The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1920-02-26
ST. PAUL LETTER


partisan League is adding to its
membership, especially in number
Of the Southern Minnesota counties,
is without question, but the increase,
if it can be called such, is hardly
worth the lurid stories that many are
circulating regarding the Leagues
progress in the state. The trouble is
that some people are seeing red and
with a number Of them this crimson
viewpoint is not without its profit.
If the truth is to be told, Townley is
slipping in those sections Of the state
where a year or so ago the Socialist
blight was most virulent, and as a re-
suit of the consequent slump in the
Leagues strong box, its organizers,
under Townley orders, are trekking
to new and greener fields. Southern
Minnesota is new League territory
and it has its suckers the same as
other sections Of the state. Conf
dence experts, however, will tell you
that the No. Two crop is always the
poorest and if an object lesson is
wanted, it is found in North Dakota,
the birthplace Of Townleyism, and
the cradle of the best little millenni-
UNI ever attempted. Townleyism is
on the wane in the Flickertail state
and it's most ardent supporters admit
such. Townleyism and Socialism will
fail in Southern Minnesota as it is
now slipping in the Red, River Valley,
and next November will see its obitu-
airy written as far as Minnesota is
concerned. It is the history Of such
movements, the last of which, Popul-
ism, still of memory. Lots of people
have real admiration for A. c.
Townley and they are not all mem
beers of his organization either. cart
full Art" has found "a game that NO
Blue Sky law can touch and he is
therefore a genius. However, it is
not necessary to repeat here what the
Great Emancipation, Abraham Lin
coin, said about that fooling stuff. II
still goes, and the Nonpartlsar
League and A. C. Townley are no ex'
ception to the rule.
State official circles were enlivenec
this week by the filing of S. Y. Cor.
don of Browns Valley for the Re-
publican nomination for secretary OF
state. Sam, who is state printer
with offices in the state capitol
tossed his hat into the ring unexpect.
edly and is now the big end Of the
political gossip on Capitol Hill. Oh
those who have so far filed for the
secretaryship Mr.. Gordon is without
question the most formidable, as his
acquaintance is state wide and he has
a knowledge Of the game that is not
learned in a day. Sam has been sue
cessively member of the legislature
lieutenant, governor and some years
ago figured in large field of candi
dates for the Republican nomlna
ton for governor. His paper "The
Browns Valley Tribune" is wei
known country publication. Sans
rivals will find his pace fast one.
That Gen. Wood will have the
solid support OF the Minnesota ne
publicans in his presidential aspira.
tions is generally agreed. Hoover
seems to have the call on the Demo
cratic side of the house, though the
Lynch machine is for Attorney Gen
eral Palmer. What is considered
authoritative in the case Of both is {
straw vote taken by the st. Pau
Pioneer Press this week, in which thu
presidential choice of many promin
emit in political and newspaper cir
cles in the state is given. Of 539 re
plies received from as many Republi
cans, POI name Gen. Wood as thei
choice, So Lowden, As Johnson, a,
Hoover, 25 Taft and 20 Hughes
Other talked of candidates, anon,
them Senator kellogg, received on
vote each. Of 139 replies received
from Democrats, IS were for Hoover
81 for Wilson, 10 for Bryan, 20 TO
Palmer and 10 for McAdoo. Tn
Wood sentiment is so Overwhelming
that there is no question about wha