The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-06-11
MAGNUS OPENS
FL. CAMPAIGN
IN MINNESOTA
DAVIS FORCES ATTEMPT TO
SPLIT RANKS.

Minneapolis, Mimi, June g.
Msgnus Johnson opened his prim-
airy campaign with a speech at Will
mar on June 3 and it is possible
now to draw some conclusions as
to the strength of the cOntending
forces in a struggle from which
the farmer-labOr movement in this
state will emerge greatly clarified
and strengthened no matter what
the formal outcome may be.
Thomas Davis, the Minneapolis at
tOrney who was overwhelmingly de-
feated by Magnus in the convention
of the Farmer-Labor Association, en-
tered the farmer-labor primary in de-
fiance of the decision of that body
and is being supported by many la
Dor officials of the Twin Cities.
Rank and File for Magnus.
The rank and file, however, is sup
porting Magnus and in the farmer
labor clubs-the basic unity of the
assOciation-the lines are clearly
drawn.
The Minneapolis and st. Paul Cen
trail Labor Councils have endorsed
neither Davis nor johnson. They are
following the ancient policy of re
naming neutral" although actually
this amounts to support of Davis Of
what is worse-support of Mayor
Leach of Minneapolis, candidate il
the republican primaries against Gov
ernOr Christensen.
Arch ReactiOnaries for Leach
The followers of Paul Smith, A. F
of L. organizer, sent into this terri
) tory by the regime of the late Presi
, dent Gompers to combat the ere,
, menace" either are openly or covert
: ly supporting Leach.
The lineup as it appears from
= views expressed by active supporter
|, of Magnus is as follows:
2 Cramer, editor of the Minneapoli
: Labor Review, is supporting Leach
Bennett, business agent of the Paint
:, ers' Union, is supporting Leach; tn
Plumbers Union business agent
supporting Leach; Sinton, bushes
agent of the Cooks and Waiter
S Union, is supporting Leach.
r The Davis Support.
e Weir, the Stage Employees Unio
! and business agent of the MinneapC
/, lis Central Labor Council, is support
a ing Davis.
V Christian, business agent of til
d Building Trades Council, is supper
It ing Davis; Nelson, former busine;
e agent of the Carpenters Union,
supporting Davis; Miller, of the Ele
trical Workers Union, is suppOrtir
Davis.
Is Richard Wiggin, assistant city a
= torney and influential member of Il
10 City and County Employees Union,
n supporting Davis; MallOn, form
s business agent of the Building Trad
in Council and now one of the coun
commissioners, is supporting Davis
Lynn Thompson former organic
of the Central Labor Council, elect
county commissioner on athe farme
labr ticket two years ago, is cal
paign manager for Davis.
Floyd Olson, farmer-labor cane
date for governor two years ago a
N at present county attorney, has ma
= no public statement so far and
&C said to be on the fence waiting +
NJ further developments.
- MahOney for Magnus.
~ William Mahoney, editor of the
y Paul Trade Union Advocate, is sU
on porting Magnus 100 per cent. So
~ Frank Starkey, of the Central Lab
or Council, who is now state secreta
~ of the farmer-labor association.
81 G. w. Alexander, financial Sec
= tary of the Minneapolis Electric
J. Workers Union, is supporting Ma
II nus Johnson; Walter Frank, busint
~ III agent of the Lathers' Union, is 81
of porting Magnus.
- Louis EngstrOm, state chairman
- the Farmer-Labor Association, is 81
porting Magnus; I. G. Scott, of
Plasterers' Union and labor aid
man, is supporting Magnus.
IS From the above it is plain tt
the campaign has devided the TV
oo City labor movement into right,
he and center. The beginnings of a
III volt against the sabotage Of the f
80, mer-labor ticket are apparent.
~ The Farmer and Labor Press.
AS to the outcome of the prim;
- fight, in which the bitterness is gro
80 ing daily, it is difficult to speak
01o fnitely. Magnus Johnson will
e ne strong support from the farmers {
lOI from the union membership in
r;i1s Twin Cities, but the Davis machine
LIN IL flooding the state with sO-called {
III cial organs of the completely defu
vel non-partisan league whose fake c
vention gave him the endOrsem
which constitutes his sole excuse
entering the race after his crush
defeat in the Farmer-LabOr Ass
" alton convention.
Al In addition to the support alre
mentioned, the bona fire farmer
veil Dor ticket is supported by vi,
the Lawson's paper published at v
tier mar, the st. Louis County Indept
an ent, the Milaca Times, the Farm
)ut- Labor Advocate published in st.
lay, and other smaller sheets.
M. Richard Wiggin, a keen Obsel
In of Minnesota political campaigns,
oOk though supporting Davis, stated
private conversations yesterday
S'I have a bunch that Magnus will
rem the nomination"
ated
ead. TUTO DEDT IPT ICANC