The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-10-17
Things Political. Throughout the
State Very Quiet.
PUBLIC IS NOT INTERESTED
Candidates Unable to Impress the
Voters as They Did in
the oIden Days. g.
Especial Correspondence

81. Taul, OCC. l4.-Ile man who
says that things are mot like they
ulster was" is right We possibly as
@oclate him with the spawned indi-
iNdua1 who knows of winters that
were much colder than the present
one and fast decreasing few who
once upon a time could have bought
the ground on which the Capital City
ds built for song, but just the same
he is telling you what is true. Things
political in Minnesota are sure mot
what they ulster be-" Republicans and
Democrats opened state Headquarters
In st. Paul the early part of last week,
but the event was not marked by any
unusual display on the part of those
concerned or by any particular men,
ton by the papers. E. E. Smith, state
chairman, and E. B. Hawkins slipped
quietly into the rooms assigned them
In the Republican headquarters and
Martin O'Brien of Crookston and
Frank Day of Fairmont took desks of
equal Importance in the cramped
quarters designated as the brief home
OF the state Democratic central COM
mittee. The two suites of five rooms
each might have been the quarters of
some sedate corporation for all the
outside world knew. There was no
hustle or handshaking. Gone was the
little circle, feature of anterooms of
the past, likewise the CHEEKY voice of
the precinct boy from up state. There
was no permanency anywhere. One
momentarily expected to see the in
stallment house man enter the door
and walk off with the few desks and
chairs scattered about the two suites
Possibly the feeling was largely imag-
1native, but it did not seem as if those
In charge were as warm in their
greeting as those in the days Of DID,
There is something lacking and such
has been the case ever since the cam
|paign started.
:: :. :.
Public interest-at any rate surface
1nterest-a Discrimination to be dis
turbed and the absolute failure of any
Estate candidate to impress is the one
feature that has characterized the
campaign so far and it threatens to
|extend through to the close. It so
|1mpresses one who is really interest
ed that the babblings of the old timer
who talks about how things custer
was' brings back memories of other
days and makes one wonder what has
brought about the change. Of course
the new primary law is in a measure
responsible. 1t is the Indifference of
the voter, though, that astonishes. All
around it is hardly likely that the ex-
penses of the two big state head
quarters will run over four figures
this time. The smallness of expendi-
lures Is accounted for by the short
ness OF the election campaign, which
1s less than five weeks What the
candidates spent in the primary cam
paign, however, is another question.
The dozen or more nimble fingered
stenographers which characterized
previous state headquarters is miss
Ing quantity this year. The reason is
the lack of time in which to get out
the customary printed matter and
have 1t reach the voter. Instead it
will be speaking campaign pure and
simple and both sides will turn loose
the oratory in few days. That the
speakers will get the crowds, however,
Is a question, for as I told you the
voters refuse to be interested. All of
which goes to prove that the fellow
who ulster was" is right. Things po-
ht1cal have certainly changed.
!. + J.
Minnesota is supposed to have the
most drastic corrupt practices act of
any state in the Union, but it comes
near being a joke since a Judge in
Hennepin county passed on some of
Its provisions. His findings were to
the effect that if a friend saw fit to
put few dollars into your campaign
and it was done without your knowl-
edge the excess could not be charged
up against you. The little joker is
section "a and the state legal depart
ment practically admits that if it's aid
IL invoked there is no possible chance
of a conviction. The court is the sole
Judge as to whether a violation was
committed or not and in effect the
section puts price on ignorance.
!. \ !.
The Fourth district is Just now the
warmest congressional battle-ground
in the state. Fred Stevens, the pres
ent incumbent, is the Republican NOM
1nee and James Regain, a big, hand
some looking Irishman, represents the
unwashed. Congressman Stevens
should have a walkaway and the
chances are that he will get by. but
he is hampered by the independent
candidacy Of H. T. Halbert, who filed
by petition. AS the wise ones view
it Halbert's chances are small, but If
he polls $500 or more votes and
Regain gets the full Democratic
strength, which is doubtful, Stevens
will suffer. 1t simply means the cleo.
ton of Regain if such does happen.
Looking at things from a district
standpoint Mr.. Stevens comes pretty