New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-12-12
MUST FUSE OR LOSE
TO non ! PA IT'S Ms
OLD LINE POLITICIANS SHARPEN
THEIR KNIVES FOR THE
FRAY.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
LIE DOWN IN PEACE To-
GETHER.

LIE DOWN IN PEACE TO-
GET4ER.
Minnesota politicians, regardless Of
party, were amazed last week by the
audacious suggestion of Fred B. Lynch,
Democratic National committeeman,
that a fusion ticket for the coming year
was not only possibility but a proba-
bility.
At first the suggestion was received
with laughter but on second thought the
majority Of those who make a living
in the political arena gave. it their hearty
endorsement, trusting that the fall Of
the cards would permit them to continue
to fatten at the public crib. It is con-
tended by a few that a fusion Of the two
old parties is essential in order to assure
the election of those whose Loyalty is
beyond question and the shelving of
any whose patriotism is lukeWarm.
Politicians Fear Non-Partisans.
# The politicians, those who play the
game for Interior motives, are in reality
cropping in the dark, wondering how
much of a figure the Non-p PARTISAN League
is going to cut in the coming primaries
and election. Townley's organization
has thrown bombshell Of unknown
strength into the political trenches and
until the actual count of the votes is
completed the seasoned warriors of many
a campaign will stand in fear and trem-
bling.
It is among the possibilities that
Townley's following in the Gopher state is
going to be a disappointment to those
who are sponsoring the movement be-
cause the conservative element is not
in the habit Of following the political
leadership Of one who has failed to make
a success of his private affairs. The
average voter OF ebay thoroughly
capable Of doing his own thinking. At
least he is inclined to that opinion. The
Non-partisan League, is therefore pro-
badly not going to cut the figure politi-
cally it hackers expect and its opponents
fear.
But regardless of all this on what
basis do the leaders of the Republicans
and Democrats expect to fuse and at the
same time hold their following?
Democrats Easily Satisfied.
One Democrat leader who was asked
what the Minnesota Democrats would
demand in the event of an attempt at a
fusion ticket, replied after some thought
that they would be satisfied with four
representatives from this state. They
now have one, Carl C. Van Dyke Of the
Fourth district, st. Paul. In addition,
hethought they might claim one each from
the Third, Fifth and Sixth districts,
displacing G. r. Davis, Ernest Lundeen
and Harold Knutson, all Of whom have
opposed the national administration
in its war measures.
This man did not include a single
state office in his list. Another thought
the Democrats should have at least one
of the good state Offices, and by good
he meant one with considerable patronage
indicating either the governship or the
state authorship.
A third less interested in patronage.
preferred the attorney generalship, as an
office that would give strong man an
opportunity to make reputation that
would rebound to the credit of his party.
Each Of these men acknowledged his par
ty minority organization, and was
willing to accept minority of the offices
as the party's share.
It Can't Be Done, Gentlemen.
The apportionment of the offices
among the parties represented in the
fusion or mass convention would be
difficult task, A fusion Of political or
CARNATIONS next year does not mean that
parties will be abolished. The fact that
all patriotic people now are united in
support of the flag, does not mean that
they are all of the same opinion with
regard to the solution Of economic pro-
blenns- It has been repeatedly shown
IN the past that in voting to FILL nom
partisan Offices men will support, the can
didates whom they know to be of their
own political faith. Therefore, if there
IS to be fusion, the offices will have to be
apportioned equitably. And there isl
where the fur is bound to fly An equi-1
table distribution Of the political loaves
and AZ fishes shte satisfying alike to both sides
IS the stumbling block. It has never
been successfully performed and never
will be.
A body Of 100 surgeons has been
organized for service in the hospitals