The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-08-02
HIBBING'S MAYOR
MAY Upset DOPE
VICTOR POWER URGED TO BE.
COME ACTIVE CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR
STRONG With LABORlNG men
[. w. w. is HAVING HARD SLED
DING IN THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA

DING IN THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA
Gubernatorial circles, both republic
can and democratic, are trif1e dis
turbed over the possibility of Mayor
Victor Power of Hibbing being thrust
into the game. Certain persons, pres
umably with his sanction, are active
in his behalf and the movement in his
favor has progressed to the extent
that he has been presented with num-
erously signed petitions urging him
to toss his hat into the gubernatorial
ring. The most Of the petitions so
far bear the names of persons prom
inent in organized labor and were Sc
cured by Earl Lawler, secretary of the
Hibbing Commercial Club. Lawler
obtained most of the signers while in
attendance at recent meeting of the
State Federation of Labor at Fari-
bault. Accepting the statement of
those active in his behalf, Mayor
Power, if he does get into the game
will do so as an independent, which
is responsible for the talk that he will
have the backing of the Non-Partisan
League now organizing in the state.
League leaders, however, refused to
admit this. Mayor Power in politics
is generally accepted as a republican
and the King makers in discussing
his possible entrance into the guber-
material game are of the opinion that
he would poll a heavy vote as party
candidate, but they cannot see much
hope for him as an Independent. They
do not regard the present as ripe for
such. Geographically his location is
wrong they say and this together
with numerous municipal extravag-
encies which he would be compelled
to explain, they add, puts him at de-
cided disadvantage in an independent
way. AS the executive head of what
has beeen dubbed the Richest Little
Village in the World" Hibbing, the
alleged extravagant expenditures Of
which engrossed the attention of al
most one entire session of the legis-
lature to the detriment of much need
ed other legislation, Mayor Victor
Power is not without fame in the
state. He is never happy unless he
is in a clash with the powers that be
and out of it all has came much adj
vertising. This is not the first time he
has been mentioned in a gubernator-
ial way. Two years ago he all but
threw his hat into the ring. Later he
was talked of for congress. That
there is more than talk, behind his
ambitions now is certain and while the
independent feature is not looked up
on as helpful to his ambitions, still!
one can never tell. His future move
ments will be watched with interest.
August first will likely see the last
vestige of democracy removed from
the state capitol. Hold-over's of the
late Gov. Hammond are due to go and
their places will be filed with repub-
lican sympathizers. Hotel Inspector
Nee got, his last week, the place of
state dairy and food commissioner
now held by J. j. Farrell of Carver
has already been offered to an I'M
known and R. w. Hargadine, state fire
marshall will next week give way to
j. J. Sanborn, state insurance COM.
missioner. Added to this has been
the quiet removal of several holding
minor capitol jobs and the substitu-
ton of republicans. Noteworthy in
this respect is the appointment of w.
w. Rich, a ST. Paul politician to a
minor place on the capitol custodian's
force. "Bill" whose ST. Paul and
Ramsey county property interests are
extensive will hold down door keep
er's job at $40 per month. A poor
devil named Schultz was lifted to
make room for him.
The governors sudden determine
ton to put only friends on guard calls
to mind activities on the part of
friends shortly after his election last
fall. These activities headed by Erick
Thornton, now the governors private
secretary and chairman Of the republi-
can central committee, l. A. Caswell,
Arthur Christopherson, the governors
law partner and others ran to the
formation of a Burnquist organiza-
ton that would be invincible. The
plan was to fill various jobs not only
with republicans, but with men Pc
cularily fitted for the various posi-
lions. Efficiency was the watch
word. If what is told is correct the
governor was agreeable. A humble,
of republicans were all but rendered
positions available then. Noteworthy
among them was Sam Scott of Zum.
brota,> who it was understood was