Morris tribune., 1912-10-25
DEMOCRATS ARE
WORKING HARD
May Surprise Eberhart Mana.
gers by Size Of Vote.
MAY PROVE THEIR UNDOING
Said Progressive Petitions Do Not
Comply With the Statewide
Primary Law.
Especial Correspondence

which will be waged throughout the
state Nov. 5 is about the least of the
troubles of those now active in Gov
ernOr Eberhart's behalf, as they are
confident Of victory; but it might be
well not to take too much for granted.
For ii hard work counts for anything
P. NJ. Ringdal, the Democratic nomi-
nee, is going to get more votes than
those behind his rival think. With
campaign period so short as to make
any heavy expenditure Of time or Ia
Dor an apparent waste, yet Mr.. Ring
dial and his aids are CrOWding into
the few short weeks at their command
an amount of energy that fairly puts
the other side to shame. Chairman
O'Brien and Frank A. Day jumped into
the saddle the day of their selection
and the headquarters have been bee
hive of industry ever since. The
speakers bureau and a we'll marked
wall map shows every county in the
state provided with spellbinders and
am told that practically all of them
are paying their own expenses. That
something of profit cannot but result
from all Of this activity is certain, but
10 what extent remains to be seen. In
striking contrast, as l pointed out, is
the Republican headquarters, located
in big office building some blocks
distant, but those in charge say Its
q cinch anyway and so what's the
use" At the Republican headquarters
the leaders did not show any signs of
activity until the early part of last
week and it has been mostly given
over to the distribution of Taft litera-
ture. The big Eberhart Special"
however, which started out today for
tour of the state is expected to Off
set that tired feeling which is the
feature at the headquarters, and prob
ably it will.
What may prove to be the undoing
of the Progressive movement in the
state, or rather it's candidates should
eny Of them get by, is the discovery
that practically all the petitions filed
for the purpose of securing a place on
the state ballot are defective. This
even extends to the petitions in be-
half of the Roosevelt electors and
prevails in Minnesota his electors may
be protested. Under the law a petit
tion to be of legal effect must contain
names of voters who have not partici-
pated in the primaries and each name
must be attested to by a notary. Hun
dreds OF names on the petitions now
in the custody of the secretary of
state, it is said, show Implications,
names of persons who voted at the
primaries, and any number who we're
not sworn by notary. Even non
residents have been located. For a
week now men have been at work on
the petitions and their report, it is
said, will be startling in it's nature.
!. = X
The petition feature of the new pri-
mary law is about the biggest farce
ever perpetrated. Showing how names
tire procured in the case of local can,
GIidates men hired for the purpose
could be seen in front of any well
patronized cafe in the Twin Cities i'm
portuning diners and patrons to sign
The request was seldom refused. One
candidate for congress whose rival got
on the ticket by petition was unable
10 find a third Of the names signed tC
the petition in the city directory Sc
to be sure he caused registered letters
to be sent to fully 200 of the signers
and practically all of them were re
turned with the note attached thai
they could not be found at the address
given. The petition game has beer
worked this year as it never was be
Fore and it demands legislative atten
ton.
That the Democratic state organiZa
tton is more concerned in landing the
state for Wilson than it is in gettins
p M. Ringdal and the balance of thu
quarters, but the charge is indignant!
denied by those in charge John Lind
they say, has promised to make fiv'
speeches for Mr.. Ringdal in as man!
districts, finishing in Duluth with
big rally the night before election
Mr.. INLAND, his law partner, is t.
make as many speeches in Norwegian
for Mr.. Ringdal. 1t has to be sait
that the Democratic leaders know the
have an uphill job on their hands, bu
j hardly think they lack sincerity a
far as the state ticket is concerned
They are putting up good front a
any rate.
4 X X
II President Taft does prevail i
Minnesota next month it will not b
the fault of the Republican state cal
didates or those handling the can
paign, as it has been agreed to pas
n. n.