The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-14
NOT ANXIOUS TO
QUIT THEIR JOBS
DEMOCRATIC HEADS OF DE-
PARTMENTS WOULD STAY
ON STATES PAYROLL
GOVERNOR IS MOVING SLOWLY
ANNOUNCES STATE INSURANCE
COMMISSIONER AND OIL
INSPECTOR.

St. Paul, Dec. 1.-THE activity
shown by a number of Democratic
heads of state departments to con-
tinue on the payroll is in marked con-
trast to former years, when with each
change of administration came gen.
eral tender of designations and calm
acceptance of what the fates had
handed them. Everybody was pre-
pared to take to the tall and uncut
and few tears were shed. Unless it
be. S. D. Works, insurance commits
sioner, who long ago set his house in
order preparatory to retiring to pri-
vate life, practically every Democrat
who came in with the Hammond ad-
ministration two years ago is fighting
against any possible severance of Of
fetal connections and in one or two
cases activities in this respect extend
to vigorous and frantic calls for out
side help. That they have been good
officials is not denied, but there have
been others just as good, so it can be
said they have no monopoly in this
respect. One of the places held down
by a Democrat was filled by Governor
Burnquist last week when he named
A. M. Opsahl of Brainerd as head of
the oil inspection department. J. ].
Farrell, state dairy and food commits
noner, will, it is said, be succeeded
by Sam Scott of Zumbrota, a promi-
nent dairyman and Republican who
has some strong endorsements. In
practically all the departments Dem
>ocratic clerks have taken the places
of Republicans, but it is not thought
that there will be any wholesale clean
ing at this time. The governors ad-
visers want him to wipe the slate
clean, but he seems reluctant to take
the step.
John B. Sanborn, an attorney of St.
Paul and former member of the leg
islature, will be the next head of the
state insurance department. The an
nOuncement of his appointment was
made at the same time as that of Mr..
'Opsahl for oil inspector. Sanborn's
appointment disposes of the activities
Of Gust Lindquist and Ira J. Peterson,
who have been regarded as strong
candidates. AS an organization prop
4seition Sanborn's selection is disap-
pointment, but he is clean, without
any entanglements and in every ra-
spect ideal in business way. To
those who may be inclined to criticize
it can be said that the department
will be in efficient hands. Sanborn
always has been close to the governor
He is not politician and never will
he. This was demonstrated in the re-
cent primaries, when an unknown dis
tanced him for the house membership
in his district; but, as I said, he is
clean and capable, and that is a lot.
Arthur Christopherson, the governors
Nv partner, is said to be largely re-
sponsible for this appointment.
The one man with insurance and
political backing for the insurance
commissionership was Ira J. Peterson,
the present chief deputy. He had
strong endorsements and it is possible
that he will be retained in the
department in some capacity. He
was a holdover from the J. A. O.
Preus administration. Gust Lindquist,
the other principal candidate, was re-
garded as being as close to his excel
iency as man could be, and general
opinion gave him the preference. It
IL said that he is keenly disappointed.
Opsahl's appointment to the oil in
spectorship is credited to deal made
during the primary campaign with
Congressman Lindbergh of the Sixth
district. Lindbergh, you remember,
was candidate for the Republican
nomination for governor and retired
to run for United States senator. Of
course it is only gossip, but some in
sist that Opsahl's selection harkens
back to Mr.. Lindbergh's retirement
from the governorship race. Opsahl
was always close to Lindbergh.
The future of the house speakersh;p
is hanging on the statement of Lieu
tenant Albert Pratt of the Third reg
iment, Minnesota national guard, who
with the several companies composing
that regiment reached Fort Smelling
from the Mexican border the latter
part of last. week. Pratt has lot of
friends who want him to get into the
game, and the possible retirement OF
several candidates, among them Rep
resentative Parker of Fillmore county
and Representative Christianson of |
Lac qui Parle county, hinges on what |
Lieutenant Pratt will do. 1t is said |
that both favor Pratt if he can show
the votes and that they will retire in
his favor. Representative Charles
Warner of the Sixth district is show
ing considerable class. Mr.. Warner
has been on the job for the past week
and it has to be admitted that he has
the boys guessing. He will have to be
reckoned with in the finals beyond the
shadow of doubt. Claude South
wick of Wells dropped into the Twin
Cities last week and conferred with
the local boys. He is confident of sue
.ess and insists that his SI1nnort will