Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-10
SEE PREUS GAINING
IN M|NNESOTARACE
But Republicans Still Doubt
full of Results in Fight for
Senate Seat.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.
StafY Correspondsnt Of The Star.


the gods rests the most important
senatorial election of many years. 1t
is important because 1t may decide
the balance of power in the United
States Senate between the representa-
tiyes of good government and ele-
ments of radicalism which make for
disintegration. The outcome literally
is in the hands of fate, inasmuch as
the politicians on both opposing sides
do not at this time know what 1t will
be and dare not forecast.
Briefly stated. here are the outlines
of the story, which must be under
stood so as to appreciate what may
occur between now and next Monday.
when the voters OF this state will go
to the polls. When Senator Knute
Nelson of this state died, the present
governor of the state aspired to his
seat. His name is Jacob Aal Otteson
Preus. 1t Is pronounced "Proyce. he
Is a Norwegian and comes of pio-
neer Norwegian family in Minnesota.
He was a political protege of Senator
Nelson and conservative republican
in consequence.
Wins Special Election.
Failing in plan to resign the gov
ernorship and have the lieutenant
governor appoint him to the senator
ship for the vacancy, he called spe-
cial election and offered himself as
the republican candidate, winning
out the nomination over several con-
testants. He is opposed by the candi-
date of the farmer-labor party, Mag
nus Johnson, and by the candidate Of
the democratic party, James A. Car
ley.
The latter is a negligible factor in
the contest for the place, because the
democrats polled only 10000 votes in
the primaries for nominations. The
democrats may not be negligible
factor in the results, however. be-
cause 1t is possible that the election
may be decided by a margin of 10000,
and 1t is generally understood to be
the policy of the democrats to aid
the farmer-labor party, so as to en-
barrass the republicans in the United
States Senate.
Won Victory Last Year.
The farmer-labor party in last No
yember elected a United States sena-
tor in Minnesota-Senator Shipstead-
over Frank B. Kellogg, conservative
republican. It would seem, then,
that it should enter this contest
with high hopes. based on the pres
tige of that victory. Just at this
time, however, its hopes are sus-
ceptible OF question, for reasons
which will be outlined as this story
proceeds.
Ten days ago you could not have
| gotten a republican politician of ex-
Gov. Preus. Representatives of the
republican national management so
reported. 1t looked as If the farmer
la borites were due for a grand slam
| an overwhelming victory. This ap-
prehension was laid to the fact that
| the farmer-labor party had the Ship
stead victory to its credit and that
| &C nditions which brought it about
still prevail.
There is no disputing the fact that
the farmers of Minnesota are In a
desperate case economically. They
see wheat going down and shoes go
ing up. They contemplate a good
crop and realize that it will cost
1t than they can get for it.
They are in a frame Of mind to
| bust something" They don't know
; exactly what to aim at. They seem
ohave adopted the slogan of the
1rishman at the Donnybrook fair,
| When you see a head, hit ft''-and
| the most visible head, of course, is
the republican national administra-
| ton, of which Candidate Preus is the
| representative nearest at hand.
Candidate Magnus johnson is the
club with which they would deliver
the blow. He is their candidate He
came last year within Is. 600 votes of
defeating Mr.. Preus for the governor
snip. That shows how strong the
| Iarlner-labor organization is in the
state of Minnesota, supported as il
Is by the non partisan league, which
ago 1t looked as if the party had
| a clear road to victory. The repub-
| lfcans. under defeat OF Senator KEEL
logg, had lost hope, were dispirited
| and indiffererS. Within ten days
there has come a change, due to the
bracing up of the republican organi-
cation. and secondly to a distemper
with Candidate Magnus Johnson.
Warned by Committee.
Let's consider the bracing up of
the republicans. The national re-
publican management took steps to
call the attention of republican lead
ers in this state to the deplorabIe
effect in the Senate organization
should the farmer-labor candidate be
elected and the balance OF power
transferred to the radical element
headed by Senator La Toilette. Fur
! thermore. 1t was pointed out what
a bad thing it would be in 1924
should the erstwhile stance repub-
lican state of Minnesota have to be
classed bolshevik
The result of work along this line
within that period has been TO
awaken the republicans to a deep
L -
sibutties of Johnson carrying the
state and to cause them to put forth
great Efforts to hold the republican
voters into line and get out the vote.
II the fuli republican vote could be
! turned out, the state. running true
to past form, would probably elect
Preus.
Now. to justify the statement that
the outcome Is in the laps of the gods.
| consider a practical condition that
exists. The local leaders saw that
| in the city of Minneapolis alone, the
stronghold of the republicans, they
have discovered that 5000 perfectly
good republicans are away on a vaca-
ton and will not vote. The election
might turn on that one fact.
Harvest Time An Onset.
AS an offset, it is pointed out that
| the election comes in the midst of
harvest, when the farmers may not
| be inclined to leave the fields to go
| to the polls Yet the polls are open
| until o'clock at night, and unless
| the old f1ivver is shS of gasoline they
| can still make 1t.
But the most important item in the
republicans budget of hope is the
discovery Of resentment among the
Scandinavian elements over the fit
| ness of the farmer-labor candidate
| for office of senator of the United
States. The upper-class Scandina-
4 vianQ ranraan0tad a q locking down