The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-21
SHARP CONTEST
FOR ADVANCES
POSITIONS ON THE STATE FAIR
BOARD IN GREAT DEMAND
AND CAUSES SCRAP
PRAT NOT OUT FOR SPEAKER
GUARD OFFICER TOO BUSY TO
ENTER RACE FOR PRESID-
ING OFFICER OF HOUSE

with the house speakership is the
contest for the presidency of the State
Agricultural Society, which will be de-
cided at the annual meeting of the So
Getty IN Minneapolis next month, and
the several vacancies on the state
fair board of managers, also to be
filled at that time. 1t is as lively a
scrap as has been staged in years and
delegates to the annual meeting are
being buttonholed everywhere for sup
port. Two men of prominence aspire
to the presidency of the State Agri-
cultural Society, while half dozen
men from as many parts of the state
have their eye on the several vacan-
cies on the state fair board of mana
gers. The two aspirants for the pres
idency are F. M. Murphy of Wheaton,
an agriculturist and state booster of
prominence, and George Atkinson of
Mankato, who has long had state
fair connection. Mr.. Murphy's stock
is somewhat enhanced by the fact
that, if elected to the presidency, his
promotion will cause another vacancy
on the state fair board of managers,
which will of necessity compel those
anxious to get on the board to boost
in his behalf Atkinson, however, has
a majority of the backing of the pres
,ent board, which is not to be sneezed
at. The fact that there are three
places on the board of managers to be
filled this time, with possible fourth
should Mr.. Murphy get by, is due to
the recent resignation of Secretary
Simpson and the elevation of Tom
Garfield of Candy to the post. The
latter's place is being temporarily
filled by Mike Holm of Roseau, who
is a candidate for reelection. The re-
firing members of the board are w
". Sivright of Hutchinson and Mr.
Atkinson Of MankaJo, who wants tC
be president. Those who would like tC
iii these two vacancies, including the
board position made vacant by the re,
tirement of President Craig and the
promotion of Mr.. Garfield, are Charles
Kelly of Menagha, Curtis Johnson OF
Rush City, John Dwan of Two Har-
bors, A. E. Miller of New Ulm and
Mike Holm. All around, it is lively
affair and the outcome is being
watched with interest.
Because of the interest being taker
In the speakerhsip, the bllghtlng hanc
of politics has held alOot from the
sta,e Ialr presidency and the filling OF
the vacancies on the board OF mana
gers, and the several contests will, III
a measure, be filled this time without
outside influence. Whoever is elected
10th the affairs of the society and the
state fair will be in good hands. Tha
the delegates will not stand for any
combination of interests or the lnter'
ference of outsiders is agreed. AS ;
booster for agricultural Minnesota the
activities of Mr. Murphy are and hav;
been nationwide, while, as for Mr.. At
Crimson, his rival, he has been a con
sistent and active state fair worker
for years. The Murphy farm at Whea
ton is one of the agricultural demon
stration centers of the state. He Is
president of the board of education
which has charge of the Wheaton com
nunity school, president of the Al
Minnesota Improvement association
and is stockbreeder and farmer o.
note. Mr.. Atkinson, when not con
cerned with state fair matters, de-
votes his activities to MankatO ant
Minnesota real estate. All those seek
ing places on the state fair board O.
managers have agricultural connec
tons. The annual meeting of the so
ciety will take place in Minneapolis
the second week in January.
The speakership contest has beer
somewhat clarified by the announce
ment of Albert F. Pratt of Anoka tina
he will not be a candidate for the pc
sition. A number of house member
had voluntarily offered support K
Pratt and refused to consider othe
candidates as long as he was posi-
bility. His statement releases thes'
men and supporters of other candi
dates are making strenuous efforts t.
secure them. Representative Pratt II
lieutenant colonel of the Third Min