The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-09-11
PFAENDER May
ENTER CONTEST
New U|m Man Mentioned as
GubernatoriaI Candidate.
DEMOCRATS WATCHING EVENTS
Sna'rnan e. e. Smith Of the Repub.
Ican Committee Is Home From
Long European Trip.

st. Paul, Sept. 9-(SpeciaD- With
1913 an off year, as far as the satisfy
ing OF political hopes and ambitions
IS concerned, the state Democracy is
practically doing nothing beyond
Keeping it's weather eye open and the
listing OF possible breaks in the fences
OF the enemy. However, those who
know profess to see in German day,
which was celebrated in the Capital
City Sunday week ago and the Sc
lection of Representative Alfred
Pfaender of New Ulm as the principal
speaker, the earmarks of a guberna-
torial frameup that may cause the
enemy to set up and take notice in
due time. The opinion of the wise
ones is that Mr.. Pfaender, who was
one of the most popular young men,
bers of the last house, may head the
ticket of the unwashed year hence.
AL as the boys down here know
him best, is German, a lawyer by
profession, lives at New Ulm, was the
recognized leader of the Democratic
minority in the last house and is re-
garded by those who know him as
safe and sane. To the so called ire
pressible Progressive this last charac-
terization, safe and sane, probably
spells reactionary, but Mr.. Pfaender is
easily free from that infection. None
were more strongly identified with
good and progressive legislation at
the last session than the man from
New Ulm. With Governor Eberhart
picked by many, and especially the
organization, to head the Republican
hosts. next year, Pfaender's chances
as a Democratic rival have been dis
cussed by quite few and the opin-
ions have been various. That he
could get away with the nomination is
pretty near certain and that he would
poll heavy German vote in the elec-
ton which would follow is practically
sure, but whether his popularity would
be sufficient to break a Scandinavian
cleavage on the Republican side of
the house is the question. Wise ones
in the Democratic ranks say he would,
sanguine. However, if he does get in
the doubling Thomases say he will
give his Republican rival the run of
his political career.
!. !. +
In the days of the convention ma
was something that was never over
looked. Until the advent of John
Lind, Of Scandinavian extraction, the
governorship went to the man best
calculated to command votes, but
when it came to the other state Of
fees they were parceled out on lines
calculated to reach the various ma
tionalities. Out of this grew the GUS
tom of giving the Office of state treas
urer to the Germans and that of Sec
rotary of state to the Scandinavians
These two were the principal voting
nationalities of the state and due
recognition was given them. Accord
ing to the state census and the fed
eral census for that matter the Ger
mans are the largest single voting
nationality in Minnesota, but they are
Offset by those of Scandinavian par
entage or birth. These take in the
NorWeglans, those acknowledging
Sweden as the mother country and the
dependencies. of the two nations. 1t
is this large German vote in Mime
sofa that is encouraging the friends
of Mr.. Pfaender who want him for
gubernatorial honors. While so far
the Scandinavian end of the states
voting population has stood by those
of it's own nationality Mr.. Pfaender's
passing. While Mr.. Pfaender is GER
tain of the German vote they hold he
would be sure to get the opposition
to Governor Eberhart in his own ma
tionality. All these deductions, how
ever, sound nice, but no one yet has
heard Mr.. Pfaender say he would
like to make the race or could even
be induced to enter the lists. But
there is plenty of time, so why worry.
Lots of strange things can happen in
a year.
!. !. :.
is pretty certain that w. E. Lee will
make another try at the Republican
gubernatorial nomination next year.
A letter bearing his signature and
now being sent to friends over the
state removes all doubt 1t reads:
81 assume that you are still anxious
to see the Eberhart-Smith political ma.
chine defeated in Minnesota, and the
experience of last year indicates that
this can only be accomplished by unit
ing on one candidate.
Il am not, at all keen to get into
the race, but the pressure is consider
able and I shall not finch from what
may appear to be my duty.
I'm case I decide to run, wish to
ask if 1 can have your valuable CO.
operation and support. @.
with kind personal regards, I re-
main s#E D..
yours very truly, @.- s.