The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-11-02
WHEATON IS FAVORITE
IN RACE FOR GOVERNOR
Burnquist in Bad for Failure
to Call Special Session of
Legislature to Ciue Re-
lief to Victims of Re-
cent Forest Fires.

The forest fire and the ban on
public meetings caused by the "Flu'
epidemic has taken all the steam
out of the political campaign. Polit-
ical workers are up in the air and
few people care to make any predic-
tion on the outcome or upon the
success of any candidate.
While David Evans, the 1ndepen-
dent candidate for governor, is said
to be cutting into St. Paul and
Minneapolis considerably he is
showing little strength on the sur
face in Duluth. Wheaton and Burn
quist seem to be the leaders here.
Evans may be given strong support
in this portion of the state, but if
such should develop on election day
it will completely surprise political
leaders.
Fred E. Wheaton, the Democratic
candidate, is the favorite on the
streets and among groups of men at
clubs, in office and hotel lobbies. Gov
ernor Burnquist has an admitted
strength, but he will fall far short of
polling the normal Republican vote.
The forest fire got him in bad here
with some very good people. He at
tempted to force a relief committee on
the citizens of Northeastern Minnesota
composed largely of residents from
other portions of the state. The local
people, not satisfied with the COVER
nor's action. took the matter in their
own hands and decided they would go
it alone. The governor attempted to
play politics and big men like w. A.
McGonagle of Duluth refused to stand
for it. He fell down completely in
handling the situation.
The real governor Of Minnesota,
Judge MCGEE. was a visitor in the city
early in the week in an attempt to
bolster up the falling stock of Burn
.quist, and while here Minnesota's Won
Hindenberg issued a characteristic or
der, in true Prussian style, restricting
the use Of electric lights.
The people Of this section of the
state demanded of the governor that a
special session of the legislature be
called to give prompt relief to the
people whose homes have been de-
stroyed by the awful forest fire. The
governor has thus far refused to act,
fearful that the members Of legisla-
.ture might take advantage of the Oc-
casion to grill the safety commission.
1t is pretty we'll conceded that Mr..
Evans will draw his votes more heav-
lily from Governor Burnquist than
from Mr.. Wheaton.
The Democratic voters have no rea-
son to desert their candidate. He is
progressive and stands squarely be-
hind the President. His record is
clean and his heart beats right for old
America. Independent voters whose
loyalty to the country is unquestioned
look with favor upon Mr.. Wheaton, s
candidacy. With the division in the
Republican vote against Governor
Burnquist, if Mr.. Wheaton can poll
the ordinary Democratic vote he will
be elected. Of this there is not the
slightest doubt.
Labor men are being urged to vote
against both Burnquist and Wheaton
and to give their support to Mr.. Evans
but in doing so they will but contrib
ute to the election of Burnquist. The
4 best way to defeat Governor Burnquis
Is to vote for Mr. Wheaton. He is {
veteran member of union labor, sin
cerely believes in the principles of or.
ganized labor, and has every right tt
command the votes of union men.
If every labor man in this section Of
the state votes for Mr.. Wheaton or
election day there will be no question
about his election. No Democra
should be deceived m the relative
strength Of Burnquist, Evans ant
Wheaton. The Democratic candidate
has stronger following than the
other two. Both daily papers are
against him, and between now ant
election day attempts will made tt
urge the Wheaton voters to deser
him and save Burnquist. If they will
stand squarely by Wheaton he will bf
the next governor of Minnesota.
Let every Wheaton voter be on his
guard. Don't be fooled by the Burn.
quist followers Their candidate i:
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