The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-03-21
WEDNESDAY,, MARCH Fl, 1928.
MAY FILE AS REPUBLICAN

n to Senator Henrik Shipstead, Minneso-
ta's senior senator is to desert the Farm
er-Labor party which put him in the senate and
will file for reelection the Republican ticket
Statement to this effect was made last week in
Washington by a man very close to Mr.. Ship
stead
Senator Shipstead has as yet made no pub
lie announcement, and it is not expected that he
will file until after the Republican state conven-
ton March oath. Reason for this is said to
rest ON the fear that should he make his
nouncement before the Republican convention,
the convention might be turned into an elimina
ton affair and the convention seek to name one
of the three Republican candidates to make the
race in the primaries against Mr. Shipstead. 1t
is also claimed that the fact that Senator Ship
stead has delayed filing so long is proof of his
intention to file as Republican.
Minnesota friends close to Senator Ship
stead refuse to believe the report from Wash
ington, holding that in order to file as Re-
publican the Senator would have to perjure him.
self in the eyes of the voters, at least, in his
affidavit that he supported majority of the
Republican candidates in the last election. While
it is held to be possible that Mr.. Shpstead could
honestly make such affidavit it is at the
time pointed out that it would be difficult
to convince the public of the truth of the state
ment in view of the campaign he conducted last
fall and that this would react against him.
Should Mr.. Shipstead file Republican
his action would virtually sound the death knell
of the Farmer-Labor party in Minnesota. Sena-
tor Shipstead is the only outstanding man in
the Farmer-Labor party today and is regarded
as much the leader of his party Governor
Christensen is of the Republican party. While
NJ of n hot
ed him to his present high office might stir up
considerable bitterness and resentment in the
Farmer-Labor ranks, it cannot be counted upon to
produce statesmen to take the party leadership
1t is therefore easily conceivable that should
Mr.. Shipstead desert his party the Farmer-La-
borites would find considerable trouble not only
in inducing someone to take his place as the
Farmer-Labor candidate for senator, but also
difficulty in securing candidate to for
governor against Governor Chrstanson. In
such an event the Farmer-Labor party would
quickly disntegrate and take its place in the
realm of oblivion along with all other third par
ties that have come and gone.
Another desertion in the Farmer-Labor
ranks which is not improbable is that of Con-
gresham kvale of the Seventh district. Per-
sons in position to know convinced that if
Senator Shipstead files as Republican, Con-
gresham Kvale will follow suit and enter the
primaries against the Republican candidates for
congress. Mr.. Kvae's desertion of party
wouldn't be as serious matter to the party as
in the of Mr.. Shipstead, but it nevertheless
would help to drive the last nail in the party's
coffin. With the heavy swing of the rank and
file of the Farmer-Labor party to the Republican
party disclosed in the last campaign, due largely
to the endorsement by members of the party of
Governor Chrstianson's administration, the
desertion of it's leaders would make the debacle
overwhelming Herald.