The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-06-08

URsbAY, JUNE s, 1916
BRAVE ACTION IN POLITICS.
M. S. Norelius has done a very
brave thing. More than that he has
done, with grace and tact, what could
not have been attempted by the aver
age man in Minnesota politics. He
has introduced into the current cam
paign the nationality question, but
in such deft and sincere proceeding
that it must be void of offense.
In state which is such mosaic
of nationalities as Minnesota the ques-
ton of nationality is a delicate sub
ject. The large majority Of our people
is of foreign antecedents, yet of a
sturdy Americanism more than ever
pronounced in the second generations.
In the circumstances it has been mar
:velously free of cliques and clans,
wonderfully clear Of combinations
based upon race considerations; and
by common consent political discus
sion has steered away from the rocks
and shoals of-nationality.
But Mr.. Norelius, an American of
Swedish origin, editor of the Chisago
County Press and son Of the disting-
uished preacher and professor, the
late DR.. Eric Norelius, has the courage
to bring up the nationality issue and
impress upon his friends of the same
derivation the wisdom and justice of
being fair. He calls attention, in a
remarkable editorial utterance, to the
generous treatment accorded the Scan
dinavian element in the distribution
of political favors in Minnesota in the
past and to the prependerance of that
race on the tickets to be submitted to
voters at the primary election. He
quotes a good old Swedish adage to
the effect that "the man who reaches
out for much often loses the whole
cake," and cautions against the "dan-
ger, Of being looked upon as politi-
cally avaricious." -
Particularly in view of the fact that
the senior senatorship is now held in
honor by Knute Nelson, himself a
distinguished representative Of the
Scandinavian race, Mr.. Norelius ex-
horts his friends Of that nationality
to support Frank B. Kellogg for the
Junior senatorship and "thus illustrate
that we are willing to divide and
share important honors with other
races of the state" g..
AS we say, Mr.. Norelius has taken
brave stand. There is fine Ameri-
canism about it, beside a frankness
which will wound nobody and. hurt
nobody's feelings. AS matter of
fact, instead Of introducing the ma
tionality issue, it is strong plea for
the ignoring of all race and nationali-
ty considerations and for the discus
sion of all candidates. upon the broad
plane Of merit, as equal citizens of a
great commonwealth Paul Dis
patch.
Annexed hereto is the article re-
ferred to by the Dispatch: -
Enough is Coed as Feast +
1t would seem after a little peril
nent yet fair analysis that the Scan
dinavians of our state are pretty we'll
taken care of politically, at present.,
and the writer only questions wheth-
er at this time it is in keeping with
good grace and recognized policy to
make a bid for more Of the highest
offices within the gift Of the state.
It is but natural that in a.. state
where the Scandinavian element pre-
dominates like in Minnesota, the Scan
dinavians, being race Of the very
highest and most intelligent type of
American citizenship, should seek
their full recognition in the political
world and this they have done and
the other nationalities have been more
than courteous in the matter of gen.
eral support and in the way of i'm
portant appointments, division Of
the political cake" having resulted
very advantageously to our Scandi-
navians. Yet for US as race, to
reach out after every important posi-
ton in the state from the smallest
to the highest is, to our mind, taking
pure advantage of the situation and
some day it may rebound unfavorably
to the Scandinavians of this state,
whose historical characteristics have
placed them in the van guard of the
higher culture of the worlds prog
ress and civilization. Indeed, one of
our finest traits as a race has been
our inherent courtesy, yes, one may
as we'll call it modesty, trait which
possibly has it's pardonable virtues.
While it is also true that at one
time we shared little or nothing of
political patronage, within our state,
that is no reason why, when possess
ing an abundance Of it, we should
seek more than our share.
Our Scandinavians- for somehow
that's what the travelling men call
US when they are talking about polit.
ical candidates-have Jared pretty