The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1927-07-21

DEMOCRATIC FUSION
Possibilities Of Alliance in
1928 Are Discussed by
Minnesota Leaders
SAID TO FAVOR SMITH
Launching Of Monthly and
Convention Plans Debat-
ed Tuesday

st. Paul, July .;20-EvidenceS
that the Farmer-Labor party
would be willing to team up with
the Democrats for the 1928 cam
paign were apparent Tuesday when
Farmer-Labor leaders held an in
formal conference in St. Paul to
discuss preliminary campaigns. AS
the first step for next year, the
party leaders decided to launch
monthly publication to be known
as the "Farmer-Labor Progress
sive," and to make plans for a
state convention to be held in
September, at which party policies
and candidates for all offices will
be discussed.
Despite the evident purpose of
the conference to confne its de-
alterations to matters within the
party, there was much informal
discussion of the possibilities of
alliance with the Democrats as
move which would give the Farm
er-Laborites sufficient strength to
combat the Republicans. The dis
cussion on the point, while whole
ly informal, was nevertheless suf-
ficiently spirited to show the in
clinations of some of the party
leaders. :.
In previous campaigns repeated
efforts have been made to ally
with the Democrats, but have new
er been successful. At Tuesdays
gathering, however, consideration
of the possibilities of Democratic
fusion were prompted by specula-
ton upon the latter spafty's situ-
alton regarding the presidential
nomination. Several conferees
were of opinion that if Al,Smith
wins the nomination, a splendid
opportunity will be created for a
fusion,
The theory is that the Farmer
Laborites could support the DEM
-ocratic ticket intellectually,
and in return for that the Demo-
Gratis could support the Farmer
Labor state ticket. As matters
stand, the Democrats are woefully
weak in the state and their only
hope of putting over their nation
al ticket would be with Farmer
Labor support. The Farmer-La-
borites, devoid of any national
ambition would be benefited in
their state campaign by such an
alliance, some of their leaders be-
ieve.
The, Farmer-Labor conferees al
so did not overlook the present
chaotic condition in the Demo-
cratic ranks caused by the SQUAD
BILE over party leadership. The
party is split wide open. Only a
week ago 2. H. Austin of Mime
apolis, who assumed the chairman
ship of the state central commit
tee, following the death of C. A.
Quist, was replaced by Thomas
eastman of Owatonna. This has
left rankings which the Farmer
Labor leaders believe could be
removed by fusion.
Another thing that the Farmer
Labor conference group did not
overlook in sizing up the situation
was the fact that next years polit-
ical battle will be fought over the
farm relief problem, and the DEM
ocrats and Farmer-Laborites are,
in a general way, as one in sup
port of some extreme legislation
such as the McNary-Hauge bill.
Magnus johnson, former Unit
ed States senator, sat with the
group of Farmer-Labor leaders.
He still has high political hopes
of either the governorship or
another try at the United States
senatorship. Others in the con-
ference were Ernest Lundeen, one
time Republican congressman
from Minnesota, Henry Teigen of
Minneapolis, former campaign
manager for Magnus johnson,
William Mahoneyl of St. Paul,
editor of a labor paper, and Frank
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