The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-04-02

Minnesota Republicans, as directed
by the delegates in attendance at the
late presidential convention, will meet
again in May--maybe-- as a state can
didate eliminating body and the grow
ing fear is that instead of eliminating
lot of undesirables, who banker for
office, they may eliminate the party
itself. Republican leaders in truth
it can be said, are much concerned
over the situation. Quoting a state
capitol official, the Republican state
convention scheduled for May-if-call
led-is liable to be the best little
package of "TNT" ever concocted
and if mishandled is due to blow the
Minnesota G. o. P. to atoms. This
is on the assumption and it is the
claim, that the proposed gathering is
being framed in advance for certain
interests and candidates. "Penro-
sing" the party is the way they put
it and while lot of the talk in
dulged in is of the wild kind there is
at least an element of truth in the
basic charges as made and such is
having it's effect on bona fide candi-
dates, who early proposed the con-
vention as a party and candidate
harmonizer. In this neck of the
woods no one would be surprised if
such well known candidates for the
Republican gubernatorial conven-
ton as Julius A. Schmahl and M.
Bowling, long regarded as the
chief contenders for convention APP
prevail, refused fatty to enter the
lists. The fly in the ointment is
State Auditor Preus, who friends of
the two named sty early in the
game denied any ambitions in GU
bernatorial way and wished the
others a fervent Godspeed. Now
they charge that interests and in
dividuals favorable to the dark
horse idea are working in shifts in
behalf of such and that any con-
vention, if held, would be joke as
far as they are concerned. Early
realizing the necessity of shoulder
to shoulder stand against encroach-
ment of the Nonpartisan League and
other Socialistic elements, admittedly
active in an effort to take over the
state, number interested in sound
government and the success of the
Republican party proposed a con-
vention for the selection of a state
ticket. The idea found general ia
vor and candidates with few excep-
tions gave notice of their intention
OF abiding by its findings. That was
the condition week ago, but now
all is chaos-Hell, it might be said
has broken loose. Without mincing
words, First, Fifth and Eighth Dis
trict Old Guard leaders it is charged
have planned for the control of the
elimination conventional held, and
by pooling of votes the selection of
ticket favorable to their interests
and ambitions. The Fifth with its
129 delegates which played without
break in the late presidential con-
vention, it is charged, is to be the
king pin with support in the shape of
the old Tawney machine in the First,
and the crowd that always plays ball
In the North country This trio with
a line of trading that will take in
other districts having favorite sons,
it is claimed will do the trick.
With the Townley ticket fully
launched, its platform popular con-
glomeration calculated to appeal to
the general unrest and its guberna-
torial candidate fairly free from the
criticisms featuring League candi-
dates of the past, the Republican par
ty can i'll afford to row within it's
ranks at this time. Even the un-
washed is not free in this respect and
unless both begin a house cleaning
without delay, Townley will add an
other state scalp to his collection be-
fore the year is closed. To be frank
about it, yours truly has in mind sew.
eral persons active in both parties
who would not be at all displeased if
the North Dakota idea prevailed. I'm
fortunately it is case of rules or