Morris tribune., 1914-01-30
SOME OPPOSITION TO PLAN
Uncertainty of the Outcome Keeps
'Insurgent" Leaders From En-
dorsing the Meeting.


April. The prominent Republicans |
agitating the movement, however, are |
outside the pale of the administration |
crowd, so l fear it will not get very |
far unless they take the bull by the |
horns" and issue the call over their
own signatures. 1t is certain that the
state central committee will not give
the scheme encouragement, as Gov
ernor Eberhart has already aired his
views about self-constituted leaders
and the beauties of the primary law,
which is supposed to represent the
rule of the people The agitation for
a general Republican get together
was started a week ago, receiving its
real impetus from W. E. Lee of Long
Prairie, who, in communication to
the press, proposed a solution of the
gubernatorial question through the
medium of a meeting of Republicans
and the selection by it of one man to
make the race against Governor Eb-
erhart, the administration candidate.
Since then the proposed meeting, but
with a different object in view, has
been discussed, but so far no one has
been found with nerve enough to take
the initiative The administration
naturally will not stand for it and as
for the insurgents the outcome is de-
cidedly too uncertain for them to
risk it. If any attempt at putting
those who might attend the propos-
ed meeting on record could be con-
fined to the gubernatorial question
the insurgent leaders might attempt
it, but it is here where the trouble
comes. Some one might trot out OPP
position to Henry Rines of Mora, who
is a Republican progressive, for state
auditor, and after that anything might
happen.
"Why," you probably ask, docs Gov
ernor Eberhart and his ieutenants
oppose any general meeting of Repub-
licans, the object Of which is to dis
cuss issues, decide on principles and
discuss matters pertaining to the good
of the party?" For the simple rea-
son, dear reader, that Governor Eb-
,erhart is not ready just yet to give
aid and comfort to Jim Peterson, S.
C. Iverson, w. E. Lee and others who
banker for his official scalp. In brief,
he is not DESTROYS of committing po-
litical suicide at this time. He has
plans in mind that tend to long po-
litical future and he is not DESTROYS
of having them shattered. His excel
lency is standing behind the primary
law, and rightfully so. When the MI
nority failed to get his goat in con-
vention it insisted on a statewide
primary law. Governor Eberhart gave
it to them and now he is more firmly
entrenched than ever.
!. :. =
The Eberhart Aid Society is sure
growing Elias Stevenson OF Crooks
ton, a brother of Congressman Hal
vor Stevenson, is said to be prepar-
ing to ask for membership. He would
file for the Republican nomination
for governor, with the Equity Grain
Exchange forces in the state as his
Sponsors James A. Peterson of Min
neapolis and S. G. Iverson of st. Paul
have already joined the society. 9th
ers expected to tender the required
filing fee are Senator ElWell and Fred
B. Snyder of Minneapolis, Congress-
man Lindbergh of the Sixth district
and w. E. Lee of Long Prairie. Come
on, you fellows, the membership is
unlimited.
!. :. =.
"Prexy" Cyrus Northrop of the
state university is said to be pre-
pairing to enter the arena of politics.
The state senate is to be the step.
ping stone and friends, it is report
ed, will file his name shortly. If he
does get in it is hardly likely that he
will be opposed. President Northrop
was talked of for governor four years
ago, but declined.
!. \ 4
1t looks pretty much as if de-
cision had been reached in the matter
of putting up State Insurance Com
missioner Preus as a candidate for
state auditor against Henry Rines OF
Mora Mr. Preus was busy among
the auditors in attendance at the meet
ing of the State Auditors association
in Minneapolis and it is reported gave
out the information that he intended
to file. During his visit Mr.. Preus
had no lack of hackers. Administra
ton friends were on hand to introduce
him and he made hit. When he
files Mr.. Preus will give his residence
as Minneapolis, although his residence
was given as Ada when he was named
as executive clerk by Governor
Eberhart m 1909.
< !. +
That National Committeeman Free
b. Lynch of St PAUL is very much il