The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-04-12
Rejects NONPARTY
PLACE ON TICKET
Frank Hopkins Declines In
dorsement For Nomination
STANDS BY INCUMBENT
Letter Written BY Gentleman to
League Breaches Pure
Patriotism
From Fridays Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
St. Paul, April 5.-Tne Dispatch
publishes the following story: How
ever much | might desire this office,
l could not, consistent with my stand
ard OF loyal citizenship in the best
government yet known to man, for
the saving OF which my father served,
in the Civil war, accept the office
of county attorney at this time were
it handed me on silver platter.
Frank Hopkins, attorney at Fair
fax, MINI, has spoken. He was IN
dorsed by the Nonpartisan league for
county attorney of Renville county,
and he doesn't want the job. Espe-
cially does he refuse the tender OF
the nomination when it comes from
the NoIpaTtisan league.
In & Iettes TO e. C. EneSvedt OF
Sacred Heart, Mimi, secretary of the
Renville County Nonpartisan league,
he says:
Many consider such an indorse-
r,ent-by the equivalent to
nomination OF the dominant party
under the old convention system.
T his office, with that of sheriff, and
possibly superintendent of schools, is
| most important in the county at this
time.
Efficiency in County.
Efficiency of Renviiie county as a
war unit of the United States and
gratitude for unselfish public war
service determine my action"
He says he understands the pres
ent incumbent, L. d. Barnard, gov
eminent intervenor in the county
! draft organization, desires re-elec-
tiCn, and he praises Barnard's work,
fer che has been just and impartial,
serving the widow with an encum-
bered eighty acres and one son as
justly as the rich landlord with a
section AMI several sons of draft
age"
Furthermore" he says, George
Barnard is willing volunteer sacri-
| fee of L. d. and Mrs. Barnard, rep
resenting you and me somewhere in
France"
Speaks Highly of Farmers.
! Mr.. Hopkins states also he believes
| that most of our farmer members
! of the Nonpartisan league in our
county" do not condone the La Fol-
lette convention in st. Paul, nor does
he believe they are in sympathy with
such acts as Mayor Van Lear's sec
onding of Victor l.. Berger's radical
socialist views that we Should have
kept out and should get out of the
war and turn our fair land over to
the American bolsheviki as prey
| for Prussianism as did Trotzky and
Lenine in Russia"
Our farmers at heart are as de-
sirous to save our country for democ-
racy and freedom as any other class
CT cur citizens" he says, and where
ia Just charge CT unpatriotic action
can be made it can be traced to
prejudice engendered by hearing only
one side of the question or a disbelief
OF facts now patent to every honest,
| intelligent American.
Has Raped DisIoyaItya
Our county attorney and sheriff
have permitted no statements oppos-
ing the policy of our government in
this war to be made No less act on
their part would hold for them our
| confidence and respect"
He concludes with the observation
/ that Endorsements by the Nonparti-
( san league betoken prejudice pos
| sibly. or at least thoughtlessness as
to the need for experienced officials
in office He says:
Permitting a desire for office to
control is insidious and not in keep
/ ing with the stated aims of the
/ league"