The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-12-28
INVOLVES VETS
and DRYS in Fight
LIQUOR QUESTION FORCED INTO
PROMINENCE IN SPEAKER
SHIP CONTEST.
ELIMINATION SCHEME TRIED
NUMBER OF CONFERENCES ARE
HELD. BUT OUTCOME SEEMS
VERY DOUBTFUL

question continues to dominate the
house speakership and unless settle
ment is reached within the next week
it is certain the contest will go to the
floor of the house. For two weeks the
Anti-Saloon league forces have been
trying out elimination schemes, hold
ing conferences and interviewing can
didates, but despite their activity a
settlement of the question is as far off
as it ever was. Those active in put
ting an unquestioned dry over are
Representatives w. /. Norton, an at
torney for the Anti-Saloon league, and
w. /. Nolan, who has boosted for the
league for several sessions. These
two men have evolved committee
scheme of elimination with Nolan as
chairman, and while all of the candi-
dates for speaker with the exception
of Charles Warner of Aitkin have
agreed to abide by the findings no one
has been eliminated as yet. In the
final analysis it is doubtful if any of
the candidates will permit themselves
to be eliminated except by vote Of
the house. In clubbing Warner wet
because of his refusal to join the COM
bination the drys have unwittingly
forced on the Aitkin man a line OF
support that may prove formidable, in
the finals. This support consists of
members who are against the dry and
wet question being dragged into the
game, and the known vets who have
no one else to go to. Warmers record
is bone dry, and while ne undoubtedly
is not anxious for the open wet sup
port he cannot help himself. Theo-
dore Christensen of Dawson appears
to have the good wishes of a majority
of the drys, but he is handicapped by
the combination, which, while loud in
its declaration Of fealty to the right
man, yet numbers in it's ranks several
who have their lightning rods up and
who will not be eliminated without a
fight. Ralph Parker of Fillmore coun-
ty, the first candidate to enter the
contest, still looms up as live one
and the contest may narrow down to
him and Warner.
Warner does not take kindly to the
title Of the 'wet candidate" and has
sent out several hundred letters deny
ing the accusation. He declares that
the charge is actuated by Jealousy
Oddly enough, Warmers legislative
record is about as dry as there is. He
says that the attempt to make it ap-
pear that he is the 'wet". candidate
comes from those who would capitalize
the dry issue to their personal advan-
tage. If man, he argues, had sixty
rrebs" and seventy syanks" assigned
him to perform a certain piece of
work he would not Immediately begin
waving the bloody shirt, and says that
a similar situation confronts the man
who organizes the 1917 house. He in
sists that the n KIT speaker should not
be handicapped in any way.
The coming annual meeting of the
State Agricultural Society, the princl
pal feature of which will be the selec-
ties. cf president and tbs filing .!
several places on the state fair b,af'',
of managers, continues to divide hon
ors with the house speakership. IN
some localities the scramble for de!e-
gate endorsements overshadows the
legss' tive fight. F, g. Murphy OF
Wheaton, who is making a particular
ly active campaign for the presidency,
was heavily in evidence in the Twin
Cities last week. George Atchin-
son, a rival candidate, was also Wis
itor. Murphy is making his appeal
direct to the country delegates and in
sists that he has the lead.
Good roads legislation is going to
figure prominently in the activities OF
the coming legislation. That the
present state highway commission Is
due to face reorganization is certain
and it is possible that the present
crowd may be wiped off the boards
Senator P. H. McGarry of Walker is
one legislative member who is active
in the fight for a new deal AMI he de.
clares that he will have plenty OF
hackers. He says that the road funa