The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-08-24
POLITICAL CHATTER
(by VANCE CHArMAN)

What Minnesota will do in the
matter of the next Republican NOM
ination for president is a fairly live
issue just now. With the shock in
cident to the sudden death of Presi-
dent Harding still of vivid memory
and the installation of his success or
Vice President Coolidge, almost that
of yesterday presidential activity at
this time would seem out Of place,
but the game is on just the same
and those interested are even now
deep in the task of moulding public
opinion for some favorite. A state
convention to name delegates to the
| next Republica National conven-
ton will be held in the Spring and
its capture is the big prize. Men
toned in this connection, although
at present denying any unusual act
ivity is l. A. Caswell of Anoka
county and National Republican
Committeeman from Minnesota.
That he will be in the game at the
proper time is a fairly good fore
cast. Taking present day gossip as
guide Republican Minnesota runs
pretty much to Hiram Johnson in a
Republican presidential way, but
there is an element in the party who
favor Bob LaFollette of Wisconsin
and they hope to capture the next
state convention with the aid of the
Farmer-Labor forces. How to keep
this bunch out of the Republican
delegate caucuses is the big problem
and it is going to tax the energies
of those in charge to prevent the
/ threatened invasion. Had President
Harding lived there is no doubt
that strenuous efforts would have
been made to pledge the state con-
vention to his candidacy but it is
doubtful if such would prevail.
Even now those active for any of
the Republican presidential pos
sbilities mentioned are not so sure
of their ground. Most anything can
happen in the next six or eight
months and the one dangerous pos
sibility is that President Harding
successor, Vice President Coolidge,
may make good to the extent that
the national electorate will demand
his return. Who knows.
If the vaporings of some of the
calamity howlers are to be accept
ed at their claimed worth Minnesota,
and the entire agricultural North
west for that matter is billed for a
lot of financial and industrial
trouble. Reference is had to a
number of meetings recently held in
the Red River valley in which the
slogan of standardization, price fix
ing and dozen or more other agri-
cultural cure-alls have been sounded
Prominent in picturing the average
Minnesota farmer as either a full
fiedged candidate for the poor house
or on the verge of bankruptcy have
been Senator Elect, Magnus John
son, F. w. Murphy of Wheaton, W.,
w. Register, 500 line engineer and
a number of others and to these
have been added many newspaper
interviews of a similar character.
To speak plainly the stuff is hurting.
Eastern publications have gladly
given the charges front page posi-
ton, Southern publicity noulders
have hoped to it with vengence and
Minnesota is receiving undesirable
| advertising In consequence. Early
evidences are found in a statement
by the head of the state immigra-
ton bureau that inquiries from pro-
spective settlers have slumped con-
siderably and from dealers in farm
lands that values have suffered as a
result. While without notification
there is story to the effect that
recent purchasers of about $3,000,-
900 worth of Minnesota rural credit
bonds still have a third of the issue
on their hands. Minnesota is too
big and prosperous a state for any
political clique or crowd to ruin, but
talk of the kind mentioned is not
calculated to further add to its pros
perity.
Gov. J. A. o. Preus has an
nounced the appointment of j. P.
Gould of Minneapolis as state game
and fish Commissioner to succeed
Carlos Avery of Hutchinson. Mr..
Gould assumed his new duties this
week. st. Paul papers vino backed
Carlos Avery for reappointment are
| inclined to view the Gould selection
in the light of recognition for pol
itical services rendered which is
more or less true of practically
every commissioner named since the
department was created. In State
Capitol circles the appointment of
Mr.. Gould is generally commended.
Ever since his excellency appeared
on the political horizon "Jay" Gould
as he is commonly addressed by his
friends has been a consistent Jake
Preus admirer and hacker. For
four years he was secretary of the
Republican state central committee
and he gave the best that was in
him to the advancement of the gov
ernor and the Republican party.
| "Javo has ability he knows tha