The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-20
From Tuesdays Daily.

rupt pIhSliScS oSt PooSSo NJ the
special session of the legislature in
1912 is being attacked In the St.
Louis county district court, and At
torney General Smith has been
granted permission to file brief on
behalf OF the state in which he
will argue that the law is constitu-
tionai. Like the attack on the new
primary election law In the Henne-
pin county district court, this litiga-
ton involves the constitutionality
Of the legislation and It is conceded
that in both cases close questions
are involved.
Charges are Made.
The st. Louis county case Is q
result of contest for the Office Of
mayor at Eveleth. j. ]. Gleason was
elected to that position and, John
8. Saari instituted the contest charg.
ing that Gleason violated the cor.
rupt practices act by publishing mat
ter for distribution among the voters
without attaching the name of the
author, by promising to pro.
cure employment for certain per
sons in the event of his election and
by paying for drinks and entertain.
ments for voters.
The corrupt practices act makes
the doing OF any one OF these things
by a candidate for office sufficient
grounds to make him ineligible
should he be elected.
Court Decisions Quoted.
The attorneys for Gleason, how.
ever, say that placing these disabili.
ties upon n candidate otherwise
qualified is unconstitutional. They
quote decision by Former Chief
Justice Charles NJ. Start of the
Minnesota supreme court in the case
of the State eX rel ]. ID. Brady,
against William J. Bates decided in
1907. In this case Brady tried to
have Bates election as sheriff OF
st. Louis county declared invalid
because OF a violation OF the old
corrupt practices act, known as the
0zmun law, of 1895.
From Another Point Of View.
There Is, however, another
supreme court decision on this point
which holds in substance that the
legislature may make reasonable and
fair regulations as to the manner in
which a candidate for Office shall
solicit votes among his fellows. 1t
does not, however, go SO far as to say
that violation of these rules would
IN itself be sufficient to bar the
candidate from holding the office.
Smith Filed For denomination.
Walter ]. Smith today filed for
denomination on the republican
ticket at the primaries June 16, by
paying his $50 fee to Secretary OF
State Schmahl Mr.. Smith was first
elected treasurer in 1910 and is now
serving his second term. II has
been the custom in Minnesota for
the treasurer to have three terms.
So far, Mr.. Smith Is the only can.
didate to file for the position. Ed.
ward l.. Erickson, assistant treas
urer, was named by Smith as his
campaign manager.
Socialists Name Ticket.
Brainerd. Mimi, February H.
Closing a two days convention of
the Minnesota Socialist party, which
lasted well into the morning hours
of Monday, these nominations were
made: For governor, Tom Lewis,
Minneapolis, lieutenant governor,
Andrew Hanson, Minneapolis; sec.
rotary of state, w. A. Stafford OF
Minneapolis; state auditor, F. A.
Thompson, Richville; state treasurer
j. z. Nash, Minneapolis; attorney
general, F. ]. Geist, Minneapolis.
"original' Wilson Man.
Representative Albert Pfaender OF
New Ulm who claims to be the real
original Wilson man" of Minnesota,
las sent word that he will attend
the democratic get-together dinner
In Minneapolis February "a. Mr..
Pfaender can show that he made
the first public utterance In Min.
nesota advocating Woodrow Wilson
for president II was during a de-
bate In the legislature on April s..
1911, over the "seven-senator bill"
Tho assertion had been made that
New Jersey was "a corporation-con-
trolled state. Mr.. Pfaender took issue
with this and praised Woodrow vii.
son, then governor, predicting on
the floor of the house that he would
be the next president OF the United
States. The speech attracted con.
siderable attention at the time, and
MI. Pfaender soon after received a
letter from Governor Wilson nc.
knowledging the compliment paid
him. Mr.. Pfaender's name may be
considered for governor at the
gathering next week. There has
been considerable mention of him
In that connection and he does nc;
deny that he may be candidate.
Bush on Way South.
Joseph Leslie Bush OF Brainerd,
one OF the heroes Of the last worlds
series. was In st. Paul Saturday on
his way to Jacksonville. Fla. where
the Athletics will do their spring
training. His mother and little