The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-04-23
EbERHART ISSUES
letter TO VOTERS
THE PRESERVATION OF PRI-
MARY LAW BIG ISSUE OF
CAMPAIGN.
STATE CONFERENCE PACKED
OTHER CANDIDATES. WERE
DOUBLE CROSSED BY LEE
MANAGERS.

An open letter to the voters of the
state by A. O. Governor Eberhart was
issued last Friday by George F. Au-
thier, personal campaign committee
for the governor. The statement fol-
lows:
"There is not one issue in this cam
paign, which is not of fundamental
character and far reaching effect
overshadows all others. That issue is
the preservation of the primary cleo
ton law for the people of Minnesota.
The issue of the campaign will deter
mine whether or not the people are to
retain to themselves the right to make
their own nominations or whether
they will surrender that right to self
appointed leaders, who will make
these nominations not for the people
but for themselves. believe this
question is the most important issue
of the campaign because connected
with it is the question as to whether
or not the voters as a whole are quail
flied to make their nominations or
whether because of lack of interest
or lack of intelligence, they must sur
render the privilege to others. l am
one of those who believe in popular
government and in the ability of the
people to express their choice in NOM
mating primaries without the graf
uitous advice or insidious influence to
assist them in coming to conclusion.
at is doubly unfortunate that at
the present time the primary law
lshoul3 be attacked covert.y rather
than openly and that its destruction is
planned by those who have hitherto
posed as it's friends and who now aim
to knife it in the back. There are no
more enemies to popular government
than men who use machine methods
under the banner progress,
"Two or three weeks ago there was
held in Minnesota under the name of
a conference and within the republic
can party, whose purpose was to NOM
mate a candidate against me. In the
entire history of Minnesota there was
never a gathering or movement more
.subversive of the principles of popu-
lar rights nor one which more mimi
cally threatens the political liberty of
this state.
"While its aim and purpose was to
nominate the strongest man to oppose
me in the June primaries, it is well
known that this was not done. The
question naturally arises, Why was
Mr.. Lee nominated? 1t must be equal
ly patent to all that none of the other
candidates who were inveigled into
this convention, for the purpose OF be-
ing politically sandbagged and who
sincerely believed in the purpose Of
the primary could be expected to en-
ter into a pact to secure its repeal.
The forces back of Todd county bank
er's candidacy are endeavoring to Sc
cure the repeal of the law. 1t would
be safe to assume, therefore, even in
the absence of evidence, that the can
didate~ has decided to lend his in
duence to bring about such a result.
cit is we'll to consider the motive
that must be back OF such well or
ganized attempt to return to the old
convention system. Two years ago MI.
Lee became a candidate for governor
assuming to himself the qualities of a
progressive. 1t is true that nobody
had ever read or heard of him as a
progressive before, but it seems pre-
posterous to, believe that a man could
be found shouting progressivism from
the housetops whose instincts were in
stinctively reactionary.
Among the things he shouted most
loudly for was direct primary law.
Difference between Mr.. Lee and my
self at that time apparently was that
while he was shouting for a primary
law because he thought he would not
get it, was not shouting but was
working for the same result and OBJ
tanned it. I called special session
Of the legislature for the enactment
of a direct primary law, much to the
disappointment of many who urged It.
"Mr. Lee became q candidate under
C.-+;,,,.d -, n.va a;0ht