The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-02-09
POLITICAL GOSSIP
The County Chairman" Gives Miner Readers
Entertaining State Capitol Gossip touching
The Great and Near-Great. =

,sted into his confidence. 1t is taken
Tor granted that the senator wants to
be returned and from present pros
poets he is going to be accommodated
National Democratic Committeeman
Fred B. Lynch has sent out letters to
the faithful over the state asking their
views on several matters concerning
the coming campaign, principal of
which Is a date suitable for the call
ing together of the state committee.
He has also asked their opinion as
to the use Of the primary in the selec-
ton of presidential delegates. Few
answers have been received as yet,
but the majority of those heard from
want a meeting in March. The pri-
mary idea, it is claimed, would aid the
Harmon followers materially, but Mr..
Lynch, who is credited to the Wilson
candidacy, says such is the least of
his troubles. He wants the boys In
the ranks to decide the question, he
says.
- S y
The state drainage commission and
Attorney General Smith are cudgeling
their brains these days what to do
with the Mustinka ditch appropriation
which was passed by the last legisla-
ture. 1t amounts to 100000. Former
Attorney General George T. Simpson
fatty declared the appropriation to be
| unconstitutional and he had backing
in veto of similar appropriation by
the late Governor Johnson, but de-
spite this handicap both the board and
| Mr.. Smith are anxious to carry out
the wishes of the legislature, as many
Traverse county land owners are in
| terested. They were given the money
on the ground that 1t was for health
| preservation. Several meetings have
been held by the drainage commission
and motions have been made at each
to 90 ahead with the work. but so far
the legal department has refused to
give its sanction. The appropriation
was one Of Representative L. G. Spoon.
er's pet hobbies and there are several
who say that 1t is being held up until
those interested know where Repre-
sentative Spooner stands on the guber.
Material question.
| :. + =
The position Of the Minneapolis
Journal in the matter of the governor
ship has been puzzling quite few OF
the king makers of late. For months
1t has been vigorously attacking the
administration and now some of the
wise ones think they have solved the
that the Journals candidate for gov.
ernor will be offered shortly and that
It will be former Attorney General
George T. Simpson. While at the head
of the state legal department the
Journal was unusually friendly to the
Winona man and no opportunity war
overlooked in boosting his game, Then
came Mr.. Simpsons appeal to Ed
Smith for show down, later his resig
nation and the intimation that he
might announce his candidacy for Gov
ernor Eberhart's job. Mr.. Simpsons
retirement and the publicity which fol
lowed was believed by many to have
practically put him out Of the running
but 1t is said by those who know that
he is still very much live one and
that the announcement Of his candi
dacy can be looked for at most any
time.
Secretary of State Schmahl, who Is
due to ask the next Republican state
convention for return ticket, Is being
vigorously opposed by some Of the
Twin City papers and the knocks in
dulged in run to disinterested effort
on the part of the Eberhart admins
tration to make trouble for him, Il
possible. First the administration
was put forward as backing the candi
dacy of President Glotfelter of the
state fair board and the latest was an
alleged interview with a Minneapolis
member of the legislature refectine
on the Redwood Falls man. julius has
been in the game a bunch of years
and while it is known that there IL
considerable opposition to his renomi
nation the impression down here II
that he will get away with the job
Julius IL considered about as foxy Z
boy as there is in the state game.
+ j.
Because of the vacancy on the Unit
ed States supreme court bench Chic
Justice White ordered an indefnit.
postponement Of the arguments In tn.
Minnesota rate cases, which were Il
be heard Feb. IL. The order came al
keen disappointment to the attorney
interested, as 1t meant a practica
committing to memory of the data an<
other details necessary to the argu
ment. But what hits Minnesota the
worst, probably, is the cost. The cas-,
TO date has cost the state over $3.50.
600 and every days delay emily add
to the amount. Legal services alone
are taxing the states strong box Il
the extent OF 800 q month. This doe,
not include the expenses incident u
filing briefs, printing and travelling
The three call for handsome sum.
4. + +
H. j. Maxfield, the new state immi
grafton commissioner, whose frs
move on entering office was to ordsi
the release of all names In the posses
sion of the department for public use
issued his first list the latter part oil
the week. The inquiries received in
volved list of over 5000 names and
more than 1000 real estate agents and
land men filed application for the
same The contention has been that
uno tin0 nuhlic tha corresnoudoure re