The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-07
GOVERNOR Will
take HIS Time
is IN NO HASTE TO MAKE THE
CHANGES IN DEPARTMENT
HEADS
CANDIDATES ARE NUMEROUS
DELAY IN ANNOUNCING INTEN-
TIONS is PILING UP TROUBLE
FOR ADMINISTRATION

st. Paul, Dec. Although it wa:
expected that Governor Burnquist
would set at rest disquieting rumor:
concerning a wholesale change il
state department heads, most of the
present incumbents continue to feec
at the public trough. Their sleep
however, is badly broken, for, while {
number of them may stay, they are
not any too secure regarding theil
future. The dismissal of A. H. Tur.
rittin, state superintendent of banks
and the reappointment of Andrew
Fritz, state public examiner, is the
only definite information to date
While the former was expected, the
latter announcement came as some
what of surprise, as it was under
stood that both the governor and his
advisers were agreed that Fritz would
have to go. F. E. Pierson, Mr.. Tur-
rittin's successor, is a comparative
unknown, while Turrittin is regarded
as political power, especially in the
Sixth district. Of the few who did
give aid in the recent campaign
he was the most active. Both his
time and his money were given to the
cause and he aided materially in keep
ing the Wilson vote down to the min
imum in his district. That the delay
in making announcement of changes
or retentions is piling up trouble for
the administration is seen in grow
ing list of candidates for the various
jobs. The position of state oil in
spector is being eagerly sought, while
AS to state fire marshal an state ho-
tel inspector the list of eligibles is
growing with the days. Governor
Burnquist apparently intends to take
his time in selecting his official family
and refuses to be hurried.
The contest for the house speaker
ship took on new features when Rep
resentative Charles n. Warner Of Ait
kin was added to the list Of candi-
dates. Another to throw his hat into
the ring was Magnus johnson of
Meeker county. Mr.. Warmers candi-
dacy was made somewhat formidable
by the endorsement of the Sixth dis
trict, which, I am told, was unsolic-
tied. In an interview given several
weeks ago Mr.. Warner said he did not
know whether he would be a candi-
date or not and he advised then that
members generally keep away from
entanglements. Warner was a leader
in the last house and it is predicted
that his opponents will have to go
some if he is to be sidetracked. Ralph
Parker of the First district continues
to maintain headquarters at the st.
Francis hotel in Ss. Paul. He was
one of the first to announce his can
didacy for the speakership, but it
cannot be said that he has shown any
unusual speed. Claude Southwick of
Wells, another candidate, is not so
much in the open. He is doing gum
shoe work principally and seems to be
making an impression, especially with
the city members. Johnson's en-
trance into the game came about
through endorsements given him at
the recent meeting Of the State
Equity society. If anything, he will
hurt Theodore Christensen of Daw-
son, whose support comes principally
from the drys. Solar the speaker
ship is any mans game and little
change is expected much before the
opening of the session in January.
4
President Vincent of the state uni
versity has given notice that he in
tends to retire next year to become
head of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Who his successor will be is not
known at this time, but it is a safe
bet that when the new head of the
university is selected that the board
of regents will insist on several
things. More attention to university
affairs, I gather, will be one of the de-
mands. The one complaint against
President Vincent was his absence on
lecture tours and his persistent ac-