The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-08
Declares Interview in St. Paul
Paper Mostly Wrong.
BATTLE ROYAL WOULD ENsuE
If the County Auditor Shound
Enter Field as Governor
Candidate.
From Thursdays Daily.

from inurSuayS Datly.
This mornings ST. Paul Pioneer
Press contained this story:
"The presence in the twin cities
yesterday of Edgar Weaver of Man.
kato county auditor of Blue Earth
county. led to renewal of the re-
ports that he might become candi-
date for governor against Eberhart.
When seen just before taking his
train for home last night, Mr.. Weav.
er admitted that he was considering
the matter. He said he had been be-
sieged by a great many of the peo-
pie in Mankato to get into the race,
but he was yet uncertain what he
would do.
when Weaver's name was first
mentioned about month ago, it
was said that one of the purposes of
getting him into the race was to
take Eberhart's home county away
from him. Mr.. Weaver, however, de-
clared yesterday that Blue Earth
county would be against Eberhart
anyway, even il there was no other
candidate in the county.
We are all for Roosevelt down
our way, both in Mankato and the
rest of the county,, said Weaver.
There are only few Taft men in
the whole county. Naturally the
governors Endorsement of Taft has
hurt him at home, although his
friends had been scarce before that.
| Il believe that the whole second
district will be for Roosevelt, al,
though | do not know as much about
the other counties as Bite Earth. In
some of the other counties there are
some influential men working Tor
Taft, although the popular sentiment
apparently is for Roosevelt
"Mr Weaver said that he worked
for Eberhart's election two years
ago, but it took considerable work
to carry. the county for him. This
year it would be much more difficult.
He said that only one newspaper i'll
the county is friendly to- the Cover.
nor, and the publisher of that paper
has received an appointment from
Eberhart ..... &c.,:
"Mr. Weaver has been county
auditor at MankatO for about twelve
years. Previous to that he was a
member of the state fair board for
several years. He has always been
active in republican politics. and mas
a wide acquaintance throughout the
second district as we'll as in other
parts of the state" 's.:a
. When The Free Press called The
above interview he laughed heartily
nd rotI hot
did meet him in the union depot at
st. Paul, "but l talked with him
only very few minutes. l. deny
having said most of that which ap.
pears in the story. We did not talk
of half of what appears in the inter
view," said Mr.. Weaver. -
When asked by The Free Press if
he intended to become a candidate
for governor, Mr.. Weaver replied
that he did not think favorably of
the proposition.
1t is admitted on all sides that
should Mr.. Weaver become candi.
date one of the bitterest political
fights in the history of Blue Earth
county would result. While it is
agreed that Governor Eberhart is
confronted with opposition in this
county, there is no denying the fact
that he has warm adherents here
who would fight for him till the last
ditch. ,'%
Friends OF the governor argue that
should fight be precipitated in
Blue Earth county, there would be
a fair prospect of some other Sec
ton of the state grabbing off" the
nomination.
There is a story afloat that Mr.
Weaver went to st. Paul to look
over the gubernatorial situation. but
he has not as yet determined to
enter the race He does not look
with favor on the proposition realiz-
ing that he would have to so
through q strenuous camnairn.