters into his
confidence. Those who are going to
be candidates for state Offices are gen.
orally pretty well known, but they
have not signed any papers as yet an
nouncing the fact. AS to those who
would like to be struck by lightning
the woods are full of them and their
only hope is a fight in the ranks Of
those who are now In control. Why
this apparent lack of interest is not
explained, for In the memory Of the
old timers the beginning Of the new
year always saw much political activ-
ity in the opening Of headquarters by
those candidates bent upon thorough
canvass Of the state, the formation of
clubs and the distribution of prelim-
mary campaign literature. That the
Republican leaders are worried over
this apparent reluctance to get busy,
however, Is not apparent; in fact they
welcome 1t for the reason that it al
lows them to carry through their
plans for the campaign undisturbed.
These plans call for convention pro-
gram with the scramble for place on
the ticket narrowed down to one man
for each job and short snappy cam
paign. Those who are to get plums
are already ticketed, so the remain
Ing task for the leaders, IL any, is to
keep the intruders out and so far they
have been fairly successful. In regu-
lar politics this is what is called
chloroforming the undesirables. The
leaders, however, speak of 1t as har-
mony. 1t sounds better and 1t appeals
to the voters.
To the observer of things the past
year has been one replete with much
that is interesting and has cinched his
knowledge that the political game is
the biggest unknown quantity there
is. It has also added to his conviction
that the so called experts are expert
only as far as their particular hobby
goes and that the old school whose
principal text book Is human nature
has the modern idea In politics pushed
of the boards when it comes to pick
ing winners. It has provided him, too,
with the knowledge that the modern
day prophet is about the most unre-
liable thing going and that the poll
tics of today Is no worse than that of
yesterday. Six months ago the pro-
gressiye movement was sweeping the
land and had the West, including Min
nesota, in its grasp. City and country
press were united In declaring that
this was an era OF uplift and that the
old bosses would have to go. II was
predicted that political boneyards
would be as numerous as Democratic
soup houses. Out Of 1t La Toilette
and a score of others sprang to the
fore. Taft, It was declared, could
not carry Western state. Today the
progressive movement still has the
boards, but its control Is weakening.
In the state two gubernatorial candi-
dates have gone to their final reward
Taft will carry Minnesota, he will
prevail In the Dakotas and Eberhart
will be nominated. The enthusiasm of
the voters as recorded by some of the
papers fell as suddenly "a 1t began.
Why this sudden change is perhaps
a proper question and the old cam
raigner will answer 1t by saying that
those in charge are responsible. The
people have no faith In them. I'm
able to trot with the majority they
Jump on the first passing band wagon
and are later mired. This il undoubt-
eddy the trouble with the progressive
movement in Minnesota. Progress has
the call with the people and they are
ready to answer the right leader, but
so far the right one has not made his
appearance in this neck Of the woods.
There are plenty of so called leaders,
but their efforts at leadership are for
self rather than the voters and the lat
ter have tumbled to the fact All this
Is known to those who play the game
and that il why they succeed where
the others fail. They are at least
consistent.
+ + +
w. B. Parsons of winona is being