The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1918-03-20
STATE CAPITOL Weekly '.>4 -
POLITICAL NEWS letter
Republicans Will Not Hold . State
Convention; Democrats to Hold
State Conference.

Agitation for republican confer
ence similar to the one to be held by
the state democracy and the Non
partisan league this month has been
started in some sections of the state,
but such will not likely be called.
E. L. Thornton, chairman of the re-
publican state central committee
says he is opposed to the scheme
and besides there is not enough de-
mand for get together before the
primaries If conference is desired,
he says the various county chairmen
are in a position to determine such
and call one if necessary. Oppose
ton to state convention of repub-
licans is not original with chairman
Thornton. Practically every office
holder in the state is against the
scheme and with good reason. 1t
would simply mean the fostering Of
line of trouble that would jeopar-
die the political future of every Of
flee holder in the state. It would
simply mean good bye to official per-
petuation. To hundreds of those
now holding office in Minnesota, the
present primary and non partisan
acts have been a Godsend. Death
only can jar the most of them loose.
More than a. dozen years ago Mime
sofa discarded the caucus and the
convention. With both later went
party designation for all offices ex-
cept those voted on at large. With
the passage of the three came offic-
ial perpetuation and the list Of
those who refuse to be dethroned is
increasing. Take any of the state Of
fees below that Of the governor. To
defeat any Of the holders Of the
same is regarded as an impossibility,
though in the old days three terms
was regarded as the limit. This is
true Of majority of the county Of
fees while in the case of the legis-
latue the number of come-backs is
increasing. Some of the leading pa
pers OF the state have of late been
advocating a partial return to the
convention system, they claiming
that it provides a BETTER line of
official material, but the general
opinion is that such will not prevail
for the present at least. Those now
holding office are mostly republicans
and they are not going to make trou.
bic for themselves. Besides they say
this is not the proper time for .
change. Possibly party t-togethers
are all right for the democrats and
the non partisan league, but the re.
publican party is not ready for such
No there will not be republican
state convention.
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Opposition to congressman C. r
Davis of the third district bobbee
up this week in the person Of C. r
Pye of Mortified. He is an attorne,
and republican. In a political wa,
he is unknown outside of the dis
trict. This makes three congressman
in Minnesota facing trouble at tn
primaries, the other two being con
gresham Knutson of the sixth dis
trict and congressman Lundeen O
the fifth. Interest in the general at
tempt to defeat Lundeen was inten
sltied this week by the report tina
state auditor Preus. had definitel
decided to get into the game. He ha
heretofore held back because of tn
promised multitude of candidates
but in the last week there has bee
slight slump in the number. Chic
among those who will retire fror
the contest is said to be Representa-
tive VIM. Washburn. He will 20 fo
the senate instead.
). 4: y \ +
Chairman Fred Wheaton of til
democratic state central committe
this week announced state confer
ence of the unwashed to be he'll
March q. The non partisan leagu
which has called similar conferenc
will hold their meeting March 10 an
20. Both will take place in St. Pau
In the case of the democracy Senate
S. B. Nelson Of Luverne looks lik
the best bet for the democrati
nomination for governor. He is tn
choice of the democratic king NAL
ers. AS to the league the creates
secrecy regarding it's probable sele'
tions for the several offices is bein
maintained. Even the names of thos
chosen at the caucuses held sever,
days ago are being kept under cove
It is certain that the league gather
ing will be Townly controlled.
1t begins to look as if Thoms
Frankson, generally picked q wee
ago to go against Governor Burr
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