Morris tribune., 1912-10-18
NOT LIKE IT
USED TO Be
Tv'-7
Things Political Throughout the
y State Very Quiet.
PUBLIC IS NOT INTERESTED
Candidates Unable to impress the
Voters as They Did in
the olden Days.
Especial Correspondence.)

says that Things are not ike Cn6y
ulster was" is right. We possibly as
sociate him with the spawned indi-
Tfdual 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
Is 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
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
-
Btallment 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-
tnative, but it did not seem as If those
In charge were as warm in their
greeting as those in the days Of old
There is something lacking and such
has been the case ever since the cam
paign started.
Public interest-at any rate surface
interest-a dissemination to be dis
turbed and the absolute failure of any
state candidate to impress is the one
feature that has characterized the
Campaign so far and it threatens to
extend through to the close. 1t SO
impTesses one who is really interest
cd 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 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 a miss
ing quantity this year. The reason is
the lack of time in which to get out
the customary printed matter and
have it 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
voters refuse to be interested. All OF
which goes to prove that the fellow
who ulster was" is right. Things DO.
hticaI have certainly changed.
X X y
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 Judge in
Hennepin county passed on some OF
its provisions His findings were tC
the effect that if a friend saw fit tC
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 81 and the state legal depart
Ment practically admits that if it's aiC
1s invoked there is no possible chance
Of conviction. The court is the sole
Judge as to whether a violation was
committed or not and in effect thu
section puts price on ignorance.
!. !. !.
The Fourth district is just now tn,
warmest congressional battle-ground
in the state. Fred Stevens, the pres
ent incumbent, is the Republican nom
inee and James Regain, a big, hand
some looking Irishman, represents tn
unwashed. Congressman Steven
should have a walkaway and tn
chances are that he will get by, blu
he is hampered by the Independent
candidacy of H. T. Halbert, who file
by petition. AS the wise ones viey
IL Halbert's chances are small, but
be polls 1900 or more votes an
Regan gets the full Democrat
strength which is doubtful, Steven
will suffer 1t simply means the ele,
ton of Regain if such does harper
Looking at things from a distriC
standpoint Mr.. Stevens comes prett