The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-03-08
Charges That Wood mpaign
in State Used to Fur
Their Self Seeking
GENERAL UNABLE TO
CARRY ADDED LOAD
Hints Corporation Friends Are
Active in Playing
Political Game

Backers of the General Wood
presidential campaign in Minnesota
are bitterly attacked in a statement
made Friday by A. A. D. Rain of
Minneapolis, in reply to that made
by Governor Burnquist Thursday, in
which political activities of Mr.. Rain
and the Fred Carpenter-Ed. Smith
group of the Minnesota republicans
were scored.
While expressing great admiration
for General Wood, the campaign be-
ing conducted for him in Minnesota
is declared ''ghastly farce" and
cloak to shield the activities of a
GROUP of statehouse and city hall
politicians" in which the governor is
included by Mr.. Rain.
The statement follows:
One Reasonable Explanation.
"There is only one reasonable ex-
PLANTATION of Governor Burnquist's
statement. He evidently is endeavor-
ing to anticipate the inevitable dis
closures of the gastly farce which is
being staged in Minnesota under the
guise of a campaign for General
Wood. But when the public realizes
that the name Of a good soldier, a
fine gentleman and a great admins
traitor is being used merely as a cloak
to screen the activities of group
of statehouse and city hall politicians
in the furtherance of their own petty
scheme and against the general in
terests, it will take something more
than this tlimsy attempt to evade
responsibility and to shield the men
at the bottom Of it from the indica-
ion of General Woods admirers.
"Three months ago it was general
ly conceded that General Wood
would have the delegation from Min
nesota to the national convention
without serious opposition. Although
not the first choice of many repub-
licans, he was recognized as man
who could be consistently supported.
It was not even necessary that he
conduct any extensive campaign in
this state; the most that was needed
was a little effort to crystalize the
sentiment already existing here for
him. His national managers, how
ever, evidently were persuaded by a
group of self-seeking politicians to
make a great effort and spend large
sums of money in order to assure his
success in this state. They were mis-
led into accepting this advice, and
placed at the head Of the Minnesota
campaign Gustaf Lindquist, secretary
to the governor and chairman OF the
state central committee, and associat-
ed with him l. A. Caswell, former
clerk of the state supreme court, and
a group of City hall politicians of
Minneapolis, including Alderman
Josiah Chase, Alderman J. T. Kean
and Alderman Claus Mumm.
Self-Seeking Is Charged.
From this moment the test i'm
posed by these gentlemen was not
loyalty to the interest of General
Wood but loyalty to their interests.
So far as can be judged from the
practical effect Of the campaign they
have been conducting, the object in
view is the entrenching of this group
in political power. The assistance of
men who were willing and anxious to
support General Wood has been re-
fused unless such assistance carried
with it a willingness to support the
personal and private interests of the
men in charge Of his campaign.
"The result has been that General
Woods prestige has been unable to
support his added burden, and from
being an acknowledged winner in this
state, the situation has now developed
to point where if General Wood
capture the delegation it will be in
spite of and not because of the cam
paign which has been conducted I'M
der his name.
Therefore, when refer to the
Wood campaign in Minnesota the
reference is not to General Wood,
whom as a man and candidate l
admire, but to the group of men who
are backing him in this city, in this
state and through the country.
Attack on Caswell Recalled.
"Considering the personnel of Cen
eral Woods managers in this state,
the campaign is headed by GUSTAV
Lindquist, who, in his capacity as the
governors private secretary, and
chairman of the , republican state
central committee, and properly the
of all the republicans