The Ely miner., 1919-11-28

Last fall saw two other congress
sional districts in which the Republi-
can encumbent had to fight to retain
their jobs, C.. R. Davis in the Third
and M. j. Volstead in the Seventh.
Both were given a lively run for their
money. Whether they will have op-
position for the Republican nomina-
tion this year remains to be seen.
So far no opposition has been men,
toned and the chances are that if
such does materialize it will have lit
tie effect. Both are fairly well en-
trenched in their respective districts.
In Democratic circles gubernatorial
talk runs pretty much to Mayor
Hodgson, Larry Ho' of St. Paul.
Some leading members of the un-
washed hazard the opinion that he
will be the only offering on the Dem
ocratic side, but they have another
guess coming. Do not be surprised
if the name of Major A. M. Nelson Of
Martin county is offered for consider
alton. He is being groomed and
Frank Day, who piloted the late Gov.
John A. Johnson to success on sew
eral occasions, is responsible for the
statement that he will be a winner.
Major Nelson used to be associated
with Mr.. Day in the conduct of the
Fairmont Sentinel and in addition
has an enviable war overseas record.
1t is said that the Nonpartisan League
heads also have a Democratic GU
bernatorial candidate in mind.
| st. Paul's official conduct is not to
the liking of one Capitol City Daily
and it suggests shake-up in the city
hall to the extent of drawing on the
business element for next years Of
ficial timber. r. T. O'Connor, DEM
ocratic boss of st. Paul, who ought to
know, says such is impossible. St.
Paul has what is known as the Com
mission form of government and
from all accounts it has not been a
bowling success. In the ten years of
its existence, the city hall has added
to its working crew until the employ
ees are fairly bursting through the
roof while expenses have mounted
many fold. Under a unique system
of picking the mayor and the five
members of the city council, known
as City Commissioners the candidates
are drafted by petition instead of
being voluntary and the primary tick
ct looks and reads like laundry slip
in consequence. 1t is a mob propo-
sition throughout and on two oc-
casions almost resulted in a Social
istic regime. When the commission
idea for St. Paul was introduced in
the legislature it is said that an ex-
cited senate follower of the "Boss"
rushed down to his Office with the
news and asked for his advice as to
its defeat or passage. Detailing the
bill, the individual in question men,
toned the fact that there were only
five councilman and that they were at
large. care they elected?" Mr..
O'Connor is said to have asked.
| 'They are" was the answer. "Well,
go to it." was his command and the
bill passed.
It is rather early to predict the
fate of the Good Roads Bond Amend
ment which will be voted upon next
fall, except to say that its advocates
are as staunch as of old. However,
it might not be out of the way to add
that the movement for the adoption
of the amendment has not the punch
it had some months ago. To be frank
about it, the Good Roads Association
shake-up of several weeks ago in
which two employees were made to
| walk the plank has had a depressing
effect which has been voiced in more
than one rural publication. As re-
suit, not to mention the natural and
uncomfortable opposition to all mod