Evening star., 1928-10-16
Senator's Reticence Bellies
Report of Deal With Demo-
Gratis in Gopher State.
CANDIDACY IS REGARDED
AS BOON TO REPUBLICANS
Will Give Malcontents a Chance to
Rebuke G. 0. p, but Not
Through Hoover.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
staff Correspondent of The Star.

MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, October 16-
Minnesota has the distinction of being
represented in the United States Senate
by the only member of that body who
wears neither Republican nor Democrat
party label Henrik Shipstead, senior
Senator from this State, is a member
of the Farmer-Labor party. He is seek
ing reelection today as the Farmer
Labor candidate, and unless all signs
fail he Is likely to win. The only thing
that might defeat him would be a
Hoover landslide, which would carry
along in its wake the Republican nomi-
nee for Senator, Arthur E. Nelson of st.
Paul
Shipstead. IL he lived in Wisconsin,
would be La Toilette Progressive Re-
publican, or If he lived in North Da-
kota, he would be a Nye-Frazier Pro-
gressive Republican. Here in Minnesota
he represents the progressive ideas
and the progressive groups which turn
ed on the old guard a number of years
ago and succeeded in sending two
Farmer-Labor Senators to Washington
The other was former Senator Magnus
Johnson.
Johnson Lost Grip.
Senator Johnson had a voice that
could be heard a half dozen city blocks
He made a noise. His enemies said he
did little else and apparently he lost his
grip in his own State, for he was de-
feated four years ago by the Republican
nominee, Senator Schall, the blind SEN
ator. Now Senator Shipstead Is seek
ing reelection. He has demonstrated
his ability in Washington and has re-
tanned his hold on his constituents in
Minnesota. Indeed, many of the most
prominent Republican business men ir
this city, who formerly we're opposed
| to Shipstead. have changed theil
minds about him and today are going
to support him.
More hangs in the balance in Ship
stead's candidacy than meets the eye
at first glance.
Both the old major political parties
see clearly that Senator ShipStead has
big following In the State, and in
deed in Minneapolis, which is his home
Both would like to have him throw his
support to their national tickets-to
Hoover or to Smith. The Democrats
have angled desperately for the Ship
stead support. going so far as to with
draw their own party candidate for the
Senate-"For the good of the party"
OF course, G. F. eastman of st. Cloud.
the Democratic nominee, did his own
withdrawing, but it was quite apparent
that the Democratic candidate for the
Senate would have been merely an also
ran when the returns were all in on
election day. So the Democrats were
giving up little when he took himself
out Of the race. and there was chance
for them to curry favor with the Farm
er-Labor party by so doing.
Shipstead Keeps Silence.
Despite this polite gesture on the
part of the Democrats. Senator Ship
stead has said nothing In support of
the Smith presidential ticket. 1t is
equally true he has said nothing for
the Hoover ticket. And it is further
true that he Is going to say nothing
at all about either one of the presi-
Dental tickets during this campaign.
When 1t comes to saying nothing Sem
ator Shipstead, on occasion. is as good
at it as President Coolidge himself.
After eastman took himself out of
the race for the Senate, Immediately
there were reports of deal" between
Shipstead and the Democrats, whereby
they, the Democrats. would support
Shipstead for the Senate, with the
understanding that he, Shipstead, would
throw the Farmer-Labor vote to AL
Smith. but the truth of such a report
was denied. Whether the Democrats
would have liked to make such deal
is one thing. Apparently they have
not been able to make 1t with the
silent Farmer-Labor Senator
It was quite clear and IS clear that If
Shipstead came out for Smith he would
lose Republican support which he now
has. Here yesterday Senator Nye of
North Dakota, one of the group of
Progressive Senators spoke at luncheon
in support of the election of Senator
Shipstead and most of the guests were
Republican supporters of Mr.. Hoover.
Senator Nye is himself supporting
Hoover in North Dakota
Senator Nye's visit here in support of
Senator Shipstead is only typical of
what the whole group of Republican
Progressive Senators is doing for the
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