The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09

MERGER IS NOW TALKED.
NONPARTY MAY LINE UP
WITH DEMOCRATS
STORY SPREAD ABROAD
Political Moves That Are Re-
ported Being Made In the
Gopher State
VANCE CHAPMAN

ST. Paui, July 10 not Dc sur
prised IL you hear an attempt at or
an actual amalgation Of the demo-
cratic and Nonpartisan league forces
In Minnesota In the interest of the
gubernatorial candidacy Of Mayor
Hodgson Of St. Paul. Negotiations
are on, some say with the league
heads as the originators, others that
the democratic powers that be have
the leading role, an oonsumation OF
the merger Is expected almost any
day. In any event league sympathies
are with Larry Ho" and If the talk
ed off merger does not materalize
many league voters will be found In
the HodssSn camp on election day
On the best of authority the Nation
al end of the democratic game Is
very much interested in the merger
and is doing everything possible TO
bring 1t about. Not only Minnesota
but wherever the league has q fol-
lowing looks good to the national
heads. With Mayor Hodgson an
avowed enemy of Townley and his
creed fusion with the Townley crea
ton would seem almost impossible
but II Is votes the democratic lead.
to quarrel regarding the source. They
say il the league 10 ever to be alb
sorbed by either of the two big par
ties The democratic party Is the ma
tural point Of ABSORPTION and In their
opinion now Is as good time as any
to do the job. In 1898 the democra-
tic party took over the populist
forces and John Lind became COVER
nor as O result and the leaders have
q bunch that the trick might be re-
peated in the case of Larry Ho. -
AS the primary returns show the
leagues chief following Is In the rur-
al districts; The Townley claim was
that organized labor which Is prin-
centers Was in the same Class, but
the returns failed to substantiate the
claim. According to the democratic
leaders 1t IL here whore their stan
dard bearer shines and with the ad-
dition OF the league vote In the rural
districts he would be invincible. The
talked of merger Ia not known to
the republican king makers. but they
are not loosiug any sleep over its
possible consumation. In their OPP
lnipn the republican candidate for
governor would realize as result.
Fred D. Sherman. for q number of
years the head OF the state immigra-
ed from his job this week and the
place given to ]. 8. Arneson, we'll
known In state republican circles.
At the same meeting of the immi-
grafton commission which was at
tended by Governor BurnQuist. Ash
or Murray Of Wadena and Secretary
of State Schmahl, A. M. Opsahl, as
sistant to Mr.. Sherman was also CIV
en- his walking papers. and C.. T.
Kelley, publisher OF the Menahga
Advertiser appointed in his place.
The reason assigned for the dismts-
sal Of the two was "too much poll
tics in the department" ]. A. Nichols
and State Auditor Preus also mem.
present at the meeting extraordinary
Both Sherman and Opsahl were can
didates for secretary of state in the
who made rather a good showing at
the republican elimination conven.
ton was finally distanced by Mike
Holm and withdrew in the latters
favor, but Opsahl refused to 90 into
the convention and carried his can
didacy to the voters direct where he
finished third. Fred Sherman has
many staunch friends throughout
the state who will not take kindly
can be no quarrel with the two apS
pointments as made. Both are good
men and what Is better they have a
thorough knowledge Of the state and
It's needs In an immigration and de-
velopment way.
G. r. Adams Of Minneapolis for O
number Of years connected with the
editorial department of The Mime.
apolis Journal and at present in
charge OF the activities of the Amer
lean Committee of the Mill City was
this week named chairman of the
republican state central committee.
He succeeds Gustaf Lindquist who
years. The selection was made at a
meeting of the republican nominees
and was largely personal to Mr..
Preus the gubernatorlal candidate.
Mr.. Adams has not figured to any
extent In the state political game,
but is said to possess excellent or
ganization abilities. The meeting of
the nominees, following the holding
Of the primary election Is required
by law, but only a few were present.
Nominees OF the other parties also
met, among them the Farmer Labor
party which named David Evans Of
Tracy as its state chairman. The
democratic nominees deferred action
in the matter of a state organization
until later date.
A feature Of the meeting of the re.
publican nominees was the large
number Of outsiders present and who
came armed with what they called
proxies given them by absent nomi-
nees. Such proxies are not recog-
nized by the law, but this fact did
not seem to worry the holders, who
had more TO say regarding the new
organization than the nominee them
selves.
The Nonpartisan league forces did
not win In the Minnesota primaries,
but from all accounts they won ali
down the line In the recent primaries
In North Dakota. Later returns
from the FMckertail state say that
Governor Lynn Frazier has won out
against William LANCER, the sound
government candidate by not less
than 5000 and that other candidates
endorsed by the league have gotten
by safely 1t looks very much as IL