The labor world., 1922-07-01
CANDIDATES ARE WEAK.

weakness Of the Republican candi-
dates. IT is true that Governor Preus
was nominated by majority Of 100,-
900. On the surface tina: appears a
big lead for any candidate to have
over his opponent, but when consid-
Grafton is given to tbs fact that few
people had any knowledge Of the fact
that there was ar anti-machine can
didate FOR governor against Preus un-
til they entered the election booth it.
means that he is not strong, for out
Of $4,000 Republican votes cast more
than one third were registered against
him.
The votes cast in the Republican
primary election were less than one
half of the total vote in the state two
years ago. Governor Preus was given
less than 100000 votes. There are
$4,000 people who did not vote at
all, If his opposition would combine
as it should do in this campaign it
would be necessary for him to muster
from 10000 to 100000 more votes
than he received in the primary elec-
tion to win. His opposition already
has a start of 100000 if the Ellsworth
and Democratic votes are added. Preus
leads the opposition by but 100000 with
a field containing $4,000 additional
votes, the number not voting at the
primary election, to draw from. What
a chance the liberal and progressive
forces Of the state have, if they would
but unite.
Senator Kellogg is even weaker
than Preus. There were 37O,290 votes
cast for senator, while 37S, S,181 people
voted for governor, which indicates
that 5000 voters did not vote for any
one for senator. There were two can.
didates against Kellogg and neither
is regarded as good vote getter, yet
Kellogg received but 63,442 more votes
than were cast for his opponents.
If the total vote cast for the Demo-
cratic candidates for senator, amount
ing to 6O,2so is added to the Repub-
lican opposition vote Of 1884, and
the 1891 Republicans are counted who
did not vote for any person for sena-
tor, it indicates that there were 4,731
more anti-Kellogg voters in both pri-
maries than there were Kellogg vot-
ers. The Indifference of the $4,000
electors who did not vote would indi.
cate that a vast majority of them are
against the little "trust buster.''
OF course if there are to be two
candidates against Kellogg at the No.
vember election it means his re-elec.
tion. If his two opponents will COM
bine it means Kellogg's defeat. The
Republican machine wants DR.. Ship
stead and Mrs. Oleson to remain in
the field. The real progressive voters
Of the state should see to it that one
withdraws. The cause of the people
in the present gathering contest with
privilege, beyond every personal, class
or sectional consideration, demands it,
Apparently the weakest Republican
candidate before the primaries was
Congressman Oscar j. Larson. His op-
ponent, Mr.. Pittenger, could not have
been strong running on a ne-plank
platform for beer and light wine.
Much of his vote must have been cast
in protest against the present admin
istration. Mr.. Larson polled but liz
per cent more votes than Mr. Pitten-
ger.
It can not be charged that many
Democrats went into the Republican
primaries to vote for Pittenger, for
there were more votes cast in the
Democratic primary this year than
there were two years ago, when there
was contest on for congressman.
Despite the fact that Mr.. Larson
did not show up strong in the Repub
lican primary it does not necessarily
follow that he will be easily defeated
in November. Mr.. Carss has a rea
fight on and his friends ought to be
gin to realize it. Organization worl
should be started early. At least two
old-time Democratic weekly newspa
pers in the district have come out fo1
Larson. The Duluth Herald, once in
dependent, is now straight Republican
and will support Larson and oppos,
Carss. The influence that causet
the change Of front by certain paper
will be a subject for later discussion
Mr.. Larson and his friends expec
to capitalize the deep waterway prof.
ect, but they should not get very ia
with that, for Mr.. Carss's record il
behalf Of the Great Lakes-St. Law
renee waterway is as good, if not BET
ter, than Mr.. Larson 3. However, her
/ n. ID